📰 NME Top 30 – Chart Listing : Dec. 1970
- Charts
- Dec 12, 1970
- 2 min read
The New Musical Express chart for the week ending December 12, 1970 captured a transitional moment between late‑’60s pop and the emerging early‑’70s sound. Dave Edmunds’ “I Hear You Knocking” held the No. 1 spot, while T. Rex’s “Ride A White Swan” continued its rapid ascent, signalling the first spark of the glam era.
Publication: New Musical Express
Date: December 12, 1970
Format: Weekly singles and albums chart
Writer: NME Chart Service
A moment of post‑’60s recalibration, pre‑glam ignition and cross‑Atlantic chart energy.
đź“° Key Highlights
• “I Hear You Knocking” by Dave Edmunds at No. 1
• “Ride A White Swan” by T. Rex rising to No. 4 — Bolan’s breakthrough moment
• Hendrix’s “Voodoo Chile” and Don Fardon’s “Indian Reservation” anchoring the Top 10
• Strong soul presence from Chairmen of the Board, Jackson Five and Jimmy Ruffin
• LP chart led by *Led Zeppelin III*, *Motown Chartbusters Vol. 4* and *Bridge Over Troubled Water*
đź“° Overview
This chart captures the UK music scene at the close of 1970 — a landscape still shaped by late‑’60s rock and soul, yet beginning to shift toward new identities. T. Rex’s rise marked the first tremor of glam, while the LP chart reflected the dominance of heavyweight rock albums and major American imports. NME’s listings reveal a marketplace in transition, balancing nostalgia, innovation and emerging youth culture.
đź“° Source Details
Publication / Venue: New Musical Express
Date: December 12, 1970
Format: Weekly singles and albums chart
Provenance Notes: Based on the official NME chart for the week ending December 9, 1970.
đź“° The Story
The chart highlights:
• The commercial power of Dave Edmunds’ roots‑rock revival
• Marc Bolan’s shift from cult figure to mainstream contender
• Hendrix’s posthumous chart strength
• The continued influence of American soul and Motown on UK listeners
• LP dominance by Led Zeppelin, Simon & Garfunkel and Santana
The tone is transitional, eclectic and era‑defining — a chart snapshot of Britain’s musical tastes as the 1970s began to take shape.
đź“° Visual Archive
đź“° Closing Notes
A pivotal early‑’70s chart, the *NME* listing of December 12, 1970 stands as a vivid record of the artists, sounds and cultural forces shaping British pop at the dawn of a new decade.
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