It’s still 44 years in our timeline before Sadie is born. But here in 2026 she’s just participated in her first musical theatre holiday programme. A very cute recording of that below by way of intro this week! (Sadie in the red skirt, the youngest girl by a good margin!)
We have slipped a week out of sync also so here’s July, 1976 to listen to before.
The Chart
It’s a month dominated by “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” by Elton John And Kiki Dee.
- “A Fifth Of Beethoven” – Walter Murphy
- [new] “A Little Bit More” – Dr. Hook
- “Afternoon Delight” – Starland Vocal Band
- “Baby I Love Your Way” – Peter Frampton
- [new] “Devil Woman” – Cliff Richard
- “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” – Elton John And Kiki Dee
- “Get Closer” – Seals And Crofts
- [new] “Getaway” – “Earth Wind And Fire”
- “Got To Get You Into My Life” – Beatles
- [new] “Heaven Must Be Missing An Angel” – Tavares
- [new] “I’d Really Love To See You Tonight” – England Dan And John Ford Coley
- “I’ll Be Good To You” – Brothers Johnson
- “I’m Easy” – Keith Carradine
- “If You Know What I Mean” – Neil Diamond
- [new] “If You Leave Me Now” – Chicago
- “Kiss And Say Goodbye” – Manhattans
- “Last Child” – Aerosmith
- “Let ’em In” – Wings
- “Love Is Alive” – Gary Wright
- [new] “Lowdown” – Boz Scaggs
- “Moonlight Feels Right” – Starbuck
- [new] “Play That Funky Music” – Wild Cherry
- “Rock & Roll Music” – Beach Boys
- “Say You Love Me” – Fleetwood Mac
- [new] “Shake Your Booty” – K.C And The Sunshine Band
- [new] “She’s Gone” – Hall & Oates
- [new] “Shower The People” – James Taylor
- “Something He Can Feel” – Aretha Franklin
- “Sophisticated Lady” – Natalie Cole
- [new] “Still The One” – Orleans
- [new] “Summer” – War
- “Tear The Roof Off The Sucker” – Parliament
- “This Masquerade” – George Benson
- “Turn The Beat Around” – Vicki Sue Robinson
- [new] “Wham Bam Shang-A-Lang” – Silver
- [new] “Who’d She Coo” – Ohio Players
- [new] “With Your Love” – Jefferson Starship
- “You Should Be Dancing” – Bee Gees
- “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine” – Lou Rawls
- “You’re My Best Friend” – Queen
- “Young Hearts Run Free” – Candi Staton
[new] = New to the chart this week.
You can listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link.
The Times
Throughout August 1976, Jim Henson and his creative team were at ATV Elstree Studios in Hertfordshire, putting the finishing touches on the first batch of episodes for The Muppet Show ahead of its nationwide broadcast premiere in September.
After major American networks passed on the concept—viewing puppets strictly as children’s entertainment—British media magnate Lew Grade backed Henson to produce a weekly variety show aimed squarely at adults and families. With vaudeville sketches, music, and Hollywood guest stars interacting with Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, the show went on to become one of the most successful syndicated series in television history, broadcast in over 100 countries.
On August 29, 1976, the “Midnight Special” gig took place at the Screen on the Green cinema in Islington, London. Featuring the Sex Pistols, The Clash, and The Buzzcocks (traveling down from Manchester), this late-night showcase became the definitive coming-out party for the first wave of British punk rock.
With the mainstream press and music journalists packing the small theatre, the raw, confrontational energy of the three bands made it impossible for the music industry to ignore the subculture any longer. The event kicked off the autumn explosion of punk across the UK.
On August 21, 1976, the arena in the small southwestern French town of Mont-de-Marsan hosted what is widely recognized as the first punk rock festival in Europe. Organized by music producer Marc Zermati, the festival gathered roughly 4,000 music fans who traveled across the continent under scorching heat to witness a new sound in rock and roll.
The lineup featured leading early pub-rock and proto-punk outfits, including The Damned, Eddie and the Hot Rods, and French rockers Bijou. The festival gave continental Europe its first concentrated taste of punk’s high-speed tempos, ripped clothes, and rebellious attitude, helping spread the movement across Europe months before it exploded in the mainstream press.
The Take
Let’s check some videos of the new tunes of the week…
Like “A Little Bit More” by Dr. Hook.
“Devil Woman” by Cliff Richard.
“Play That Funky Music” by Wild Cherry.
And “Shake Your Booty” by K.C And The Sunshine Band!
Now go listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link.