"My Coo Ca Choo" is a song by Alvin Stardust, released in 1973 as the lead single from his debut solo album The Untouchable (1974). The song reached number two on the UK Singles Chart in December 1973.[2] The glam rock single fared even better in Australia, where it spent seven weeks at the top and was the best charting single in the country in 1974.[3]

"My Coo Ca Choo"
Single by Alvin Stardust
from the album The Untouchable
B-side"Pull Together"
Released1973
StudioRG Jones, London, UK[1]
GenreGlam rock
Songwriter(s)Peter Shelley
Alvin Stardust singles chronology
"Eastern Seaboard"
(1972)
"My Coo Ca Choo"
(1973)
"Jealous Mind"
(1974)

The song was written, sung, and recorded by Peter Shelley, using the glam rock name Alvin Stardust. Although he had already appeared as the original Alvin Stardust on the Lift Off television programme, Shelley was surprised when the record went straight into the chart the following week. As he had no desire to become his own stage name creation, he and Levy both agreed that if this act were to become more than just a one-hit wonder, then a "face" was required to be, and perform as, Alvin Stardust. The ideal person appeared, Bernard William Jewry, who at the time performed under the name Shane Fenton. The new "Stardust" then appeared on BBC Television's Top of the Pops just as the record had entered the UK Top 30, before finally reaching number 2.[4] Shelley then followed up with a string of hits for Stardust, including "Jealous Mind", which went to number 1 in the UK in March 1974.[5]

Charts edit

Weekly chart edit

Chart (1973/4) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] 1
Canada (RPM)[7] 86
United Kingdom (Official Charts Company) 2

Year-end charts edit

Chart (1974) Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report)[8][9] 1

References edit

  1. ^ Croft, Simon (October 1986). "Keeping up with the Joneses: Gerry Kitchingham". Home & Studio Recording. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
  2. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 524. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  3. ^ Australian Chart Book (1970-1992) - David Kent : pp380,426
  4. ^ Sweeting, Adam (23 October 2014). "Alvin Stardust obituary". The Guardian.
  5. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 298. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  6. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 291. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  7. ^ "RPM Magazine - July 13, 1974 - Page 10" (PDF).
  8. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 426. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  9. ^ "National Top 100 Singles for 1974". Kent Music Report. 30 December 1974. Retrieved 11 January 2022 – via Imgur.