Spot on! Liquidator reached it's highest chart position in the UK in December 1969, but I think it had already been a favourite at the Bridge before that, through regular play in the clubs.1969/70?
The liner notes in the Trojan greatest hits album from Harry J All Stars mentions Chelsea as the connection to football world.And don't listen to what any Wolves or WBA fans might tell you, we had it first!
Way back in 1969, supporters of the Chelsea football team revered players such as Bonetti, Osgood and Hollins. The boys performed under the watchful eye of manager Dave Sexton to the tune of Harry J & All Stars chartbuster, 'The Liquidator'. Whether the tune helped the squad in their successful 1970 FA Cup campaign and subsequent Cup Winners Cup victory we shall never know. One thing is certain the theme to those victories was undoubtedly 'The Liquidator', with its Hammond organ crescendos that lead to the chant of 'CHEL-SEA!'
Harry J Allstars' rocksteady instrumental has been an official 'Chelsea song' since 1970, when the matchday programme gave away copies as competition prizes. It actually reached no.9 in the UK chart 40 years ago this week, and it is unlikely there were earlier adopters than the Fulham Road supporters.Just as a curiosity, this is the first paragraph in the liner notes in "Liquidator - The Best of the Harry J All Stars":
I wonder if they gave the away the copies as prizes before it became a hit amongst the Chelsea fans or did it become a hit first? I wonder if the club did this often back in the day...giving away records as prizes, that is?Harry J Allstars' rocksteady instrumental has been an official 'Chelsea song' since 1970, when the matchday programme gave away copies as competition prizes.