The most notable example of a classic that was kept from No. 1 by a novelty song must surely be Vienna by Ultravox. Released in January 1981, the song spent four weeks at No. 2. The first week saw it behind John Lennon’s Woman, and that was followed by three consecutive weeks beneath Joe Dolce Music Theatre’s cod-Italian song Shaddap You Face.
Co-written by Warren Cann, Chris Cross, Billy Currie and Midge Ure, Vienna sold more than 500,000 copies. In a poll by Radio 2 in 2012, it was voted Britain’s favourite single ever to peak at No. 2, and the Official Chart Company awarded it an honorary No. 1.
In 2017, Midge Ure turned down the opportunity to meet Joe Dolce, reportedly saying: ‘I’ve had 40 years of people talking about Joe b****y Dolce and I don’t want to spend what I’ve got left talking about when I met him.’
Tim Manns, West Chinnock, Somerset In 1970, Let It Be, the last single released by the Beatles before their break-up, was kept off the top spot by Lee Marvin’s Wand’rin’ Star; this wasn’t intended to be a novelty record but with Marvin’s gravelly bass delivery, it might as well have been.
The most notable example of a classic that was kept from No. 1 by a novelty song must surely be Vienna by Ultravox. Released in January 1981, the song spent four weeks at No. 2
Marc Nolan missed out three no.1 slots due to novelty hits
In the early 1970s, Marc Bolan could justifiably have been irked that three successive novelty No. 1s – Grandad by Clive Dunn, Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West) by Benny Hill and Long Haired Lover From Liverpool by Little Jimmy Osmond – restricted the competing T. Rex releases – Ride A White Swan, Jeepster and Solid Gold Easy Action – to the No. 2 position. Plus Rolf Harris’s novelty Christmas No. 1, Two Little Boys, prevented Elvis Presley’s magnificent Suspicious Minds from reaching the top spot.
Bob Bell, Croydon, Surrey
QUESTION Is wagyu the most expensive meat in the world?
Generally speaking, yes. Wagyu is a collective name for four breeds of Japanese cattle – Japanese Black (Kuroge Washu), Japanese Brown (Akage Washu), Japanese Shorthorn (Nihon Tankaku Washu) and Japanese Polled (Mukaku Washu).
These breeds are known for their superior marbling – the fine streaks of fat within the muscle. This marbling gives wagyu its rich flavour, tender texture and buttery melt-in-your-mouth quality. The cattle are raised with strict standards, including special diets and stress-free environments, which enhance the meat’s quality.
Wagyu is a collective name for four breeds of Japanese cattle. These breeds are known for their superior marbling – the fine streaks of fat within the muscle. This marbling gives wagyu its rich flavour, tender texture and buttery melt-in-your-mouth quality
Japanese Kobe beef this is the most expensive and most prized
Within the context of wagyu, there are a range of meats and quality. In several Japanese prefectures, wagyu beef is shipped with an area name; examples include Matsusaka beef, Kobe beef and Omi beef.
Premium Japanese Kobe beef is the most expensive and most prized. It comes from the famed Tajima cattle herd, a sub-type of
the Japanese Black. Meat from animals of this strain, raised only in Hyogo prefecture, may be sold as Kobe beef. With strict grading processes and limited annual production, this extraordinary beef can cost around £270 per kg.
While this is routinely the most expensive meat, the Vintage Cote de Boeuf is a French cut with an impressive price tag. Coming from the rare Blonde d’Aquitaine breed, these steaks are aged for many years. The 2000 vintage costs about £2,500 per steak.
James Sutherland, Perth
QUESTION Was Christianity the dominant religion in Egypt?
Christianity was the dominant religion in Egypt before the advent of Islam. It was introduced to Egypt by St Mark in the mid-1st century AD.
Alexandria quickly became a centre of early Christianity, known for its theological scholarship, particularly through the Catechetical School, which produced influential theologians such as Clement of Alexandria (c. AD 150-215).
Modern day Alexandria in Egypt. It quickly became a centre of early Christianity, known for its theological scholarship, particularly through the Catechetical School
After the Edict of Milan in AD 313, which granted religious tolerance to Christians in the Roman Empire, Christianity flourished in Egypt.
The Muslim conquest of Egypt led by Amr ibn al-As culminated with the surrender of Alexandria in about AD 641.
This marked the beginning of the decline of Christianity in the region. Although Christians were initially granted the status of dhimmis (non-Muslims under Islamic protection), subject to a special tax (jizya), gradual Islamisation occurred over the following centuries.
By the 10th century, Muslims formed the majority, although significant Christian communities persisted. Today, Coptic Christians represent around ten per cent of Egypt’s population.
S. W. Alexander, London E12
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