I Can't Tell the Bottom from the Top

1970 single by the Hollies

"I Can't Tell the Bottom from the Top"

Cover of the single released in the Netherlands

Single by The Hollies

B-side

"Mad Professor Blyth"

Released

10 April 1970 (1970-04-10)

Recorded

9–13 March 1970

Studio

EMI Studios, London

Genre

Pop rock

Length

3:50

Label

Parlophone
Epic

Songwriter(s)

Guy Fletcher
Doug Flett

Producer(s)

Ron Richards

The Hollies singles chronology

"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother"
(1969)

"I Can't Tell the Bottom from the Top"
(1970)

"Gasoline Alley Bred"
(1970)

"I Can't Tell the Bottom from the Top" is a song by rock group the Hollies, released in April 1970 as a single. It peaked at number 7 on the UK Singles Chart.^[1]

Recording and reception

"I Can't Tell the Bottom from the Top" was recorded at Abbey Road Studios, from 9 to 13 March 1970.^[2] Elton John, who was working as a session musician at that time, played piano on the song.^[3]

Reviewing for Melody Maker, Chris Welch wrote that "the Hollies drone on with implacable solemnity and it's nice to hear their individual vocal harmonies again and Bobby Elliot's drumming.^[4] In Cash Box, it was described as a "slowly building ballad with more of the drama of “Reflections of My Life” than the Hollies' “He Ain't Heavy,” this new side from the team features the same kind of emotional impact that guarantees satisfaction for old and new-found Hollies followers".^[5] Record World called it " a low-key starter which builds and builds."^[6]

Charts

Chart (1970)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)^[7]	16
Belgium (Ultratop 50 Wallonia)^[8]	44
Canada Top Singles (RPM)^[9]	48
Germany (Official German Charts)^[10]	25
Ireland (IRMA)^[11]	8
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)^[12]	10
Netherlands (Single Top 100)^[13]	9
New Zealand (Listener)^[14]	12
South Africa (Springbok Radio)^[15]	14
UK Singles (OCC)^[1]	7
US Billboard Hot 100^[16]	82
US Cash Box Top 100^[17]	64

References

^ ^a ^b "Hollies: Artist Chart History". Official Charts Company.
^ Changin' Times: The Complete Hollies January 1969 - March 1973 (booklet). Parlophone. 2015. 0825646336111.
^ White, Timothy; Rosen, Craig (4 October 1997). "Elton John, 30 years of music with Bernie Taupin". Billboard. p. 43.
^ "New Pop Singles" (PDF). Melody Maker. 18 April 1970. p. 28. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
^ "Singles Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 9 May 1970. p. 32. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
^ "Single Reviews" (PDF). Record World. May 16, 1970. p. 1. Retrieved 2023-04-28.
^ "The Hollies – I Can't Tell the Top from the Bottom" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50.
^ "The Hollies – I Can't Tell the Top from the Bottom" (in French). Ultratop 50.
^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 3817." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
^ "The Hollies – I Can't Tell the Top from the Bottom" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
^ "The Irish Charts – Search Results – I Can't Tell the Top from the Bottom". Irish Singles Chart.
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – The Hollies" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40.
^ "The Hollies – I Can't Tell the Top from the Bottom" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
^ "flavour of new zealand - search listener". www.flavourofnz.co.nz. Retrieved 2021-07-22.
^ "SA Charts 1969–March 1989". Retrieved 22 July 2021.
^ "The Hollies Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles – Week ending June 27, 1970". Cash Box magazine. Retrieved 22 July 2021.