Tuesday, July 4, 2023

The Top 300 #1 Hits of the '70's

Inspired by the Sirius XM 4th of July Countdown, playing back The Top 1000 Favorite Songs of the '70's as voted on by their listeners, we've decided to finally honor the numerous requests we've received over the last few years and countdown The Top 300 #1 Records of the '70's.

Much as we did for our #1's Countdown of The Beatle Years ...

http://forgottenhits.com/the_top_200_1_hits_of_the_beatles_era_1964_-_1970

We're counting down The Biggest #1 Hits, 1970 - 1979, by the ACCUMULATED total number of weeks spent at #1 between the three major trade publications at the time:  Billboard, Cash Box and Record World.

As such, you'll see some titles on this list that did NOT make it to #1 in Billboard, the list most commonly used as "The Music Bible."  (116 titles in all, as a matter of fact!)

We feel that this list gives you a much better cross-section of how popular these tunes really were during this decade.  (In all, 369 tunes made it to the top spot between the three trades ... we're counting down The Top 300 of them today.)

This list will eventually find its way to the other Forgotten Hits Website, where it will be permanently posted, much as The Top 200 #1 Records of The Beatle Years resides today.

I can tell you that only FOUR records accumulated 20 weeks or more at the top of the chart ... and the #1 Record of the '70's won by a landslide ... 31 total weeks on top vs. 24 for the #2 Runner-Up.

Remember ... this list is NOT a representation of The Biggest Hits of the '70's ... several records that spent more weeks in The Top Ten without ever reaching the #1 position would rank higher than many of the titles shown here ... but are not represented at all simply because they never officially hit #1 in any of the three major trades. 

This list ONLY shows you The Top 300 #1 Hits.

(Remember ... because The Beatle Years countdown also included 1970, the last year The Fab Four were still earning #1 Hits, you will see some repetition of the 1970 #1's.  But the decade is what the decade was.)

Enjoy!

THE TOP 300 #1 HITS of the '70's

    1 You Light Up My Life - Debby Boone 1977
    2 Night Fever - The Bee Gees 1978
    3 Shadow Dancing - Andy Gibb 1978
    4 Le Freak - Chic 1978
    5 Tonight's The Night - Rod Stewart 1976
    6 Joy To The World - Three Dog Night 1971
    7 My Sharona - The  Knack 1979
    8 The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face - Roberta Flack 1972
    9 Stayin' Alive - The Bee Gees 1978
  10 Do Ya Think I'm Sexy - Rod Stewart 1979
  11 Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkel 1970
  12 Alone Again, Naturally - Gilbert O'Sullivan 1972
  13 My Love - Paul McCartney and Wings 1973
  14 American Pie - Don McLean 1972
  15 One Bad Apple - The Osmonds 1971
  16 Don't Go Breaking My Heart - Elton John and Kiki Dee 1976
  17 Reunited - Peaches and Herb 1979
  18 Hot Stuff - Donna Summer 1979
  19 Bad Girls - Donna Summer 1979
  20 I Just Want To Be Your Everything - Andy Gibb 1977
  21 It's Too Late - Carole King 1971
  22 My Sweet Lord - George Harrison 1970
  23 Silly Love Songs - Paul McCartney and Wings 1976
  24 I'll Be There - The Jackson Five 1970
  25 Best Of My Love - The Emotions 1977
  26 Three Times A Lady - The Commodores 1978
  27 Killing Me Softly With His Song - Roberta Flack 1973
  28 Escape - Rupert Holmes 1979
  29 I Think I Love You - The Partridge Family 1970
  30 Love Will Keep Us Together - The Captain and Tennille 1975
  31 Let It Be - The Beatles 1970
  32 Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head - B.J. Thomas 1970
  33 Maggie May - Rod Stewart 1971
  34 A Horse With No Name - America 1972
  35 Knock Three Times - Dawn 1971
  36 Kiss You All Over - Exile 1978
  37 Disco Lady - Johnnie Taylor 1976
  38 Torn Between Two Lovers - Mary MacGregor 1977
  39 Family Affair - Sly and the Family Stone 1971
  40 Close To You - The Carpenters 1970
  41 Without You - Nilsson 1972
  42 Afternoon Delight - The Starland Vocal Band 1976
  43 Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round The Ole Oak Tree - Dawn 1973
  44 Seasons In The Sun - Terry Jacks 1974
  45 Evergreen - Barbra Streisand 1977
  46 That's The Way I Like It - KC and the Sunshine Band 1975
  47 Sad Eyes - Robert John 1979
  48 Hot Child In The City - Nick Gilder 1978
  49 How Can You Mend A Broken Heart - The Bee Gees 1971
  50 Island Girl - Elton John 1975
  51 Mama Told Me Not To Come - Three Dog Night 1970
  52 Crocodile Rock - Elton John 1973
  53 Venus - Shocking Blue 1970
  54 How Deep Is Your Love - Bee Gees 1977
  55 Babe - Styx 1979
  56 You Don't Bring Me Flowers - Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond 1978
  57 Philadelphia Freedom - Elton John 1975
  58 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover - Paul Simon 1976
  59 Play That Funky Music - Wild Cherry 1976
  60 Boogie Oogie Oogie - A Taste Of Honey 1978
  61 MacArthur Park - Donna Summer 1978
  62 Tragedy - Bee Gees 1979
  63 Me And Mrs. Jones - Billy Paul 1972
  64 When I Need You - Leo Sayer 1977
  65 Convoy - C.W. McCall 1976
  66 You're So Vain - Carly Simon 1973
  67 American Woman - The Guess Who 1970
  68 The Long And Winding Road - The Beatles 1970
  69 War - Edwin Starr 1970
  70 Brand New Key - Melanie 1971
  71 Having My Baby - Paul Anka 1974
  72 Bad Blood - Neil Sedaka 1975
  73 Theme from "Shaft" - Isaac Hayes 1971
  74 Rich Girl- Daryl Hall and John Oates 1977
  75 Lean On Me - Bill Withers 1972
  76 My Ding-A-Ling - Chuck Berry 1972
  77 TSOP - MFSB 1974
  78 Sir Duke - Stevie Wonder 1977
  79 Disco Duck - Rick Dees 1976
  80 Undercover Angel - Alan O'Day 1977
  81 The Candy Man - Sammy Davis, Jr. 1972
  82 I Can See Clearly Now - Johnny Nash 1972
  83 The Most Beautiful Girl - Charlie Rich 1973
  84 No More Tears - Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer 1979
  85 The Streak - Ray Stevens 1974
  86 I Honestly Love You - Olivia Newton-John 1974
  87 Star Wars Theme / Cantina Band - Meco 1977
  88 Ring My Bell - Anita Ward 1979
  89 Get Down Tonight - KC and the Sunshine Band 1975
  90 December, 1963 - The Four Seasons 1976
  91 Baby Come Back - Player 1978
  92 Brown Sugar - The Rolling Stones 1971
  93 Superstition - Stevie Wonder 1973
  94 Fame - David Bowie 1975
  95 Jive Talkin' - The Bee Gees 1975
  96 ABC - The Jackson Five 1970
  97 If You Leave Me Now - Chicago 1976
  98 I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor 1979
  99 Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds - Elton John 1975
100 He Don't Love You - Tony Orlando and Dawn 1975
101 Grease - Frankie Valli 1978
102 Let's Get It On - Marvin Gaye 1973
103 Thank You Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin- Sly and the Family Stone 1970
104 Indian Reservation - The Raiders 1971
105 The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia - Vicki Lawrence 1973
106 Welcome Back - John Sebastian 1976
107 Ain't No Mountain High Enough - Diana Ross 1970
108 With A Little Luck - Paul McCartney and Wings 1978
109 Rise - Herb Alpert 1979
110 Car Wash - Rose Royce 1977
111 Fly Robin Fly - The Silver Connection 1975
112 Want Ads - Honey Cone 1971
113 The Love You Save - The Jackson Five 1970
114 The Way We Were - Barbra Streisand 1974
115 Baby Don't Get Hooked On Me - Mac Davis 1972
116 Gypsys, Tramps And Thieves - Cher 1971
117 Delta Dawn - Helen Reddy 1973
118 Kiss And Say Goodbye - The Manhattans 1976
119 Midnight Train To Georgia - Gladys Knight and the Pips 1973
120 Spirit In The Sky - Norman Greenbaum 1970
121 Just My Imagination - The Temptations 1971
122 Oh Girl - The Chi-Lites 1972
123 What A Fool Believes - The Doobie Brothers 1979
124 Angie - The Rolling Stones 1973
125 Bad, Bad Leroy Brown - Jim Croce 1973
126 Hooked On A Feelign - Blue Swede 1974
127 Band On The Run - Paul McCartney and Wings 1974
128 Rhinestone Cowboy - Glen Campbell 1975
129 You Don't Have To Be A Star - Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis, Jr. 1977
130 Go Away Little Girl - Donny Osmond 1971
131 Photograph - Ringo Starr 1973
132 Billy, Don't Be A Hero - Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods 1974
133 Listen To What The Man Said - Paul McCartney and Wings 1975
134 Time In A Bottle - Jim Croce 1973
135 Song Sung Blue - Neil Diamond 1972
136 Da Doo Ron Ron - Shaun Cassidy 1977
137 Love Is Thicker Than Water - Andy Gibb 1978
138 The Loco-Motion - Grand Funk 1974
139 Black And White - Three Dog Night 1972
140 Rock Your Baby - George McCrae 1974
141 I Am Woman - Helen Reddy 1972
142 I Shot The Sheriff - Eric Clapton 1974
143 I Can Help - Billy Swan 1974
144 I'll Take You There - The Staple Singers 1972
145 Give Me Love - George Harrison 1973
146 Kung Fu Fighting - Carl Douglas 1974
147 Frankenstein - The Edgar Winter Group 1973
148 Love Hangover - Diana Ross 1976
149 Half-Breed - Cher 1973
150 Keep On Truckin' - Eddie Kendricks 1973
151 Theme from "S.W.A.T." - Rhythm Heritage 1976
152 Annie's Song - John Denver 1974
153 Lady Marmalade - LaBelle 1975
154 Hotel California - The Eagles 1977
155 Dancing Queen - ABBA 1977
156 You're No Good - Linda Ronstadt 1975
157 The Joker - The Steve Miller Band 1974
158 Rock The Boat - The Hues Corporation 1974
159 Sundown - Gordon Lightfoot 1974
160 Make It With You - Bread 1970
161 You're Sixteen - Ringo Starr 1974
162 Love's Theme - The Love Unlimited Orchestra 1974
163 Dreams - Fleetwood Mac 1977
164 We Are The Champions - Queen 1978
165 Miss You - The Rolling Stones 1978
166 Let's Stay Together - Al Green 1972
167 Cat's In The Cradle - Harry Chapin 1974
168 Bennie And The Jets - Elton John 1974
169 You Ain't Seen Nothin' Yet - Bachman-Turner Overdrive 1974
170 The Tears Of A Clown - Smokey Robinson and the Miracles 1970
171 Nights In White Satin - The Moody Blues 1972
172 Love Train - The O'Jays 1973
173 One Of These Nights - The Eagles 1975
174 Rock 'n Me - The Steve Miller Band 1976
175 Blinded By The Light - Manfred Mann's Earth Band 1977
176 Heartache Tonight - The Eagles 1979
177 You Are The Sunshine Of My Life - Stevie Wonder 1973
178 Brother Louie - Sories 1973
179 We're An American Band - Grand Funk Railroad 1973
180 Jackie Blue - The Ozark Mountain Daredevils 1975
181 Fallin' In Love - Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds 1975
182 Hey, Won't You Play Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song - B.J. Thomas 1975
183 Mandy - Barry Manilow 1975
184 Cracklin' Rosie - Neil Diamond 1970
185 Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast - Wayne Newton 1972
186 Will It Go Round In Circles - Billy Preston 1973
187 Everything Is Beautiful - Ray Stevens 1970
188 Me And Bobby McGee - Janis Joplin 1971
189 I Wish - Stevie Wonder 1977
190 Show And Tell - AL Wilson 1974
191 You Make Me Feel Like Dancing - Leo Sayer 1976
192 Southern Nights - Glen Campbell 1977
193 Heart Of Gold - Neil Young 1972
194 Take Me Home, Country Roads - John Denver 1971
195 Top Of The World - The Carpenters 1973
196 Sunshine On My Shoulders - John Denver 1974
197 Feel Like Makin' Love - Roberta Flack 1974
198 Uncle Albert / Admiral Halsey - Paul and Linda McCartney 1971
199 The Morning After - Maureen McGovern 1973
200 Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough - Michael Jackson 1979
201 Then Came You - Dionne Warwick and The Spinners 1974
202 Nothing From Nothing - Billy Preston 1974
203 Can't Get Enough Of Your Love Babe - Barry White 1974
204 My Eyes Adored You - Frankie Valli 1975
205 Shake Your Booty - KC and the Sunshine Band 1976
206 Angie Baby - Helen Reddy 1974
207 Laughter In The Rain - Neil Sedaka 1975
208 Heart Of Glass - Blondie 1979
209 Boogie Fever - The Sylvers 1976
210 Please Mr. Postman - The Carpenters 1975
211 Pick Up The Pieces - The Average White Band 1975
212 Have You Never Been Mellow - Olivia Newton-John 1975
213 Whatever Gets You Thru The Night - John Lennon 1974
214 Lovin' You - Minnie Ripperton 1975
215 Too Much Heaven - The Bee Gees 1977
216 I'm Your Boogie Man - KC and the Sunshine Band 1977
217 Don't Give Up On Us - David Soul 1979
218 I Write The Songs - Barry Manilow 1976
219 The Night Chicago Died - Paper Lace 1974
220 Dueling Banjos - Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell 1973
221 Saturday Night - The Bay City Rollers 1975
222 Theme from "Mahogany" - Diana Ross 1976
223 A Fifth of Beethoven - Walter Murphy 1976
224 Touch Me In The Morning - Diana Ross 1973
225 Fire - Ohio Players 1975
226 You Haven't Done Nothin' - Stevie Wonder 1974
227 Knock On Wood - Amii Stewart 1979
228 Thank God I'm A Country Boy - John Denver 1975
229 The Hustle - Van McCoy 1975
230 Love Machine - The Miracles 1976
231 Shining Star - Earth, Wind And Fire 1975
232 Before The Next Teardrop Falls - Freddy Fender 1975
233 Got To Give It Up - Marvin Gaye 1977
234 I'm Sorry - John Denver 1975
235 Brandy - Looking Glass 1972
236 Long Cool Woman In A Black Dress - The Hollies 1972
237 I'd Love You To Want Me - Lobo 1972
238 Live And Let Die - Paul McCartney and Wings 1973
239 Goodbye Yellow Brick Road - Elton John 1973
240 Rock Me Gently - Andy Kim 1974
241 Jazzman - Carole King 1974
242 Black Water - The Doobie Brothers 1975
243 Sister Golden Hair - America 1975
244 When Will I See You Again - The Three Degrees 1974
245 If I Can't Have You - Yvonne Elliman 1978
246 Baker Street - Gerry Rafferty 1978
247 Don't Let The Sun Go Down On Me - Elton John  1974
248 Too Late To Turn Back Now - Cornelius Brothers and Sister Rose 1972
249 It Don't Come Easy - Ringo Starr 1971
250 I Want You Back - The Jackson Five 1970
251 Everybody Plays The Fool - The Main Ingredient 1972
252 I'll Be Around - The Spinners 1972
253 Could It Be I'm Falling In Love - The Spinners 1973
254 Papa Was A Rollin' Stone- The Temptations 1972
255 You've Got A Friend - James Taylor 1971
256 We've Only Just Begun - The Carpenters 1970
257 Lonely Days - The Bee Gees 1971
258 She's A Lady - Tom Jones 1971
259 Right Back Where We Started From - Maxine Nightingale 1976
260 Too Much, Too Little, Too Late - Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams 1978
261 Spill The Wine - Eric Burdon and War 1970
262 Have You Seen Her - The Chi-Lites 1971
263 Day After Day - Badfinger 1972
264 Precious And Few - Climax 1972
265 Turn Back The Hands Of Time - Tyrone Davis 1970
266 You Should Be Dancing - The Bee Gees 1976
267 You're The One That I Want - John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John 1978
268 Cecilia - Simon and Garfunkel 1970
269 Yo-Yo - The Osmonds 1971
270 I'm Still In Love With You - Al Green 1972
271 Shambala - Three Dog Night 1973
272 Leave Me Alone - Helen Reddy 1973
273 You Make Me Feel Brand New - The Stylistics 1974
274 All By Myself - Eric Carmen 1976
275 Dream Weaver - Gary Wright 1976
276 Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue - Crystal Gayle 1977
277 Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours - Stevie Wonder 1970
278 Lookin' Out My Back Door - Creedence Clearwater Revival 1970
279 Someone Saved My Life Tonight - Elton John 1975
280 Doesn't Somebody Want To Be Wanted - The Partridge Family 1971
281 The Rapper - The Jaggerz 1970
282 Yesterday Once More - The Carpenters 1973
283 Dancing Machine - The Jackson Five 1974
284 Boogie Down - Eddie Kendricks 1974
285 Spanish Harlem - Aretha Franklin 1971
286 Let Your Love Flow - The Bellamy Brothers 1976
287 Gonna Fly Now - Bil Conti 1977
288 Neither One Of Us - Gladys Knight and the Pips 1973
289 Rose Garden - Lynn Anderson 1971
290 The Show Must Go On - Three Dog Night 1974
291 Boogie On Reggae Woman - Stevie Wonder 1975
292 Lonely Night - The Captain and Tennille 1976
293 Get Up And Boogie - Silver Convention 1976
294 Sail On - The Commodores 1979
295 Outa-Space - Billy Preston 1972
296 Higher Ground - Stevie Wonder 1973
297 Heartbeat, It's A Lovebeat - The DeFranco Family 1973
298 Let's Do It Again - The Staple Singers 1975
299 Good Times - Chic 1979
300 Mr. Jaws - Dickie Goodman 1975