Remembering The Seventies
Do you remember the 70s? Lots of things were happening with our nation celebrating its 200th birthday and the end of the Vietnam War. In politics, the resignation of Richard Nixon who won the 1972 election in a landslide over Watergate was big news. The election of Jimmy Carter made news in 1976.
In 1979, 52 Americans were held hostage in Tehran. The new fitness craze was started in this decade was coming on strong. While all his was going on, the radio was playing music for us to listen to.
This decade had some new artists to come on the scene and here are a few of them; Blonde, Debbie Boone, Davie Bowie, Bread, Carpenters, Donnie Osmond, Captain & Tennille, and Daryl Hall & John Oates and a lot more.
With over a 1,000 records being released in the decade, a thought came to my mind, what were best songs of the 70’s according to popularity. So, I began my research.
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Researching The 70’s
We needed a source to establish the rankings of all the songs that were popular on the radio during this period. I used the following source for this chart: Joel Whitburn’s Pop Singles Annual 1955-1986. It uses airplay and sales to determine the rankings. This source was used to determine the rankings of the most popular songs from 1970-1979.
Next, we needed to follow some criteria to determine how to rank the most popular songs of this era. The following criteria used:
- Peak position
- Number of weeks at the peak position
- Number of weeks charted in the Top 10
- Number of weeks charted in the Top 40
- Total weeks charted
With this information, we can compile the top 100 songs of all time for the 70’s. In my opinion, this is a fair way to rank the songs.
Some Interesting Facts
- The year of 1974, had only 4 songs to chart in the top 100.
- The year of 1974, did not have a song to rank in the top 40. It’s first hit came in at number 49.
- The song of longevity was “December 1963 (Oh, What a Night)” by the 4 Seasons with 54 weeks on the chart.
- The year of 1970, had the most songs on the chart with 14.
- The Bee Gees had the most songs in the top 100 list with six.
- The number one song for the decade was You Light Up My Life by Debbie Boone, for ten weeks.
- There were a total of 253 songs in this era that peaked at the #1 position.
- Every song in the top 100 was a number 1 hit and stayed at #1 for two weeks or more.
- For a song to be in the top ten, it had to be number 1 for 6 weeks.
- For a song to make the top 40, it had to be #1 for 3 weeks.
The 70s Top 100
The songs will be listed in order from 1 to 100 by title, artist, year released and number of weeks at #1 (). Note: A song with an (I) after it’s title denotes an instrumental.
Here are the rankings of the 70s most popular songs:
1. You Light Up My Life / Debbie Boone 1977 (10)
2. Night Fever / Bee Gees 1978 (8)
3. Tonight’s The Night / Rod Stewart 1976 (8)
4. Shadow Dancing / Andy Gibb 1978 (7)
5. Le Freak / Chic 1978 (6)
6. My Sharona / The Knack 1979 (6)
7. The First Time I Ever Saw Your Face / Roberta Flack 1972 (6)
8. Alone Again (Naturally) / Gilbert O’Sullivan 1972 (6)
9. Joy To The World / Three Dog Night 1971 (6)
10. Bridge Over Troubled Water / Simon & Garfunkel 1970 (6)
11. Best Of My Love / Emotions 1977 (5)
12. I’ll Be There / The Jackson 5 1970 (5)
13. Silly Love Songs / Wings 1976 (5)
14. Maggie Way / Rod Steward 1971 (5)
15. Bad Girls / Donna Summer 1979 (5)
16. It’s Too Late / Carole King 1971 (5)
17. Killing Me Softly With His Song / Roberta Flack 1973 (5)
18. One Bad Apple / The Osmonds 1971 (5)
19. I Just Wanted To Be Your Everything / Andy Gibb 1977 (4)
20. Stayin’ Alive / Bee Gees 1978 (4)
21. Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head / B.J. Thomas 1970 (4)
22. Da Ya Think I’m Sexy? / Rod Stewart 1979 (4)
23. Kiss You All Over /Exile 1978 (4)
24. Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree / Tony Orlando & Dawn 1973 (4)
25. American Pie – Parts I & II / Don McLean 1972 (4)
26. Close To You / Carpenters 1970 (4)
27. Reunited / Peaches & Herb 1979 (4)
28. How Can You Mend A Broken Heart / The Bee Gees 1971 (4)
29. My Sweet Lord / George Harrison 1970 (4)
30. My Love / Paul McCartney & Wings 1973 (4)
31. Without You / Nilsson 1972 (4)
32. Don’t Go Breaking My Heart / Elton John & Kike Dee 1976 (4)
33. I Can See Clearly Now / Johnny Nash 1972 (4)
34. Disco Lady / Johnny Taylor 1976 (4)
35. Love Will Keep Us Together / The Captain & Tennille 1975(4)
36. How Deep Is Your Love / The Bee Gees 1977 (3)
37. Hot Stuff / Donna Summer 1979 (3)
38. Evergreen / Barbra Streisand 1977 (3)
39. I Will Survive / Gloria Gaynor 1979 (3)
40. Googie Oogie Oogie / A Taste Of Honey 1978 (3)
41. I Think I Love You / The Partridge Family 1970 (3)
42. Knock Three Times / Dawn 1971 (3)
43. You’re So Vain / Carly Simon 1973 (3)
44. Play That Funky Music / Wild Cherry 1976 (3)
45. Babe Come Back / Player 1978 (3)
46. Escape (The Pina Colada Song) / Rupert Holmes 1979 (3)
47. Brand New Key / Melanie 1971 (3)
48. A Horse With No Name / America 1972 (3)
49. The Way We Were / Barbra Streisand 1974 (3)
50. MacArthur Park / Donna Summer 1978 (3)
51. Crocodile Rock / Elton John 1973 (3)
52. Baby Don’t Get Hooked On Me / Mac Davis 1973 (3)
53. Go Away Little Girl / Donny Osmond 1971 (3)
54. Family Affair / Sly & The Family Stone 1971 (3)
55. Ain’t No Mountain High Enough / Diana Ross 1970 (3)
56. Seasons In The Sun / Terry Jacks 1974 (3)
57. Me And Mrs. Jones / Billy Paul 1972 (3)
58. American Woman / The Guess Who 1970 (3)
59. Sir Duke / Stevie Wonder 1977 (3)
60. War / Edwin Starr 1970 (3)
61. The Streak / Ray Stevens 1974 (3)
62. The Candy Man / Sammy Davis, Jr. 1972 (3)
63. Lean On Me / Bill Withers 1972 (3)
64. Fly Robin, Fly (I) / Silver Convention 1975 (3)
65. Island Girl / Elton John 1975 (3)
66. December, 1963 (Oh, What A Night) The 4 Seasons 1976 (3)
67. 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover / Paul Simon 1976 (3)
68. (You’re) Have My Baby / Paul Anka 1974 (3)
69. He Don’t Love You (Like I Love You) / Tony Orlando & Dawn 1975 (3)
70. Bad Blood / Neil Sedaka 1975 (3)
71. Let’s Get It On / Marvin Gaye 1973 (2)
72. (Love Is) Thicker Than Water / Andy Gibb 1978 (2)
73. Three Times A Lady / Commodores 1978 (2)
74. Ring My Bell / Anita Ward 1979 (2)
75. Babe / Styx 1979 (2)
76. Let It Be / The Beatles 1970 (2)
77. Torn Between Two Lovers / Mary MacGregor 1977 (2)
78. Keep On Truckin’ (Part I) / Eddie Kendricks 1973 (2)
79. You Don’t Bring Me Flowers / Barbra Streisand & Neil Diamond 1978 (2)
80. The Tears Of A Clown / Smokey Robinson & The Miracles 1970 (2)
81. Rhinestone Cowboy / Glen Campbell 1975 (2)
82. Kiss And Say Goodbye / Manhattans 1976 (2)
83. Philadelphia Freedom / The Elton John Band 1975 (2)
84. If You Leave Me Now / Chicago 1976 (2)
85. Too Much Heaven / Bee Gees 1979 (2)
86. Midnight Train To Georgia / Gladys Knight & The Pips 1973 (2)
87. Rise (I) / Herb Alpert 1979 (2)
88. Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves / Cher 1971 (2)
89. Tragedy / Bee Gees 1979 (2)
90. Love Hangover / Diana Ross 1976 (2)
91. That’s The Way (I Like It) / KC & The Sunshine Band 1975 (2)
92. Just My Imagination / The Temptations 1971 (2)
93. Mama Told Me (Not To Come) / Three Dog Night 1970 (2)
94. No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) / Barbra Streisand & Donna Summer 1979 (2)
95. ABC / The Jackson 5 1970 (2)
96. The Love You Save / The Jackson 5 1970 (2)
97. Theme From Shaft / Isaac Hayes 1971 (2)
98. Bad, Bad Leroy Brown / Jim Croce 1973 (2)
99. Top Of The World / Carpenters 1973 (2)
100. Grease / Frankie Valli 1978 (2)
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