Top 100 Instrumentals of the 70s

Instrumentals Begin to Lose Favor

Purely Instrumental 70's No. 1 Hits
Purely Instrumental 70’s No. 1 Hits

The top 100 instrumentals of the 70’s will surprise you in which songs made the chart. This decade saw only 184 instrumentals make the “Billboard Hot 100” charts.

You can check on the other top 100 instrumental charts of the 1940’s, 1950’s & 1960’s.

If you like to purchase any of the songs in the chart, click on the link. You will be taken to the MP3 Music Downloads Top 100 Instrumentals Of The 70s where you can order any missing song in your collection by MP3 download. Some of the selections are only available on vinyl or CD.

This is the decade where instrumentals begin to lose favor with the public and each succeeding decade after the 60’s.

To preserve your 70’s instrumental vinyl records can be converted to the CD format. Click here for more information. I have been doing this for over eleven years and am so glad I did.

National Headlines

Here are some very interesting headlines that happened in this decade:

  • In 1970, four students are killed by National Guardsmen at Kent State university. The first earth day took place with 14,000 schools, colleges and community groups participating.
  • In 1971, Daniel Ellsberg makes public the previously secret Pentagon Papers. President Richard Nixon imposes a 90-day freeze on prices and wages.
  • In 1972, Richard Nixon rolls over George McGovern in his re-election win. The Equal Rights Amendment is approved by congress, but fails to be ratified by enough states to be added to the constitution.
  • In 1973, the Watergate scandal becomes a national spectator sport as millions watch the Watergate hearings. The Supreme Court rules that states may not prohibit abortions during the first six months of pregnancy.
  • In 1974, Richard Nixon becomes the first president to resign from office.
  • In 1975, President Ford escapes two assassination attempts.
  • In 1976, America celebrates its Bicentennial with a coast-to-coast July 4th party. Jimmy Carter edges Ford in the election to become president.
  • In 1977, President Jimmy Carter pardons Vietnam draft resistors. Elvis Presley dies at the age of 42.
  • In 1978, California slashes property taxes by 60 percent through the adoption of Proposition 13. The mayor and city supervisor of San Francisco are murdered.
  • In 1979, A leak of radioactive steam at the Three Mile Island power plant, near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, is the worst nuclear accident in U.S. history. Oil prices are up 50%, worsening U.S. inflation are the news prior to the 1980 elections.

1970-1979 Trivia

Here are some interesting trivia facts for the top 100 of the seventies:

  • There were 11 songs that reached the #1 position in the decade.
  • There are a total of 81 different artists that charted an instrumental song on the chart.
  • The top artists for the decade are Billy Preston, John Williams and The Love Unlimited Orchestra all tied with 3 songs on the chart.
  • The years of 1978 and 1979, both tied with the least number of songs on the chart with 5.
  • The year of 1975, had the most songs on the chart with 18.
  • To make the top 100 chart, the song had to peak at position #57 or higher.
  • The record of longevity goes to A Fifth Of Beethoven” #5, by Walter Murphy, with 28 weeks on the Hot 100 Chart.
  • To make the top 40, the song had to peak at position #22 or higher.
  • To make the top 10, the song had to peak at the #1 position.

New Chart

We have just released a new chart which is the top ten instrumentals of the seventies. Just click on the link and you will be taken to the top ten countdown of the best selling instrumentals of the seventies. There is wonderful information about each song and the artist that recorded it.

Love Songs of the 70's
Love Songs of the 70’s

The Charts and Resources Used for the Rankings

Below is a list of the charts and resources used to compile the top 100 instrumentals of the seventies:

  • Billboard’s Hot 100
  • “Pop Annual 1955-2011, 8th Edition“, by Joel Whitburn.

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The Top 100 Instrumental’s of the 70s

Below is the complete list of the top 100 songs from 1970-1979 showing the Title/Artist, Peak Position #, Weeks at Peak Position (), Year of Release

Rank     Title/Artist Peak Position #/Peak Weeks ()/Year

  1. Fly, Robin, Fly / Silver Convention #1 (3) 1975
  2. Rise / Herb Alpert #1 (2) 1979
  3. TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia / MFSB-Three Degrees #1 (2) 1974
  4. Star Wars Theme / Meco #1 (2) 1977
  5. A Fifth Of Beethoven / Walter Murphy #1 (1) 1976
  6. Gonna Fly Now / Bill Conti #1 (1) 1977
  7. Love’s Theme / Love Unlimited Orchestra #1 (1) 1974
  8. Frankenstein / Edgar Winter Group #1 (1) 1973
  9. Pick Up The Pieces / Average White Band #1 (1) 1975
  10. The Hustle / Van McCoy #1 (1) 1975
  11. Theme From S.W.A.T. / Rhythm Heritage #1 (1) 1976
  12. Dueling Banjos / Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell #2 (4) 1973
  13. Outa-Space / Billy Preston #2 (1) 1972
  14. Also Sprach Zarathustra (2001) / Deodato #2 (1) 1973
  15. The Entertainer / Marvin Hamlisch #3 (2) 1974
  16. Music Box Dancer / Frank Mills #3 (1) 1979
  17. Express / B. T. Express #4 (3) 1975
  18. Space Race / Billy Preston #4 (2) 1973
  19. Feels So Good / Chuck Mangione #4 (1) 1978
  20. Scorpio / Dennis Coffey #6 (3) 1972
  21. Joy / Apollo 100 #6 (1) 1972
  22. Rock And Roll Part 2 / Gary Glitter #7 (2) 1972
  23. Tubular Bells / Mike Oldfield #7 (1) 1974
  24. Nadia’s Theme / Barry DeVorzon & Perry Botkin Jr. #8 (2) 1976
  25. Hocus Pocus / Focus #9 (2) 1973
  26. Popcorn / Hot Butter #9 (1) 1972
  27. The Rockford Files / Mike Post #10 (2) 1975
  28. Dynomite Part I / Bazuka #10 (1) 1975
  29. Midnight Cowboy / Ferrante & Teicher #10 (1) 1970
  30. Star Wars (Main Title) / John Williams #10 (1) 1977
  31. Amazing Grace / Royal Scots Dragon Guard #11 (1) 1972
  32. Theme From Close Encounters Of The 3rd Kind / John Williams #13 (2) 1978
  33. Theme From Love Story / Henry Mancini #13 (2) 1971
  34. Movin’ / Brass Construction #14 (1) 1976
  35. Overture From Tommy / Assembled Multitude #16 (2) 1970
  36. Tarus / Dennis Coffey / #18 (2) 1972
  37. Tangerine / The Salsoul Orchestra #18 (1) 1976
  38. Theme From The Summer Of 42 / Peter Nero #21 (2) 1971
  39. Machine Gun / The Commodores #22 (2) 1974
  40. Strutin’ / Billy Preston #22 (2) 1975
  41. Satin Soul / The Love Unlimited Orchestra #22 (2) 1975
  42. Double Barrel / Dave & Ansil Collins #22 (1) 1971
  43. Morning Dance / Spyro Gyra #24 (2) 1979
  44. Disco Lucy (I Love Lucy Theme) / Walton Place Street Band #24 (2) 1977
  45. Ain’t It Funky Now / James Brown #24 (1) 1970
  46. Theme From Close Encounters / Meco #25 (2) 1978
  47. Autobahn / Kraftwerk #25 (1) 1975
  48. Gonna Fly Now (Theme From Rocky) / Maynard Ferguson #28 (1) 1977
  49. Viva Tirado – Part I / El Chicano #28 (1) 1970
  50. Cool Aid / Paul Humphrey #29 (1) 1971
  51. Theme From Love Story / Francis Lai #31 (2) 1971
  52. Airport Love Theme / Vincent Bell #31 (1) 1970
  53. Slide / Slave #32 (2) 1977
  54. Main Title (Theme From Jaws) / John Williams #31 (2) 1975
  55. Chase / Glorgio Moroder #33 (1) 1979
  56. Let’s All Chant / Michael Zager Band #36 (1) 1978
  57. Love In ‘C’ Minor / Cerrone #36 (1) 1977
  58. Booty Butt / Ray Charles Orchestra #36 (1) 1971
  59. Theme From The Men / Isaac Hayes #38 (1) 1972
  60. Spring Rain / Silvetti #39 (1) 1977
  61. K-Jee / The Nite-Liters #39 (1) 1971
  62. The Homecoming / Hagood Hardy #41 (1) 1976
  63. Rhapsody In Blue / Deodato #41 (1) 1973
  64. Dancin’ / Crown Heights Affair #42 (1) 1977
  65. Chameleon / Herbie Hancock #42 (1) 1974
  66. Sexy / MFSB #42 (1) 1975
  67. El Bimbo / Bimbo Jet #43 (1) 1975
  68. Flight 76 / Walter Murphy #44 (3) 1976
  69. Honky Tonk Part I / James Brown #44 (2) 1972
  70. Sun Goddess / Ramsey Lewis & Earth, Wind & Fire #44 (2) 1975
  71. Cocomotion / El Coco #44 (1) 1978
  72. O-H-I-O / Ohio Players #45 (2) 1977
  73. Melting Pot / Booker T & The M. G’s #45 (1) 1971
  74. Theme From Charlie’s Angles / Henry Mancini #45 (1) 1977
  75. Walk In The Night / Jr. Walker/The All Stars #46 (2) 1972
  76. Hard Work / John Handy #46 (1) 1976
  77. Love In ‘C’ Minor / Heart & Soul Orchestra #46 (1) 1977
  78. Soul Makossa / Afrique #47 (2) 1973
  79. Let’s Stay Together / Isaac Hayes #48 (2) 1972
  80. My Sweet Summer Suite / The Love Unlimited Orchestra #48 (1) 1976
  81. Peter Piper / Frank Mills #48 (1) 1979
  82. Afro-Strut / The Nite-Liters #49 (2) 1972
  83. Dance With The Devil / Cozy Powell #49 (1) 1974
  84. Hot Dawgit / Ramsey Lewis & Earth, Wind & Fire #50 (2) 1975
  85. Chicken Strut / The Meters #50 (1) 1970
  86. Ha Cha Ha / Brass Construction #51 (1) 1977
  87. Put It Where You Want It / The Crusaders #52 (1) 1972
  88. Sister James / Nino Temp0 & 5th Ave. Sax #53 (1) 1973
  89. Mister Magic / Grover Washington Jr. #54 (1) 1975
  90. Caribbean Festival / Kool & The Gang #55 (2) 1975
  91. Oh Well / Fleetwood Mac #55 (1) 1970
  92. Manhattan Spiritual / Mike Post #56 (2) 1975
  93. Look Ka Py Py / The Meters #56 (1) 1970
  94. Black Fox / Freddy Robinson #56 (1) 1970
  95. Brian’s Song / Michel LeGrand #56 (1) 1972
  96. Street Talk / B.C.G. (G. C. Generation) #56 (1) 1976
  97. Money Runner / Quincy Jones #57 (1) 1972
  98. Bongo Rock / The Incredible Bongo Band #57 (1) 1973
  99. “Roots” Medley / Quincy Jones #57 (1) 1977
  100. Summer of ’42 / Biddu Orchestra #57 (1) 1975

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