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 |