The Billboard #1 Hits
From
1971-1976

 

Perhaps you want to compile a CD of hit songs to listen to while in your 1971-1976 automobile, or perhaps you're wondering which 8-tracks you should buy to throw in that still-functioning 8-track player in your car.  Well, most of these songs are probably available on 8-track, and aside from looking cool and being cheap, you can also impress any passengers in your car when you throw in an 8-track and  inform them that they're listening to music that was new the same year your car was new.  Your passengers will be really impressed...well, they should be, but if your friends are like mine they'll just look at you funny and call you stupid...and that's when you stop the car, pretend like there's a problem, and as soon as they get out to help, you hit the gas and leave them standing there.  NOW who looks stupid?

At any rate, regardless of why you've ended up on this page, hopefully you'll find it interesting to see what music was popular the same time our 1971-1976 Fullsize GM automobiles were brand new.

Select a Year:

1971

1972

1973

1974

1975

1976

Pointless Miscellaneous Facts for the Trivial Dork in All of Us:

  • Rod Stewart's "Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)" (1976) remained at #1 for 8 weeks, the longest time span of any song from 1971-1976.
  • 1974 and 1975 had the most #1 Hits with 35 each year.
  • 1971 had the fewest number of #1 Hits with only 18 that year.
  • The Artist with the most #1 hits from 1971-1976 was Elton John with six #1 Hits for a total of 15 weeks at #1 (Rod Stewart had only two #1 Hits during this time, but spent 13 weeks total at #1).
  • All four Beatles had at LEAST one #1 Hit as "solo" artists.
  • Michael Jackson still looked normal when his song "Ben" hit #1 in 1972. Ironically, Rod Stewart looked like a woman.
  • According to Billboard, five of the 18 fastest rising songs of all-time hit #1 sometime between 1971-1976.
  • According to Billboard, nine of the 12 songs that took the biggest falls from #1 both rose to and fell from #1 some time between 1971-1976. 1974 holds the record with six of the fastest falling songs of all time.


 

1971

Song Title

Artist

  

Time At #1
Knock Three Times

Dawn

  

3 Weeks
One Bad Apple

The Osmonds

  

5 Weeks
Me and Bobby McGee

Janis Joplin

  

2 Weeks
Just My Imagination (Running Away With Me)

The Temptations

  

2 Weeks
Joy to the World

Three Dog Night

  

6 Weeks
Brown Sugar

The Rolling Stones

  

2 Weeks
Want Ads

The Honey Cone

  

1 Week
It's Too Late/I Feel the Earth Move

Carole King

  

5 Weeks
Indian Reservation

The Raiders

  

1 Week
You've Got a Friend

James Taylor

  

1 Week
How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?

Bee Gees

  

4 Weeks
Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey

Paul and Linda McCartney

  

1 Week
Go Away Little Girl

Donny Osmond

  

3 Weeks
Maggie May/Reason to Believe

Rod Stewart

  

5 Weeks
Gypsys, Tramps and Thieves

Cher

  

2 Weeks
Theme from "Shaft"

Issac Hayes

  

2 Weeks
Family Affair

Sly and the Family Stone

  

3 Weeks
Brand New Key

Melanie

  

3 Weeks
 

Return to the Top

    

 

1972

Song Title

Artist

  

Time at #1
American Pie

Don McLean

  

4 Weeks
Let's Stay Together

Al Green

  

1 Week
Without You

Nilsson

  

4 Weeks
Heart of Gold

Neil Young

  

1 Week
A Horse With No Name

America

  

3 Weeks
The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face

Roberta Flack

  

6 Weeks
Oh Girl

The Chi-Lites

  

1 Week
I'll Take You There

The Staple Singers

  

1 Week
Candy Man

Sammy Davis Jr.

  

3 Weeks
Song Sung Blue

Neil Diamond

  

1 Week
Lean on Me

Bill Withers

  

3 Weeks
Along Again (Naturally)

Gilbert O'Sullivan

  

6 Weeks
Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)

Looking Glass

  

1 Week
Black and White

Three Dog Night

  

1 Week
Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me

Mac Davis

  

3 Weeks
Ben

Michael Jackson

  

1 Week
My Ding-a-Ling

Chuck Berry

  

2 Weeks
I Can See Clearly Now

Johnny Nash

  

4 Weeks
Papa Was a Rolling Stone

The Temptations

  

1 Week
I Am Woman

Helen Reddy

  

1 Week
Me and Mrs. Jones

Billy Paul

  

3 Weeks
 

Return to the Top

    

 

1973

Song Title

Artist

  

Time At #1
You're So Vain

Carly Simon

  

3 Weeks
Superstition

Stevie Wonder

  

1 Week
Crocodile Rock

Elton John

  

3 Weeks
Killing Me Softly With His Song

Roberta Flack

  

5 Weeks
Love Train

The O'Jays

  

1 Week
The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia

Vicki Lawrence

  

2 Weeks
Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree

Dawn

  

4 Weeks
You Are the Sunshine of My Life

Stevie Wonder

  

1 Week
Frankenstein

Edgar Winter Group

  

1 Week
My Love

Paul McCartney and Wings

  

4 Weeks
Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)

George Harrison

  

1 Week
Will it Go Round in Circles

Billy Preston

  

2 Weeks
Bad, Bad Leroy Brown

Jim Croce

  

2 Weeks
The Morning After

Maureen McGovern

  

2 Weeks
Touch Me in the Morning

Diana Ross

  

1 Week
Brother Louie

Stories

  

2 Weeks
Let's Get It On

Marvin Gaye

  

2 Weeks
Delta Dawn

Helen Reddy

  

1 Week
We're an American Band

Grand Funk

  

1 Week
Half-Breed

Cher

  

2 Weeks
Angie

The Rolling Stones

  

1 Week
Midnight Train to Georgia

Gladys Knight and the Pips

  

2 Weeks
Keep on Truckin'

Eddie Kendricks

  

2 Weeks
Photograph

Ringo Starr

  

1 Week
Top of the World

Carpenters

  

2 Weeks
The Most Beautiful Girl

Charlie Rich

  

2 Weeks
Time in a Bottle

Jim Croce

  

2 Weeks
 

Return to the Top

    

 

1974

Song Title

Artist

  

Time At #1
The Joker

Steve Miller Band

  

1 Week
Show and Tell

Al Wilson

  

1 Week
You're Sixteen

Ringo Starr

  

1 Week
The Way We Were

Barbara Streisand

  

3 Weeks
Love's Theme

Love Unlimited Orchestra

  

1 Week
Seasons in the Sun

Terry Jacks

  

3 Weeks
Dark Lady

Cher

  

1 Week
Sunshine on My Shoulders

John Denver

  

1 Week
Hooked on a Feeling

Blue Suede

  

1 Week
Bennie and the Jets

Elton John

  

1 Week
TSOP

MFSB and the Three Degrees

  

2 Weeks
The Loco-Motion

Grand Funk

  

2 Weeks
The Streak

Ray Stevens

  

3 Weeks
Band on the Run

Paul McCartney and Wings

  

1 Week
Billy, Don't Be a Hero

Bo Donaldson and the Heywoods

  

2 Weeks
Sundown

Gordon Lightfoot

  

1 Week
Rock the Boat

Hues Corporation

  

1 Week
Rock Your Baby

George McCrae

  

2 Weeks
Annie's Song

John Denver

  

2 Weeks
Feel Like Makin' Love

Roberta Flack

  

1 Week
The Night Chicago Died

Paper Lace

  

1 Week
(You're) Having My Baby

Paul Anka and Odia Coates

  

3 Weeks
I Shot the Sheriff

Eric Clapton

  

1 Week
Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe

Barry White

  

1 Week
Rock Me Gently

Andy Kim

  

1 Week
I Honestly Love You

Olivia Newton-John

  

2 Weeks
Nothing From Nothing

Billy Preston

  

1 Week
Then Came You

Dionne Warwick and the Spinners

  

1 Week
You Haven't Done Nothin'

Stevie Wonder

  

1 Week
You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet

Bachman-Turner Overdrive

  

1 Week
Whatever Gets You Thru the Night

John Lennon

  

1 Week
I Can Help

Billy Swan

  

2 Weeks
Kung Fu Fighting

Carl Douglas

  

2 Weeks
Cat's in the Cradle

Harry Chapin

  

1 Week
Angie Baby

Helen Reddy

  

1 Week
 

Return to the Top

    

 

1975

Song Title

Artist

  

Time At #1
Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds

Elton John

  

2 Weeks
Mandy

Barry Manilow

  

1 Week
Please Mr. Postman

Carpenters

  

1 Week
Laughter in the Rain

Neil Sedaka

  

1 Week
Fire

Ohio Players

  

1 Week
You're No Good

Linda Ronstadt

  

1 Week
Pick Up The Pieces

Average White Band

  

1 Week
Best of My Love

Eagles

  

1 Week
Have You Never Been Mellow

Olivia Newton-John

  

1 Week
Black Water

Doobie Brothers

  

1 Week
My Eyes Adored You

Frankie Valli

  

1 Week
Lady Marmalade

Labelle

  

1 Week
Lovin' You

Minnie Riperton

  

1 Week
Philadelphia Freedom

The Elton John Band

  

2 Weeks
(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song

B.J. Thomas

  

1 Week
He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)

Tony Orlando and Dawn

  

3 Weeks
Shining Star

Earth, Wind, & Fire

  

1 Week
Before the Next Teardrop Falls

Freddy Fender

  

1 Week
Thank God I'm a Country Boy

John Denver

  

1 Week
Sister Golden Hair

America

  

1 Week
Love Will Keep Us Together

The Captain and Tennille

  

4 Weeks
Listen to What the Man Said

Wings

  

1 Week
The Hustle

Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony

  

1 Week
One of These Nights

Eagles

  

1 Week
Jive Talkin

Bee Gees

  

2 Weeks
Fallin' in Love

Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds

  

1 Week
Get Down Tonight

KC and the Sunshine Band

  

1 Week
Rhinestone Cowboy

Glen Campbell

  

2 Weeks
Fame

David Bowie

  

2 Weeks
I'm Sorry/Calypso

John Denver

  

1 Week
Bad Blood

Neil Sedaka

  

3 Weeks
Island Girl

Elton John

  

3 Weeks
That's That Way (I Like It)

KC and the Sunshine Band.

  

2 Weeks
Fly, Robin, Fly

Silver Convention

  

3 Weeks
Let's Do It Again

The Staple Singers

  

1 Week
 

Return to the Top

    

 

1976

Song Title

Artist

  

Time At #1
Saturday Night

Bay City Rollers

  

1 Week
Convoy

C.W. McCall

  

1 Week
I Write the Songs

Barry Manilow

  

1 Week
Theme from "Mahogany" (Do You Know Where You're Going To)

Diana Ross

  

1 Week
Love Rollercoaster

Ohio Players

  

1 Week
50 Ways to Leave Your Lover

Paul Simon

  

3 Weeks
Theme from "S.W.A.T."

Rhythm Heritage

  

1 Week
Love Machine Pt. 1

The Miracles

  

1 Week
December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)

The Four Seasons

  

3 Weeks
Disco Lady

Johnnie Taylor

  

4 Weeks
Let Your Love Flow

Bellamy Brothers

  

1 Week
Welcome Back

John Sebastian

  

1 Week
Boogie Fever

The Sylvers

  

1 Week
Silly Love Songs

Wings

  

5 Weeks
Love Hangover

Diana Ross

  

2 Weeks
Afternoon Delight

Starland Vocal Band

  

2 Weeks
Kiss and Say Goodbye

Manhattans

  

2 Weeks
Don't Go Breaking My Heart

Elton John and Kiki Dee

  

4 Weeks
You Should Be Dancing

Bee Gees

  

1 Week
(Shake, Shake, Shake) Shake Your Booty

KC and the Sunshine Band

  

1 Week
Play That Funky Music

Wild Cherry

  

3 Weeks
A Fifth of Beethoven

Walter Murphy and the Big Apple Band

  

1 Week
Disco Duck (Part 1)

Rick Dees and His Cast of Idiots

  

1 Week
If You Leave Me Now

Chicago

  

2 Weeks
Rock 'n Me

Steve Miller Band

  

1 Week
Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)

Rod Stewart

  

8 Weeks
 

Return to the Top