Welcome to the best music of the 70s, below I am going to list the number 1 songs in the singles charts here in the UK during the 70’s. I am going to do the list year by year starting with the first no.1 of the decade which was 2 Little Boys by Rolf Harris to the last no.1 of the decade  which was Another Brick In The Wall by Pink Floyd.

During this decade there were some classic tunes that hit the top spot, but there were also a few howlers too as you will see from this list. I call them novelty songs, you will see what I mean.

Best Music Of The 70s

The best music of the 70s wasn’t always the songs that made it to the top of the charts. After I have listed the number 1 songs I am going to add a list of songs that didn’t quite make the top spot. There will be a lot of classic songs which for some reason or other never quite got there.

1970

Okay, let’s get started. I will list the date, the song name and the artist plus how long they stayed at the top. The year will be in the title and of course they all reached number 1. Let’s go. Two Little Boys Was at the top at the start of the decade as it was the christmas no. 1 in 1969.

1. 31st Jan – Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) – Edison Lighthouse – 5 weeks
2. 7th March – Wandrin’ Star – Lee Marvin – 3 weeks
3. 28th March – Bridge Over Troubled Waters – Simon and Garfunkel – 3 weeks
4. 18th April – All Kind Of Everything – Dana – 2 weeks
5. 2nd May – Spirit In The Sky – Norman Greenbaum – 2 weeks
6. 16th May – Back Home – England World Cup Squad – 3 weeks
7. 6th June – Yellow River – Christie – 1 week
8. 13th June – In The Summer Time – Mungo Jerry – 7 weeks
9. 1st Aug – The Wonder Of You – Elvis Presley – 6 weeks
10. 12th Sep – Tears Of A Clown – Smokey Robinson and the Miracles – 1 week
11. 19th Sep – Band Of Gold – Freda Payne – 6 weeks
12. 31st Oct – Woodstock – Matthews’ Southern Comfort – 3 weeks
13. 21st Nov – Voodoo Chile – Jimi Hendrix Experience – 1 week
14. 28th Nov – I Hear You Knockin’ – Dave Edmunds – 6 weeks

 

 

1971

1. 9th Jan – Grandad – Clive Dunn – 3 weeks
2. 30th Jan – My Sweet Lord – George Harrison – 5 weeks
3. 6th Mar – Baby Jump – Mungo Jerry – 2 weeks
4. 20th Mar – Hot Love – T.Rex – 6 weeks
5. 1st May – Double Barrel – Dave and Ansil Collins – 2 weeks
6. 15th May – Knock Three Times – Dawn – 5 weeks
7. 19th June – Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep – Middle of the Road – 5 weeks
8. 24th July – Get It On – T.Rex – 4 weeks
9. 21st Aug – I’m Still Waiting – Diana Ross – 4 weeks
10. 18th Sep – Hey Girl Don’t Bother Me – Tams – 3 weeks
11. 9th Oct – Maggie May – Rod Stewart – 5 weeks
12. 13th Nov – Coz I Luv You – Slade – 4 weeks
13. 11th Dec – Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West) – Benny Hill – 4 weeks

 

 

1972

1. 8th Jan – I’d Like To Teach The World To Sing (In Perfect Harmony) – New Seekers – 4 weeks
2. 5th Feb – Telegram Sam – T.Rex – 2 weeks
3. 19th Feb – Son Of My Father – Chicory Tip – 3 weeks
4. 11th Mar – Without You – Nilsson – 5 weeks
5. 15th Apr – Amazing Grace – Pipes and Drums and Military Band of the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards – 5 weeks
6. 20th May – Metal Guru – T.Rex – 4 weeks
7. 17th June – Vincent – Don McLean – 2 weeks
8. 1st July – Take Me Bak ‘Ome – Slade – 1 week
9. 8th July – Puppy Love – Donny Osmond – 5 weeks
10. 12th Aug – School’s Out – Alice Cooper – 3 weeks
11. 2nd Sep – You Wear It Well – Rod Stewart – 1 week
12. 9th Sep – Mama Weer All Crazee Now – Slade – 3 weeks
13. 30th Sep – How Can I Be Sure – David Cassidy – 2 weeks
14. 14 Oct – Mouldy Old Dough – Lieutenant Pigeon – 4 weeks
15. 11th Nov – Clair – Gilbert O’Sullivan – 2 weeks
16. 25th Nov – My Ding-A-Ling – Chuck Berry – 4 weeks
17. 23rd Dec – Long Haired Lover From Liverpool – Little Jimmy Osmond – 5 weeks

 

 

Best Music Of The 70s

1973

1. 27th Jan – Blockbuster – Sweet – 5 weeks
2. 3rd Mar – Cum On Feel The Noize – Slade – 4 weeks
3. 31st Mar – The Twelfth Of Never – Donny Osmond – 1 week
4. 7th Apr – Get Down – Gilbert O’Sullivan – 2 weeks
5. 21st Apr – Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round The Old Oak Tree – Dawn featuring Tony Orlando- 4 weeks
6. 19th May – See My Baby Jive – Wizzard – 4
7. 16th June – Can The Can – Suzi Quatro – 1 week
8. 23rd June – Rubber Bullets – 10cc – 1 week
9. 30th June – Skweeze Me Pleeze Me – Slade – 3 weeks
10. 21st July – Welcome Home – Peters and Lee – 1 week
11. 28th July – I’m The Leader Of The Gang (I Am) – Gary Glitter – 4 weeks
12. 25th Aug – Young Love – Donny Osmond – 4 weeks
13. 22nd Sep – Angel Fingers – Wizzard – 1 week
14. 29th Sep – Eye Level – Simon Park Orchestra – 4 weeks
15. 27th Oct – Daydreamer/The Puppy Song – David Cassidy – 3 weeks
16. 17th Nov – I Love You Love Me Love – Gary Glitter – 4 weeks
17. 15th Dec – Merry Xmas Everybody – Slade – 5 weeks

 

 

1974

1. 19th Jan- You Won’t Find Another Fool Like Me – New Seekers – 1 week
2. 26th Jan – Tiger Feet – Mud – 4 weeks
3. 23rd Feb – Devil Gate Drive – Suzi Quatro – 2 weeks
4. 9th Mar – Jealous Mind – Alvin Stardust – 1 week
5. 16th Mar – Billy Don’t Be A Hero – Paper Lace – 3 weeks
6. 6th Apr – Seasons In The Sun – Terry Jacks – 4 weeks
7. 4th May – Waterloo – Abba – 2 weeks
8. 18th May – Sugar Baby Love – Rubettes – 4 weeks
9. 15th June – The Streak – Ray Stevens – 1 week
10. 22nd June- Always Yours – Gary Glitter – 1 week
11. 29th June – She – Charles Aznavour – 4 weeks
12. 27th July – Rock Your Baby – George McCrae – 3 weeks
13. 17th Aug – When Will I See You Again – Three Degrees – 2 weeks
14. 31st Aug – Love Me For A Reason – Osmonds – 3 weeks
15. 21st Sep – Kung Fu Fighting – Carl Douglas – 3 weeks
16. 12th Oct – Annie’s Song – John denver – 1 week
17. 19th Oct – Sad Sweet Dreamer – Sweet Sensation – 1 week
18. 26th Oct – Everything I Own – Ken Boothe – 3 weeks
19. 16th Nov – Gonna Make You A Star – David Essex
20. 7th Dec- You’re The First The Last My Everything – Barry White -2 weeks
21. 21st Dec – Lonely This Christmas – Mud – 4 weeks

 

 

1975

1. 18th Jan – Down Down – Status Quo – 1 week
2. 25th Jan – Ms Grace – Tymes – 1 week
3. 1st Feb – January – Pilot – 3 weeks
4. 22nd Feb – Make Me Smile (Come Up And See Me) – Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel – 2 weeks
5. 8th Mar – If – Telly Savalas – 2 weeks
6. 22nd Mar – Bye Bye Baby – Bay City Rollers – 6 weeks
7. 3rd May – Oh Boy – Mud _ 2 weeks
8. 17th May – Stand By Your Man ) Tammy Wynette – 3 weeks
9. 7th June – Whispering Grass – Windsor Davies and Don Estelle – 3 weeks
10. 28th June – I’m Not In Love – 10cc – 2 weeks
11. 12th July – Tears On My Pillow – Johnny Nash – 1 week
12. 19th July – Give A Little Love – Bay City Rollers – 3 weeks
13. 9th Aug – Barbados – Typically Tropical – 1 week
14. 16th Aug – I Can’t Give You Anything (But My Love) – Stylistics – 3 weeks
15. 6th Sep – Sailing – Rod Stewart – 4 weeks
16. 4th Oct – Hold Me Close – David essex – 3 week
17. 25th Oct – I Only Have Eyes For You – Art Garfunkel – 2 weeks
18. 8th Nov – Space Oddity – David Bowie – 2 weeks
19. 22nd Nov – D.I.V.O.R.C.E. – Billy Connolly – 1 week
20. 29th Nov – Bohemian Rhapsody – Queen – 9 weeks

 

 

 

1976

1. 31st Jan – Mamma Mia – Abba – 2 weeks
2. 14th Feb – Forever And Ever – Slik – 1 week
3. 21st Feb – December ’63 (Oh What A Night) – Four Seasons – 2 weeks
4. 6th Mar – I Love To Love ( But My Baby Loves To Dance) – Tina Charles – 3 weeks
5. 27th Mar – Save Your Kisses For Me – Brotherhood Of Man – 6 weeks
6. 8th May – Fernando – Abba – 4 weeks
7. 5th June – No Charge – J.J. Barrie – 1 week
8. 12th June – Combine Harvester ( Brand New Key) – Wurzels – 2 weeks
9. 26th June – You To Me Are Everything – Real Thing – 3 weeks
10. 17th July – The Roussos Phenomenon (EP) – Demis Roussos – 1 week
11. 24th July – Don’t Go Breaking My Heart – Elton John and Kiki Dee – 6 weeks
12. 4th Sep – Dancing Queen – Abba – 6 weeks
13. 16th Oct – Mississippi – Pussycat – 4 weeks
14. 13th Nov – if You Leave Me Now – Chicago – 3 weeks
15. 4th Dec – Under The Moon Of Love – Showaddywaddy – 3 weeks
16. 25th Dec – When A Child Is Born – Johnny Mathis – 3 weeks

 

 

1977

1. 15th Jan – Don’t Give Up On Us – David Soul – 4 weeks
2. 12th Feb – Don’t Cry For Me Argentina – Julie Covington – 1 week
3. 19th Feb – When I Need You – Leo Sayer – 3 weeks
4. 12th Mar – Chanson D’amour – Manhattan Transfer – 3 weeks
5. 2nd Apr – Knowing You Knowing Me – Abba – 5 weeks
6. 7th May – Free – Deniece Williams – 2 weeks
7. 21st May – I Don’t Want To Talk About It/First Cut Is The Deepest – Rod Stewart – 4 weeks
8. 18th June – Lucille – Kenny Rogers – 1 week
9. 25th June – Show You The way To Go – Jacksons – 1 week
10. 2nd July – So You Win Again – Hot Chocolate – 3 weeks
11. 23rd July- I Feel Love – Donna Summer – 4 weeks
12. 20th Aug – Angelo – Brotherhood Of Man – 1 week
13. 27th Aug – Float On – Floaters – 1 week
14. 3rd Sep – Way Down – Elvis Presley – 5 weeks
15. 8th Oct – Silver Lady – David Soul – 3 weeks
16. 29th Oct – Yes Sir I Can Boogie – Baccara – 1 week
17. 5th Nov – Name Of The Game – Abba – 4 weeks
18. 3rd dec – Mull Of Kintyre/Girls’ School – Wings – 9 weeks

 

 

 

 

1978

1. 4th Feb – Up Town Top Ranking – Althia And Donna – 1 week
2. 11th Feb – Figaro – Brotherhood Of Man – 1 week
3. 18th Feb – Take A Chance On Me – Abba – 3 weeks
4. 11th Mar – Wuthering Heights – Kate Bush – 4 weeks
5. 8th Apr – Matchstalk Men And Matchstalk Cats And Dogs – Brian and Michael – 3 weeks
6. 29th April – Night Fever – Bee Gees – 2 weeks
7. 13th May – Rivers Of Babylon – Boney M – 5 weeks
8. 17th June – You’re The One That I Want – John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John – 9 weeks
9. 19th Aug – Three Times A Lady – Commodores – 5 weeks
10. 23rd Sep – Dreadlock Holiday – 10cc – 1 week
11. 30th Sep – Summer Nights – John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John – 7 weeks
12. 18th Nov – Rat Trap – Boomtown Rats – 2 weeks
13. 2nd Dec – Da Ya Think I’m Sexy – Rod Stewart – 1 week
14. 9th Dec – Mary’s Boy Child – Oh My Lord – Boney M – 4 weeks

 

 

1979

1. 6th Jan – Y.M.C.A. – Village People – 3 weeks
2. 27th Jan – Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick – Ian Dury and the Blockheads – 1 week
3. 3rd Feb – Heart Of Glass – Blondie – 4 weeks
4. 3rd Mar – Tradegy – Bee Gees – 2 weeks
5. 17th Mar – I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor – 4 weeks
6. 14th Apr – Bright Eyes – Art Garfunkel – 6 weeks
7. 26th May – Sunday Girl – Blondie – 3 weeks
8. 16th June – Ring My Bell – Anita Ward – 2 weeks
9. 30th June – Are ‘Friends Electric – Tubeway Army – 4 weeks
10. 28th July – I Don’t Like Mondays – Boomtown Rats – 4 weeks
11. 25th Aug – We Don’t Talk Anymore – Cliff Richard – 4 weeks
12. 22nd Sep – Cars – Gary Numan – 1 week
13. 29th Sep – Message In A Bottle – Police – 3 weeks
14. 20th Oct – Video Killed the Radio Star – Buggles – 1 week
15. 27th Oct – One Day At A Time – Lena Martell – 3 weeks
16. 17th Nov – When You’re In Love With A Beautiful Woman – Dr Hook – 3 weeks
17. 8th Dec – Walking On The Moon – Police – 1 week
18. 15th Dec – Another Brick In The Wall  (Part II) – Pink Floyd – 5 weeks

 

 

Near Misses

As I mentioned at the beginning of the post I have made a list of songs that did not get to number 1. There are some cracking songs on this list as you will see.

1. Denis – Blondie (2)
2. The Jean Genie – David Bowie (2)
3. Rhinestone Cowboy – Glen Campbell (4)
4. Love Hurts – Jim Capaldi (4)
5. Please Mr Postman – Carpenters (2)
6. Give Me Just A Little More Time – Chairmen Of The Board (3)
7. Have You Seen Her – Chi-Lites (3)
8. Layla – Eric Clapton (7)
9. Easy – Commodores (9)
10. Elected – Alice Cooper (4)
11. Oliver’s Army – Elvis Costello (2)
12. Giving It All Away – Roger Daltry (5)
13. Feel The Need In Me – Detroit Emeralds (4)
14. Ghetto Child – Detroit Spinners (7)
15. Sweet Caroline – Neil Diamond (8)
16. Sultans Of Swing – Dire Straits (8)
17. A Little Bit More – Dr Hook (2)
18. Come On Over To My Place – Drifters (9)
19. September – Earth Wind And Fire (3)
20. Kiss You All Over – Exile (6)
21. In My Own Time – Family (4)
22. The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face – Roberta Flack (14)
23. Simple Game – Four Tops (3)
24. All Right Now – Free (2)
25. Never Let Her Slip Away – Andrew Gold (5)
26. Tired Of Being Alone – Al Green (4)
27. Silver Machine – Hawkwind (3)
28. Boogie Nights – Heatwave (2)
29. The Air That I Breathe – Hollies (2)
30. Got To Be There – Michael Jackson (5)
31. ABC – Jacksons (8)
32. The Eton Rifles -Jam (3)
33. Now Is The Time – Jimmy James and the Vagabonds (5)
34. Rocket Man – Elton John (2)
35. Till – Tom Jones 92)
36. I’m Every Woman – Chaka Khan (11)
37. Lucky Number – Lene Lovich (3)
38. Band On The Run – Paul McCartney and Wings (3)
39. Is This Love – Bob Marley and the Wailers (9)
40. Bat Out Of Hell – Meatloaf (15)

I have to stop there I am getting writers cramp:)

 

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see these songs are some of the best music of the 70s and it  is quite a list you must agree. I hope you have enjoyed visiting today and that you will leave a comment below. Maybe you can tell me your particular favourite and why, Thank you for visiting.