There were only 14 number one songs in 1978. Mull of Kintyre was still number one from the previous year all through January. Althea and Donna with Uptown Top Ranking was the first new number one of the year. The year ended with Mary’s Boy Child by Boney M at number 1. They also had another chart topper with Rivers Of Babylon.
Number One Songs In 1978
Up Town Top Ranking – Althia And Donna
Figaro – Brotherhood Of Man
Take A Chance On Me – Abba
Wuthering Heights – Kate Bush
Matchstalk Men And Matchstalk Cats And Dogs – Brian and Michael
Night Fever – Bee Gees
Rivers Of Babylon – Boney M
By the way, if you enjoy looking up 70s artists, I’ve created a free A–Z guide you can download here.
You’re The One That I Want – John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John
Three Times A Lady – Commodores
Dreadlock Holiday – 10cc
Summer Nights – John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John
Rat Trap – Boomtown Rats
Da Ya Think I’m Sexy – Rod Stewart
Mary’s Boy Child – Oh My Lord – Boney M
1978
- 4th Feb – Up Town Top Ranking – Althia And Donna – 1 week
- 11th Feb – Figaro – Brotherhood Of Man – 1 week
- 18th Feb – Take A Chance On Me – Abba – 3 weeks
- 11th Mar – Wuthering Heights – Kate Bush – 4 weeks
- 8th Apr – Matchstalk Men And Matchstalk Cats And Dogs – Brian and Michael – 3 weeks
- 29th April – Night Fever – Bee Gees – 2 weeks
- 13th May – Rivers Of Babylon – Boney M – 5 weeks
- 17th June – You’re The One That I Want – John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John – 9 weeks
- 19th Aug – Three Times A Lady – Commodores – 5 weeks
- 23rd Sep – Dreadlock Holiday – 10cc – 1 week
- 30th Sep – Summer Nights – John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John – 7 weeks
- 18th Nov – Rat Trap – Boomtown Rats – 2 weeks
- 2nd Dec – Da Ya Think I’m Sexy – Rod Stewart – 1 week
- 9th Dec – Mary’s Boy Child – Oh My Lord – Boney M – 4 weeks

Enjoyed this post?
If you love 70s music, I’ve put together a free A–Z guide covering artists and their songs from the decade. It’s a simple reference you can keep handy instead of searching online every time.
👉 Download your free copy here.
Music of the Decades
Celebrating the music of the 1970s.
You can also visit the Music of the Decades Etsy shop for vintage music from the 70s and 80s.
Frank

frank@musicofthe70s.co.uk

