What were the biggest hit songs of the 1970s? The decade was dominated by disco, ballads, pop classics, rock and even country/folk tunes. Tour our gallery below as we reveal the top 20 singles according to our sister PMC company Billboard.
The decade began with an Oscar-winning song as a holdover from the 1960s, with B.J. Thomas on top with “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head.” Rupert Holmes completed the decade with the final #1 hit song, “Escape (The Pina Colada Song).” Some of the longest-lasting hit tunes were from Simon and Garfunkel, Three Dog Night, Roberta Flack, Rod Stewart, Bee Gees and Debby Boone.
The artists with the most #1 singles were Bee Gees (9), Elton John (6), Stevie Wonder (5), Paul McCartney and Wings (5), Eagles (5), The Jackson 5 (4), Diana Ross (4), John Denver (4), KC and the Sunshine Band (4), Barbra Streisand (4) and Donna Summer (4).
Which of those artists were the best of the decade for weeks in the #1 position? Enjoy going back 40 to 50 years in our photo gallery below. Tour our other recent decade galleries ranking ths songs of the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s and 2010s.
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“You Light Up My Life”
Image Credit: Courtesy of Arista Performed by Debby Boone
10 weeks at #1 during 1977 -
“Night Fever”
Image Credit: Courtesy of RSO Records Performed by Bee Gees
8 weeks at #1 during 1978 -
“Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)”
Image Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Performed by Rod Stewart
8 weeks at #1 during 1976 -
“Shadow Dancing”
Image Credit: Courtesy of RSO Records Performed by Andy Gibb
7 weeks at #1 during 1978 -
“Bridge Over Troubled Water”
Image Credit: Courtesy of Columbia Performed by Simon & Garfunkel
6 weeks at #1 during 1970 -
“Joy to the World”
Image Credit: Courtesy of Dunhill Performed by Three Dog Night
6 weeks at #1 during 1971 -
“The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face”
Image Credit: Courtesy of Atlantic Performed by Roberta Flack
6 weeks at #1 during 1972 -
“Alone Again (Naturally)”
Image Credit: Courtesy of MAM Performed by Gilbert O’Sullivan
6 weeks at #1 during 1972 -
“Le Freak”
Image Credit: Courtesy of Atlantic Performed by Chic
6 weeks at #1 during 1978 -
“My Sharona”
Image Credit: Courtesy of Capitol Performed by The Knack
6 weeks at #1 during 1979 -
“I’ll Be There”
Image Credit: Courtesy of Motown Performed by The Jackson 5
5 weeks at #1 during 1970 -
“One Bad Apple”
Image Credit: Courtesy of MGM Performed by The Osmonds
5 weeks at #1 during 1971 -
“It’s Too Late”
Image Credit: Courtesy of Ode Records Performed by Carole King
5 weeks at #1 during 1971 -
“I Feel the Earth Move”
Image Credit: Courtesy of Ode Records Performed by Carole King
5 weeks at #1 during 1971 -
“Maggie May”
Image Credit: Courtesy of Warner Bros. Performed by Rod Stewart
5 weeks at #1 during 1971 -
“Reason to Believe”
Image Credit: Courtesy of Mercury Records Performed by Rod Stewart
5 weeks at #1 during 1971 -
“Killing Me Softly with His Song”
Image Credit: Courtesy of Atlantic Performed by Roberta Flack
5 weeks at #1 during 1973 -
“Silly Love Songs”
Image Credit: Courtesy of Capitol Performed by Wings
5 weeks at #1 during 1976 -
“Best of My Love”
Image Credit: Courtesy of Columbia Records Performed by The Emotions
5 weeks at #1 during 1977 -
“Bad Girls”
Image Credit: Courtesy of Casablanca Records Performed by Donna Summer
5 weeks at #1 during 1979
