List of Billboard Adult Contemporary number ones of 1979 explained

In 1979, Billboard magazine published a chart ranking the top-performing songs in the United States in the easy listening or adult contemporary music (AC) market. The chart was entitled Easy Listening through the issue dated March 31 and Adult Contemporary thereafter. It has undergone further name changes but has again been published under the title Adult Contemporary since 1996. In 1979, 19 songs topped the chart based on playlists submitted by radio stations.

On the first chart of the year, the Scottish singer Al Stewart held the top spot with "Time Passages", which was in its ninth week at number one. The song ended its run at the top after ten weeks, the longest unbroken spell at number one on the chart for more than ten years. Stewart had been a recording artist since the mid-1960s and continued to be active into the 21st century,[1] but his U.S. chart success was confined to a four-year period at the end of the 1970s. The Canadian singer Anne Murray was the only act with more than one Easy Listening/AC number one in 1979. One of Canada's biggest musical exports of the 1970s, Murray topped the U.S. country and Easy Listening/AC charts, as well as Billboards pop listing, the Hot 100, during the decade. In 1979 she topped the Easy Listening/AC chart with "I Just Fall in Love Again" in February and March, "Shadows in the Moonlight" in June, and "Broken Hearted Me" in October and November, and spent a total of 13 weeks in the top spot.

The country rock band Poco had the longest unbroken run at number one during the year, spending seven consecutive weeks in the top spot with "Crazy Love". The song was eventually knocked from the top of the chart in the issue of Billboard dated April 28 by "I Never Said I Love You" by Orsa Lia. One of the most obscure acts to top the chart, Lia never placed any other songs on either the AC or pop charts, and there is no record of her having released another album after her self-titled 1979 debut.[2] Other acts who gained their only AC number ones in 1979 included the British singer Maxine Nightingale, who had three separate runs in the top spot with "Lead Me On", and JD Souther, who had a five-week run at number one with "You're Only Lonely". Souther experienced a brief period of chart success in his own right, but was much better known as a songwriter for other artists, most notably the Eagles.[3] Only one AC number one of 1979 also topped the Hot 100: the trumpeter Herb Alpert reached the top spot on both charts with his instrumental "Rise".[4] The final AC number one of the year was "Send One Your Love" by Stevie Wonder.

Chart history

Issue date!scope=col
Titlescope=colArtist(s)scope=col class=unsortable
scope=row"Time Passages"[5]
scope=row[6]
scope=row"This Moment in Time"[7]
scope=row[8]
scope=row"Lotta Love"[9]
scope=row"I Just Fall in Love Again"[10]
scope=row[11]
scope=row[12]
scope=row[13]
scope=row"Crazy Love"Poco[14]
scope=row[15]
scope=row[16]
scope=row[17]
scope=row[18]
scope=row[19]
scope=row[20]
scope=row"I Never Said I Love You"[21]
scope=row"Love Is the Answer"England Dan & John Ford Coley[22]
scope=row[23]
scope=row"Just When I Needed You Most"[24]
scope=row"She Believes in Me"[25]
scope=row"Just When I Needed You Most"[26]
scope=row"She Believes in Me"[27]
scope=row"Shadows in the Moonlight"[28]
scope=row[29]
scope=row[30]
scope=row"Lead Me On"[31]
scope=row[32]
scope=row[33]
scope=row"Morning Dance"Spyro Gyra[34]
scope=row"Lead Me On"[35]
scope=row[36]
scope=row[37]
scope=row"Mama Can't Buy You Love"[38]
scope=row"Lead Me On"[39]
scope=row"Different Worlds"[40]
scope=row[41]
scope=row"Rise"[42]
scope=row"Where Were You When I Was Falling in Love"Lobo[43]
scope=row[44]
scope=row"Broken Hearted Me"[45]
scope=row[46]
scope=row[47]
scope=row[48]
scope=row[49]
scope=row"You're Only Lonely"[50]
scope=row[51]
scope=row[52]
scope=row[53]
scope=row[54]
scope=row"Send One Your Love"[55]
scope=row[56]

See also

References

Works cited

. The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits. Joel Whitburn. Watson-Guptill. 1996. 978-0-82308-289-6.

. Joel Whitburn's Top Adult Contemporary, 1961 - 2001. Joel Whitburn. Record Research Incorporated. 2002. 978-0-89820-149-9.

. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 1955 - 2002. Joel Whitburn. Record Research Incorporated. 2005. 978-0-89820-155-0.

. Joel Whitburn Presents Billboard Top Adult Songs, 1961 - 2006. Record Research Incorporated. 2007. 978-0-89820-169-7. Joel Whitburn.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Al Stewart: Of Zodiac Cats, Succulent Grapes and the Genius of Chuck Berry. Houston Press. Bob. Ruggiero. February 16, 2023. October 13, 2024. May 4, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230504055346/https://www.houstonpress.com/music/things-to-do-see-al-stewart-at-the-empty-pockets-at-the-dosey-doe-15106499. live.
  2. Web site: Orsa Lia Album Discography. AllMusic. June 6, 2019. June 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190606121649/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/orsa-lia-mn0001256358. live.
  3. Web site: JD Souther obituary. Adam. Sweeting. The Guardian. October 14, 2024. September 26, 2024.
  4. Web site: Rewind The Biggest Instrumental Hits of the Past 50 Years. Tom. Nawrocki. Medium. April 10, 2015. June 7, 2019.
  5. Adult Contemporary chart for January 6, 1979. Billboard. June 5, 2019. June 20, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190620183112/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1979-01-06. live.
  6. Adult Contemporary chart for January 13, 1979. Billboard. June 5, 2019.
  7. Adult Contemporary chart for January 20, 1979. Billboard. June 5, 2019.
  8. Adult Contemporary chart for January 27, 1979. Billboard. June 5, 2019.
  9. Adult Contemporary chart for February 3, 1979. Billboard. June 6, 2019. June 19, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190619155901/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1979-02-03. live.
  10. Adult Contemporary chart for February 10, 1979. Billboard. June 6, 2019. June 19, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190619155913/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1979-02-10. live.
  11. Adult Contemporary chart for February 17, 1979. Billboard. June 6, 2019. June 19, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190619155924/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1979-02-17. live.
  12. Adult Contemporary chart for February 24, 1979. Billboard. June 6, 2019. June 21, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190621061016/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1979-02-24. live.
  13. Adult Contemporary chart for March 3, 1979. Billboard. June 6, 2019.
  14. Adult Contemporary chart for March 10, 1979. Billboard. June 6, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022237/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1979-03-10. live.
  15. Adult Contemporary chart for March 17, 1979. Billboard. June 6, 2019.
  16. Adult Contemporary chart for March 24, 1979. Billboard. June 6, 2019.
  17. Adult Contemporary chart for March 31, 1979. Billboard. June 6, 2019.
  18. Adult Contemporary chart for April 7, 1979. Billboard. June 6, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022239/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1979-04-07. live.
  19. Adult Contemporary chart for April 14, 1979. Billboard. June 6, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022240/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1979-04-14. live.
  20. Adult Contemporary chart for April 21, 1979. Billboard. June 6, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022240/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1979-04-21. live.
  21. Adult Contemporary chart for April 28, 1979. Billboard. June 6, 2019.
  22. Adult Contemporary chart for May 5, 1979. Billboard. June 6, 2019.
  23. Adult Contemporary chart for May 12, 1979. Billboard. June 6, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022240/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1979-05-12. live.
  24. Adult Contemporary chart for May 19, 1979. Billboard. June 6, 2019. June 19, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190619011610/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1979-05-19. live.
  25. Adult Contemporary chart for May 26, 1979. Billboard. June 6, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022238/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1979-05-26. live.
  26. Adult Contemporary chart for June 2, 1979. Billboard. June 6, 2019.
  27. Adult Contemporary chart for June 9, 1979. Billboard. June 6, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022238/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1979-06-09. live.
  28. Adult Contemporary chart for June 16, 1979. Billboard. June 6, 2019.
  29. Adult Contemporary chart for June 23, 1979. Billboard. June 6, 2019. May 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190506020333/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1979-06-23. live.
  30. Adult Contemporary chart for June 30, 1979. Billboard. June 6, 2019.
  31. Adult Contemporary chart for July 7, 1979. Billboard. June 7, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022240/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1979-07-07. live.
  32. Adult Contemporary chart for July 14, 1979. Billboard. June 7, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022241/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1979-07-14. live.
  33. Adult Contemporary chart for July 21, 1979. Billboard. June 7, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022240/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1979-07-21. live.
  34. Adult Contemporary chart for July 28, 1979. Billboard. June 7, 2019.
  35. Adult Contemporary chart for August 4, 1979. Billboard. June 7, 2019.
  36. Adult Contemporary chart for August 11, 1979. Billboard. June 7, 2019.
  37. Adult Contemporary chart for August 18, 1979. Billboard. June 7, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022240/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1979-08-18. live.
  38. Adult Contemporary chart for August 25, 1979. Billboard. June 7, 2019.
  39. Adult Contemporary chart for September 1, 1979. Billboard. June 7, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022240/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1979-09-01. live.
  40. Adult Contemporary chart for September 8, 1979. Billboard. June 7, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022301/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1979-09-08. live.
  41. Adult Contemporary chart for September 15, 1979. Billboard. June 7, 2019.
  42. Adult Contemporary chart for September 22, 1979. Billboard. June 7, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022309/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1979-09-22. live.
  43. Adult Contemporary chart for September 29, 1979. Billboard. June 7, 2019.
  44. Adult Contemporary chart for October 6, 1979. Billboard. June 7, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022259/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1979-10-06. live.
  45. Adult Contemporary chart for October 13, 1979. Billboard. June 7, 2019. June 21, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190621061027/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1979-10-13. live.
  46. Adult Contemporary chart for October 20, 1979. Billboard. June 7, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022240/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1979-10-20. live.
  47. Adult Contemporary chart for October 27, 1979. Billboard. June 7, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022240/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1979-10-27. live.
  48. Adult Contemporary chart for November 3, 1979. Billboard. June 7, 2019.
  49. Adult Contemporary chart for November 10, 1979. Billboard. June 7, 2019.
  50. Adult Contemporary chart for November 17, 1979. Billboard. June 7, 2019. September 27, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190927195757/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1979-11-17. live.
  51. Adult Contemporary chart for November 24, 1979. Billboard. June 7, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022241/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1979-11-24. live.
  52. Adult Contemporary chart for December 1, 1979. Billboard. June 5, 2019.
  53. Adult Contemporary chart for December 8, 1979. Billboard. June 5, 2019. April 28, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190428193034/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1979-12-08. live.
  54. Adult Contemporary chart for December 15, 1979. Billboard. June 5, 2019. June 19, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190619011632/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1979-12-15. live.
  55. Adult Contemporary chart for December 22, 1979. Billboard. June 5, 2019.
  56. Adult Contemporary chart for December 29, 1979. Billboard. June 5, 2019. June 19, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190619160008/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1979-12-29. live.

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