List of Hot Country Singles number ones of 1978 explained

Hot Country Songs is a chart that ranks the top-performing country music songs in the United States, published by Billboard magazine. In 1978, 31 different singles topped the chart, then published under the title Hot Country Singles, in 52 issues of the magazine, based on playlists submitted by country music radio stations and sales reports submitted by stores.[1]

Several number ones of 1978 came from artists associated with the so-called outlaw country subgenre, which had emerged as a more hard-edged alternative to the slick production values seen in country music earlier in the 1970s.[2] Two of the most prominent exponents of the outlaw style, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson,[3] collaborated on the longest-running number one of the year, "Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys", which spent four weeks atop the chart; each also reached number one individually. Jennings' total of seven weeks spent in the top spot was the most by any artist. Nelson was one of only two artists to take three different singles to number one during the year, as he also reached number one with his recordings of two pre-World War II songs, "Georgia on My Mind" and "Blue Skies", taken from Stardust, an album on which he covered a range of pop standards.[4] Kenny Rogers also achieved three number ones, as he topped the listing with "Love or Something Like It", "The Gambler" and "Every Time Two Fools Collide", a collaboration with Dottie West.

Another artist linked to the outlaw movement who topped the chart in 1978 was Johnny Paycheck,[5] who reached number one with "Take This Job and Shove It", which would go on to become his most successful and best-known song. The song, which topped the chart in Billboards first issue of the year, marked his first and only appearance at the top of the Hot Country chart.[6] In May and June, two vocal groups which would both go on to be inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame reached number one for the first time: The Statler Brothers with "Do You Know You Are My Sunshine",[7] [8] and The Oak Ridge Boys with "I'll Be True to You".[9] [10] Margo Smith had her first number one in February with "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You".[11] She followed it up with another chart-topper in July with "It Only Hurts for a Little While", but these would prove to be her only number one singles.[12] In April, Dottie West reached the top of the chart for the first time with her duet with Kenny Rogers.[13] She would go on to achieve further number ones both in collaboration with Rogers and in her own right.

Chart history

scope=colIssue datescope=colTitlescope=colArtist(s)scope=col class=unsortable
scope=row"Take This Job and Shove It"[14]
scope=row[15]
scope=row"What a Difference You've Made in My Life"[16]
scope=row"Out of My Head and Back in My Bed"[17]
scope=row[18]
scope=row"I Just Wish You Were Someone I Love"[19]
scope=row"Don't Break the Heart That Loves You"[20]
scope=row[21]
scope=row"Mammas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" and Willie Nelson[22]
scope=row[23]
scope=row[24]
scope=row[25]
scope=row"Ready for the Times to Get Better"[26]
scope=row"Someone Loves You Honey"[27]
scope=row[28]
scope=row"Every Time Two Fools Collide" and Dottie West[29]
scope=row[30]
scope=row"It's All Wrong, But It's All Right"[31]
scope=row[32]
scope=row"She Can Put Her Shoes Under My Bed (Anytime)"[33]
scope=row"Do You Know You Are My Sunshine"[34]
scope=row[35]
scope=row"Georgia on My Mind"[36]
scope=row"Two More Bottles of Wine"[37]
scope=row"I'll Be True to You"[38]
scope=row"It Only Hurts for a Little While"[39]
scope=row"I Believe in You"[40]
scope=row"Only One Love in My Life"[41]
scope=row[42]
scope=row[43]
scope=row"Love or Something Like It"[44]
scope=row"You Don't Love Me Anymore"[45]
scope=row"Talking in Your Sleep"[46]
scope=row[47]
scope=row"Blue Skies"[48]
scope=row"I've Always Been Crazy"[49]
scope=row[50]
scope=row[51]
scope=row"Heartbreaker"[52]
scope=row[53]
scope=row[54]
scope=row"Tear Time"Dave & Sugar[55]
scope=row"Let's Take the Long Way Around the World"[56]
scope=row"Sleeping Single in a Double Bed"[57]
scope=row[58]
scope=row[59]
scope=row"Sweet Desire" / "Old Fashioned Love"[60]
scope=row"I Just Want to Love You"[61]
scope=row"On My Knees" and Janie Fricke[62]
scope=row"The Gambler"[63]
scope=row[64]
scope=row[65]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Whitburn, Joel. Joel Whitburn

    . Joel Whitburn's Top Country Songs: 1944–2005. ix. Joel Whitburn. Record Research. 2005. 9780898201659.

  2. Book: Szatmary, David P.. Rockin' in Time: A Social History of Rock-and-roll. Pearson. 2014. 9780205936243. 213.
  3. Country Music Hall of Fame Announces Massive Outlaw Country Exhibit. Rolling Stone. Jeff. Gage. January 12, 2018. March 19, 2018. March 19, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180319004320/https://www.rollingstone.com/country/news/country-music-hall-of-fame-announces-outlaw-country-exhibit-w515380. live.
  4. Web site: Stardust – Willie Nelson. AllMusic. Stephen Thomas. Erlewine. March 12, 2020. November 12, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201112001259/https://www.allmusic.com/album/stardust-mw0000177347. live.
  5. Web site: Johnny Paycheck Biography & History. AllMusic. Dan. Cooper. April 12, 2020. April 12, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200412075140/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/johnny-paycheck-mn0000251375/biography. live.
  6. Book: Whitburn, Joel. Joel Whitburn

    . The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits. Joel Whitburn. 241. Billboard Books. 1996. 9780823082896.

  7. Web site: The Statler Brothers: Biography & History. AllMusic. Jason. Ankeny. March 19, 2018. March 19, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180319004301/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-statler-brothers-mn0000578031/biography. live.
  8. Web site: Emmylou Harris, Statler Brothers Inducted Into Hall of Fame. The Boot. Townsquare Media. Beville. Darden. February 13, 2008. April 12, 2020. April 12, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200412080304/https://theboot.com/emmylou-harris-statler-brothers-inducted-into-hall-of-fame/. live.
  9. Web site: The Oak Ridge Boys: Biography & History. AllMusic. Steve. Huey. March 19, 2018. February 16, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180216025235/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-oak-ridge-boys-mn0000887348/biography. live.
  10. The Oak Ridge Boys Lead 2015 Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees. Stephen L.. Betts. Rolling Stone. March 15, 2015. April 12, 2020. April 12, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200412080301/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/the-oak-ridge-boys-lead-2015-country-music-hall-of-fame-inductees-191873/. live.
  11. Web site: Margo Smith: Biography & History. AllMusic. Sandra. Brennan. March 19, 2018. March 19, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180319004236/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/margo-smith-mn0000675718. live.
  12. Book: Whitburn, Joel. Joel Whitburn

    . The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits. Joel Whitburn. 297. Billboard Books. 1996. 9780823082896.

  13. Web site: Dottie West: Biography & History. AllMusic. Jason. Ankeny. March 19, 2018. March 19, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180319004057/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dottie-west-mn0000190632/biography. live.
  14. Hot Country Songs chart for January 7, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820171558/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-01-07/ . live .
  15. Hot Country Songs chart for January 14, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820171628/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-01-14/ . live .
  16. Hot Country Songs chart for January 21, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820171550/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-01-21/ . live .
  17. Hot Country Songs chart for January 28, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . May 22, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230522173750/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-01-28/ . live .
  18. Hot Country Songs chart for February 4, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . April 6, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230406045120/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-02-04/ . live .
  19. Hot Country Songs chart for February 11, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820171721/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-02-11/ . live .
  20. Hot Country Songs chart for February 18, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820171633/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-02-18/ . live .
  21. Hot Country Songs chart for February 25, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . January 19, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230119024737/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-02-25/ . live .
  22. Hot Country Songs chart for March 4, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . May 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230520011557/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-03-04/ . live .
  23. Hot Country Songs chart for March 11, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . April 22, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230422165701/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-03-11/ . live .
  24. Hot Country Songs chart for March 18, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . March 2, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230302012803/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-03-18/ . live .
  25. Hot Country Songs chart for March 25, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820171558/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-03-25/ . live .
  26. Hot Country Songs chart for April 1, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820171604/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-04-01/ . live .
  27. Hot Country Songs chart for April 8, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . March 29, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180329051217/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-04-08 . live .
  28. Hot Country Songs chart for April 15, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820171751/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-04-15/ . live .
  29. Hot Country Songs chart for April 22, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . February 26, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230226065946/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-04-22/ . live .
  30. Hot Country Songs chart for April 29, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820171617/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-04-29/ . live .
  31. Hot Country Songs chart for May 6, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . March 24, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230324061506/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-05-06/ . live .
  32. Hot Country Songs chart for May 13, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820171631/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-05-13/ . live .
  33. Hot Country Songs chart for May 20, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . May 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230520011553/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-05-20/ . live .
  34. Hot Country Songs chart for May 27, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820171717/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-05-27/ . live .
  35. Hot Country Songs chart for June 3, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820171635/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-06-03/ . live .
  36. Hot Country Songs chart for June 10, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . January 14, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230114160501/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-06-10/ . live .
  37. Hot Country Songs chart for June 17, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . April 7, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230407014228/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-06-17/ . live .
  38. Hot Country Songs chart for June 24, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820171728/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-06-24/ . live .
  39. Hot Country Songs chart for July 1, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820171550/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-07-01/ . live .
  40. Hot Country Songs chart for July 8, 1978. Billboard. March 17, 2018. April 24, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230424013558/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-07-08/. live.
  41. Hot Country Songs chart for July 15, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . March 29, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180329051332/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-07-15 . live .
  42. Hot Country Songs chart for July 22, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820171635/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-07-22/ . live .
  43. Hot Country Songs chart for July 29, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820171619/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-07-29/ . live .
  44. Hot Country Songs chart for August 5, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . February 26, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230226065942/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-08-05/ . live .
  45. Hot Country Songs chart for August 12, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820171645/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-08-12/ . live .
  46. Hot Country Songs chart for August 19, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . June 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230620184324/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-08-19/ . live .
  47. Hot Country Songs chart for August 26, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820171637/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-08-26/ . live .
  48. Hot Country Songs chart for September 2, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820171614/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-09-02/ . live .
  49. Hot Country Songs chart for September 9, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . January 25, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230125061442/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-09-09/ . live .
  50. Hot Country Songs chart for September 16, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820171604/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-09-16/ . live .
  51. Hot Country Songs chart for September 23, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . January 12, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230112145506/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-09-23/ . live .
  52. Hot Country Songs chart for September 30, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . February 17, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230217165445/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-09-30/ . live .
  53. Hot Country Songs chart for October 7, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . April 2, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230402014203/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-10-07/ . live .
  54. Hot Country Songs chart for October 14, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . June 7, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230607214847/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-10-14/ . live .
  55. Hot Country Songs chart for October 21, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . April 22, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230422134707/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-10-21/ . live .
  56. Hot Country Songs chart for October 28, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . March 25, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230325085303/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-10-28/ . live .
  57. Hot Country Songs chart for November 4, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . February 26, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230226070001/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-11-04/ . live .
  58. Hot Country Songs chart for November 11, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . March 2, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230302012808/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-11-11/ . live .
  59. Hot Country Songs chart for November 18, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820171619/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-11-18/ . live .
  60. Hot Country Songs chart for November 25, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . February 17, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230217165434/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-11-25/ . live .
  61. Hot Country Songs chart for December 2, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820171713/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-12-02/ . live .
  62. Hot Country Songs chart for December 9, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . January 15, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230115064235/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-12-09/ . live .
  63. Hot Country Songs chart for December 16, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . January 12, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230112145502/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-12-16/ . live .
  64. Hot Country Songs chart for December 23, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820171638/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-12-23/ . live .
  65. Hot Country Songs chart for December 30, 1978 . Billboard . March 17, 2018 . August 20, 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230820171709/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1978-12-30/ . live .

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