List of UK singles chart number ones of the 1970s explained

The UK Singles Chart is the official record chart in the United Kingdom. In the 1970s, it was compiled weekly by the British Market Research Bureau (BMRB) on behalf of the British record industry with a one-week break each Christmas. Prior to 1969 many music papers compiled their own sales charts but, on 15 February 1969, the BMRB was commissioned in a joint venture by the BBC and Record Retailer to compile the chart. BMRB compiled the first chart from postal returns of sales logs from 250 record shops.[1] The sampling cost approximately £52,000 and shops were randomly chosen and submitted figures for sales taken up to the close of trade on Saturday. The data was compiled on Monday and given to the BBC on Tuesday to be announced on Johnnie Walker's afternoon show and later published in Record Retailer (rebranded Music Week in 1972).[2] However, the BMRB often struggled to have the full sample of sales figures returned by post. The 1971 postal strike meant that data had to be collected by telephone but this was deemed inadequate for a national chart, and by 1973 the BMRB was using motorcycle couriers to collect sales figures.[2]

In terms of number-one singles, ABBA were the most successful group of the decade having seven singles reach the top spot. The longest duration of a single at number-one was nine weeks and this was achieved on three occasions: "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen in 1975; "Mull of Kintyre" / "Girls' School" by Wings in 1977 and "You're the One That I Want" by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John in 1978. Thirteen records were released that sold over one-million copies within the decade and "Mull of Kintyre" also became the first ever single to sell over two-million copies. In doing so it became the best-ever selling single beating the benchmark set by The Beatles' song "She Loves You" in 1963.[3] "Mull of Kintyre" was also the biggest selling song of the decade and was not surpassed in physical sales until 1984 when Band Aid released "Do They Know It's Christmas?".[4]

In 1973, the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) was formed and they began certifying the sales of records at certain thresholds: "silver" (250,000 units), "gold" (500,000 units), and "platinum" (1,000,000 units). In 1977, the BPI held an awards ceremony at Wembley Conference Centre to mark the Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II. The event cost £25,000, honoured music from the last 25 years and is considered to be the first Brit Awards ceremony.[5] [6]

Number-one singles

†
Best-selling single of the year[7]
scope=row style="background-color:lightblue" ‡Best-selling single of the decade
scope=colscope=colArtistscope=colSinglescope=colRecord labelscope=colWeek ending datescope=colWeeks at
number one
scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"280"Two Little Boys"Columbia6
scope=row style="text-align:center;"281"Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)"Bell5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"282"Wand'rin' Star"Paramount3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"283Simon & Garfunkel"Bridge over Troubled Water"CBS3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"284Dana"All Kinds of Everything"Rex2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"285"Spirit in the Sky"Reprise2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"286England World Cup Squad"Back Home"Pye3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"287Christie"Yellow River"CBS1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"288"In the Summertime" Dawn7
scope=row style="text-align:center;"289"" RCA6
scope=row style="text-align:center;"290Smokey Robinson and the Miracles""Tamla Motown1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"291"Band of Gold"Invictus6
scope=row style="text-align:center;"292Matthews Southern Comfort"Woodstock"Uni3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"293The Jimi Hendrix Experience"Voodoo Child (Slight Return)"Track1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"294"I Hear You Knocking"MAM6
scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"295"Grandad"Columbia3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"296"My Sweet Lord" †Apple5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"297"Baby Jump"Dawn2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"298T. Rex"Hot Love"Fly6
scope=row style="text-align:center;"299Dave and Ansell Collins"Double Barrel"Techniques 2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"300Dawn"Knock Three Times"Bell5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"301Middle of the Road"Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep"RCA5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"302T. Rex"Get It On"Fly4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"303"I'm Still Waiting"Tamla Motown4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"304"Hey Girl Don't Bother Me"3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"305"Reason to Believe" / "Maggie May"Mercury5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"306Slade"Coz I Luv You"Polydor4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"307"Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)"Columbia4
scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"308"I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)"Polydor4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"309T. Rex"Telegram Sam" T. Rex 2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"310Chicory Tip"Son of My Father"CBS3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"311Nilsson"Without You"RCA5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"312Royal Scots Dragoon Guards"Amazing Grace" †RCA5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"313T. Rex"Metal Guru"EMI4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"314"Vincent"United Artists2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"315Slade"Take Me Bak 'Ome"Polydor1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"316"Puppy Love"MGM5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"317"School's Out"Warner Bros.3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"318"You Wear It Well"Mercury1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"319Slade"Mama Weer All Crazee Now"Polydor3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"320"How Can I Be Sure"Bell2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"321Lieutenant Pigeon"Mouldy Old Dough"Decca4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"322"Clair"MAM2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"323"My Ding-a-Ling"Chess4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"324"Long Haired Lover from Liverpool"MGM5
scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"325The Sweet"Blockbuster!"RCA5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"326Slade"Cum On Feel the Noize"Polydor4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"327""MGM1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"328"Get Down"MAM2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"329Tony Orlando and Dawn"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" †Bell4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"330Wizzard"See My Baby Jive"Harvest4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"331"Can the Can"RAK1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"33210cc"Rubber Bullets"UK1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"333Slade"Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me"Polydor3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"334Peters and Lee"Welcome Home"Philips1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"335"I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am)"Bell4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"336"Young Love"MGM4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"337Wizzard"Angel Fingers"Harvest1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"338Simon Park Orchestra"Eye Level"Columbia4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"339"Daydreamer" / "The Puppy Song"Bell3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"340"I Love You Love Me Love"Bell4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"341Slade"Merry Xmas Everybody"Polydor5
scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"342The New Seekers"You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me"Polydor1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"343Mud"Tiger Feet" †RAK4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"344"Devil Gate Drive"RAK2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"345"Jealous Mind"Magnet1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"346Paper Lace"Billy Don't Be a Hero"Bus Stop3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"347"Seasons in the Sun"Bell4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"348ABBA"Waterloo"Epic2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"349"Sugar Baby Love"Polydor4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"350"The Streak"Janus1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"351"Always Yours"Bell1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"352"She"Barclay4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"353"Rock Your Baby"Jay Boy3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"354"When Will I See You Again"Philadelphia International2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"355"Love Me for a Reason"MGM3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"356"Kung Fu Fighting"Pye3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"357"Annie's Song"RCA1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"358Sweet Sensation"Sad Sweet Dreamer"Pye1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"359"Everything I Own"Trojan3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"360"Gonna Make You a Star"CBS3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"361"You're the First, the Last, My Everything"20th Century2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"362Mud"Lonely This Christmas"RAK4
scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"363Status Quo"Down Down"Vertigo1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"364"Ms Grace"RCA1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"365Pilot"January"EMI3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"366"Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)"EMI2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"367"If"MCA2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"368Bay City Rollers"Bye Bye Baby" †Bell6
scope=row style="text-align:center;"369Mud"Oh Boy"RAK2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"370"Stand by Your Man"Epic3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"371 and Don Estelle"Whispering Grass"EMI3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"37210cc"I'm Not in Love"Mercury2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"373"Tears on My Pillow"CBS1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"374Bay City Rollers"Give a Little Love"Bell3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"375Typically Tropical"Barbados"Gull1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"376"Can't Give You Anything (But My Love)"Avco3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"377"Sailing"Warner Bros.4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"378"Hold Me Close"CBS3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"379"I Only Have Eyes for You"CBS2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"380"Space Oddity"RCA2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"381"D.I.V.O.R.C.E."Polydor1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"382Queen"Bohemian Rhapsody"EMI9
scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"383ABBA"Mamma Mia"Epic2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"384Slik"Forever and Ever"Bell1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"385"December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)"Warner Bros.2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"386"I Love to Love (But My Baby Loves to Dance)"CBS3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"387Brotherhood of Man"Save Your Kisses for Me" †Pye6
scope=row style="text-align:center;"388ABBA"Fernando"Epic4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"389"No Charge"Power Exchange 1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"390"Combine Harvester"EMI2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"391"You to Me Are Everything"Pye3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"392The Roussos Phenomenon (EP)Philips1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"393 and Kiki Dee"Don't Go Breaking My Heart"Rocket6
scope=row style="text-align:center;"394ABBA"Dancing Queen"Epic6
scope=row style="text-align:center;"395Pussycat"Mississippi"Sonet4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"396Chicago"If You Leave Me Now"CBS3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"397Showaddywaddy"Under the Moon of Love"Bell3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"398"When a Child Is Born (Soleado)"CBS3
scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"399"Don't Give Up on Us"Private Stock4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"400"Don't Cry for Me Argentina"MCA1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"401"When I Need You"Chrysalis3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"402"Chanson D'Amour"Atlantic3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"403ABBA"Knowing Me, Knowing You"Epic5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"404"Free"CBS2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"405"I Don't Want to Talk About It" / "The First Cut Is the Deepest" Riva4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"406"Lucille"United Artists1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"407"Show You the Way to Go"Epic1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"408Hot Chocolate"So You Win Again"RAK3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"409"I Feel Love"Casablanca4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"410Brotherhood of Man"Angelo"Pye1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"411"Float On"ABC1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"412"Way Down"RCA5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"413"Silver Lady"Private Stock3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"414Baccara"Yes Sir, I Can Boogie"RCA1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"415ABBA""Epic5 November 19774
scope=row style="text-align:center;"416Wings"Mull of Kintyre" / "Girls' School" ‡Parlophone9
scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"417Althea & Donna"Uptown Top Ranking"Lightning1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"418Brotherhood of Man"Figaro"Pye1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"419ABBA"Take a Chance on Me"Epic3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"420"Wuthering Heights"EMI4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"421Brian and Michael"Matchstalk Men & Matchstalk Cats & Dogs"Pye3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"422Bee Gees"Night Fever"RSO2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"423Boney M."Rivers of Babylon" / "Brown Girl in the Ring" †Atlantic/Hansa5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"424 and Olivia Newton-John"You're the One That I Want"RSO9
scope=row style="text-align:center;"425Commodores"Three Times a Lady"5
scope=row style="text-align:center;"42610cc"Dreadlock Holiday"Mercury1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"427 and Olivia Newton-John"Summer Nights"RSO7
scope=row style="text-align:center;"428"Rat Trap"Ensign2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"429"Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?"Riva1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"430Boney M."Mary's Boy Child – Oh My Lord"Atlantic/Hansa4
scope=row style="text-align:center;" colspan=6 bgcolor=#F2F2F2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"431Village People"Y.M.C.A."Mercury3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"432Ian Dury and the Blockheads"Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick"Stiff1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"433Blondie"Heart of Glass"Chrysalis4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"434Bee Gees"Tragedy"RSO2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"435"I Will Survive"Polydor4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"436"Bright Eyes" †CBS6
scope=row style="text-align:center;"437Blondie"Sunday Girl"Chrysalis3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"438"Ring My Bell"TK2
scope=row style="text-align:center;"439Tubeway Army"Are 'Friends' Electric?"Beggars Banquet4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"440"I Don't Like Mondays"Ensign4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"441"We Don't Talk Anymore"EMI4
scope=row style="text-align:center;"442"Cars"Beggars Banquet1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"443"Message in a Bottle"A&M3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"444"Video Killed the Radio Star"Island1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"445"One Day at a Time"Pye3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"446Dr. Hook"When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman"Capitol3
scope=row style="text-align:center;"447"Walking on the Moon"A&M1
scope=row style="text-align:center;"448Pink Floyd"Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)"Harvest5

By artist

The following artists achieved three or more number-one hits during the 1970s. Swedish group, ABBA, were the most successful artist of the decade in terms of number-one singles. They had seven number-ones: "Waterloo" (1974); "Mamma Mia", "Fernando" and "Dancing Queen" (all 1976); "Knowing Me, Knowing You", "The Name of the Game" (both 1977); and "Take a Chance on Me" (1978).

scope=colArtistscope=colNumber onesscope=colWeeks at
number one
scope=rowABBA726
scope=rowSlade620
scope=row515
scope=rowT. Rex416
scope=row310
scope=rowMud310
scope=row39
scope=rowBrotherhood of Man38
scope=row10cc34

By record label

The following record labels had five or more number ones on the UK Singles Chart during the 1970s.

scope=colRecord labelscope=colNumber ones
Bell13
CBS12
Polydor11
RCA10
Pye9
Epic9
EMI8
RAK6
MGM5

Million-selling and platinum records

In April 1973, the British Phonographic Industry began classifying singles and albums by the number of units sold. The highest threshold is "platinum record" and was then awarded to singles that sold over 1,000,000 units.[8] Thirteen records were classified platinum in the 1970s and two number-one songs from the 1970s were classified as platinum in the subsequent decade.[9] Slade's "Merry Xmas Everybody" subsequently sold over one-million copies but in 1985, after sales from its re-release were included.[10] [11]

Two other songs originally released in the 1970s became platinum and become million selling records but both were number-ones in a subsequent decade after being re-released: "Imagine" by John Lennon charted at number six in 1975 but reached number one in 1981 following Lennon's death at the end of the previous year and Tony Christie's "(Is This The Way To) Amarillo" reached number eighteen in 1971 but later took top spot after being re-released as a charity single in 2005. Five number-ones – ABBA's "Dancing Queen", Ian Dury and The Blockheads' "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick", The New Seekers' "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)", Julie Covington's "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" and Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)" – passed the million-sales mark following the introduction of music downloads in 2004.[12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17]

ArtistSongDate releasedDate certified
platinum		Year of millionth
sale
"I Love You Love Me Love"1973
Brotherhood of Man"Save Your Kisses for Me"1976
"Bohemian Rhapsody"1975
"Mull of Kintyre"1977
"Don't Give Up on Us"1977
"Rivers of Babylon" / "Brown Girl in the Ring"1978
"Mary's Boy Child – Oh My Lord"1978
"Eye Level"1977
"You're the One That I Want"1978
"Summer Nights"1978
"Y.M.C.A."1979
Blondie"Heart of Glass1979
"Bright Eyes"1979
Pink Floyd"Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)"2004–10
Slade"Merry Xmas Everybody"1985
"I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)"[18] — 2004–10
"Dancing Queen"— 2004–10
"Don't Cry for Me Argentina"— 2004–10
"Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick"— 2004–10

Songs with the most weeks at number one

The following songs spent at least six weeks at number one during the 1970s.

scope=colArtistscope=colSongscope=colWeeks at
number one
Queen"Bohemian Rhapsody"9
Wings"Mull of Kintyre" / "Girls' School'
Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta"You're the One That I Want"
Mungo Jerry"In the Summertime"7
Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta"Summer Nights"
Elvis Presley"The Wonder of You"6
Freda Payne"Band of Gold"
Dave Edmunds"I Hear You Knocking
T. Rex"Hot Love"
Bay City Rollers"Bye Bye Baby"
Brotherhood of Man"Save Your Kisses for Me"
Elton John and Kiki Dee"Don't Go Breaking My Heart"
ABBA"Dancing Queen"
Art Garfunkel"Bright Eyes"

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Key Dates in the History of the Official UK Charts. The Official Charts Company. 16 May 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20080110032725/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/company_history.php. 10 January 2008.
  2. Web site: Smith . Alan . 50s & 60s UK Charts – The Truth! . Dave McAleer's website . 4 November 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110903033717/http://www.davemcaleer.com/page21.htm . 3 September 2011 .
  3. Web site: Leadbetter. Russell. Macca proves he's no sellout. The Herald. 31 May 2010. 17 May 2010.
  4. Web site: The history of the chart-topper. Caroline. Westbrook. BBC News. 31 May 2010. 14 January 2005.
  5. Web site: Brit Awards. British Phonographic Industry. 7 June 2010.
  6. Web site: The BRITs 1977. Brit Awards. 12 June 2010.
  7. Web site: Chart Archive – 1970s Singles. everyHit.com. 29 July 2010.
  8. Gallup. 4 February 1989. The Top of the Pops Chart. Record Mirror. 4. https://web.archive.org/web/20101026052529/http://scans.chartarchive.org/UK/1989/UK%20Charts%201989.02.04.pdf. dead. 26 October 2010. 16 July 2010. The Gallup Organization.
  9. Web site: Certified Awards Search . . 7 June 2010 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110820035204/http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/Search.aspx . 20 August 2011 .
    Customise search with the following settings – Search by: "Keyword", By Award: "Platinum", By Format: "Single" – then search by each individual year.
  10. Web site: Million-Selling Singles. everyHit. 12 June 2010.
  11. Web site: Stats and Facts: Million Sellers . . 19 July 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080416145908/http://www.theofficialcharts.com/stats-million_sellers.php . 16 April 2008 . dead .
  12. 6 September 2010. Digital generation pushes the oldies into the million-sellers club. Music Week.
  13. 1 June 2010. Alan. Jones. Pendulum and Black Eyed Peas make historic week for sales charts. Music Week.
  14. Web site: New Seekers. 8 March 2004. Chart Watch. 13 November 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20040317134849/http://www.chartwatch.co.uk/TopTen/acts/ACT01493.htm. 17 March 2004.
  15. Web site: Julie Covington. 8 March 2004. Chart Watch. 13 November 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20040328173659/http://chartwatch.co.uk/TopTen/acts/ACT01105.htm. 28 March 2004.
  16. Web site: Pink Floyd. 8 March 2004. Chart Watch. 13 November 2010. https://web.archive.org/web/20040428092911/http://www.chartwatch.co.uk/TopTen/acts/ACT01629.htm. 28 April 2004 .
  17. UK's Million Sellers with Ken Bruce. Ken Bruce (presenter). BBC. BBC Radio Two. 30 August 2010.
  18. Web site: Polydor. Chart Watch. 13 November 2010.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "List of UK singles chart number ones of the 1970s".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.