Songs Of '75

There were thousands of songs released in 1975, but only 37 of them managed to reach the pinnacle that is number one on the coveted Billboard Hot 100. While these songs were all super popular back in 1975, how many of them do we remember at all? And what artist was the Billboard King in '75 with the most weeks in the top spot? Okay, we'll give that one away right now...Elton John. And while that might not be too surprising—some of the songs he did it with are sure to shock some music fans.

"Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds"

Artist: Elton John

Weeks: January 4 & 11

Raise your hand if you remembered that Elton John did a cover of the classic Beatles' track? Keep it up if you knew that John's version was a number one hit, while the OG Beatles' version never reached that top spot.

And speaking of a cover version that did better than the original...

Ernst Vikne, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

"Mandy"

Artist: Barry Manilow

Weeks: January 18

Originally titled "Brandy" and released by Scott English in 1972, the song was a top 20 hit in the UK. But then, in '75, along came Barry Manilow. He changed the name to "Mandy" (so as not to be confused with "Brandy (You're a Fine Girl))" and made a hit version was a Billboard chart topper.

And yet another cover...

Ron Adar, Shutterstock

"Please Mr Postman"

Artist: The Carpenters

Weeks: January 25

The difference here is that the Marvelettes had a number one hit with this song back in 1961—so when the Carpenters took it to number one in 1975, it wasn't the first time the track had been tops in the country.

Knudsen, Robert L., Wikimedia Commons

"Laughter In The Rain"    

Artist: Neil Sedaka

Weeks: February 1

Elton John had a little hand in this one as well in a way. The song was released in the United States via John's Rocket label.

AVRO, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

"Fire"

Artist: Ohio Players

Weeks: February 8

Along with 1976's "Love Rollercoaster", "Fire" is one of the Ohio Players' two signature songs. Along with the one week at number one on the Hot 100, the song also spent two weeks in the top spot on the Hot Soul Singles chart.

Mercury Records, Wikimedia Commons

"You're No Good"    

Artist: Linda Ronstadt

Weeks: February 15

Dee Dee Warwick, Betty Everett, and the Swinging Blue Jeans had all released their version of "You're No Good" in the 60s—and while they were good, none of them did what Linda Ronstadt's 1975 version did in rising up to number one on the Hot 100.

Rob Bogaerts, Wikimedia Commons

"Pick Up The Pieces"    

Artist: Average White Band

Weeks: February 22

This mostly-instrumental hit was the band's only number one song.

Johan Broberg, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

"Best Of My Love"    

Artist: Eagles

Weeks: March 1

On the Border was the Eagles' third studio album and it produced their first number one hit: "Best of My Love".

Steve Alexander, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

"Have You Never Been Mellow"  

Artist: Olivia Newton-John

Weeks: March 8

Olivia Newton-John had a number one hit in 1974 with "I Honestly Love You"—and she followed that up the next year with her second consecutive trip to the top of the Hot 100, "Have You Never Been Mellow".

Bert Verhoeff, Wikimedia Commons

"Black Water" 

Artist: The Doobie Brothers

Weeks: March 15

The Doobie Brothers had two number one songs in their career. "Black Water" was one of them ("What a Fool Believes" was the other).

Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

"My Eyes Adored You"    

Artist: Frankie Valli

Weeks: March 22

Not only did it reach number one for a week, but Billboard ranked it the number five song of the year.

SolarScott, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

"Lady Marmalade"    

Artist: Labelle

Weeks: March 29

"Lady Marmalade" is no stranger to the number one spot on the charts. Besides getting there with Labelle in 1975, Christina Aguilera, Mýa, Pink, and Lil' Kim took it there in 2001. And there was also the time in 1998 when All Saints reached the top of the UK Singles Chart with the song.

Epic Records, Wikimedia Commons

"Lovin' You"    

Artist: Minnie Riperton

Weeks: April 5

While a younger generation is probably most familiar with this song via its use in television and movies from South Park to Black Mirror—folks who were around in 1975 might remember Minnie Riperton's beautiful song as it rose up the charts that year, eventually settling in at number one for one week in April.

Epic Records, Wikimedia Commons

"Philadelphia Freedom"    

Artist: Elton John

Weeks: April 12 & 19

Elton John started the year with two consecutive weeks at number one, and in April, he did it again. This time with the song he and Bernie Taupin wrote as a favor to John's friend, tennis star Billie Jean King.

Eddie, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

"(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song"    

Artist: BJ Thomas

Weeks: April 26

The BJ Thomas track won the Grammy for Best Country Song and also became the song with the longest title to ever reach the top of the Billboard Hot 100 (a record it would hold for six years).

William Morris Agency-management, Wikimedia Commons

"He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)"    

Artist: Tony Orlando and Dawn

Weeks: May 3, 10, & 17

Jerry Butler had a top 10 hit with "He Will Break Your Heart" in the 60s. In 1975, Tony Orlando and Dawn covered the song and released it as "He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)"—taking it all the way to number one and staying there for three straight weeks.

CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons

"Shining Star"    

Artist: Earth, Wind & Fire

Weeks: May 24

Earth, Wind & Fire had many songs enter the Hot 100, and a bunch got into the top 10. However, "Shining Star" was their first, and only, number one hit.

Columbia Records, Wikimedia Commons

"Before The Next Teardrop Falls"    

Artist: Freddy Fender

Weeks: May 31

"Before the Next Teardrop Falls" was written in 1967 and had been covered many times since then, with modest amounts of success. Then, the song found Fender in 1974 and in '75, it found its way, first to the top of the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart and then eventually the top of the Hot 100 as well.

Gene Pugh, CC BY-SA 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

"Thank God I'm A Country Boy"    

Artist: John Denver

Weeks: June 7

It seems like the pop/country crossover vibe was in full effect in 1975—as yet another track reached the top of both the Hot 100 and Billboard Hot Country Singles charts. And Denver would even do it again a few months later.

ABC Television, Wikimedia Commons

"Sister Golden Hair"    

Artist: America

Weeks: June 14

Turns out, "A Horse with No Name" wasn't America's only number one hit song—as they reached the top of the charts three years later with "Sister Golden Hair".

AVRO, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

"Love Will Keep Us Together"    

Artist: Captain & Tennille

Weeks: June 21 & June 28; July 5 & July 12

No artist spent more consecutive weeks at number one in 1975 then Captain & Tennille. Love didn't just keep them together, it kept them at number one for four straight weeks.

ABC Television, Wikimedia Commons

"Listen To What The Man Said"    

Artist: Wings

Weeks: July 19

Just like he had with the Beatles, Paul McCartney had multiple number one hits with Wings—including "Listen to What the Man Said", from the band's fourth studio album, Venus and Mars.

Jim Summaria., CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

"The Hustle"    

Artist: Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony

Weeks: July 26

This disco track also went on to win the Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.

smolaw11, Adobe Stock

"One Of These Nights"    

Artist: Eagles

Weeks: August 2

After hitting number one with "Best of My Love", the Eagles' next single made it two in a row in the top spot on the Hot 100.

jeaneeem, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

"Jive Talkin'"    

Artist: Bee Gees

Weeks: August 9

The Bee Gees hadn't had a top 10 song since 1971's "How Can You Mend a Broken Heart"—making "Jive Talkin'" kind of a comeback track for the band.

Atco Records., Wikimedia Commons

"Fallin' In Love"    

Artist: Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds

Weeks: August 16

Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds haven't really remained in the public consciousness since the 70s—but regardless, no one can take away their 1975 number one hit song, "Fallin' in Love".

Dunhill Records, Wikimedia Commons

"Get Down Tonight"    

Artist: KC and the Sunshine Band

Weeks: August 30

A disco classic, "Get Down Tonight" was the first of KC and the Sunshine Band's five number one hit songs.

Cornstalker, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

"Rhinestone Cowboy"    

Artist: Glen Campbell

Weeks: September 6 & 13

Larry Weiss wrote and recorded "Rhinestone Cowboy" in 1974 to little fanfare. The next year, Glen Campbell made it the lead single off of his similarly titled album and it became a huge hit and hung out at the top of the charts for two straight weeks.

CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons

"Fame"    

Artist: David Bowie

Weeks: September 20

If you ever have someone ask you what David Bowie's first Hot 100 number one single was, you can tell them it was "Fame" in 1975.

EMI America, Wikimedia Commons

"I'm Sorry"    

Artist: John Denver

Weeks: September 27

John Denver had the last two number one hits of his career in 1975. We already talked about "Thank God I'm a Country Boy", and then there was "I'm Sorry".

TV Times, Getty Images

"Fame"    

Artist: David Bowie

Weeks: October 4

After being kicked out of the top spot by John Denver, Bowie retook number one for another week—again, with "Fame".

Rogers & Cowan Inc., Wikimedia Commons

"Bad Blood"    

Artist: Neil Sedaka

Weeks: October 11 & 18 & 25

14 years before Taylor Swift had a number one hit with a song called "Bad Blood", Neil Sedaka spent three straight weeks topping the charts with a very different "Bad Blood".

Raph_PH, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

"Island Girl"    

Artist: Elton John

Weeks: November 1 & 8 & 15

Neither "Island Girl" nor the album Rock of the Westies are among Elton John's most popular or memorable works—but back in '75, the aforementioned song spent three straight weeks at number one (the album went to number one also, by the way).

Bert Verhoeff, Wikimedia Commons

"That's The Way (I Like It)"    

Artist: KC and the Sunshine Band

Weeks: November 22

KC and the Sunshine Band's second number one hit only lasted a week at the top this time (but it would be back). But before KC returned to the top there was...

Crisco 1492, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

"Fly, Robin, Fly"    

Artist: Silver Convention

Weeks: November 29 & December 6 & 13

Not sure how many people remember the German disco group Silver Convention—but near the end of 1975, their debut album produced the three-weeks-at-number-one track, "Fly, Robin, Fly".

Silver Convention - Fly Robin Fly (1975), TopPop

"That's The Way (I Like It)"    

Artist: KC and the Sunshine Band

Weeks: December 20

KC and the Sunshine Band liked it so much at number one, they returned to the top spot after Silver Convention's three week reign.

BradP, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

"Let's Do It Again"    

Artist: The Staple Singers

Weeks: December 27

In case you were wondering—The Staple Singers didn't do it again the following week. In fact, they never had a number one hit after this one.

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Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons

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