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List of Billboard Easy Listening number ones of 1974

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A smiling man
Neil Sedaka topped the chart for two weeks with "Laughter in the Rain".

In 1974, Billboard magazine published a chart ranking the top-performing songs in the United States in the easy listening market. The chart, which in 1974 was entitled Easy Listening, has undergone various name changes and has been published under the title Adult Contemporary since 1996.[1] In 1974, 35 songs topped the chart based on playlists submitted by radio stations and sales reports submitted by stores.[1]

In the issue dated January 5, 1974, the number-one position on the chart was held by "Time in a Bottle" by Jim Croce for a second consecutive week.[2] It was a posthumous chart-topper for the singer, who had died in an airplane crash in September of the previous year.[3] Croce achieved a second posthumous number one in April with "I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song". Chicago, Gordon Lightfoot, Anne Murray and Charlie Rich also achieved two number ones in 1974, as did the Three Degrees, who had one chart-topper in their own right and another as featured vocalists on the song "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" by MFSB, the theme tune to the syndicated television show Soul Train.[4] John Denver and Helen Reddy each had three number ones during 1974, with Denver's total of seven weeks in the top spot being the highest by any act. The country-rock singer Denver was at the peak of his career in 1974, selling millions of records and achieving number ones on the pop, easy listening and country charts.[5]

Many of 1974's Easy Listening number ones also topped Billboard's pop singles chart, the Hot 100, reflecting the fact that at the time mellower styles were popular across a range of demographics and on pop music radio as well as the easy listening format.[6] Songs by Croce, Barbra Streisand, the Love Unlimited Orchestra, Terry Jacks, MFSB featuring the Three Degrees, Denver, Gordon Lightfoot, Olivia Newton-John and Reddy all topped both listings.[7] The final easy listening number one of the year was "Mandy" by Barry Manilow, which would go on to top the Hot 100 in 1975 and prove to be the breakthrough song for an artist who would become one of the most successful acts in the easy listening field.[8]

Chart history

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A smiling man with long fair hair wearing glasses
John Denver had three number ones and spent seven weeks in the top spot.
A dark-haired man with a large mustache holding a cigar
Jim Croce had two posthumous number ones in 1974; he had died in September of the previous year.
A dark-haired young woman in a black dress singing into a microphone
Helen Reddy had three number ones during the year.
Chart history
Issue date Title Artist(s) Ref.
January 5 "Time in a Bottle" Jim Croce [2]
January 12 "The Way We Were" Barbra Streisand [9]
January 19 [10]
January 26 "Love's Theme" The Love Unlimited Orchestra [11]
February 2 [12]
February 9 "A Love Song" Anne Murray [13]
February 16 "Last Time I Saw Him" Diana Ross [14]
February 23 [15]
March 2 [16]
March 9 "Seasons in the Sun" Terry Jacks [17]
March 16 "Sunshine on My Shoulders" John Denver [18]
March 23 [19]
March 30 "A Very Special Love Song" Charlie Rich [20]
April 6 [21]
April 13 "Keep On Singing" Helen Reddy [22]
April 20 [23]
April 27 "I'll Have to Say I Love You in a Song" Jim Croce [24]
May 4 "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" MFSB featuring the Three Degrees [25]
May 11 [26]
May 18 "The Entertainer" Marvin Hamlisch [27]
May 25 "Help Me" Joni Mitchell [28]
June 1 "I Won't Last a Day Without You" The Carpenters [29]
June 8 "Sundown" Gordon Lightfoot [30]
June 15 [31]
June 22 "You Won't See Me" Anne Murray [32]
June 29 [33]
July 6 "Annie's Song" John Denver [34]
July 13 [35]
July 20 [36]
July 27 "You and Me Against the World" Helen Reddy [37]
August 3 "Please Come to Boston" Dave Loggins [38]
August 10 "Feel Like Makin' Love" Roberta Flack [39]
August 17 [40]
August 24 "Call on Me" Chicago [41]
August 31 "I'm Leaving It Up to You" Donny and Marie Osmond [42]
September 7 "I Love My Friend" Charlie Rich [43]
September 14 "I Honestly Love You" Olivia Newton-John [44]
September 21 [45]
September 28 [46]
October 5 "Tin Man" America [47]
October 12 "Stop and Smell the Roses" Mac Davis [48]
October 19 "Carefree Highway" Gordon Lightfoot [49]
October 26 "Back Home Again" John Denver [50]
November 2 [51]
November 9 "My Melody of Love" Bobby Vinton [52]
November 16 "Longfellow Serenade" Neil Diamond [53]
November 23 "Laughter in the Rain" Neil Sedaka [54]
November 30 [55]
December 7 "Angie Baby" Helen Reddy [56]
December 14 "When Will I See You Again" The Three Degrees [57]
December 21 "Wishing You Were Here" Chicago [58]
December 28 "Mandy" Barry Manilow [59]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Whitburn 2007, p. vi.
  2. ^ a b "Adult Contemporary chart for January 5, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 20, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  3. ^ Weber, Barry. "Jim Croce Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on September 30, 2017. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  4. ^ Whitburn 2005, p. 469.
  5. ^ Weber, Barry. "John Denver Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 13, 2019. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  6. ^ Dimery 2005, p. 199.
  7. ^ Whitburn 2005, p. 991.
  8. ^ Huey, Steve. "Barry Manilow Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on July 18, 2017. Retrieved April 14, 2019.
  9. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 12, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 19, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  10. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 19, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 27, 2024. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  11. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 26, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 18, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  12. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 2, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 20, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  13. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 9, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 19, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  14. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 16, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 20, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  15. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 23, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 19, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  16. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 2, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 20, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  17. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 9, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 20, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  18. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 16, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 20, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  19. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 23, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 19, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  20. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 30, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 18, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  21. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 6, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 19, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  22. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 13, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 20, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  23. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 20, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 19, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  24. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 27, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 20, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  25. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 4, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 20, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  26. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 11, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 20, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  27. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 18, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 20, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  28. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 25, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 20, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  29. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 1, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 19, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  30. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 8, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 20, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  31. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 15, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 20, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  32. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 22, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 19, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  33. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 29, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 20, 2019. Retrieved March 12, 2019.
  34. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 6, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 27, 2024. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  35. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 13, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 23, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  36. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 20, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 22, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  37. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 27, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 23, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  38. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 3, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 21, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  39. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 10, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 23, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  40. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 17, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 27, 2024. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  41. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 24, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 23, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  42. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 31, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 22, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  43. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 7, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 22, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  44. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 7, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 22, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  45. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 21, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 23, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  46. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 28, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 21, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  47. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 5, 1974". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  48. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 12, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 23, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  49. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 19, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 23, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  50. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 26, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 22, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  51. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 2, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 21, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  52. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 9, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 21, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  53. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 16, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 23, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  54. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 23, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 23, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  55. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 30, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 22, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  56. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 7, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 21, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  57. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 14, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 22, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  58. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 21, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 22, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  59. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 28, 1974". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 22, 2019. Retrieved March 13, 2019.

Works cited

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