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List of Hot Soul Singles number ones of 1977

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Singer Barry White
Barry White spent five weeks at number one with "It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me".

Billboard published a weekly chart in 1977 ranking the top-performing singles in the United States in soul music and related African American-oriented genres; the chart has undergone various name changes over the decades to reflect the evolution of black music and since 2005 has been published as Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[1] In 1977, it was published under the title Hot Soul Singles,[2] and 21 different singles reached number one.

In the issue of Billboard dated January 1, the group Rose Royce was at number one with "Car Wash", the song's second week in the top spot.[3] It was displaced the following week by "Darlin' Darlin' Baby (Sweet, Tender, Love)" by the O'Jays. The year's longest-running number one was "Serpentine Fire" by Earth, Wind & Fire, which reached the peak position in the issue of Billboard dated November 19 and stayed there for the remainder of the year, a total of seven consecutive weeks in the top spot. This also meant that the band had the highest total number of weeks at number one during the year, just ahead of two acts with six weeks in the top spot: the Floaters and Stevie Wonder. The latter was the only act to achieve more than one number one during 1977, spending five weeks in the top spot with "I Wish" and one with "Sir Duke".

The Floaters, whose single "Float On" was recognized by Billboard as the year's best-charting soul single, were among a number of acts that topped the soul singles chart in 1977 for the first time in their respective careers.[4] Thelma Houston, the Emotions and Slave also reached the top spot for the first time during the year, as did William Bell, who had recorded his debut single in 1961 and first appeared on the chart in 1966 but had taken more than a decade to gain his first number one.[5][6] None of the five acts who topped the chart for the first time during 1977 would go on to achieve any further number ones and the Floaters would not chart at all after 1978, despite "Float On" being a million-seller.[7][8] Six of the year's soul number ones also topped the Hot 100 pop singles chart:[9] both of Stevie Wonder's chart-toppers along with "Car Wash" by Rose Royce, "Don't Leave Me This Way" by Thelma Houston, "Got to Give It Up (Part 1)" by Marvin Gaye and "Best of My Love" by the Emotions.[10] Other songs, however, did not achieve significant crossover success: "The Pride (Part 1)" by the Isley Brothers peaked at number 63 on the Hot 100.[11]

Chart history

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Singer Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder was the only act to achieve more than one number one in 1977.
Singer William Bell
"Tryin' to Love Two" was a chart-topper for William Bell.
Singer Thelma Houston
Thelma Houston reached number one with her version of "Don't Leave Me This Way".
Members of the band Earth, Wind & Fire
Earth, Wind & Fire spent the last seven weeks of 1977 atop the chart with "Serpentine Fire".
Key
† Indicates number 1 on Billboard's year-end soul chart[12]
Chart history
Issue date Title Artist(s) Ref.
January 1 "Car Wash" Rose Royce [3]
January 8 "Darlin' Darlin' Baby (Sweet, Tender, Love)" The O'Jays [13]
January 15 "I Wish" Stevie Wonder [14]
January 22 [15]
January 29 [16]
February 5 [17]
February 12 [18]
February 19 "Don't Leave Me This Way" Thelma Houston [19]
February 26 "I've Got Love on My Mind" Natalie Cole [20]
March 5 [21]
March 12 [22]
March 19 [23]
March 26 [24]
April 2 "Tryin' to Love Two" William Bell [25]
April 9 "At Midnight (My Love Will Lift You Up)" Rufus featuring Chaka Khan [26]
April 16 [27]
April 23 "The Pride (Part 1)" The Isley Brothers [28]
April 30 "Got to Give It Up (Part 1)" Marvin Gaye [29]
May 7 [30]
May 14 [31]
May 21 "Whodunit" Tavares [32]
May 28 "Sir Duke" Stevie Wonder [33]
June 4 "Got to Give It Up (Part 1)" Marvin Gaye [34]
June 11 [35]
June 18 "Break It to Me Gently" Aretha Franklin [36]
June 25 "Best of My Love" The Emotions [37]
July 2 [38]
July 9 [39]
July 16 "Easy" Commodores [40]
July 23 "Best of My Love" The Emotions [41]
July 30 "Slide" Slave [42]
August 6 "Strawberry Letter 23" The Brothers Johnson [43]
August 13 "Float On" † The Floaters [44]
August 20 [45]
August 27 [46]
September 3 [47]
September 10 [48]
September 17 [49]
September 24 "Keep It Comin' Love" KC and the Sunshine Band [50]
October 1 "It's Ecstasy When You Lay Down Next to Me" Barry White [51]
October 8 [52]
October 15 [53]
October 22 [54]
October 29 [55]
November 5 "(Every Time I Turn Around) Back in Love Again" L.T.D. [56]
November 12 [57]
November 19 "Serpentine Fire" Earth, Wind & Fire [58]
November 26 [59]
December 3 [60]
December 10 [61]
December 17 [62]
December 24 [63]
December 31 [64]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Molanphy, Chris (April 14, 2014). "I Know You Got Soul: The Trouble With Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Chart". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  2. ^ Whitburn 1996, p. xii.
  3. ^ a b "R & B Chart for January 1, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 25, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  4. ^ Whitburn 1988, p. 153.
  5. ^ Whitburn 1988, pp. 39, 138, 196, 378.
  6. ^ Thomson, Graeme (January 5, 2022). "The making of William Bell's 'You Don't Miss Your Water'". Uncut. Archived from the original on August 12, 2022. Retrieved September 17, 2023.
  7. ^ Whitburn 1988, pp. 39, 138, 153, 196, 378.
  8. ^ Murrells 1978, p. 367.
  9. ^ Whitburn 1983, p. 5.
  10. ^ "Hot 100 - 1977 Archive". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 20, 2018. Retrieved July 24, 2020.
  11. ^ Whitburn 1983, p. 208.
  12. ^ "Billboard.com - Year End Charts - Year-end Singles - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 11, 2007. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
  13. ^ "R & B Chart for January 8, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 2, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  14. ^ "R & B Chart for January 15, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 21, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  15. ^ "R & B Chart for January 22, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  16. ^ "R & B Chart for January 29, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 11, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  17. ^ "R & B Chart for February 5, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 5, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  18. ^ "R & B Chart for February 12, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 22, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  19. ^ "R & B Chart for February 19, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 11, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  20. ^ "R & B Chart for February 26, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 26, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  21. ^ "R & B Chart for March 5, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 18, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  22. ^ "R & B Chart for March 12, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 7, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  23. ^ "R & B Chart for March 19, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 7, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  24. ^ "R & B Chart for March 26, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 18, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  25. ^ "R & B Chart for April 2, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 30, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  26. ^ "R & B Chart for April 9, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 30, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  27. ^ "R & B Chart for April 16, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  28. ^ "R & B Chart for April 23, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 13, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  29. ^ "R & B Chart for April 30, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 21, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  30. ^ "R & B Chart for May 7, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 20, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  31. ^ "R & B Chart for May 14, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 14, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  32. ^ "R & B Chart for May 21, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 30, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  33. ^ "R & B Chart for May 28, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 21, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  34. ^ "R & B Chart for June 4, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 30, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  35. ^ "R & B Chart for June 11, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  36. ^ "R & B Chart for June 18, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 18, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  37. ^ "R & B Chart for June 25, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  38. ^ "R & B Chart for July 2, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 23, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  39. ^ "R & B Chart for July 9, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 30, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  40. ^ "R & B Chart for July 16, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 5, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  41. ^ "R & B Chart for July 23, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 29, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  42. ^ "R & B Chart for July 30, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 30, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  43. ^ "R & B Chart for August 6, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 3, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  44. ^ "R & B Chart for August 13, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 7, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  45. ^ "R & B Chart for August 20, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 15, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  46. ^ "R & B Chart for August 27, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 30, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  47. ^ "R & B Chart for September 3, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 30, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  48. ^ "R & B Chart for September 10, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 30, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  49. ^ "R & B Chart for September 17, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 18, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  50. ^ "R & B Chart for September 24, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 11, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  51. ^ "R & B Chart for October 1, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 2, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  52. ^ "R & B Chart for October 8, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 5, 2019. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  53. ^ "R & B Chart for October 15, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 10, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  54. ^ "R & B Chart for October 22, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 30, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  55. ^ "R & B Chart for October 29, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 8, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  56. ^ "R & B Chart for November 5, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 7, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  57. ^ "R & B Chart for November 12, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 30, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  58. ^ "R & B Chart for November 19, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 13, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  59. ^ "R & B Chart for November 26, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 30, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  60. ^ "R & B Chart for December 3, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 11, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  61. ^ "R & B Chart for December 10, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 30, 2018. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  62. ^ "R & B Chart for December 17, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 18, 2022. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  63. ^ "R & B Chart for December 24, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2020.
  64. ^ "R & B Chart for December 31, 1977". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 17, 2023. Retrieved July 29, 2020.

Works cited

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