The Billboard Hot 100 is a chart published since August 1958 by Billboard magazine which ranks the best-performing singles in the United States. In 1975, it was compiled based on a combination of sales and airplay data sourced from surveys of retail outlets and playlists submitted by radio stations respectively. During the year, 35 different singles spent time at number one.
In the issue of Billboard dated January 4, Elton John moved into the number-one position with his recording of "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds", originally recorded by the Beatles. The single retained the top spot on the chart dated January 11, but the subsequent 12 chart-toppers each spent only one week atop the listing, the longest run of consecutive single-week number ones in the Hot 100's history to that point. The sequence included the first Hot 100 number ones achieved by Barry Manilow, Ohio Players, Linda Ronstadt, Average White Band, the Eagles, the Doobie Brothers, Labelle, and Minnie Riperton. Additionally, Frankie Valli, who had topped the chart four times in the 1960s as the lead singer of the Four Seasons, earned his first number one song as a solo act during this period. John gained his second number one of the year in the issue dated April 12 when "Philadelphia Freedom", officially credited to the Elton John Band, took the top spot, and it retained its position the following week to end the lengthy run of one-week number ones. The band Earth, Wind & Fire gained its first chart-topper in May, and Freddy Fender and Captain & Tennille achieved the same feat in May and June respectively.
In September, David Bowie topped the Hot 100 for the first time with "Fame". The British singer, known for his constant reinvention, is one of the best-selling musicians of all time, with sales of over 100 million in his lifetime, and has been ranked by Rolling Stone magazine among the greatest singers, songwriters, and artists of all time. Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony topped the chart for the first and only time in July, and the trio Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds did the same four weeks later. KC and the Sunshine Band, Glen Campbell, and Silver Convention also reached the peak position for the first time in the second half of the year. Elton John had the most number ones of any act in 1975, topping the chart with three singles, and Neil Sedaka was one of four acts to have two number ones. Prior to 1975, Sedaka had not achieved a number one since 1962, but after a long period with little success in the United States, he was experiencing a career revival after John signed him to his record label. In addition to topping the chart twice as a performer, Sedaka also co-wrote the year's longest-running number one, "Love Will Keep Us Together" by Captain & Tennille, which spent four weeks in the top spot in June and July. The Eagles, John Denver, and KC and the Sunshine Band also had two number ones in 1975. There was significant crossover between the Hot 100 and Billboards Hot Country Singles chart, with five singles topping both listings during 1975, as many as in the entirety of the preceding fifteen years. Crossover country pop music was at a peak in popularity, and songs by Campbell, Denver (who achieved the feat twice), B. J. Thomas, and Freddy Fender reached number one on both charts during the year.
Chart history
+Issue dateTitleArtist(s)349"Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds"350"Mandy"351"Please Mr. Postman"352"Laughter in the Rain"353"Fire"Ohio Players354"You're No Good"355"Pick Up the Pieces"Average White Band356"Best of My Love"Eagles357"Have You Never Been Mellow"358"Black Water"359"My Eyes Adored You"360"Lady Marmalade"Labelle361"Lovin' You"362"Philadelphia Freedom"363""364"He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)"365"Shining Star"Earth, Wind & Fire366"Before the Next Teardrop Falls"367"Thank God I'm a Country Boy"368"Sister Golden Hair"America369"Love Will Keep Us Together"Captain & Tennille370"Listen to What the Man Said"371"The Hustle"372"One of These Nights"Eagles373"Jive Talkin'"Bee Gees374"Fallin' in Love"Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds375"Get Down Tonight"KC and the Sunshine Band376"Rhinestone Cowboy"377"Fame"378"I'm Sorry"377 (re)"Fame"379"Bad Blood"380"Island Girl"381"That's the Way (I Like It)"KC and the Sunshine Band382"Fly, Robin, Fly"Silver Convention381 (re)"That's the Way (I Like It)"KC and the Sunshine Band383"Let's Do It Again"
Notes
Number-one artists + List of number-one artists by total weeks at number one Weeks at No. 1 Artist 7 Elton John 4 Captain & Tennille Neil Sedaka 3 Tony Orlando and Dawn Silver Convention KC and the Sunshine Band 2 Eagles Bee Gees Glen Campbell John Denver David Bowie 1 Barry Manilow The Carpenters Ohio Players Linda Ronstadt Average White Band Olivia Newton-John The Doobie Brothers Frankie Valli Labelle Minnie Ripperton Earth, Wind & Fire Freddy Fender America Wings Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds The Staple Singers
See also 1975 in music List of Cash Box Top 100 number-one singles of 1975 List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of the 1970s
References
Works cited