The battle for the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart has raged on for decades. Some songs have made it to that top spot for weeks on end. Others only got a taste of that No. 1 goodness for a week or two at the top. Either way, they had to fight another song to get there. Let’s take a look at three hit tracks from 1975 that hit No. 1 and took over the spot from another excellent chart-topper.
“Lovin’ You” by Minnie Riperton
Minnie Riperton’s sweet and soulful lullaby, “Lovin’ You”, took the top spot on the Hot 100 on April 5, 1975. It became a huge hit just a few months after this soul-pop track hit the airwaves in November 1974. The song remained on the Hot 100 for 18 total weeks. The song usurped “My Eyes Adored You” by Frankie Valli, which made it to No. 1 in March of 1975.
Videos by American Songwriter
“Thank God I’m A Country Boy” by John Denver
This is one of the finest hit tracks from 1975. One of several No. 1 hits from the incomparable country-folk crooner, John Denver, “Thank God I’m A Country Boy” hit the top spot on the Hot 100 on June 7, 1975. It only took less than three months for the song to make it that far, and it remained at No. 1 for one week. “Thank God I’m A Country Boy” spent a total of 19 weeks on the chart.
John Denver’s hit knocked down “Before The Next Teardrop Falls” by Freddy Fender, which previously hit the top spot in late May and remained on the chart for a total of 21 weeks.
“Island Girl” by Elton John
The mid-1970s were a fantastic time for Elton John. “Island Girl”, one of many No. 1 hits from the Rocket Man, hit No. 1 on the Hot 100 on November 1, 1975. It remained at that top spot for three weeks and stayed on the chart for 15 weeks total. “Island Girl” was one of the best hit tracks from 1975. And it had to fight hard to take the spot from Neil Sedaka’s “Bad Blood”. That tune hit No. 1 in September of that year and spent three weeks at the top spot before “Island Girl” took over.
Photo by Chris Walter/WireImage
More The List
-
Steely Dan, 1976. Walter Becker en Donald Fagan. Albums Aja, Pretzel Logic, Royal Scam. Singers, songwriters, composers. -
CIRCA 1977: Dennis DeYoung, Chuck Panozzo, James Young Tommy Shaw, John Panozzo of the rock quintet "Styx" pose for a portrait in circa 1977. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) -
Photo by Doug Griffin/Toronto Star via Getty Images -
(Original Caption) A singer called Joni. Joni Mitchell, Canadian singer-songwriter, United Kingdom, 1968. The guitar-pickin' gal is Joni Mitchell, a long blonde haired Canadian folk singer. Pictured last night outside the Revolution club, Joni is here (until 1st October) for radio, television and concert appearances. Apart from concert appearances, 25 year old Joni will be heard on "Top Gear" on Radio One and "The Monday Show" on BBC 1. (Photo by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images) -
English rock band the Beatles arrive at London Airport from the USA, with their manager Brian Epstein (1934 – 1967, in coach doorway), 2nd September 1965. From left to right, John Lennon (1940 – 1980), George Harrison (1943 – 2001), Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. (Photo by George Stroud/Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images) -
George Jones, who released several country songs about whiskey -
Elvis Presley and Scotty Moore (left) performing on The Milton Berle Show at NBC's Hollywood studio, Los Angeles, California, 5th June 1956. Presley performed 'I Want You, I Need You, I Love You' and 'Hound Dog'. Press reaction to his performance was largely negative with his gyrating movements during 'Hound Dog' proving particularly controversial. (Photo by Bettmann Archive/Getty Images)
