The 5 Artists With 5 or More No. 1 Hits in the 1970s

For all of the rock and roll, punk rock, disco, and everything else, did you know there were only five artists in the 1970s to achieve five or more No. 1 hit songs? Just a handful of songwriters and performers earned the nod. Perhaps that shouldn’t be so surprising, however. A No. 1 track on the Billboard Hot 100 is pretty hard to come by. And the above fact just proves it.

Videos by American Songwriter

Here below, however, we wanted to take a look at those five artists who achieved the feat. A quintet of folks who earned a No. 1 song for each finger on their right hand. Indeed, these are the five artists with five or more No. 1 hits in the 1970s.

[RELATED: 3 Movies Every Fan of the Eagles Should See]

Bee Gees (9)

The winning group from the decade, the one with the most No. 1 hits with nine are the Bee Gees. The brother trio scored chart-toppers with “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart,” “Jive Talkin’,” “You Should Be Dancing,” “How Deep Is Your Love,” “Stayin’ Alive,” “Night Fever,” “Too Much Heaven,” “Tragedy” and “Love You Inside Out.” With their signature falsetto harmonies, their knack for writing exciting disco songs, and their connection to the Saturday Night Fever film (starring John Travolta), the decade belonged to the Bee Gees.

Elton John (6)

The garish piano playing icon Elton John scored six No. 1 hits in the 1970s. They included “Crocodile Rock,” “Bennie and the Jets,” a cover of “Lucy in the Sky With Diamonds,” “Philadelphia Freedom,” “Island Girl” and “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” with Kiki Dee. Likely the most famous of those is “Bennie and the Jets,” the chorus for which everyone reading this can hear in their heads right now.

Stevie Wonder (5)

The artist who was signed to Motown at 11 years old boasted five No. 1 hits in the 1970s. And they included “Superstition,” “You Are the Sunshine of My Life,” “You Haven’t Done Nothin’,” “I Wish,” and “Sir Duke.” Yes, Stevie got out of the gate with some huge tunes and then continued it with more songs that topped the charts. But to kick off the decade with “Superstition” and “You Are the Sunshine of My Life”? Wow!

Paul McCartney and Wings (5)

When The Beatles broke up in 1970s, it was unclear what would happen next for the iconic band’s quartet of members. Sure, they would all make music. But what would it be like? Well, singer and songwriter Paul McCartney proved he still had a golden touch both as a solo artist and in his band Wings. McCartney garnered the No. 1 songs “Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey” with his wife Linda. And on top of that, with Wings, he had another three No. 1 hits in the 1970s, including, “My Love,” “Band on the Run,” and “Listen to What the Man Said.”

Eagles (5)

One of the seminal classic rock bands from the 1970s, the Los Angeles-born group known as the Eagles released five No. 1 hits in the 1970s, including “Best of My Love,” “One of These Nights,” “New Kid in Town,” “Hotel California,” and “Heartache Tonight.” Of course, it’s “Hotel California” that gets most of the love these days, but the Eagles catalog is one of the tightest and most accomplished of the 20th century.

Photo by RB/Redferns