The Single Artist Who Spent More Than 5 Weeks at No. 1 in 1975 (And a Few Who Came Close)

The year was 1975, and the bands at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 were, well, groups that have mostly since been forgotten 50 years later. That is, except for the name who spent the most weeks at the top spot on the coveted chart. Here below, we wanted to explore the year as it was in popular music, and to showcase which artist spent the most time at no. 1 in 1975 and which were on his heels.

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What were people listening to in 1975? Who were their favorite acts? While there were a total of 28 groups that spent at least one week at the top spot (including artists like The Carpenters, Eagles, Bee Gees, Linda Ronstadt, and Earth, Wind & Fire) there was only one who spent five or more weeks looking down at the competition. Let’s explore the results.

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These Artists Came Close

In total, there were 11 acts that spent multiple weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 in 1975. Five spent two weeks at no. 1 (David Bowie, John Denver, Glen Campbell, Bee Gees, and Eagles). Three groups spent three weeks at no. 1 (KC And The Sunshine Band, Silver Convention, and Tony Orlando And Dawn). Lastly, two bands spent four weeks at no. 1 (Neil Sedaka and Captain & Tennille). But none could catch the biggest name of the year…

Elton John Spent Seven Weeks at the Top of the Charts in 1975

You read that right. Elton John was the only artist in 1975 to spend more than five weeks at no. 1. Before we dive into Sir Elton’s terrific year, let’s talk a bit more about 1975.

Both 1974 and 1975 have the record for the time period with the most no. 1 hits with 35 days. And from January 11 through April 12 of 1975, that time span marks the longest running period with a different no. 1 song every week. And the longest-running no. 1 song of the year was “Love Will Keep Us Together” by Captain & Tennille.

But not even that track could dethrone Sir Elton from his perch as the top artist of 1975. Indeed, John spent a whopping seven weeks at no. 1 in 1975 thanks to three hits. In fact, John, Sedaka, Eagles, Denver, and KC And The Sunshine Band were the only groups to boast more than one no. 1 track during the year. But it was Sir Elton who had three, while everyone else only had two at most.

Those hits from the British-born piano playing dynamo include a cover of the iconic Beatles song “Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds”, “Philadelphia Freedom”, and “Island Girl”. It was a big year for the Brit and it only helped cement a career that would last another 50 years. In fact, John just released his latest album (with artist and friend Brandi Carlile) in 2025. What a career!

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