List of Billboard Easy Listening number ones of 1975

A man with long blond hair wearing a jacket and tie
Barry Manilow had three number ones in 1975.

In 1975, Billboard magazine published a chart ranking the top-performing songs in the United States in the easy listening market. The chart, which in 1975 was entitled Easy Listening, has undergone various name changes and has been published under the title Adult Contemporary since 1996.[1] In 1975, 42 songs topped the chart based on playlists submitted by easy listening radio stations and sales reports submitted by stores.[1]

The first number one of the year was "Mandy" by Barry Manilow, which retained its position from the last chart of 1974,[2] but held the top spot for only one week in 1975 before being replaced by Ringo Starr's recording of the 1950s song "Only You". Starr thus became the second former member of The Beatles to have an Easy Listening number one since the group's break-up, following Paul McCartney's success with "My Love" in 1973.[3] Manilow was one of three acts to achieve three Easy Listening chart-toppers in 1975, along with Olivia Newton-John and the Carpenters. Newton-John had the highest total number of weeks at number one of any act, spending seven weeks in the top spot. She also recorded the longest unbroken run atop the chart, as her songs "Please Mr. Please" and "Something Better to Do" each spent three consecutive weeks at number one, the only tracks to do so during the year. Easy Listening chart-toppers by Manilow, Netwon-John and The Carpenters also topped Billboard's pop singles chart, the Hot 100,[3] reflecting the fact that at the time mellower styles were popular across a range of demographics and on top 40 radio as well as the easy listening format.[4] Although it only topped the Easy Listening chart for a single week, Captain & Tennille's "Love Will Keep Us Together" was the biggest-selling single of 1975 in the United States.[5]

Both "Rhinestone Cowboy" by Glen Campbell and "I'm Sorry" by John Denver were triple chart-toppers, as in addition to topping both the Easy Listening chart and the Hot 100,[3] both songs also topped the Hot Country Songs listing.[6] At the time, the rise of the smooth style of country music dubbed countrypolitan meant that there was considerable crossover between the country and easy listening radio formats.[7] Campbell and Denver were among four acts to achieve two Easy Listening number ones in 1975, along with Captain & Tennille and Helen Reddy. Two other singers achieved two chart-toppers in different guises. Art Garfunkel topped the chart with his solo single "I Only Have Eyes for You" as well as with "My Little Town" with erstwhile singing partner Paul Simon. The song was an unexpected reunion for Simon & Garfunkel, who had not recorded together since 1970.[8] Donny Osmond reached number one with "Morning Side of the Mountain", a duet with his sister Marie, and later returned to the top spot alongside his brothers in the group the Osmonds. "The Proud One" would prove to be the only Easy Listening chart-topper for the Osmonds, who had experienced major pop success earlier in the 1970s but had now passed their commercial peak.[3][9] Glen Campbell's "Country Boy (You Got Your Feet in L.A.)" was the year's final number one.

Chart history

A woman with long blonde hair holding two trophies
Olivia Newton-John spent seven weeks at number one, the most by any artist.
A man with short dark hair and a man with curly blond hair, both wearing sweaters
Simon & Garfunkel topped the chart with "My Little Town", a surprise reunion for the duo, who had been pursuing solo careers since 1970.
A man with light-coloured hair wearing a jacket and an open-necked shirt
Glen Campbell had two chart-toppers and ended the year at number one.
Key
Indicates best-performing easy listening song of 1975[10]


Issue date Title Artist(s) Ref.
January 4 "Mandy" Barry Manilow [2]
January 11 "Only You" Ringo Starr [11]
January 18 "Please Mr. Postman" The Carpenters [12]
January 25 "Morning Side of the Mountain" Donny and Marie Osmond [13]
February 1 "Best of My Love" Eagles [14]
February 8 "Sweet Surrender" John Denver [15]
February 15 "Lonely People" America [16]
February 22 "Nightingale" Carole King [17]
March 1 "Poetry Man" Phoebe Snow [18]
March 8 "Have You Never Been Mellow" Olivia Newton-John [19]
March 15 "I've Been This Way Before" Neil Diamond [20]
March 22 "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" B. J. Thomas [21]
March 29 "Emotion" Helen Reddy [22]
April 5 "My Boy" Elvis Presley [23]
April 12 "The Last Farewell" Roger Whittaker [24]
April 19 "He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)" Tony Orlando and Dawn [25]
April 26 "It's a Miracle" Barry Manilow [26]
May 3 "Only Yesterday" The Carpenters [27]
May 10 "The Immigrant" Neil Sedaka [28]
May 17 "Rainy Day People" Gordon Lightfoot [29]
May 24 "99 Miles From L.A." Albert Hammond [30]
May 31 "Wonderful Baby" Don McLean [31]
June 7 "Love Will Keep Us Together" Captain & Tennille [32]
June 14 "Wildfire" Michael Murphey [33]
June 21 "Midnight Blue" † Melissa Manchester [34]
June 28 [35]
July 5 "Every Time You Touch Me (I Get High)" Charlie Rich [36]
July 12 "Please Mr. Please" Olivia Newton-John [37]
July 19 [38]
July 26 [39]
August 2 "Rhinestone Cowboy" Glen Campbell [40]
August 9 "At Seventeen" Janis Ian [41]
August 16 [42]
August 23 "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" James Taylor [43]
August 30 "Fallin' in Love" Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds [44]
September 6 "Solitaire" The Carpenters [45]
September 13 "The Proud One" The Osmonds [46]
September 20 "I'm Sorry" John Denver [47]
September 27 [48]
October 4 "Ain't No Way to Treat a Lady" Helen Reddy [49]
October 11 "I Only Have Eyes for You" Art Garfunkel [50]
October 18 "Something Better to Do" Olivia Newton-John [51]
October 25 [52]
November 1 [53]
November 8 "The Way I Want to Touch You" Captain & Tennille [54]
November 15 [55]
November 22 "My Little Town" Simon & Garfunkel [56]
November 29 [57]
December 6 "Theme from Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)" Diana Ross [58]
December 13 "I Write the Songs" Barry Manilow [59]
December 20 [60]
December 27 "Country Boy (You Got Your Feet in L.A.)" Glen Campbell [61]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Whitburn 2007, p. vi.
  2. ^ a b "Adult Contemporary chart for January 4, 1975". Billboard. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d Whitburn 2005, p. TBC.
  4. ^ Dimery 2005, p. 199.
  5. ^ Hyatt 1999, p. 166.
  6. ^ Whitburn 1996, p. TBC.
  7. ^ Carlin 2014, p. 99.
  8. ^ Unterberger, Richie. "Simon & Garfunkel Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on March 28, 2019. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  9. ^ Huey, Steve. "The Osmonds Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 29, 2018. Retrieved May 15, 2019.
  10. ^ "Billboard Adult Contemporary Year End, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 7, 2021. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  11. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 11, 1975". Billboard. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  12. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 18, 1975". Billboard. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  13. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 25, 1975". Billboard. Retrieved May 13, 2019.
  14. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 1, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  15. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 8, 1975". Billboard. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  16. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 15, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  17. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 22, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  18. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 1, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  19. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 8, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  20. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 15, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  21. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 22, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  22. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 29, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  23. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 5, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  24. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 12, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  25. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 19, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  26. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 26, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  27. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 3, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  28. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 10, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  29. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 17, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  30. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 24, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  31. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 31, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  32. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 7, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  33. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 14, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  34. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 21, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 4, 2015. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  35. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 28, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 4, 2015. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  36. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 5, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  37. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 12, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  38. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 19, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  39. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 26, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  40. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 2, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  41. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 9, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  42. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 16, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  43. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 23, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  44. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 30, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  45. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 6, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  46. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 13, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  47. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 20, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  48. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 27, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  49. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 4, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  50. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 11, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  51. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 18, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  52. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 25, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  53. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 1, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  54. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 8, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  55. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 15, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  56. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 22, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  57. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 29, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 17, 2018. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  58. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 6, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  59. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 13, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  60. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 20, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  61. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 27, 1975". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 28, 2024. Retrieved May 16, 2019.

Works cited

  • Carlin, Richard (2014). Country Music: A Biographical Dictionary. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-13536-104-4.
  • Dimery, Robert, ed. (2005). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. Octopus Publishing Group. ISBN 978-1-84403-392-8.</ref>
  • Hyatt, Wesley (1999). The Billboard Book of Number One Adult Contemporary Hits. Billboard Books. ISBN 978-0-82307-693-2.
  • Whitburn, Joel (1996). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits. Watson-Guptill. ISBN 978-0-82308-289-6.
  • Whitburn, Joel (2005). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 1955–2002. Record Research Incorporated. ISBN 978-0-89820-155-0.
  • Whitburn, Joel (2007). Joel Whitburn Presents Billboard Top Adult Songs, 1961–2006. Record Research Incorporated. ISBN 978-0-89820-169-7.