List of NME number-one singles of the 1970s

NME (or New Musical Express) was a British weekly pop music newspaper. Record charts in the United Kingdom began life on 14 November 1952 when NME began compiling the first UK-wide sales-based hit parade. Prior to 15 February 1969, when the British Market Research Bureau chart was established, there was no one universally accepted source and many periodicals compiled their own chart. During this time the BBC used aggregated results of charts from the NME and other sources to compile the Pick of the Pops chart. In 1969, Record Retailer and the BBC commissioned the British Market Research Bureau (BMRB) to compile the singles chart.[1]

Prior to this, The Official Charts Company and Guinness' British Hit Singles & Albums, consider Record Retailer the canonical source for the British singles chart in the 1960s;[1] Nevertheless, in the 1960s, NME had the biggest circulation of charts in the decade and was more widely followed.[2][3] After 1969, the joint venture between Record Retailer and the BBC is widely considered as the beginning of the official UK Singles Chart.[2][3][4] NME continued compiling its own chart until 14 May 1988.[5]

Significantly, NME had the Sex Pistols' anti-monarchy single "God Save the Queen" at number-one during the Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II.[6][7] The single, released by Virgin Records, was the highest-selling single of the week[8][9] but had been banned by the BBC and some major retailers.[6] To prevent it from reaching the top of the BMRB chart, for one week compilers "decreed that shops which sold their own records could not have those records represented in the chart", thus sales from Virgin Megastores were not counted.[3] Despite reaching number-two on the official chart, it is sometimes referred to as reaching number one.[10][11][12]

Number-one singles

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Paul McCartney (performing with wife Linda in 1976) had two NME number ones in the 1970s – one solo, one with his band Wings – that did not make the top of the Official Charts.
 
The only chart on which the Sex Pistols' infamous "God Save the Queen" made number one was NME.
Key
The song did not reach number one on the BMRB chart which is considered as the official chart after 12 February 1969.
[nb #] The song spent a week at number one where it shared the top spot with another song.
Contents
No. Artist[nb 1] Single[nb 1] Reached
number one[nb 1]
Weeks at
number one[nb 1]
1970
280 Rolf Harris "Two Little Boys" 20 December 1969 6
281 Marmalade "Reflections of My Life" ‡ 28 January 1970 1
282 Edison Lighthouse "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" 4 February 1970 3
283 The Jackson 5 "I Want You Back" ‡ 25 February 1970 1
284 Lee Marvin "Wand'rin' Star" 4 March 1970 3
285 Simon & Garfunkel "Bridge over Troubled Water" 25 March 1970 4
286 Norman Greenbaum "Spirit in the Sky" 22 April 1970 2
287 England World Cup Squad "70" "Back Home" 6 May 1970 3
288 The Moody Blues "Question" ‡ 27 May 1970 1
289 Christie "Yellow River" 3 June 1970 1
290 Mungo Jerry "In the Summertime" 10 June 1970 4
291 Free "All Right Now" ‡ 8 July 1970 3
292 The Kinks "Lola" ‡ 29 July 1970 1
293 Elvis Presley "The Wonder of You" 5 August 1970 3
294 Smokey Robinson and The Miracles "The Tears of a Clown" 26 August 1970 4
295 Freda Payne "Band of Gold" 23 September 1970 5
296 Deep Purple "Black Night" ‡ 28 October 1970 1
297 Matthews' Southern Comfort "Woodstock" 4 November 1970 3
298 Jimi Hendrix Experience "Voodoo Chile" 25 November 1970 1
299 Dave Edmunds's Rockpile "I Hear You Knocking" 2 December 1970 3
300 McGuinness Flint "When I'm Dead and Gone" ‡ 23 December 1970 1
301 Clive Dunn "Grandad" 30 December 1970 4
1971
302 George Harrison "My Sweet Lord" 27 January 1971 6
303 Mungo Jerry "Baby Jump" 10 March 1971 1
304 Paul McCartney "Another Day" ‡ 17 March 1971 1
305 T. Rex "Hot Love" 24 March 1971 5
306 Dave and Ansel Collins "Double Barrel" 28 April 1971 2
307 The Rolling Stones "Brown Sugar" ‡ 12 May 1971 1
308 Dawn "Knock Three Times" 19 May 1971 3
309 Free "My Brother Jake" ‡ 9 June 1971 1
310 Tony Christie "I Did What I Did for Maria" ‡ 16 June 1971 1
311 Middle of the Road "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" 23 June 1971 5
312 T. Rex "Get It On" 28 July 1971 3
313 The New Seekers "Never Ending Song of Love" ‡ 18 August 1971 1
314 Diana Ross "I'm Still Waiting" 25 August 1971 3
315 The Tams "Hey Girl Don't Bother Me" 15 September 1971 2
316 Rod Stewart "Maggie May" 29 September 1971 6
317 Slade "Coz I Luv You" 10 November 1971 3
318 Benny Hill "Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)" 1 December 1971 5
1972
319 The New Seekers "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)" 5 January 1972 4
320 America "A Horse with No Name" ‡ 2 February 1972 1
321 T. Rex "Telegram Sam" 9 February 1972 1
322 Chicory Tip "Son of My Father" 16 February 1972 2
323 Don McLean "American Pie" ‡ 1 March 1972 1
324 Nilsson "Without You" 8 March 1972 6
325 Royal Scots Dragoon Guards "Amazing Grace" 19 April 1972 4
326 T.Rex "Metal Guru" 17 May 1972 4
327 Don McLean "Vincent" 14 June 1972 3
328 Slade "Take Me Bak 'Ome" 5 July 1972 1
329 Donny Osmond "Puppy Love" 12 July 1972 4
330 Alice Cooper "School's Out" 9 August 1972 3
331 Rod Stewart "You Wear It Well" 30 August 1972 2
332 Slade "Mama Weer All Crazee Now" 13 September 1972 2
333 T. Rex "Children of the Revolution" ‡ 27 September 1972 1
334 David Cassidy "How Can I Be Sure" 4 October 1972 1
335 Lieutenant Pigeon "Mouldy Old Dough" 11 October 1972 4
336 Gilbert O'Sullivan "Clair" 8 November 1972 2
337 Chuck Berry "My Ding-a-Ling" 22 November 1972 3
338 Slade "Gudbuy T'Jane" ‡ 13 December 1972 1
339 Little Jimmy Osmond "Long Haired Lover from Liverpool" 20 December 1972 4
1973
340 David Bowie "The Jean Genie" ‡ 17 January 1973 1
341 Sweet "Blockbuster" 24 January 1973 4
342 Strawbs "Part of the Union" ‡ 21 February 1973 2
343 Slade "Cum On Feel the Noize" 7 March 1973 3
344 Donny Osmond "The Twelfth of Never" 28 March 1973 2
345 Gilbert O'Sullivan "Get Down" 11 April 1973 1
346 Dawn featuring Tony Orlando "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" 18 April 1973 5
347 Wizzard "See My Baby Jive" 23 May 1973 2
348 Suzi Quatro "Can the Can" 6 June 1973 3
349 10cc "Rubber Bullets" 27 June 1973 1
350 Slade "Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me" 4 July 1973 2
351 Peters and Lee "Welcome Home" 18 July 1973 2
352 Gary Glitter "I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am!)" 1 August 1973 4
353 Donny Osmond "Young Love" 29 August 1973 2
354 Wizzard "Angel Fingers (A Teen Ballad)" 12 September 1973 1
355 David Essex "Rock On" ‡ 19 September 1973 1
356 Sweet "The Ballroom Blitz" ‡ 26 September 1973 1
357 Simon Park Orchestra "Eye Level (Theme From The Thames TV Series "Van Der Valk")" 3 October 1973 4
358 David Cassidy "The Puppy Song" / "Daydreamer" 31 October 1973 2
359 The Osmonds "Let Me In" ‡ 14 November 1973 1
360 Gary Glitter "I Love You Love Me Love" 21 November 1973 4
361 Slade "Merry Christmas Everybody" 19 December 1973 2[nb 2]
1974
362 New Seekers feat. Lyn Paul "You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me" 2 January 1974 2[nb 2]
363 Leo Sayer "The Show Must Go On" ‡ 16 January 1974 1
364 Sweet "Teenage Rampage" ‡ 23 January 1974 1
365 Mud "Tiger Feet" 30 January 1974 3
366 Suzi Quatro "Devil Gate Drive" 20 February 1974 2
367 Alvin Stardust "Jealous Mind" 6 March 1974 2
368 Paper Lace "Billy Don't Be a Hero" 20 March 1974 3
369 Terry Jacks "Seasons in the Sun" 10 April 1974 2
370 Mud "The Cat Crept In" ‡ 24 April 1974 1
371 ABBA "Waterloo" 1 May 1974 2
372 The Rubettes "Sugar Baby Love" 15 May 1974 4
373 Ray Stevens "The Streak" 12 June 1974 2
374 Gary Glitter "Always Yours" 26 June 1974 1
375 Charles Aznavour "She" 3 July 1974 3
376 George McCrae "Rock Your Baby" 24 July 1974 3
377 The Three Degrees "When Will I See You Again" 14 August 1974 3
378 The Osmonds "Love Me for a Reason" 4 September 1974 2
379 Carl Douglas "Kung Fu Fighting" 18 September 1974 4
380 Peter Shelley "Gee Baby" ‡ 16 October 1974 1
381 Ken Boothe "Everything I Own" 23 October 1974 2
382 David Essex "Gonna Make You a Star" 6 November 1974 5
383 Barry White "You're the First, the Last, My Everything" 11 December 1974 1
384 Mud "Lonely This Christmas" 18 December 1974 3
1975
385 Ralph McTell "Streets of London" ‡ 8 January 1975 2
386 Status Quo "Down Down" 22 January 1975 1
387 The Tymes "Ms Grace" 29 January 1975 1
388 Pilot "January" 5 February 1975 2
389 The Carpenters "Please Mr. Postman" ‡ 19 February 1975 1
390 Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" 26 February 1975 1
391 Telly Savalas "If" 5 March 1975 2
392 Bay City Rollers "Bye Bye Baby (Baby Goodbye)" 19 March 1975 6
393 Bobby Goldsboro "Honey" ‡ 30 April 1975 1
394 Minnie Riperton "Lovin' You" ‡ 7 May 1975 1
395 Tammy Wynette "Stand by Your Man" 14 May 1975 3
396 Windsor Davies and Don Estelle "Whispering Grass" 4 June 1975 1
397 Showaddywaddy "Three Steps to Heaven" ‡ 11 June 1975 1
re Windsor Davies and Don Estelle "Whispering Grass" 18 June 1975 1
398 10cc "I'm Not in Love" 25 June 1975 2
399 Johnny Nash "Tears on My Pillow" 9 July 1975 2
400 Bay City Rollers "Give a Little Love" 23 July 1975 1
401 Typically Tropical "Barbados" 30 July 1975 2
402 The Stylistics "Can't Give You Anything (But My Love)" 13 August 1975 2
403 Rod Stewart "Sailing" 27 August 1975 4
404 Leo Sayer "Moonlighting" ‡ 24 September 1975 1
405 David Essex "Hold Me Close" 1 October 1975 3
406 Art Garfunkel "I Only Have Eyes for You" 22 October 1975 2
407 David Bowie "Space Oddity" 5 November 1975 2
408 Billy Connolly "D.I.V.O.R.C.E." 19 November 1975 1
409 Hot Chocolate "You Sexy Thing" ‡ 26 November 1975 1
410 Queen "Bohemian Rhapsody" 3 December 1975 7
1976
411 Sailor "A Glass of Champagne" ‡ 21 January 1976 1
412 ABBA "Mamma Mia" 28 January 1976 2
413 Slik "Forever and Ever" 11 February 1976 1
414 The Four Seasons "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)" 18 February 1976 2
415 Tina Charles "I Love to Love (But My Baby Loves to Dance)" 3 March 1976 3
416 Brotherhood of Man "Save Your Kisses for Me" 24 March 1976 5
417 ABBA "Fernando" 28 April 1976 6
418 J. J. Barrie "No Charge" 9 June 1976 1
419 Wings "Silly Love Songs" ‡ 16 June 1976 1
420 The Real Thing "You to Me Are Everything" 23 June 1976 2
421 Candi Staton "Young Hearts Run Free" ‡ 7 July 1976 1
422 Demis Roussos "The Roussos Phenomenon" 14 July 1976 1
423 Elton John & Kiki Dee "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" 21 July 1976 7
424 ABBA "Dancing Queen" 8 September 1976 5
425 Pussycat "Mississippi" 13 October 1976 3
426 Chicago "If You Leave Me Now" 3 November 1976 4
427 Showaddywaddy "Under the Moon of Love" 1 December 1976 3
428 Johnny Mathis "When a Child Is Born" 22 December 1976 3[nb 3]
1977
429 David Soul "Don't Give Up on Us" 12 January 1977 2
430 Julie Covington "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" 26 January 1977 1
re David Soul "Don't Give Up on Us" 2 February 1977 1
re Julie Covington "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" 9 February 1977 2
431 Leo Sayer "When I Need You" 23 February 1977 2
432 The Manhattan Transfer "Chanson D'Amour" 9 March 1977 2
433 ABBA "Knowing Me, Knowing You" 23 March 1977 6
434 Deniece Williams "Free" 4 May 1977 3
435 Rod Stewart "I Don't Want to Talk About It" / "The First Cut Is the Deepest" 25 May 1977 3
436 Sex Pistols "God Save the Queen" ‡ 15 June 1977 1
437 The Jacksons "Show You the Way to Go" 22 June 1977 2
438 Hot Chocolate "So You Win Again" 6 July 1977 1
439 Boney M. "Ma Baker" ‡ 13 July 1977 1
440 Donna Summer "I Feel Love" 20 July 1977 5
441 Brotherhood of Man "Angelo" 24 August 1977 1
442 Elvis Presley "Way Down" 31 August 1977 1
443 Space "Magic Fly" ‡ 7 September 1977 3
re Elvis Presley "Way Down" 28 September 1977 2
444 David Soul "Silver Lady" 12 October 1977 1
445 Baccara "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" 19 October 1977 1
446 Rod Stewart "You're in My Heart" ‡ 26 October 1977 1
re Baccara "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" 2 November 1977 1
447 ABBA "The Name of the Game" 9 November 1977 2
448 Status Quo "Rockin' All Over the World" ‡ 23 November 1977 1
449 Wings "Mull of Kintyre" 30 November 1977 9[nb 4]
1978
450 Althea & Donna "Uptown Top Ranking" 1 February 1978 2
451 ABBA "Take a Chance on Me" 15 February 1978 3
452 Kate Bush "Wuthering Heights" 8 March 1978 3
453 Blondie "Denis" ‡ 29 March 1978 2
454 Showaddywaddy "I Wonder Why" ‡ 12 April 1978 1
455 Bee Gees "Night Fever" 19 April 1978 4
456 Boney M. "Rivers of Babylon" 17 May 1978 4
457 John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John "You're the One That I Want" 14 June 1978 10
458 Commodores "Three Times a Lady" 23 August 1978 4
459 10cc "Dreadlock Holiday" 20 September 1978 2
460 John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John "Summer Nights" 4 October 1978 6
461 The Boomtown Rats "Rat Trap" 8 November 1978 3
462 Rod Stewart "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" 29 November 1978 1
463 Boney M. "Mary's Boy Child – Oh My Lord" 6 December 1978 4[nb 5]
1979
464 Village People "Y.M.C.A." 3 January 1979 3[nb 5]
465 Ian Dury "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick" 24 January 1979 2
466 Blondie "Heart of Glass" 7 February 1979 1
467 ABBA "Chiquitita" ‡ 14 February 1979 1
re Blondie "Heart of Glass" 21 February 1979 2
468 Bee Gees "Tragedy" 7 March 1979 1
469 Elvis Costello "Oliver's Army" ‡ 14 March 1979 1
470 Gloria Gaynor "I Will Survive" 21 March 1979 2
471 Village People "In the Navy" ‡ 4 April 1979 1
472 Art Garfunkel "Bright Eyes" 11 April 1979 5
473 M "Pop Muzik" ‡ 16 May 1979 1
re Art Garfunkel "Bright Eyes" 23 May 1979 1
474 Blondie "Sunday Girl" 30 May 1979 1
475 Roxy Music "Dance Away" ‡ 6 June 1979 1
476 Anita Ward "Ring My Bell" 13 June 1979 3
477 Tubeway Army "Are "Friends" Electric?" 4 July 1979 2
478 Janet Kay "Silly Games" ‡ 18 July 1979 1
re Tubeway Army "Are "Friends" Electric?" 25 July 1979 2
479 The Boomtown Rats "I Don't Like Mondays" 8 August 1979 4
480 Cliff Richard "We Don't Talk Anymore" 5 September 1979 3
481 Gary Numan "Cars" 26 September 1979 2
482 The Police "Message in a Bottle" 10 October 1979 2
483 The Buggles "Video Killed the Radio Star" 24 October 1979 2
484 Lena Martell "One Day at a Time" 7 November 1979 1
485 Dr. Hook "When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman" 14 November 1979 4
486 The Police "Walking on the Moon" 12 December 1979 1
487 Pink Floyd "Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)" 19 December 1979 4[nb 6]
Contents

Notes

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  1. ^ a b c d The names, singles, dates and duration of the number-ones are from the NME.[13]
  2. ^ a b There was no chart published for the week ending 26 December 1973. In the preceding week, "Merry Xmas Everybody" was the number-one single. In the next published chart, "You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me" claimed the top spot.
  3. ^ There was no chart published for the week ending 5 January 1977. For the week either side of this "When a Child Is Born" was the number-one single.
  4. ^ There was no chart published for the week ending 28 December 1977. For the week either side of this "Mull of Kintyre" was the number-one single.
  5. ^ a b There was no chart published for the week ending 27 December 1978. For the preceding week, "Mary's Boy Child - Oh My Lord" was the number-one single. In the next published chart, "Y.M.C.A." claimed the top spot.
  6. ^ There was no chart published for the week ending 26 December 1979. For the week either side of this "Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)" was the number-one single.

References

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Footnotes
  1. ^ a b "Key Dates in the History of the Official UK Charts". The Official Charts Company. Archived from the original on 10 January 2008. Retrieved 16 May 2010.
  2. ^ a b Smith, Alan. "50s & 60s UK Charts – The Truth!". Dave McAleer's website. Archived from the original on 3 September 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
  3. ^ a b c Leigh, Spencer (20 February 1998). "Music: Charting the number ones that somehow got away". The Independent. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
  4. ^ Warwick, Neil; Kutner, Jon; Brown, Tony (2004). The Complete Book Of The British Charts: Singles and Albums (3rd ed.). London: Omnibus Press. p. v. ISBN 1-84449-058-0. Until 15th February 1969, there was no officially compiled chart.
  5. ^ Smith, Alan. "Every No.1 in the 1960s is listed from all the nine different magazine charts!". Dave McAleer's website. Archived from the original on 10 May 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2010.
  6. ^ a b Ascherson, Neal (2 June 2002). "Is the UK OK?". The Observer. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  7. ^ Murthi, R. S. (9 May 1993). "Infectious Rage of Punk". New Straits Times. p. 17. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  8. ^ Donovan, Patrick (3 June 2002). "Melbourne & punk: 25 years on". The Age. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  9. ^ Munckton, Stuart (2 August 2000). "When the oppressed express themselves". Green Left Weekly. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  10. ^ "Sex Pistols reunite for anti-jubilee gig". BBC News. 28 July 2002. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  11. ^ O'Connor, Tim (27 June 1986). "John Lydon: Sex Pistols gone but the anger remains". Ottawa Citizen. p. F18. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  12. ^ "Sex Pistols cover tops chart". BBC News. 14 March 2001. Retrieved 8 August 2010.
  13. ^ Rees, Lazell & Osborne 1995, pp. 217–351.
Sources

Rees, Dafydd; Lazell, Barry; Osborne, Roger (1995). Forty Years of "NME" Charts (2nd ed.). Pan Macmillan. ISBN 0-7522-0829-2.