Number Ones |
| Week Ending | ACT + Links | TITLE | Weeks | TALLY | COMMENT |
| 31 Jan 1970 | Edison Lighthouse | Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes) | 5 | Only No 1 | Studio act with lead singer Tony Burrows. He sang on hits for many other groups. |
| 7 Mar 1970 | Lee Marvin | Wandrin' Star | 3 | Only No 1 | Tough-guy actor who growled this song in his film "Paint Your Wagon". |
| 28 Mar 1970 | Simon & Garfunkel | Bridge Over Troubled Water | 3 | Only No 1 | Only Art Garfunkel sings on this perennial favourite. Paul Simon went on to even greater solo success, but never made No 1. |
| 18 Apr 1970 | Dana | All Kinds Of Everything | 2 | Only No 1 | First Eurovision winner for Ireland. Her career was shorter than most expected. |
| 2 May 1970 | Norman Greenbaum | Spirit In The Sky | 2 | Only No 1 | A "Praising Jesus" song that Norman wrote himself. Doctor & The Medics took the song to No 1 in 1986. |
| 16 May 1970 | England World Cup Squad | Back Home | 3 | 1st No 1 | Mexico World Cup sing-along, which did not help England to win the cup. |
| 6 Jun 1970 | Christie | Yellow River | 1 | Only No 1 | Written by Jeff Christie for the Tremeloes who turned it down - so he recorded it himself. |
| 13 Jun 1970 | Mungo Jerry | In The Summertime | 7 | 1st No 1 | Good-time band led by Ray Dorset. The song has been revived several times since. |
| 1 Aug 1970 | Elvis Presley | The Wonder Of You | 6 | 16th No 1 | He was reviving his career in Las Vegas, and this is a live recording from his show. At this point he was still one behind the Beatles. |
| 12 Sep 1970 | Smokey Robinson & The Miracles | Tears Of A Clown | 1 | 1st No 1 | Motown act - Robinson was a director of the company. He had a solo No 1 in 1981. |
| 19 Sep 1970 | Freda Payne | Band Of Gold | 6 | Only No 1 | Song about marriage failure from an actress, produced by former Motown men. |
| 31 Oct 1970 | Matthew's Southern Comfort | Woodstock | 3 | Only No 1 | Written by Canadian folk legend Joni Mitchell, about the famous rock festival of 1969. |
| 21 Nov 1970 | Jimi Hendrix | Voodoo Chile | 1 | Only No 1 | American with legendary status who found fame in London, where he died two months prior to this No 1. |
| 28 Nov 1970 Xmas No 1 |
Dave Edmunds | I Hear You Knockin' | 6 | Only No 1 | Mainly a producer, he has been involved in hits for dozens of artists. |
| 9 Jan 1971 | Clive Dunn | Grandad | 3 | Only No 1 | "Dad's Army" star who tapped seasonal sentimentality that Christmas & New Year. |
| 30 Jan 1971 | George Harrison | My Sweet Lord | 5 | 1st No 1 | The ex-Beatle excelled with this, but was sued for plagiarism a few years later. The recording returned to the top in 2002, following his death. |
| 6 Mar 1971 | Mungo Jerry | Baby Jump | 2 | 2nd & last No 1 | Written by leader Ray Dorset. He remained in the music business until the 90s. |
| 20 Mar 1971 | T Rex | Hot Love | 6 | 1st No 1 | Led by Marc Bolan, an acoustic folk hero who turned electric and became a glam rock star. |
| 1 May 1971 | Dave & Ansil Collins | Double Barrel | 2 | Only No 1 | Jamaican duo who provided only the second West Indian reggae chart topper. |
| 15 May 1971 300th No 1 |
Dawn | Knock Three Times | 5 | 1st No 1 | Tony Orlando had retired from singing when he was persuaded to front Dawn for studio recordings. |
| 19 Jun 1971 | Middle Of The Road | Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep | 5 | Only No 1 | They were a Scottish foursome who first tasted success in Europe. |
| 24 Jul 1971 | T Rex | Get It On | 4 | 2nd No 1 | Great guitar riffs ensured that Marc Bolan would get another chart topper. |
| 21 Aug 1971 | Diana Ross | I'm Still Waiting | 4 | 2nd No 1 (1st with Supremes) | Chosen as Tony Blackburn's record of the week, it sold by the bucket load, and was her first solo No 1. |
| 18 Sep 1971 | Tams | Hey Girl Don't Bother Me | 3 | Only No 1 | American act whose US chart career was already over. This was a reissue of a 1964 US hit. |
| 9 Oct 1971 | Rod Stewart | Maggie May | 5 | 1st No 1 | A veteran of several bands, notably The Faces. This remains a perennial radio favourite. |
| 13 Nov 1971 | Slade | Coz I Luv You | 4 | 1st No 1 | Wolverhampton glam rockers who launched a long and successful career with this. |
| 11 Dec 1971 Xmas No 1 |
Benny Hill | Ernie (The Fastest Milkman In The West) | 4 | Only No 1 | Popular tv comic who recorded novelty songs over a number of years. |
| 8 Jan 1972 | New Seekers | I'd Like To Teach The World To Sing | 4 | 1st No 1 | They were formed by a member of the Seekers. Song started as a Coca Cola tv ad. |
| 5 Feb 1972 | T Rex | Telegram Sam | 2 | 3rd No 1 | First hit for the glam rockers' new record company, and from their album "Slider". |
| 19 Feb 1972 | Chicory Tip | Son Of My Father | 3 | Only No 1 | Written by Giorgio Moroder. Was first No 1 to feature a Moog Synthesiser. |
| 11 Mar 1972 | Nilsson | Without You | 5 | Only No 1 | Suicide song written by two members of Badfinger who both later committed suicide. Mariah Carey took the song to No 1 in 1994. |
| 15 Apr 1972 | The Pipes & Drums & Military Band of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards | Amazing Grace | 5 | Only No 1 | Traditional hymn played by a Scottish bagpipe band. It was the best-selling single of the year. |
| 20 May 1972 | T Rex | Metal Guru | 4 | 4th & last No 1 | Success continued for a couple more years before the hits began to dry up. |
| 17 Jun 1972 | Don McLean | Vincent | 2 | 1st No 1 | Song about Dutch painter Van Gogh. Don also wrote "American Pie", which made No 2 for him, and No 1 for Madonna in 2000. |
| 1 Jul 1972 | Slade | Take Me Back 'Ome | 1 | 2nd No 1 | Noddy Holder's rasping vocals took the glam boys to the top again. |
| 8 Jul 1972 | Donny Osmond | Puppy Love | 5 | 1st No 1 | Written by Paul Anka. First No 1 for a member of the squeaky clean family act from Utah. |
| 12 Aug 1972 | Alice Cooper | School's Out | 3 | Only No 1 | Shock-rock act from Arizona who used instruments of death and live snakes on stage. |
| 2 Sep 1972 | Rod Stewart | You Wear It Well | 1 | 2nd No 1 | His popularity was soaring at this time, but his next No 1 was 3 years away. |
| 9 Sep 1972 | Slade | Mama Weer All Crazee Now | 3 | 3rd No 1 | All Slade's chart toppers, were written by band members Noddy Holder and Jim Lea. |
| 30 Sep 1972 | David Cassidy | How Can I Be Sure | 2 | 1st No 1 | Star of US tv series the Partridge Family. His solo career was more successful in the UK than at home. |
| 14 Oct 1972 | Lieutenant Pigeon | Mouldy Old Dough | 4 | Only No 1 | Coventry group which included a mother and son. Was recorded in the front room of their semi. |
| 11 Nov 1972 | Gilbert O'Sullivan | Clair | 2 | 1st No 1 | Irishman who dressed as a 1920s worker in flat cap, braces and baggy trousers. |
| 25 Nov 1972 | Chuck Berry | My Ding-A-Ling | 4 | Only No 1 | Respected pioneer of R&B and rock 'n' roll, whose only topper was this live, innuendo-laden novelty item. |
| 23 Dec 1972 Xmas No 1 |
Little Jimmy Osmond | Long Haired Lover From Liverpool | 5 | Only No 1 | Osmond family member with an Xmas novelty item, and who at age 9 became the youngest chart topper ever. |
| 27 Jan 1973 | Sweet | Blockbuster | 5 | Only No 1 | Highly successful glam rockers who had multiple Top 10 hits during the decade. Nicky Chinn & Mike Chapman song. |
| 3 Mar 1973 | Slade | Cum On Feel The Noize | 4 | 4th No 1 | First of the No 1s to enter at the top for this major band of the day. |
| 31 Mar 1973 | Donny Osmond | The Twelfth Of Never | 1 | 2nd No 1 | Another tear-jerker revival got the teeny boppers buying the single. |
| 7 Apr 1973 | Gilbert O'Sullivan | Get Down | 2 | 2nd & last No 1. | Song about his dog. The hits continued for 2 more years, when he began a lengthy litigation with his manager. |
| 21 Apr 1973 | Dawn featuring Tony Orlando | Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Old Oak Tree | 4 | 2nd & last No 1. | Heart-warming song about a prisoner returning home. They were still performing at the start of the 2000s. |
| 19 May 1973 | Wizzard | See My Baby Jive | 4 | 1st No 1. | Roy Wood's latest group which grabbed plenty of success for a year or so. |
| 16 Jun 1973 | Suzi Quatro | Can The Can | 1 | 1st No 1. | American girl rocker and bassist who found fame in the UK easier than at home. Nicky Chinn & Mike Chapman song. |
| 23 Jun 1973 | 10 CC | Rubber Bullets | 1 | 1st No 1. | Bouncy number that differs greatly from their later slow, heavy productions. |
| 30 Jun 1973 | Slade | Skweeze Me Pleeze Me | 3 | 5th No 1 | During the height of their popularity they also scored with three No 1 albums. |
| 21 Jul 1973 | Peters & Lee | Welcome Home | 1 | Only No 1 | MOR man and girl duo who were more at home on the supper club circuit. |
| 28 Jul 1973 | Gary Glitter | I'm The Leader Of The Gang (I Am) | 4 | 1st No 1 | A long-time struggling musician, he was nearly 30 by the time he became a glam-rock star. |
| 25 Aug 1973 | Donny Osmond | Young Love | 4 | 3rd & last No 1. | A revival from 1957 - he got one more No 1 in 1974, as part of the Osmonds. |
| 22 Sep 1973 | Wizzard | Angel Fingers | 1 | 2nd & last No 1 | Later in 1973 Wood got to No 4 with his famous Xmas hit. He remains in the business, and charted again in 2000. |
| 29 Sep 1973 | Simon Park Orchestra | Eye Level | 4 | Only No 1 | The instrumental theme from tv series "Van Der Valk" was first tv theme to reach the top of the charts. |
| 27 Oct 1973 | David Cassidy | Daydreamer | 3 | 2nd & last No 1. | His teen-based popularity began to wane after this and he returned to acting. By 2000 he was a Las Vegas cabaret act. |
| 17 Nov 1973 | Gary Glitter | I Love You Love Me Love | 4 | 2nd No 1 | Second consecutive No 1 which sold over a million copies world-wide. |
| 15 Dec 1973 Xmas No 1 |
Slade | Merry Xmas Everybody | 5 | 6th & last No 1 | This perennial Xmas favourite has been in the charts several times since. They broke up in the 80s. |
| 19 Jan 1974 | New Seekers | You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me | 1 | 2nd & last No 1. | They had enjoyed huge success since their first No 1. However, after one more Top 10, they split. |
| 26 Jan 1974 | Mud | Tiger Feet | 4 | 1st No 1 | Third No 1 for writers Nicky Chinn & Mike Chapman. Popular party record. |
| 23 Feb 1974 | Suzi Quatro | Devil Gate Drive | 2 | 2nd & last No 1. | 4th No 1 for Chinn & Chapman. Suzi went into acting shortly after this, but was doing concerts again in the late 1990s. |
| 9 Mar 1974 | Alvin Stardust | Jealous Mind | 1 | Only No 1. | He was called Shane Fenton in the 1960s. His new black leather image gave him a new career a decade later. |
| 16 Mar 1974 | Paper Lace | Billy Don't Be A Hero | 3 | Only No 1 | They came from Nottingham and soon returned there. Written by Mitch Murray who had No 1s in 1963 & 1968. |
| 6 Apr 1974 | Terry Jacks | Seasons In The Sun | 4 | Only No 1 | First Canadian at No 1 since 1957 (Paul Anka). The song (written in French by Belgian, Jacques Brel), has English lyrics by poet Rod McKuen. Westlife took the song back to the top at the end of 1999. |
| 4 May 1974 | Abba | Waterloo | 2 | 1st No 1 (of 9) |
Eurovision winner for Sweden. They became international super stars by the end of the decade. |
| 18 May 1974 | Rubettes | Sugar Baby Love | 4 | Only No 1 | Former session men who achieved moderate success during the mid-70's. |
| 15 Jun 1974 | Ray Stevens | The Streak | 1 | Only No 1 | US Country/Gospel singer who hit with several quirky songs during the 1970s. |
| 22 Jun 1974 | Gary Glitter | Always Yours | 1 | 3rd & last No 1 | The great showman continued live concerts to hoards of loyal fans into the mid 1990s. |
| 29 Jun 1974 | Charles Aznavour | She | 4 | Only No 1 | French crooner with a British tv theme. He went on to stardom in the US. |
| 27 Jul 1974 | George McCrae | Rock Your Baby | 3 | Only No 1 | Regarded by some as the first Disco No 1. It was a New York club hit first. |
| 17 Aug 1974 | Three Degrees | When Will I See You Again | 2 | Only No 1 | Part of the Philadelphia Sound, they had more Top 10 hits in the UK than at home. |
| 31 Aug 1974 | Osmonds | Love Me For A Reason | 3 | Only No 1 | Last No 1, either as group or solo, for the Osmond family. In total they amassed 26 UK hits in 4½ years. |
| 21 Sep 1974 | Carl Douglas | Kung Fu Fighting | 3 | Only No 1 | Recorded in 10 minutes as a B-side, it sold 10 million worldwide. A version by Bus Stop, featuring Douglas made the Top 10 in May 1998. |
| 12 Oct 1974 | John Denver | Annie's Song | 1 | Only No 1 | Folk/Country singer and songwriter was a huge star in the US, but this was his only solo hit in the UK. |
| 19 Oct 1974 | Sweet Sensation | Sad Sweet Dreamer | 1 | Only No 1 | TV talent contest winners who had one more hit before disappearing. |
| 26 Oct 1974 | Ken Boothe | Everything I Own | 3 | Only No 1 | Jamaican reggae artist with a song by David Gates from Bread. Boy George took the song to No 1 in 1987. |
| 16 Nov 1974 | David Essex | Gonna Make You A Star | 3 | 1st No 1 | He found stardom as an actor before singing on the soundtrack of a film, and then breaking into the charts. |
| 7 Dec 1974 | Barry White | You're The First, The Last, My Everything | 2 | Only No 1 | The "Lurve Walrus" was another Philly-Sound star, who had numerous hits in the 70s. Still performing at the end of the 90s. |
| 21 Dec 1974 Xmas No 1 |
Mud | Lonely This Christmas | 4 | 2nd No 1 | Chinn & Chapman song which has been played every Christmas since. |
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