List_of_number-one_adult_contemporary_singles_of_1973_(U.S.)

List of <i>Billboard</i> Easy Listening number ones of 1973

List of Billboard Easy Listening number ones of 1973

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Adult Contemporary is a chart published by Billboard ranking the top-performing songs in the United States in the adult contemporary music (AC) market. In 1973, 26 songs topped the chart, then published under the title Easy Listening, based on playlists submitted by easy listening radio stations and sales reports submitted by stores.[1]

The Carpenters (pictured with President Richard Nixon (left)) had two number ones in 1973.

In the first issue of Billboard of 1973, the band Bread retained the number one position from the final chart of the previous year with "Sweet Surrender",[2] but the group held the top spot for only one further week before being replaced by "Been to Canaan" by Carole King. Helen Reddy had the highest total number of weeks at number one in 1973, spending two weeks in the top spot with "Delta Dawn" and four with "Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)". The latter song tied with "All I Know" by Art Garfunkel for the year's longest unbroken run at number one. Reddy, The Carpenters and Tony Orlando and Dawn were the only acts with more than one chart-topper during the year. Among acts to top the Easy Listening chart for the first time in 1973 was English singer Elton John,[3] a singer who would achieve consistent success on the chart for more than 40 years. By 2016 he held the records for both the greatest number of hits and the largest amount of number ones on the chart, and five years earlier Billboard had named him the most successful act of the listing's first 50 years.[4]

The final number one of the year was "Time in a Bottle" by Jim Croce, which moved into the top spot in the issue of Billboard dated December 30. It was a posthumous chart-topper for the singer, who had died in an airplane crash three months earlier.[5] The song also topped Billboard's all-genre single chart, the Hot 100.[6] In the early 1970s there was considerable crossover between the two charts, and seven of 1973's other Easy Listening number ones also reached the top spot on the Hot 100: "You're So Vain" by Carly Simon,[7] "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" by Tony Orlando and Dawn,[7] "My Love" by Paul McCartney and Wings,[7] "Touch Me in the Morning" by Diana Ross,[7] "Delta Dawn" by Helen Reddy,[7] "The Most Beautiful Girl" by Charlie Rich,[8] and "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" by Stevie Wonder.[7] Rich's song was a triple chart-topper, as it also reached number one on the Hot Country Songs chart.[8]

Chart history

A dark-haired young woman in a black dress singing into a microphone
Helen Reddy's six weeks at number one was the highest total for any act in 1973.
A balding older man wearing a blue sweater
"All I Know" by Art Garfunkel (pictured in 2017) was one of two songs to spend four weeks at number one.
A young man wearing an elaborate shiny costume with a high collar and pointed hat playing a piano
Elton John topped the chart for the first time with "Daniel". He would go on to be one of the most successful acts in the chart's history.
Key
† Indicates best-performing easy listening song of 1973[9]


More information Issue date, Title ...

References

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    Whitburn, Joel (2007). Joel Whitburn Presents Billboard Top Adult Songs, 1961-2006. Record Research Incorporated. p. vi. ISBN 9780898201697.
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  3. [3]
    "Elton John Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  4. [4]
    Trust, Gary (June 13, 2016). "Elton John Charts Record-Extending 72nd Adult Contemporary Hit". Billboard. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  5. [5]
    Weber, Barry. "Jim Croce Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  6. [6]
    Monaco, Rachel (May 22, 2015). "Jim Croce: 5 best songs lyrics or verses". AXS TV. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
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    Hoffmann, Frank (2016). Chronology of American Popular Music, 1900-2000. Routledge. pp. 331–336. ISBN 9781135868864.
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See also
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