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List of Billboard Easy Listening number ones of 1978

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England Dan & John Ford Coley spent six consecutive weeks at number one with "We'll Never Have to Say Goodbye Again".

In 1978, Billboard magazine published a chart ranking the top-performing songs in the United States in the easy listening or middle of the road market. The chart, which in 1978 was entitled Easy Listening, has undergone various name changes and has been published under the title Adult Contemporary since 1996.[1] In 1978, 17 songs topped the chart based on playlists submitted by radio stations.[1]

In the first issue of Billboard of the year, Billy Joel reached number one with "Just the Way You Are", replacing "How Deep Is Your Love" by the Bee Gees in the top spot.[2] Joel had launched his solo career in 1971 and achieved a number of minor chart entries over the subsequent six years, but his breakthrough to stardom did not come until the release of the album The Stranger in 1977.[3] Taken from the album, "Just the Way You Are" won two Grammy Awards,[4] and gave him his first Billboard number one.[5][6] He would continue to be a regular on the Easy Listening/Adult Contemporary chart for more than two decades, topping the chart eight times.[5] His 1993 song "The River of Dreams" would break a 25-year-old record by spending twelve consecutive weeks atop the listing.[7] In contrast to Joel's lengthy and successful career was that of another act to top the chart for the first time in 1978, the band Toby Beau. Despite achieving an Easy Listening number one and reaching the top 20 of the magazine's pop chart, the Hot 100, with "My Angel Baby", the band would achieve only two more entries on either listing and their chart career would be over within two years.[8][9] Similarly, jazz trumpeter Chuck Mangione topped the Easy Listening chart for the first time in 1978 with "Feels So Good" and enjoyed a brief period of both easy listening and pop chart success but this did not continue past 1980.[10][11]

"Time Passages" by the Scottish singer Al Stewart was the final number one of the year. It held the top spot for the last eight weeks of 1978, the longest unbroken run atop the chart during the year. The only act to achieve more than one Easy Listening number one in 1978 was Barry Manilow; as his two chart-toppers only totalled five weeks in the top position, Stewart also had the highest total number of weeks at number one by an act during the year. Stewart had been a recording artist since the mid-1960s and would remain active for more than forty years,[12] but his U.S. chart success was confined to a four-year period at the end of the 1970s.[13][14]

Chart history

[edit]
A balding man with a grey beard wearing a necktie
Billy Joel (pictured in 2009) achieved his first chart-topper with "Just the Way You Are". He was a regular on the chart for 25 years.
A grey-haired man holding a guitar
Scottish singer Al Stewart (pictured in 2010) spent the final eight weeks of 1978 at number one with "Time Passages", the longest run of the year.
A blond-haired man wearing a dark suit, singing into a microphone
Barry Manilow (pictured in 2008) was the only act with more than one chart-topper in 1978.
Chart history
Issue date Title Artist(s) Ref.
January 7 "Just the Way You Are" Billy Joel [2]
January 14 [15]
January 21 [16]
January 28 [17]
February 4 "Desiree" Neil Diamond [18]
February 11 "(What A) Wonderful World" Art Garfunkel with James Taylor and Paul Simon [19]
February 18 [20]
February 25 [21]
March 4 [22]
March 11 [23]
March 18 "Can't Smile Without You" Barry Manilow [24]
March 25 "We'll Never Have to Say Goodbye Again" England Dan & John Ford Coley [25]
April 1 [26]
April 8 [27]
April 15 [28]
April 22 [29]
April 29 [30]
May 6 "Can't Smile Without You" Barry Manilow [31]
May 13 "Feels So Good" Chuck Mangione [32]
May 20 "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late" Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams [33]
May 27 "Even Now" Barry Manilow [34]
June 3 [35]
June 10 [36]
June 17 "Bluer Than Blue" Michael Johnson [37]
June 24 [38]
July 1 [39]
July 8 "If Ever I See You Again" Roberta Flack [40]
July 15 [41]
July 22 [42]
July 29 "Songbird" Barbra Streisand [43]
August 5 [44]
August 12 "My Angel Baby" Toby Beau [45]
August 19 "Three Times a Lady" Commodores [46]
August 26 [47]
September 2 [48]
September 9 "Fool (If You Think It's Over)" Chris Rea [49]
September 16 [50]
September 23 [51]
September 30 "Right Down the Line" Gerry Rafferty [52]
October 7 "Love Is in the Air" John Paul Young [53]
October 14 [54]
October 21 "Right Down the Line" Gerry Rafferty [55]
October 28 [56]
November 4 [57]
November 11 "Time Passages" Al Stewart [58]
November 18 [59]
November 25 [60]
December 2 [61]
December 9 [62]
December 16 [63]
December 23 [64]
December 30 [65]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Whitburn 2007, p. vi.
  2. ^ a b "Adult Contemporary chart for January 7, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  3. ^ Strauss, Matthew (June 27, 2021). "Billy Joel: The Stranger Album Review". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on August 16, 2022. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  4. ^ Paul, Larisha (January 24, 2024). "Billy Joel Joins 2024 Grammy Awards Performance Lineup". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on March 29, 2024. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  5. ^ a b Whitburn 2002, p. 127.
  6. ^ Whitburn 2005, p. 360.
  7. ^ Whitburn 2002, pp. 341–348.
  8. ^ Whitburn 2002, p. 244.
  9. ^ Whitburn 2005, p. 716.
  10. ^ Whitburn 2002, p. 155.
  11. ^ Whitburn 2005, p. 437.
  12. ^ Ruggiero, Bob (February 16, 2023). "Al Stewart: Of Zodiac Cats, Succulent Grapes and the Genius of Chuck Berry". Houston Press. Archived from the original on May 4, 2023. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  13. ^ Whitburn 2002, p. 232.
  14. ^ Whitburn 2005, p. 678.
  15. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 14, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  16. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 21, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  17. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 28, 1978". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  18. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 4, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  19. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 11, 1978". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  20. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 18, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 20, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  21. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 25, 1978". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  22. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 4, 1978". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  23. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 11, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 20, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  24. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 18, 1978". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  25. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 25, 1978". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  26. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 1, 1978". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  27. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 8, 1978". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  28. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 15, 1978". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  29. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 22, 1978". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  30. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 29, 1978". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  31. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 6, 1978". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  32. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 13, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  33. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 20, 1978". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  34. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 27, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  35. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 3, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 2, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  36. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 10, 1978". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  37. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 17, 1978". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  38. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 24, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  39. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 1, 1978". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  40. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 8, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  41. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 15, 1978". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  42. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 22, 1978". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  43. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 29, 1978". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  44. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 5, 1978". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  45. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 12, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 21, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  46. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 19, 1978". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  47. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 26, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 20, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  48. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 2, 1978". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  49. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 9, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  50. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 16, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  51. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 23, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 12, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  52. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 30, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 20, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  53. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 7, 1978". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  54. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 14, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  55. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 21, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  56. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 28, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  57. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 4, 1978". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  58. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 11, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  59. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 18, 1978". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  60. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 25, 1978". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  61. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 2, 1978". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  62. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 9, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 19, 2019. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  63. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 16, 1978". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  64. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 23, 1978". Billboard. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  65. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 30, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 20, 2019. Retrieved May 29, 2019.

Works cited

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