#1 at KRIZ/Phoenix: “Annie’s Song” by John Denver. After divorcing Annie, perhaps John wished he had named it “You Fill Up My Senses” — the song’s opening line.
Former #1 “Sundown” by Gordon Lightfoot holds at #2. It’s the title track from the #7 album. The #1 LP is Band On The Run by Paul McCartney & Wings. Its title track is at #19.
At #4 is the Hues Corporation’s “Rock The Boat,” considered by many the first disco song to top the charts nationally. It was quickly followed by another disco standard, “Rock Your Baby” by George McCrae (#18), written by KC of the Sunshine Band, who would later have his own #1 hits. By the way, other songs vying for the title of first #1 disco hit are two instrumentals from earlier in the year: “Love’s Theme” by Barry White’s Love Unlimited Orchestra, and “TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)” by MFSB.
Elton John is at #9 with “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” from the #3 album, Caribou — the name of the Colorado ranch where it was recorded. The studio was owned by Chicago’s producer James William Guercio, who also played in the Beach Boys touring band at the time. Several of the Boys were on hand to provide background harmonies to Elton’s song. Meanwhile, Chicago themselves have back-to-back hits on this list: “(I’ve Been) Searchin’ So Long” (which drops to #21) and “Call On Me” (moving up to #22) — both from the #5 album, Chicago VII, which was also recorded at the Caribou Ranch studio.
Carly Simon is at #13 with “Haven’t Got Time For The Pain” from the #11 album, Hotcakes. Two other women are on the chart with the biggest hit singles of their careers: Joni Mitchell with “Help Me” (#27) and Maria Mulduar with the slinky “Midnight At The Oasis” (#28) (“Come on, cactus is our friend”).
The cool, jazzy “Rikki Don’t Lose That Number” by Steely Dan is at #15. But undoubtedly the coolest song on the chart is “Radar Love” by Holland’s Golden Earring (#20).