1979 Billboard Number One Hits: Every Hot 100 Chart-Topper

The 1979 Billboard Number One Hits list captured the dramatic final peak of disco, the rise of new wave, the staying power of soft rock, and a few early hints of the 1980s just around the corner. Chic opened the year with Le Freak, Donna Summer became the dominant female chart force, the Bee Gees continued their post-Saturday Night Fever run, The Knack ruled late summer with My Sharona, and Michael Jackson scored a major adult solo breakthrough with Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough.

This page follows the Billboard Hot 100 issue dates for 1979, shown here as reader-friendly weekly date ranges. Because Billboard chart weeks can cross calendar years, this list begins with Chic’s late-1978 carryover and continues into early 1980 with Rupert Holmes’ Escape (The Piña Colada Song).

The Billboard Hot 100 ranks the most popular songs in the United States using radio airplay and sales. These are official Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 songs, not pop-only, disco-only, rock-only, R&B-only, adult-contemporary-only, or “this was definitely spinning under a mirrored ball” rankings.

1979 Billboard Number One Hits by Week

December 31, 1978 – January 6, 1979: Le Freak – Chic
January 7 – January 20, 1979: Too Much Heaven – Bee Gees
January 21 – February 3, 1979: Le Freak – Chic
February 4 – March 10, 1979: Do Ya Think I’m Sexy? – Rod Stewart
March 11 – March 24, 1979: I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor
March 25 – April 7, 1979: Tragedy – Bee Gees
April 8 – April 14, 1979: What a Fool Believes – The Doobie Brothers
April 15 – April 21, 1979: Knock on Wood – Amii Stewart
April 22 – April 28, 1979: Heart of Glass – Blondie
April 29 – May 26, 1979: Reunited – Peaches & Herb
May 27 – June 9, 1979: Hot Stuff – Donna Summer
June 10 – June 16, 1979: Love You Inside Out – Bee Gees
June 17 – June 23, 1979: Hot Stuff – Donna Summer
June 24 – July 7, 1979: Ring My Bell – Anita Ward
July 8 – August 11, 1979: Bad Girls – Donna Summer
August 12 – August 18, 1979: Good Times – Chic
August 19 – September 29, 1979: My Sharona – The Knack
September 30 – October 6, 1979: Sad Eyes – Robert John
October 7 – October 13, 1979: Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough – Michael Jackson
October 14 – October 27, 1979: Rise – Herb Alpert
October 28 – November 3, 1979: Pop Muzik – M
November 4 – November 10, 1979: Heartache Tonight – Eagles
November 11 – November 17, 1979: Still – Commodores
November 18 – December 1, 1979: No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) – Barbra Streisand & Donna Summer
December 2 – December 15, 1979: Babe – Styx
December 16, 1979 – January 12, 1980: Escape (The Piña Colada Song) – Rupert Holmes

Song-by-Song Notes on the 1979 Billboard No. 1 Hits

Le Freak – Chic

Chic opened the 1979 Billboard Hot 100 calendar with Le Freak, a late-1978 carryover that returned to No. 1 after the Bee Gees briefly took over. Written by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, the song became one of disco’s defining records.

Its famous “freak out” hook grew out of a real-life nightclub rejection story connected to Studio 54. Not getting into the club usually ruins the night; Chic turned it into a No. 1 record. That is professional-level pettiness with a groove.

Too Much Heaven – Bee Gees

The Bee Gees reached No. 1 with Too Much Heaven, a soft ballad that showed their falsetto harmonies in a smoother, less dance-floor-driven setting. It was also connected to the Music for UNICEF project, giving the song a humanitarian angle beyond its chart success.

Its two-week run kept the Bee Gees near the center of pop culture after their enormous Saturday Night Fever era. Disco may have been shifting, but the Gibb brothers still had the Hot 100’s number.

Do Ya Think I’m Sexy? – Rod Stewart

Rod Stewart spent four weeks at No. 1 with Do Ya Think I’m Sexy?, one of the most famous examples of a rock star leaning fully into disco-era production. The song’s playful question, dance beat, and glossy arrangement made it a major pop event.

Its success also showed how disco had moved beyond disco acts themselves. By early 1979, even major rock stars were trying on the mirror-ball jacket.

I Will Survive – Gloria Gaynor

Gloria Gaynor reached No. 1 with I Will Survive, one of the most enduring empowerment anthems in pop history. The song’s breakup-survival lyric, dramatic arrangement, and dance-floor energy made it much larger than a normal disco hit.

Its two-week run understates its cultural life. I Will Survive became a karaoke staple, a resilience anthem, and the rare song that can turn heartbreak into a room full of people pointing dramatically at the ceiling.

Tragedy – Bee Gees

The Bee Gees returned to No. 1 with Tragedy, a high-energy disco-pop single from Spirits Having Flown. Its urgent chorus, dramatic production, and unmistakable Bee Gees vocal style kept the group at the top of the chart.

The song spent two weeks at No. 1 and became the Bee Gees’ second chart-topper of 1979.

What a Fool Believes – The Doobie Brothers

The Doobie Brothers reached No. 1 with What a Fool Believes, a Michael McDonald-led soft rock and blue-eyed soul classic. Co-written by McDonald and Kenny Loggins, the song became one of the defining examples of polished late-1970s adult pop.

Its one-week run was modest, but its reputation grew enormously. The song later won major Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

Knock on Wood – Amii Stewart

Amii Stewart reached No. 1 with her disco version of Knock on Wood, originally a soul hit for Eddie Floyd. Stewart’s version transformed the song into a dramatic dance-floor record with a much bigger theatrical arrangement.

Its one-week stay at No. 1 showed how older soul material could be completely reworked for the disco era and still find new chart life.

Heart of Glass – Blondie

Blondie topped the Hot 100 with Heart of Glass, a sleek disco-new wave crossover from Parallel Lines. The song introduced many mainstream American listeners to the band’s ability to blend downtown New York cool with pop accessibility.

Its one-week run gave Blondie its first Hot 100 No. 1. Punk roots, disco beat, pop hook — sometimes the best answer is “all of the above.”

Reunited – Peaches & Herb

Peaches & Herb spent four weeks at No. 1 with Reunited, a smooth romantic ballad that became one of the year’s biggest slow songs. The duo had already scored with dance-pop material, but this ballad gave them their signature Hot 100 moment.

Its long run gave 1979 a major non-disco No. 1 in a year often remembered for dance music. Sometimes the mirror ball paused for a slow dance.

Hot Stuff – Donna Summer

Donna Summer reached No. 1 with Hot Stuff, a disco-rock hybrid that added guitar muscle to her dance-floor sound. The song topped the Hot 100 in two separate runs, briefly interrupted by the Bee Gees’ Love You Inside Out.

Its success helped expand Summer’s image beyond pure disco, showing she could handle rock-edged pop as well. It was hot stuff, yes, but also smart stuff.

Love You Inside Out – Bee Gees

The Bee Gees scored their third No. 1 of 1979 with Love You Inside Out. The song’s smooth groove and falsetto harmonies made it another strong entry from Spirits Having Flown.

It spent one week at No. 1 and became the Bee Gees’ final Hot 100 chart-topper. That made it the closing chapter of one of the most dominant pop-chart runs of the late 1970s.

Ring My Bell – Anita Ward

Anita Ward spent two weeks at No. 1 with Ring My Bell, a disco hit built around a playful hook and an electronic percussion sound that gave it a distinctive feel. The song became Ward’s signature hit.

Its title was not exactly subtle, but 1979 disco was not applying for a subtlety permit.

Bad Girls – Donna Summer

Donna Summer spent five weeks at No. 1 with Bad Girls, one of the biggest hits of her career. The song mixed disco, funk, pop, and streetwise storytelling into a major crossover record.

Its long run made Summer one of the dominant artists of 1979. Along with Hot Stuff and No More Tears, it helped define her peak chart year.

Good Times – Chic

Chic returned to No. 1 with Good Times, another Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards classic. The song’s bassline became one of the most influential grooves in pop, dance, and hip-hop history.

Its one-week run was only the beginning of its cultural impact. The bassline famously helped shape The Sugarhill Gang’s Rapper’s Delight, giving Good Times a legacy far beyond its Hot 100 peak.

My Sharona – The Knack

The Knack spent six weeks at No. 1 with My Sharona, the longest Hot 100 run of 1979 and Billboard’s year-end Hot 100 song. The track’s sharp guitar riff, stuttering vocal hook, and new wave energy made it one of the biggest debut singles of the era.

My Sharona also felt like a sudden break from the year’s disco dominance. By late summer, the Hot 100 had shifted from dance-floor glamour to skinny-tie power pop with a very persistent riff.

Sad Eyes – Robert John

Robert John reached No. 1 with Sad Eyes, a soft pop ballad that stood apart from the disco and rock records surrounding it. The song’s falsetto vocal and adult-contemporary mood gave 1979 a brief late-summer slowdown.

Its one-week run made it John’s biggest Hot 100 success and one of the year’s gentler chart-toppers.

Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough – Michael Jackson

Michael Jackson reached No. 1 with Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough, the first major solo single from Off the Wall. The song’s disco-funk groove, falsetto vocal, and self-produced energy helped launch Jackson’s adult solo superstardom.

Its one-week run was short, but its importance was huge. This was the beginning of the Michael Jackson who would dominate the 1980s.

Rise – Herb Alpert

Herb Alpert spent two weeks at No. 1 with Rise, a smooth instrumental built around his trumpet and a relaxed disco-jazz groove. Alpert had already been a major recording figure with the Tijuana Brass, but Rise gave him a new pop-chart moment in a different era.

Its success made Alpert the only artist to top the Hot 100 as both a vocalist and an instrumentalist. That is a tidy little trivia gift with a trumpet solo attached.

Pop Muzik – M

M reached No. 1 with Pop Muzik, a quirky new wave and synth-pop single by Robin Scott. The song’s self-aware title and electronic production made it feel like pop music commenting on itself.

Its one-week run gave 1979 another sign that the 1980s sound was approaching. The spelling was odd, the beat was stiff, and the future was knocking.

Heartache Tonight – Eagles

Eagles reached No. 1 with Heartache Tonight, a rock single from The Long Run. The song’s handclap groove and bar-band energy gave the group one more major Hot 100 peak near the end of its original run.

Its one-week stay at No. 1 became the band’s final Hot 100 chart-topper.

Still – Commodores

Commodores reached No. 1 with Still, a Lionel Richie-written ballad from Midnight Magic. The song’s soft emotional tone pointed toward Richie’s coming solo success in the early 1980s.

Its one-week run gave the group its second Hot 100 No. 1 after Three Times a Lady.

No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) – Barbra Streisand & Donna Summer

Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer spent two weeks at No. 1 with No More Tears (Enough Is Enough), a dramatic disco duet that paired two powerhouse voices. The song became Summer’s third No. 1 connected to the 1979 chart year.

It also gave Streisand a late-disco-era dance hit, which is not the first place casual listeners might expect to find her. The result worked because both singers treated the song like a vocal duel with a glitter cannon.

Babe – Styx

Styx reached No. 1 with Babe, a soft rock ballad written by Dennis DeYoung. The song became the band’s only Hot 100 chart-topper.

Its two-week run showed how rock bands could cross into adult-contemporary territory at the end of the 1970s. The guitars stepped aside, the feelings took the wheel.

Escape (The Piña Colada Song) – Rupert Holmes

Rupert Holmes closed the 1979 Billboard Hot 100 year with Escape (The Piña Colada Song), which carried into January 1980. The song’s personal-ad storyline and twist ending made it one of the most memorable soft-rock story songs of the era.

It became the final No. 1 song of the 1970s and briefly returned to No. 1 in the first month of the 1980s. That is a surprisingly durable run for a song about piña coladas, poor communication, and mutually suspicious date-night planning.

Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Stories of 1979

My Sharona Was Billboard’s Year-End No. 1

The Knack’s My Sharona spent six weeks at No. 1 and finished as Billboard’s year-end Hot 100 song of 1979. Its power-pop and new wave edge made it stand apart from the disco-heavy chart year.

Donna Summer Had a Massive Year

Donna Summer reached No. 1 with Hot Stuff, Bad Girls, and No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) with Barbra Streisand. Her 1979 chart run showed her moving beyond disco into rock-edged pop, funk, and superstar duet territory.

The Bee Gees Closed Their Late-1970s No. 1 Run

The Bee Gees reached No. 1 three times in 1979 with Too Much Heaven, Tragedy, and Love You Inside Out. Love You Inside Out became their final Hot 100 No. 1 as artists.

Disco Was Everywhere, But Change Was Coming

Chic, Gloria Gaynor, Amii Stewart, Donna Summer, Anita Ward, the Bee Gees, and Barbra Streisand all helped make 1979 one of disco’s final giant years on the Hot 100. At the same time, Blondie, The Knack, M, and Michael Jackson pointed toward the cleaner, sharper pop sounds of the 1980s.

Michael Jackson’s Adult Solo Era Began

Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough gave Michael Jackson his first Hot 100 No. 1 as an adult solo artist. It helped launch the Off the Wall era and set up his dominance in the next decade.

1979 Billboard Number One Hits Trivia

My Sharona by The Knack was Billboard’s year-end Hot 100 song of 1979.
My Sharona spent six weeks at No. 1, the longest Hot 100 run of the year.
Donna Summer had three No. 1 songs tied to 1979: Hot Stuff, Bad Girls, and No More Tears (Enough Is Enough).
The Bee Gees also had three No. 1 songs in 1979: Too Much Heaven, Tragedy, and Love You Inside Out.
Good Times by Chic helped inspire the groove of The Sugarhill Gang’s Rapper’s Delight.
Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough marked Michael Jackson’s first Hot 100 No. 1 as an adult solo artist.
Heartache Tonight became the Eagles’ final Hot 100 No. 1.
Babe became Styx’s only Hot 100 No. 1.
Escape (The Piña Colada Song) was the final Hot 100 No. 1 of the 1970s and carried into 1980.

Why the 1979 Billboard Number One Hits Matter

The 1979 Billboard Number One Hits list shows the end of the 1970s in full motion. Disco was still powerful, but new wave, power pop, soft rock, funk, and adult-contemporary ballads were all moving into the chart’s center.

The year also gave major career moments to Donna Summer, Michael Jackson, Chic, The Knack, Blondie, Barbra Streisand, and the Bee Gees. Several of these songs pointed forward: Heart of Glass, Good Times, Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough, and Pop Muzik all felt like early signals from the next decade.

For chart fans, 1979 was a spectacularly busy handoff year: disco’s last huge parade, new wave’s first big footprints, Michael Jackson warming up for the 1980s, and Rupert Holmes mixing cocktails at the decade line.