1975 Billboard Number One Hits: Every Hot 100 Chart-Topper

The 1975 Billboard Number One Hits list captured a year where pop, soul, soft rock, country crossover, early disco, funk, and singer-songwriter ballads all shared the top spot. Helen Reddy opened the year with Angie Baby, Captain & Tennille ruled the summer with Love Will Keep Us Together, KC and the Sunshine Band helped push dance music forward, and The Staple Singers closed the year with Let’s Do It Again.

This page follows the Billboard Hot 100 issue dates for 1975, shown here as reader-friendly weekly date ranges. Because Billboard chart weeks can cross calendar years, this list begins with Helen Reddy’s late-1974 carryover and continues into early 1976 with The Staple Singers’ Let’s Do It Again.

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, adult-contemporary-only, R&B-only, country-only, disco-only, or “this was definitely playing from an 8-track somewhere” rankings.

1975 Billboard Number One Hits by Week

December 29, 1974 – January 4, 1975: Angie Baby – Helen Reddy
January 5 – January 18, 1975: Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds – Elton John
January 19 – January 25, 1975: Mandy – Barry Manilow
January 26 – February 1, 1975: Please Mr. Postman – The Carpenters
February 2 – February 8, 1975: Laughter in the Rain – Neil Sedaka
February 9 – February 15, 1975: Fire – Ohio Players
February 16 – February 22, 1975: You’re No Good – Linda Ronstadt
February 23 – March 1, 1975: Pick Up the Pieces – Average White Band
March 2 – March 8, 1975: Best of My Love – Eagles
March 9 – March 15, 1975: Have You Never Been Mellow – Olivia Newton-John
March 16 – March 22, 1975: Black Water – The Doobie Brothers
March 23 – March 29, 1975: My Eyes Adored You – Frankie Valli
March 30 – April 5, 1975: Lady Marmalade – Labelle
April 6 – April 12, 1975: Lovin’ You – Minnie Riperton
April 13 – April 26, 1975: Philadelphia Freedom – The Elton John Band
April 27 – May 3, 1975: (Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song – B.J. Thomas
May 4 – May 24, 1975: He Don’t Love You (Like I Love You) – Tony Orlando and Dawn
May 25 – May 31, 1975: Shining Star – Earth, Wind & Fire
June 1 – June 7, 1975: Before the Next Teardrop Falls – Freddy Fender
June 8 – June 14, 1975: Thank God I’m a Country Boy – John Denver
June 15 – June 21, 1975: Sister Golden Hair – America
June 22 – July 19, 1975: Love Will Keep Us Together – Captain & Tennille
July 20 – July 26, 1975: Listen to What the Man Said – Wings
July 27 – August 2, 1975: The Hustle – Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony
August 3 – August 9, 1975: One of These Nights – Eagles
August 10 – August 23, 1975: Jive Talkin’ – Bee Gees
August 24 – August 30, 1975: Fallin’ in Love – Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds
August 31 – September 6, 1975: Get Down Tonight – KC and the Sunshine Band
September 7 – September 20, 1975: Rhinestone Cowboy – Glen Campbell
September 21 – September 27, 1975: Fame – David Bowie
September 28 – October 4, 1975: I’m Sorry – John Denver
October 5 – October 25, 1975: Bad Blood – Neil Sedaka
October 26 – November 15, 1975: Island Girl – Elton John
November 16 – November 22, 1975: That’s the Way (I Like It) – KC and the Sunshine Band
November 23 – December 13, 1975: Fly, Robin, Fly – Silver Convention
December 14 – December 20, 1975: That’s the Way (I Like It) – KC and the Sunshine Band
December 21, 1975 – January 3, 1976: Let’s Do It Again – The Staple Singers

Song-by-Song Notes on the 1975 Billboard No. 1 Hits

Angie Baby – Helen Reddy

Helen Reddy opened the 1975 Billboard Hot 100 calendar with Angie Baby, a late-1974 carryover. The song’s mysterious story, written by Alan O’Day, gave Reddy one of her strangest and most memorable hits.

Its one 1975 chart week gave the new year an eerie soft-rock opening. Not every No. 1 begins with a neat story; some begin with a missing boy and a very suspicious radio.

Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds – Elton John

Elton John reached No. 1 with his cover of The Beatles’ Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds. John Lennon appeared on the recording under the name Dr. Winston O’Boogie, giving the cover a direct Beatle connection.

Its two-week run gave Elton another major chart-topper during one of the most dominant stretches of his career.

Mandy – Barry Manilow

Barry Manilow earned his first Hot 100 No. 1 with Mandy. The song, originally titled Brandy, was retitled to avoid confusion with Looking Glass’ earlier hit Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl).

Its one-week run launched Manilow’s run as one of the major adult-pop balladeers of the 1970s.

Please Mr. Postman – The Carpenters

The Carpenters reached No. 1 with Please Mr. Postman, a cover of The Marvelettes’ 1961 Motown classic. Their version turned the song into a smooth 1970s pop revival.

It became the second version of Please Mr. Postman to top the Hot 100, a nice little mailbag miracle.

Laughter in the Rain – Neil Sedaka

Neil Sedaka returned to No. 1 with Laughter in the Rain, one of the key songs in his 1970s comeback. After major success in the early 1960s, Sedaka found renewed American chart life with help from Elton John’s Rocket label.

Its one-week run was one of 1975’s clearest second-act pop stories.

Fire – Ohio Players

Ohio Players reached No. 1 with Fire, a funk hit powered by the group’s tight groove and bold vocal style. The band had already built a strong R&B presence, and this single pushed them fully into pop-chart territory.

Its one-week stay added a strong funk moment to an early-1975 chart loaded with ballads and soft rock.

You’re No Good – Linda Ronstadt

Linda Ronstadt reached No. 1 with You’re No Good, a rock-pop cover of a song first recorded in the 1960s. Ronstadt’s version gave the song a tougher, more polished 1970s sound.

Its one-week run became her only Hot 100 No. 1, even though she remained one of the decade’s most important album and radio artists.

Pick Up the Pieces – Average White Band

Average White Band topped the Hot 100 with Pick Up the Pieces, a funk instrumental driven by horn lines and a tight groove. The Scottish group became one of the rare instrumental funk acts to reach No. 1 on the American pop chart.

Its one-week run showed how strong funk could cross into mainstream pop without needing many lyrics. Sometimes the horns do the talking.

Best of My Love – Eagles

Eagles earned their first Hot 100 No. 1 with Best of My Love. The song’s country-rock harmony sound captured the softer side of the band before their later, darker Hotel California era.

Its one-week run started the Eagles’ run of major Hot 100 chart-toppers through the second half of the 1970s.

Have You Never Been Mellow – Olivia Newton-John

Olivia Newton-John reached No. 1 with Have You Never Been Mellow, a gentle country-pop and adult-contemporary ballad. The song fit her mid-1970s image as one of pop radio’s smoothest crossover voices.

Its one-week run was mellow by title and by temperament, which is rare honesty from a No. 1 hit.

Black Water – The Doobie Brothers

The Doobie Brothers reached No. 1 with Black Water, a swampy, harmony-rich song originally released as a B-side. Its a cappella-style break and rootsy mood helped it stand apart from the band’s rock radio hits.

Its one-week run is a reminder that B-sides could still surprise everyone when radio listeners grabbed onto them.

My Eyes Adored You – Frankie Valli

Frankie Valli reached No. 1 with My Eyes Adored You, a soft pop ballad that gave him a major solo comeback outside The Four Seasons. The song’s wistful lyric and gentle arrangement made it a major adult-pop hit.

Its one-week stay helped put Valli back in the center of pop radio before the Grease era brought another wave of attention.

Lady Marmalade – Labelle

Labelle reached No. 1 with Lady Marmalade, a funk and soul classic produced by Allen Toussaint. The song’s famous French hook made it one of the most distinctive hits of the decade.

Its one-week run became much larger in cultural memory, helped by later covers and its irresistible New Orleans-flavored groove.

Lovin’ You – Minnie Riperton

Minnie Riperton reached No. 1 with Lovin’ You, a delicate ballad known for her extraordinary high vocal notes. The song’s soft arrangement and birdlike atmosphere made it one of the gentlest chart-toppers of the year.

Its one-week run gave Riperton her signature hit and one of the most famous vocal showcases in 1970s pop.

Philadelphia Freedom – The Elton John Band

The Elton John Band spent two weeks at No. 1 with Philadelphia Freedom. Elton John and Bernie Taupin wrote the song in honor of tennis star Billie Jean King and her Philadelphia Freedoms team.

Its bright orchestration and upbeat sound made it one of Elton’s biggest mid-1970s singles. Tennis gave pop music a smash here, which is not something you get to say every day.

(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song – B.J. Thomas

B.J. Thomas reached No. 1 with (Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song. The country-pop ballad gave Thomas another major Hot 100 success after earlier hits like Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head.

Its one-week run also topped the country chart, making it one of 1975’s notable country-pop crossover hits.

He Don’t Love You (Like I Love You) – Tony Orlando and Dawn

Tony Orlando and Dawn spent three weeks at No. 1 with He Don’t Love You (Like I Love You), a remake of Jerry Butler’s He Will Break Your Heart. The group updated the older soul song for 1970s pop audiences.

Its run became one of the act’s final major chart moments after a string of early-1970s hits.

Shining Star – Earth, Wind & Fire

Earth, Wind & Fire earned its only Hot 100 No. 1 with Shining Star. The funk and soul track became one of the band’s signature songs and later won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.

Its one-week run was short, but its reputation is enormous. Some stars shine longer than their chart week suggests.

Before the Next Teardrop Falls – Freddy Fender

Freddy Fender reached No. 1 with Before the Next Teardrop Falls, a country-pop ballad with English and Spanish lyrics. The song crossed over strongly from country radio to the all-genre Hot 100.

Its success made Fender one of the most important Latino country crossover artists of the decade.

Thank God I’m a Country Boy – John Denver

John Denver reached No. 1 with Thank God I’m a Country Boy, a lively country-pop song recorded live. The track’s fiddle-driven energy gave Denver a different kind of hit from his softer ballads.

Its one-week run showed that country crossover could be playful, not just sentimental.

Sister Golden Hair – America

America reached No. 1 with Sister Golden Hair, a breezy folk-rock and soft rock single written by Gerry Beckley. The song’s bright guitar sound helped return the band to the top of the Hot 100.

Its one-week run became one of America’s most enduring radio staples.

Love Will Keep Us Together – Captain & Tennille

Captain & Tennille spent four weeks at No. 1 with Love Will Keep Us Together, Billboard’s year-end Hot 100 song of 1975. Written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield, the song became the duo’s signature hit. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

The record later won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year. It was cheerful, polished, and impossible to remove from 1975 without the whole year sounding different.

Listen to What the Man Said – Wings

Wings reached No. 1 with Listen to What the Man Said, a breezy Paul McCartney single from Venus and Mars. The song’s warm pop sound and smooth saxophone work helped it become one of Wings’ most radio-friendly hits.

Its one-week run added another post-Beatles chart-topper to McCartney’s 1970s resume.

The Hustle – Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony

Van McCoy and the Soul City Symphony reached No. 1 with The Hustle, an instrumental disco hit tied to the dance craze of the same name. The song became one of the first major disco-era Hot 100 chart-toppers.

Its one-week run signaled where pop was heading. The disco wave was no longer warming up; it was already on the floor.

One of These Nights – Eagles

Eagles returned to No. 1 with One of These Nights, a darker and more groove-driven single than their earlier country-rock material. The song’s smooth production and falsetto vocal helped the band expand its pop sound.

Its one-week run gave Eagles their second No. 1 of 1975 and helped set up their huge late-1970s presence.

Jive Talkin’ – Bee Gees

The Bee Gees reached No. 1 with Jive Talkin’, the song that helped relaunch them as a modern dance-pop and R&B-influenced act. Its groove pointed toward the disco-era sound they would dominate a few years later.

Its two-week run was a turning point. Before Saturday Night Fever, this was one of the records that showed the Bee Gees had found their next chapter.

Fallin’ in Love – Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds

Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds reached No. 1 with Fallin’ in Love, a smooth soft rock single with an easygoing chorus. The group had scored earlier with Don’t Pull Your Love, but this became their only Hot 100 chart-topper.

Its one-week run gave 1975 another soft-pop moment between bigger disco and country crossover stories.

Get Down Tonight – KC and the Sunshine Band

KC and the Sunshine Band earned their first Hot 100 No. 1 with Get Down Tonight. The song’s tight Miami disco-funk sound helped define the group’s hitmaking formula.

Its one-week stay introduced one of the most successful dance-pop acts of the mid-1970s. The instruction was simple, and America apparently followed it.

Rhinestone Cowboy – Glen Campbell

Glen Campbell spent two weeks at No. 1 with Rhinestone Cowboy, a country-pop anthem about survival in show business. The song became one of Campbell’s signature recordings.

It ranked No. 2 on Billboard’s year-end Hot 100 for 1975, behind Love Will Keep Us Together. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Fame – David Bowie

David Bowie earned his first U.S. Hot 100 No. 1 with Fame, co-written with John Lennon and Carlos Alomar. The song’s funk groove and cynical look at celebrity made it one of Bowie’s biggest American singles.

Its one-week run gave Bowie a major U.S. chart breakthrough. Fame, as it turned out, made an excellent bassline.

I’m Sorry – John Denver

John Denver returned to No. 1 with I’m Sorry, a gentle ballad that fit his country-pop and adult-contemporary strengths. It was one of two Hot 100 No. 1 songs for Denver in 1975.

Its one-week run showed the softer side of a year that also had funk, disco, and rock crossing the top spot.

Bad Blood – Neil Sedaka

Neil Sedaka reached No. 1 again with Bad Blood, featuring uncredited backing vocals by Elton John. The song was another major piece of Sedaka’s 1970s comeback.

Its three-week run proved that Laughter in the Rain was not a one-song return. Sedaka’s second act had real chart legs.

Island Girl – Elton John

Elton John spent three weeks at No. 1 with Island Girl. The song continued his extraordinary mid-1970s chart streak and became another major hit from the Rock of the Westies period.

Its run gave Elton his second No. 1 of the 1975 chart year after Philadelphia Freedom.

That’s the Way (I Like It) – KC and the Sunshine Band

KC and the Sunshine Band returned to No. 1 with That’s the Way (I Like It), one of the group’s signature disco-funk hits. The song first reached No. 1 for one week, was replaced by Silver Convention’s Fly, Robin, Fly, then returned for one more week. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Its interrupted run makes the late-1975 chart especially interesting. Disco was not just rising; it was trading the No. 1 spot with itself.

Fly, Robin, Fly – Silver Convention

Silver Convention spent three weeks at No. 1 with Fly, Robin, Fly. The German disco group became the second German act to top the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and the single also won a Grammy Award for Best R&B Instrumental Performance. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

The song is famous for having only a handful of lyrics, repeated over a sleek disco groove. Minimal words, maximum floor coverage.

Let’s Do It Again – The Staple Singers

The Staple Singers closed the 1975 Billboard Hot 100 year with Let’s Do It Again, from the film of the same name. Written and produced by Curtis Mayfield, the song became the group’s second Hot 100 No. 1.

Its cross-year run carried into the first 1976 Billboard issue, giving 1975 a smooth soul ending and 1976 a very relaxed opening.

Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Stories of 1975

Love Will Keep Us Together Was Billboard’s Year-End No. 1

Captain & Tennille’s Love Will Keep Us Together was Billboard’s top Hot 100 song of 1975. The song also helped define the year’s lighter pop sound, sitting ahead of Rhinestone Cowboy, Philadelphia Freedom, Before the Next Teardrop Falls, and My Eyes Adored You on Billboard’s year-end list. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

Disco Took a Bigger Step Toward the Mainstream

The Hustle, Get Down Tonight, That’s the Way (I Like It), and Fly, Robin, Fly all showed dance music moving closer to the center of pop. By the end of 1975, disco was no longer just a club story.

Country Crossover Was Strong

Freddy Fender, John Denver, B.J. Thomas, Glen Campbell, and Olivia Newton-John all helped keep country-pop near the top of the Hot 100. The year’s No. 1 songs were not locked into one sound.

Several Future Late-1970s Giants Were Warming Up

The Bee Gees, KC and the Sunshine Band, Eagles, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Elton John all had major No. 1 hits in 1975. Several of them would remain central to pop radio through the rest of the decade.

Interrupted No. 1 Runs Made Late 1975 Interesting

That’s the Way (I Like It) reached No. 1, was replaced by Fly, Robin, Fly, then returned to No. 1. That late-year disco handoff is one of the cleaner signs that dance music had become a major Hot 100 force. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}

1975 Billboard Number One Hits Trivia

Love Will Keep Us Together by Captain & Tennille was Billboard’s year-end Hot 100 song of 1975.
Rhinestone Cowboy by Glen Campbell was Billboard’s No. 2 year-end Hot 100 song of 1975. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
Mandy gave Barry Manilow his first Hot 100 No. 1.
You’re No Good was Linda Ronstadt’s only Hot 100 No. 1.
Shining Star was Earth, Wind & Fire’s only Hot 100 No. 1.
Fame gave David Bowie his first U.S. Hot 100 No. 1.
Jive Talkin’ helped relaunch the Bee Gees toward their late-1970s disco-era dominance.
Fly, Robin, Fly spent three weeks at No. 1 and used very few lyrics.
Let’s Do It Again closed 1975 and carried into the first Billboard issue of 1976.

Why the 1975 Billboard Number One Hits Matter

The 1975 Billboard Number One Hits list shows pop music widening before disco fully took over. Soft rock, country crossover, funk, soul, early disco, adult-pop ballads, and classic rock all moved through No. 1 during the same year.

The year also delivered major career milestones: Barry Manilow’s first No. 1, Linda Ronstadt’s only No. 1, David Bowie’s first U.S. No. 1, Earth, Wind & Fire’s only No. 1, and Captain & Tennille’s year-defining smash. It was not one sound; it was a crowded radio dial.

For chart fans, 1975 was a bridge year: country singers crossed over, funk bands broke through, disco found its footing, Elton kept winning, and KC and Silver Convention made the year end under a mirror ball.