January 9 in Music History: The 1970s Number Ones
On January 9 in music history, the number one song in America changed with every year of the 1970s.
The Billboard Hot 100 chart week that contains January 9 had a different song on top in all ten years.
Those ten songs spent 25 weeks at number one between them.
You can play every one from the table below.
Each row also shows how far into its run the song was that week.
Total weeks at number one for the song on top the week of January 9, one bar per year.
Chart: Music of the 70s, from this site's weekly Billboard Hot 100 data.
January 9 in Music History, 1970 to 1979: Play the Ten Number Ones
Press Play on any row and the list keeps going, song after song, until you press Stop.
Tap a column heading to sort by song, artist, year, chart week or weeks at number one.
| Play | Chart week | The story | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head | B. J. Thomas | 1970 | Jan 3 to Jan 9 | 1 of 4 | 4 | Burt Bacharach and Hal David wrote it for Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and it won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. | |
| My Sweet Lord / Isn't It a Pity | George Harrison | 1971 | Jan 9 to Jan 15 | 3 of 4 | 4 | In the US it was paired with "Isn't It a Pity" as a double A-side, and a court later found Harrison had subconsciously copied "He's So Fine." | |
| Brand New Key | Melanie | 1972 | Jan 8 to Jan 14 | 3 of 3 | 3 | It is sung by a girl on roller skates trying to catch a boy's eye, and some radio stations banned it. | |
| You're So Vain | Carly Simon | 1973 | Jan 6 to Jan 12 | 1 of 3 | 3 | Mick Jagger sang uncredited backing vocals, and Carly Simon has said the song is about three men, naming only Warren Beatty. | |
| Time in a Bottle | Jim Croce | 1974 | Jan 5 to Jan 11 | 2 of 2 | 2 | Croce wrote the lyrics after his wife told him she was pregnant, and the single came out two months after his death in a plane crash. | |
| Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds | Elton John | 1975 | Jan 4 to Jan 10 | 1 of 2 | 2 | John Lennon sang backing vocals and played guitar on it, credited as Dr. Winston O'Boogie. | |
| Saturday Night | Bay City Rollers | 1976 | Jan 3 to Jan 9 | 1 of 1 | 1 | It did not chart in the UK in 1973, and the US release came in August 1975, with the word Saturday spelled out in a chant. | |
| You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show) | Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. | 1977 | Jan 8 to Jan 14 | 1 of 1 | 1 | It won the married duo the 1977 Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. | |
| How Deep Is Your Love | Bee Gees | 1978 | Jan 7 to Jan 13 | 3 of 3 | 3 | It won the Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Group at the 20th Grammy Awards. | |
| Too Much Heaven | Bee Gees | 1979 | Jan 6 to Jan 12 | 1 of 2 | 2 | The Bee Gees gave it to Music for UNICEF and performed it at the benefit concert on January 9, 1979. |
Chart week is the Billboard Hot 100 week that contains January 9 that year.
Week of run says which week of the song's time at number one that was, like 2 of 4.
Chart weeks and weeks at number one come from this site's weekly Hot 100 file, and the story lines are credited in Sources.
The Short Answer: Who Was on Top Each Year
For January 9 in music history, the number one song was a different record in every year from 1970 to 1979.
That is the Hot 100 chart week that includes January 9.
Here is what the ten weeks show at a glance:
- The ten songs spent 25 weeks at number one in total.
- "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" and "My Sweet Lord" tie for the longest run, with four weeks each.
- 6 of the ten songs were in their first week at number one that week, and two of those had only that one week.
- 1 was somewhere in the middle of a longer run, and 3 were in the final week of their run.
Want Your Own Week?
The Birthday #1 Song Finder does this for any 1970s birthday, not only January 9 in music history.
Enter the date and it shows the song that was on top that week.
How the January 9 Week Was Picked
Billboard chart weeks do not line up with the calendar, so there is no single week called January 9.
This January 9 in music history page takes the weekly Hot 100 week that contains January 9 in each year.
That week began on a different date each year:
- 1970: the chart week of January 3, 1970, with "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" by B. J. Thomas on top.
- 1971: the chart week of January 9, 1971, with "My Sweet Lord / Isn't It a Pity" by George Harrison on top.
- 1972: the chart week of January 8, 1972, with "Brand New Key" by Melanie on top.
- 1973: the chart week of January 6, 1973, with "You're So Vain" by Carly Simon on top.
- 1974: the chart week of January 5, 1974, with "Time in a Bottle" by Jim Croce on top.
- 1975: the chart week of January 4, 1975, with "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" by Elton John on top.
- 1976: the chart week of January 3, 1976, with "Saturday Night" by Bay City Rollers on top.
- 1977: the chart week of January 8, 1977, with "You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)" by Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. on top.
- 1978: the chart week of January 7, 1978, with "How Deep Is Your Love" by Bee Gees on top.
- 1979: the chart week of January 6, 1979, with "Too Much Heaven" by Bee Gees on top.
Where the Numbers Come From
Chart weeks and weeks at number one come from the weekly Hot 100 file on this site.
The story line for each song is a fact from that song's Wikipedia page.
Anything that could not be confirmed against those sources was left out.
January 9 in Music History, 1970 to 1972: A Film Song, a Double A-Side and a Roller-Skate Novelty
The first three Januaries of the decade brought an Oscar winner, a double A-side and a roller-skate novelty.
1970: "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" by B. J. Thomas
Burt Bacharach and Hal David wrote the song for the 1969 film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
The two also produced B. J. Thomas's recording, which was released in October 1969.
Wikipedia says it topped the Hot 100 for four weeks in January 1970.
It won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
This site's weekly data starts the run on January 3.
So the chart week that contains January 9 was the first of four.
The song is number 4 on the 1970 year-end Hot 100, in this site's year-end data.
1971: "My Sweet Lord" by George Harrison
George Harrison wrote "My Sweet Lord" for his triple album All Things Must Pass.
Harrison and Phil Spector co-produced it, and it was released in the US on November 23, 1970.
In the US it was paired with "Isn't It a Pity" as a double A-side.
Wikipedia says it reached number one on December 26 and stayed on top for four weeks.
A court ruled in 1976 that Harrison had subconsciously copied the Chiffons' "He's So Fine," which Ronnie Mack wrote.
The chart week that contains January 9 was the third of the four weeks.
The song is number 31 on the 1971 year-end Hot 100, in this site's year-end data.
1972: "Brand New Key" by Melanie
Melanie wrote and sang "Brand New Key," and Peter Schekeryk produced it.
It first appeared on her 1971 album Gather Me and came out as a single in October 1971.
The song is sung from the viewpoint of a girl on roller skates trying to attract a boy's attention.
Its chorus gave it the nickname "The Rollerskate Song," and Wikipedia says some places banned it from the radio.
It also reached number one in Canada and Australia, and number four in the UK.
This site's weekly data shows three weeks at number one, starting December 25, 1971.
January 8 was the third and last.
The song is number 9 on the 1972 year-end Hot 100, in this site's year-end data.
January 9 in Music History, 1973 to 1975: A Famous Mystery, a Posthumous Ballad and a Beatles Cover
The middle of the decade brought a song people still argue about.
It also brought a ballad released after its writer's death and a cover with a famous guest.
1973: "You're So Vain" by Carly Simon
Carly Simon wrote "You're So Vain," and Richard Perry produced it.
It was released as a single in November 1972 from the album No Secrets.
Mick Jagger sang uncredited backing vocals.
Simon has said the song refers to three men.
The only one she has named publicly is the actor Warren Beatty.
Wikipedia says it stayed at number one for the first three weeks of 1973.
This site's weekly data starts that run on January 6, so the January 9 week was the first.
The song is number 9 on the 1973 year-end Hot 100, in this site's year-end data.
1974: "Time in a Bottle" by Jim Croce
Jim Croce wrote the lyrics after his wife, Ingrid, told him in December 1970 that she was pregnant.
The song first appeared on his 1972 album You Don't Mess Around with Jim.
Croce was killed in a plane crash in September 1973, and the single came out in November 1973.
Wikipedia says it finished a two-week run at the top in early January 1974.
This site's weekly data shows the two weeks as December 29, 1973 and January 5, 1974.
So January 5 was the second and last.
The song is number 24 on the 1974 year-end Hot 100, in this site's year-end data.
More of his records are on Jim Croce.
1975: "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" by Elton John
Elton John's version of the Beatles song came out as a single on November 15, 1974.
It was credited to the Elton John Band.
It was recorded at Caribou Ranch, and Davey Johnstone is credited with electric guitar and sitar.
John Lennon sang backing vocals and played guitars, under the pseudonym Dr. Winston O'Boogie.
It topped the Hot 100 for two weeks in January 1975.
The RIAA certified it Gold on January 29, 1975.
This site's weekly data starts the run on January 4.
So that chart week was the first of two.
The song is number 35 on the 1975 year-end Hot 100, in this site's year-end data.
More of his records are on Elton John.
January 9 in Music History, 1976 to 1979: Two One-Week Hits and Two Bee Gees Records
The last four Januaries brought a spelled-out chant, a married duo's Grammy winner and two Bee Gees records.
1976: "Saturday Night" by the Bay City Rollers
Bill Martin and Phil Coulter wrote and produced "Saturday Night."
The UK release came on June 29, 1973 and did not chart.
The US release followed in August 1975.
The song comes from the group's debut album Rollin', with Les McKeown on lead vocals.
Wikipedia describes the word Saturday being spelled out in a rhythmic chant.
It reached number one for one week and spent 17 weeks on the chart in total.
This site's weekly data puts that one week on the chart week of January 3, 1976.
The song is number 64 on the 1976 year-end Hot 100, in this site's year-end data.
1977: "You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)" by Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr.
James Dean and John Glover, both former Motown songwriters, wrote the song, and Don Davis produced it.
It came out in September 1976, from the album I Hope We Get to Love in Time.
Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. were a husband and wife duo.
Wikipedia says it hit number one on the Hot 100 and Hot Soul Singles charts.
It won them the 1977 Grammy for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.
This site's weekly data shows one week at number one, the chart week of January 8, 1977.
The song is number 27 on the 1977 year-end Hot 100, in this site's year-end data.
1978: "How Deep Is Your Love" by the Bee Gees
Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb wrote "How Deep Is Your Love."
The demo was made at Le Château d'Hérouville in France, with more recording at Criteria Studios in Miami.
It was released as a single in September 1977 and later used on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack.
Wikipedia says it stayed in the Top 10 for 17 weeks.
It won the Grammy for Best Pop Performance by a Group at the 20th Grammy Awards.
This site's weekly data shows three weeks at number one from December 24, 1977.
January 7 was the third and last.
The song is number 6 on the 1978 year-end Hot 100, in this site's year-end data.
The full story is on the How Deep Is Your Love page.
1979: "Too Much Heaven" by the Bee Gees
Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb wrote "Too Much Heaven" as the group's contribution to the Music for UNICEF fund.
They performed it at the Music for UNICEF Concert on January 9, 1979, which fell inside this very chart week.
The single came out on October 24, 1978, as the first single from the album Spirits Having Flown.
Wikipedia says it knocked "Le Freak" off the top spot for two weeks and was the fourth of six consecutive Bee Gees number ones.
It earned over $7 million in publishing royalties.
This site's weekly data starts its two weeks on January 6, so the chart week that contains January 9 was the first.
The song is number 11 on the 1979 year-end Hot 100, in this site's year-end data.
More of the group's records are on Bee Gees.
January 9 in Music History by the Numbers: Short Runs, Long Runs and Where Each Song Stood
Ranking the ten songs of January 9 in music history by weeks at number one shows how evenly the top spot was shared.
| Song | Artist | Year | Weeks at #1 | First week | Last week |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head | B. J. Thomas | 1970 | 4 | January 3, 1970 | January 24, 1970 |
| My Sweet Lord / Isn't It a Pity | George Harrison | 1971 | 4 | December 26, 1970 | January 16, 1971 |
| Brand New Key | Melanie | 1972 | 3 | December 25, 1971 | January 8, 1972 |
| You're So Vain | Carly Simon | 1973 | 3 | January 6, 1973 | January 20, 1973 |
| How Deep Is Your Love | Bee Gees | 1978 | 3 | December 24, 1977 | January 7, 1978 |
| Time in a Bottle | Jim Croce | 1974 | 2 | December 29, 1973 | January 5, 1974 |
| Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds | Elton John | 1975 | 2 | January 4, 1975 | January 11, 1975 |
| Too Much Heaven | Bee Gees | 1979 | 2 | January 6, 1979 | January 13, 1979 |
| Saturday Night | Bay City Rollers | 1976 | 1 | January 3, 1976 | January 3, 1976 |
| You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show) | Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr. | 1977 | 1 | January 8, 1977 | January 8, 1977 |
Each box is one week at number one, and the gold box is the week that contains January 9.
Chart: Music of the 70s, from this site's weekly Billboard Hot 100 data.
Where January 9 Fell in Each Run
The weeks split three ways:
- 6 songs were in their first week at number one: "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head," "You're So Vain," "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds," "Saturday Night," "You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)" and "Too Much Heaven."
- 1 was in the middle of a longer run: "My Sweet Lord."
- 3 were in the last week of their run: "Brand New Key," "Time in a Bottle" and "How Deep Is Your Love."
Test Your Own Memory
Which of these ten January 9 in music history number ones would you have bet on?
The list runs from a film song to a charity single.
Earlier weeks have their own lists, including December 12 in music history, November 28 in music history, November 7 in music history and this week in music history for October 24.
The 70s Music Trivia Quiz has ten new questions each round.
For the whole decade at the top, see the 70s number one hits page.
More of the decade lives on the Music of the 70s home page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the number one song on January 9 in music history in the 1970s?
The number one song for the Hot 100 chart week that includes January 9 changed every year. It was "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" in 1970, "My Sweet Lord" in 1971, "Brand New Key" in 1972, "You're So Vain" in 1973 and "Time in a Bottle" in 1974. The list ends with five more, up to "Too Much Heaven" in 1979.
Which 70s number one song stayed on top the longest around January 9?
Two songs tie, with four weeks each, according to this site's weekly Hot 100 data. B. J. Thomas's "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" ran from January 3 to January 24, 1970. George Harrison's "My Sweet Lord" ran from December 26, 1970 to January 16, 1971.
What was the number one song on January 9, 1979?
The Bee Gees' "Too Much Heaven" was number one for the Hot 100 chart week of January 6 to 12, 1979. It was the first of its two weeks at number one, according to this site's weekly Hot 100 data. The group performed it at the Music for UNICEF Concert on January 9, 1979, according to Wikipedia.
How can I find the number one song from my own birthday?
You can find the number one song from your birthday with the Birthday #1 Song Finder on this site. Enter a birthday from the 1970s and it shows the song that topped the Billboard Hot 100 that week, using the same weekly chart data as the ten songs on this page.
Why does the chart week change from year to year?
This site's weekly Hot 100 file dates each chart week from a Saturday, and that date moves each year. The week containing January 9 began January 9 in 1971, January 8 in 1972 and 1977, January 7 in 1978, January 6 in 1973 and 1979, January 5 in 1974, January 4 in 1975 and January 3 in 1970 and 1976.
Related Posts
Sources
- Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head, Wikipedia, for the writers, the film, the four weeks at number one and the Academy Award.
- My Sweet Lord, Wikipedia, for the album, the producers, the double A-side, the four weeks and the 1976 court ruling.
- Brand New Key, Wikipedia, for the album, the producer, the roller-skate story and the radio bans.
- You're So Vain, Wikipedia, for the writer, the producer, the Mick Jagger backing vocals and the three-men comment.
- Time in a Bottle, Wikipedia, for the writer, the album, the release date and the two-week run.
- Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, Wikipedia, for the release date, the Caribou Ranch session and the John Lennon credit.
- Saturday Night (Bay City Rollers song), Wikipedia, for the writers, the release dates and the chant.
- You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show), Wikipedia, for the writers, the album and the Grammy.
- How Deep Is Your Love (Bee Gees song), Wikipedia, for the writers, the recording locations and the Grammy.
- Too Much Heaven, Wikipedia, for the writers, the UNICEF concert, the release date and the royalties.
- Billboard Hot 100, Wikipedia, for how the weekly chart used for number one runs works.