May 29 in Music History: The 1970s Number Ones
On May 29 in music history, the number one song in America changed with every year of the 1970s.
The Billboard Hot 100 chart week that contains May 29 had a different song on top in all ten years.
Those ten songs spent 22 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 May 29, one bar per year.
Chart: Music of the 70s, from this site's weekly Billboard Hot 100 data.
May 29 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 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Woman / No Sugar Tonight | The Guess Who | 1970 | May 23 to May 29 | 3 of 3 | 3 | The music and lyrics were improvised on stage during a concert in Southern Ontario, and the band asked a kid with a cassette recorder for his bootleg tape. | |
| Brown Sugar | The Rolling Stones | 1971 | May 29 to Jun 4 | 1 of 2 | 2 | Mick Jagger wrote it during the filming of Ned Kelly in 1969, and the Stones recorded it over three days at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Alabama. | |
| Oh Girl | The Chi-Lites | 1972 | May 27 to Jun 2 | 1 of 1 | 1 | Eugene Record wrote it, sang lead and produced it, and a harmonica carries the song. | |
| Frankenstein | The Edgar Winter Group | 1973 | May 26 to Jun 1 | 1 of 1 | 1 | Drummer Chuck Ruff named it after the massive editing of the original studio recording, which was spliced together from many sections. | |
| The Streak | Ray Stevens | 1974 | May 25 to May 31 | 2 of 3 | 3 | Ray Stevens got the idea from a news magazine item about streaking that he read on an airplane. | |
| Shining Star | Earth, Wind & Fire | 1975 | May 24 to May 30 | 1 of 1 | 1 | Maurice White got the idea while strolling at night and looking up at the starry sky during the That's the Way of the World sessions. | |
| Love Hangover | Diana Ross | 1976 | May 29 to Jun 4 | 1 of 2 | 2 | Producer Hal Davis had a strobe light installed so that Diana Ross could get into a disco mindset, and it gave her a fourth number one. | |
| Sir Duke | Stevie Wonder | 1977 | May 28 to Jun 3 | 2 of 3 | 3 | Stevie Wonder wrote it as a tribute to Duke Ellington, who had died in 1974. | |
| With a Little Luck | Wings | 1978 | May 27 to Jun 2 | 2 of 2 | 2 | Paul McCartney wrote it in Scotland, and Wings recorded it aboard a boat in the Virgin Islands that had been fitted with a 24-track studio. | |
| Reunited | Peaches & Herb | 1979 | May 26 to Jun 1 | 4 of 4 | 4 | Dino Fekaris and Freddie Perren wrote it as a sequel to the duo's 1968 hit "(We'll Be) United." |
Chart week is the Billboard Hot 100 week that contains May 29 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 May 29 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 May 29.
Here is what the ten weeks show at a glance:
- The ten songs spent 22 weeks at number one in total.
- "Reunited" had the longest run, with four weeks, and "American Woman," "The Streak" and "Sir Duke" tie for second with three each.
- 5 of the ten songs were in their first week at number one that week, and three songs had only that one week.
- 2 were somewhere in the middle of a longer run, and 3 were in the final week of their runs.
Want Your Own Week?
The Birthday #1 Song Finder does this for any 1970s birthday, not only May 29 in music history.
Enter the date and it shows the song that was on top that week.
How the May 29 Week Was Picked
Billboard chart weeks do not line up with the calendar, so there is no single week called May 29.
This May 29 in music history page takes the weekly Hot 100 week that contains May 29 in each year.
That week began on a different date each year:
- 1970: the chart week of May 23, 1970, with "American Woman / No Sugar Tonight" by The Guess Who on top.
- 1971: the chart week of May 29, 1971, with "Brown Sugar" by The Rolling Stones on top.
- 1972: the chart week of May 27, 1972, with "Oh Girl" by The Chi-Lites on top.
- 1973: the chart week of May 26, 1973, with "Frankenstein" by The Edgar Winter Group on top.
- 1974: the chart week of May 25, 1974, with "The Streak" by Ray Stevens on top.
- 1975: the chart week of May 24, 1975, with "Shining Star" by Earth, Wind & Fire on top.
- 1976: the chart week of May 29, 1976, with "Love Hangover" by Diana Ross on top.
- 1977: the chart week of May 28, 1977, with "Sir Duke" by Stevie Wonder on top.
- 1978: the chart week of May 27, 1978, with "With a Little Luck" by Wings on top.
- 1979: the chart week of May 26, 1979, with "Reunited" by Peaches & Herb 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.
Every run on this page was unbroken, so "week of run" counts the weeks since the song first reached number one.
May 29 in Music History, 1970 to 1972: An Improvised Riff, a Muscle Shoals Session and a Harmonica Ballad
The first three Mays of the decade brought a Canadian rock band's stage jam, a Rolling Stones single recorded in Alabama and a soul ballad built around a harmonica.
1970: "American Woman" by the Guess Who
Wikipedia says the music and lyrics of "American Woman" were improvised on stage during a concert in Southern Ontario.
Guitarist Randy Bachman recalled it being a concert in Kitchener, while singer Burton Cummings said it was at the Broom and Stone, a curling rink in Scarborough.
The band noticed a kid with a cassette recorder making a bootleg and asked him for the tape, then wrote down the words Cummings had made up.
Jack Richardson produced the single, which was recorded on August 13, 1969, at RCA's Mid-America Recording Center in Chicago.
It came out as a single in March 1970, backed with "No Sugar Tonight," and the RIAA certified it gold on May 22, 1970.
This site's weekly data shows three weeks at number one, from May 9 to May 23, 1970, where the chart lists it as "American Woman / No Sugar Tonight."
So the chart week that contains May 29 was the third and last.
The song is number 3 on the 1970 year-end Hot 100, in this site's year-end data.
1971: "Brown Sugar" by the Rolling Stones
"Brown Sugar" is credited to Jagger-Richards, but Wikipedia says it was primarily the work of Mick Jagger.
He wrote it sometime during the filming of Ned Kelly in 1969.
The Stones recorded it over three days, December 2 to 4, 1969, at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Sheffield, Alabama.
It was not released until over a year later because of legal wranglings with the band's former label.
The Stones debuted it live at the Altamont Speedway concert on December 6, 1969, at the request of guitarist Mick Taylor.
Wikipedia says it became a number one hit in both the United States and Canada.
This site's weekly data shows two weeks at number one, May 29 and June 5, 1971.
So the chart week that contains May 29 was the first of two.
The song is number 16 on the 1971 year-end Hot 100, in this site's year-end data.
1972: "Oh Girl" by the Chi-Lites
Eugene Record wrote "Oh Girl," sang lead and produced the Chi-Lites' recording.
It came out on Brunswick Records in 1972 and appears on the album A Lonely Man.
The lyrics centre on a relationship on the verge of a break-up, and a harmonica runs through the song.
Wikipedia calls it the group's first and only number one on the Hot 100, where it spent one week in May 1972.
It also reached number one on the R&B chart the next month and stayed there two weeks.
This site's weekly data agrees, with the chart week of May 27, 1972.
The song is number 13 on the 1972 year-end Hot 100, in this site's year-end data.
May 29 in Music History, 1973 to 1975: A Monster Instrumental, a Streaking Novelty and a Night-Sky Funk Anthem
The middle of the decade brought a heavily edited rock instrumental, a novelty hit about streaking and the only Hot 100 number one for Earth, Wind & Fire.
1973: "Frankenstein" by the Edgar Winter Group
Edgar Winter composed "Frankenstein," and Rick Derringer produced the single.
Wikipedia says drummer Chuck Ruff coined the title because of the massive editing of the original studio recording.
The band had drifted into less structured jams, so the final track was spliced together from many sections.
It is an instrumental from the 1972 album They Only Come Out at Night, and Winter described its "monster-like, lumbering beat."
It sold over a million copies, and the RIAA certified it gold on June 19, 1973.
This site's weekly data shows one week at number one, the chart week of May 26, 1973.
The song is number 16 on the 1973 year-end Hot 100, in this site's year-end data.
1974: "The Streak" by Ray Stevens
Ray Stevens wrote, produced and sang "The Streak," a country novelty song released in February 1974.
Wikipedia says Stevens first got the idea while reading a news magazine on an airplane, which had a brief item about streaking.
He has said that 15 other streaking songs were already out by the time his was released.
He put his out less than a week before the televised 46th Academy Awards, where Robert Opel streaked across the stage behind host David Niven.
It was Stevens' second number one on the Hot 100, and it also topped the UK singles chart for one week in June 1974.
This site's weekly data shows three weeks at number one, from May 18 to June 1, 1974.
So the chart week that contains May 29 was the second of three.
The song is number 8 on the 1974 year-end Hot 100, in this site's year-end data.
1975: "Shining Star" by Earth, Wind & Fire
Maurice White produced "Shining Star," which White, Larry Dunn and Philip Bailey composed.
The idea came to White while he was strolling at night during the band's recording of That's the Way of the World at Caribou Ranch.
He was inspired by looking up at the starry sky.
Wikipedia says it rose to number one on both the Hot 100 and the Hot Soul Songs chart, and it is the group's only single to top the Hot 100.
It also won the Grammy Award 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 May 24, 1975.
The song is number 7 on the 1975 year-end Hot 100, in this site's year-end data.
More on the band is on the Earth Wind and Fire songs page.
May 29 in Music History, 1976 to 1979: A Strobe-Light Session, a Jazz Tribute, a Beatle's Band and a Sequel Duet
The last four Mays brought a disco-era record for Diana Ross, Stevie Wonder's thank-you to jazz, Paul McCartney's Wings and the longest run of the ten.
1976: "Love Hangover" by Diana Ross
Marilyn McLeod and Pam Sawyer wrote "Love Hangover," and Hal Davis produced it.
Davis told engineer Russ Terrana to install a strobe light so Ross could get into a "disco" mindset.
As the song moved from ballad to uptempo, Ross became more comfortable, and Wikipedia says she even imitated Billie Holiday.
The 5th Dimension released their own version, and the two versions entered the chart the same day.
Wikipedia says it reached number one on May 29, 1976, and that Casey Kasem reported on American Top 40 that it was Ross's fourth number one, passing Connie Francis, Helen Reddy, Roberta Flack and Cher, who each had three.
This site's weekly data agrees, with two weeks at number one, May 29 and June 5, 1976.
So the chart week that contains May 29 was the first of two.
The song is number 15 on the 1976 year-end Hot 100, in this site's year-end data.
More on the singer is on the Diana Ross songs page.
1977: "Sir Duke" by Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder composed and performed "Sir Duke" for his 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life.
He wrote it as a tribute to Duke Ellington, who died in 1974.
The lyrics also name Count Basie, Glenn Miller, Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald.
Wonder said he knew the title from the beginning but wanted the song to be about the musicians who did something for him.
It was released as a single in 1977 and topped both the Hot 100 and the Black Singles chart.
This site's weekly data shows three weeks at number one, from May 21 to June 4, 1977.
So the chart week that contains May 29 was the second of three.
The song is number 18 on the 1977 year-end Hot 100, in this site's year-end data.
The full story is on the Sir Duke page.
1978: "With a Little Luck" by Wings
Wikipedia says "With a Little Luck" was written in Scotland and was the follow-up to Wings' "Mull of Kintyre."
The band recorded it in May 1977 aboard the boat Fair Carol in the Virgin Islands, which had been fitted with a 24-track studio.
Paul McCartney played electric piano, bass and synthesiser on the track.
It was the first single from the album London Town and came out in the US on March 17, 1978.
While it was at the top, McCartney announced a new Wings line-up with lead guitarist Laurence Juber and drummer Steve Holley.
This site's weekly data shows two weeks at number one, May 20 and May 27, 1978.
So the chart week that contains May 29 was the second and last.
The song is number 18 on the 1978 year-end Hot 100, in this site's year-end data.
1979: "Reunited" by Peaches & Herb
Dino Fekaris and Freddie Perren wrote "Reunited," the second single from the duo's album 2 Hot.
Wikipedia calls it the sequel to Peaches & Herb's 1968 hit "(We'll Be) United," which was a cover of the Intruders' 1966 hit.
It spent four weeks at number one on both the Hot 100 and the R&B chart in 1979 and sold over two million copies.
This site's weekly data agrees, with four weeks from May 5 to May 26, 1979.
So the chart week that contains May 29 was the fourth and last of the longest run of the ten.
The song is number 5 on the 1979 year-end Hot 100, in this site's year-end data.
May 29 in Music History by the Numbers: Short Runs, Long Runs and Where Each Song Stood
Ranking the ten songs of May 29 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Reunited | Peaches & Herb | 1979 | 4 | May 5, 1979 | May 26, 1979 |
| American Woman / No Sugar Tonight | The Guess Who | 1970 | 3 | May 9, 1970 | May 23, 1970 |
| The Streak | Ray Stevens | 1974 | 3 | May 18, 1974 | June 1, 1974 |
| Sir Duke | Stevie Wonder | 1977 | 3 | May 21, 1977 | June 4, 1977 |
| Brown Sugar | The Rolling Stones | 1971 | 2 | May 29, 1971 | June 5, 1971 |
| Love Hangover | Diana Ross | 1976 | 2 | May 29, 1976 | June 5, 1976 |
| With a Little Luck | Wings | 1978 | 2 | May 20, 1978 | May 27, 1978 |
| Oh Girl | The Chi-Lites | 1972 | 1 | May 27, 1972 | May 27, 1972 |
| Frankenstein | The Edgar Winter Group | 1973 | 1 | May 26, 1973 | May 26, 1973 |
| Shining Star | Earth, Wind & Fire | 1975 | 1 | May 24, 1975 | May 24, 1975 |
Each box is one week at number one, the gold box is the week that contains May 29, and a gap means another song held the top spot.
Chart: Music of the 70s, from this site's weekly Billboard Hot 100 data.
Where May 29 Fell in Each Run
The weeks split three ways:
- 5 songs were in their first week at number one: "Brown Sugar," "Oh Girl," "Frankenstein," "Shining Star" and "Love Hangover."
- 2 were in the middle of a longer run: "The Streak" and "Sir Duke."
- 3 were in the last week of their runs: "American Woman," "With a Little Luck" and "Reunited."
Test Your Own Memory
Which of these ten May 29 in music history number ones would you have bet on?
The list runs from the Guess Who in 1970 to Peaches & Herb in 1979.
Earlier weeks have their own lists, including April 17 in music history, March 20 in music history, February 13 in music history, January 9 in music history, November 28 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 May 29 in music history in the 1970s?
The number one song for the Hot 100 chart week that includes May 29 changed every year. It was "American Woman" in 1970, "Brown Sugar" in 1971, "Oh Girl" in 1972, "Frankenstein" in 1973 and "The Streak" in 1974. Five more follow, ending with "Reunited" in 1979.
Which 70s number one song stayed on top the longest around May 29?
Peaches & Herb's "Reunited" held the longest run of the ten songs, with four weeks, according to this site's weekly Hot 100 data. It ran from May 5 to May 26, 1979. The Guess Who's "American Woman," Ray Stevens' "The Streak" and Stevie Wonder's "Sir Duke" tie for second with three weeks each.
What was the number one song on May 29, 1971?
The Rolling Stones' "Brown Sugar" was number one for the Hot 100 chart week that began May 29, 1971. It was the first of its two weeks at number one, according to this site's weekly Hot 100 data. Billboard ranked it number 16 for 1971, which matches the 1971 year-end Hot 100 in this site's data.
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 May 29 began May 29 in 1971 and 1976, May 28 in 1977, May 27 in 1972 and 1978, May 26 in 1973 and 1979, May 25 in 1974, May 24 in 1975 and May 23 in 1970.
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- American Woman (song), Wikipedia, for the improvised writing, the recording date, the producer and the gold certification.
- Brown Sugar (Rolling Stones song), Wikipedia, for the writer, the Muscle Shoals sessions, the delayed release and the Altamont debut.
- Oh Girl, Wikipedia, for the writer, the album, the harmonica and the first and only number one.
- Frankenstein (instrumental), Wikipedia, for the composer, the title story, the editing and the gold certification.
- The Streak (song), Wikipedia, for the writer, the origin story, the Academy Awards timing and the UK number one.
- Shining Star (Earth, Wind & Fire song), Wikipedia, for the composers, the night-sky inspiration and the Grammy.
- Love Hangover, Wikipedia, for the writers, the strobe light, the 5th Dimension version and the fourth number one.
- Sir Duke, Wikipedia, for the tribute to Duke Ellington and the musicians named in the lyrics.
- With a Little Luck, Wikipedia, for the writing, the Fair Carol recording and the new Wings line-up.
- Reunited (song), Wikipedia, for the writers, the sequel link and the four weeks.
- Billboard Hot 100, Wikipedia, for how the weekly chart used for number one runs works.