November 19 in Music History: The 1970s Number Ones

By Charlie · Published November 19, 2026

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On November 19 in music history, a different song sat at number one in America in every year of the 1970s.

This page takes the Billboard Hot 100 week that contains November 19 for each year from 1970 to 1979.

Those ten songs spent 39 weeks at number one between them.

Four of them were in their last week on top, and three had just arrived.

Play any of them from the table below.

Total weeks at number one for the song on top the week of November 19, one bar per year.

Chart: Music of the 70s, from this site's weekly Billboard Hot 100 data.

November 19 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.

Chart week is the Billboard Hot 100 week that contains November 19 that year.

Week of run says which week of the song's time at number one that was, like 6 of 10.

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 November 19 in music history, a different record was number one in every year from 1970 to 1979.

That is the Hot 100 chart week that includes November 19.

Here is what the ten weeks show at a glance:

• The ten songs spent 39 weeks at number one in total.
• "You Light Up My Life" had the most weeks, with ten.
• "Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)" came next with eight, and "I'll Be There" had five.
• "I Can See Clearly Now" had four, and "Island Girl" and "MacArthur Park" had three each.
• "Whatever Gets You thru the Night" and "Still" held number one for a single week.
• 4 of the ten songs were in the last week of a longer run.
• 3 were in their first week on top, and 3 were in the middle.

Want Your Own Week?

Try the Birthday #1 Song Finder to see which song was on top the week you were born.

It works for any 1970s birthday, not only November 19 in music history.

How the November 19 Week Was Picked

Billboard chart weeks do not line up with the calendar, so there is no single week called November 19.

This November 19 in music history page uses the weekly Hot 100 week that contains November 19 each year.

In 1977 that week began on November 19 itself, and in the other nine years it began one to six days before:

• 1970: the chart week of November 14, 1970, with "I'll Be There" by The Jackson 5 on top.
• 1971: the chart week of November 13, 1971, with "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves" by Cher on top.
• 1972: the chart week of November 18, 1972, with "I Can See Clearly Now" by Johnny Nash on top.
• 1973: the chart week of November 17, 1973, with "Keep on Truckin'" by Eddie Kendricks on top.
• 1974: the chart week of November 16, 1974, with "Whatever Gets You thru the Night" by John Lennon on top.
• 1975: the chart week of November 15, 1975, with "Island Girl" by Elton John on top.
• 1976: the chart week of November 13, 1976, with "Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)" by Rod Stewart on top.
• 1977: the chart week of November 19, 1977, with "You Light Up My Life" by Debby Boone on top.
• 1978: the chart week of November 18, 1978, with "MacArthur Park" by Donna Summer on top.
• 1979: the chart week of November 17, 1979, with "Still" by Commodores 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.

All ten runs were unbroken, so "week of run" counts the weeks since the song first reached number one.

For "Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)" the weekly file has eight chart weeks at number one, which matches Wikipedia's eight consecutive weeks.

Seven Songs Also on the November 12 List

This is the real week of November 19, so every song on top that week is here.

Seven of them are also on the November 12 in music history list, one week earlier.

Four of those seven were in their final week on top.

Only 1974, 1976 and 1979 had a new number one by November 19.

Four songs also turn up on the November 28 in music history list: "I Can See Clearly Now," "Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)," "You Light Up My Life" and "MacArthur Park."

November 19 in Music History, 1970 to 1972: The Jackson 5's Last Number One, Cher's Comeback and a Moog Solo

November 19 in music history opened the decade with two songs in their final week at number one.

The Jackson 5 and Cher both gave up the top spot the week after.

Johnny Nash had one week left to go.

1970: "I'll Be There" by The Jackson 5

"I'll Be There" was the first single from the Jackson 5's Third Album.

Motown released it on August 28, 1970, and Wikipedia notes that Michael Jackson turned 12 the next day.

In his 1988 autobiography Moonwalk, he wrote that this song showed the group could go beyond bubblegum pop.

It replaced "I Heard It Through the Grapevine" as Motown's most successful US single until "Endless Love" in 1981.

It was also the Jackson 5's last Hot 100 number one as a group.

This site's weekly data shows five weeks at number one, from October 17 to November 14, 1970.

Neil Diamond's "Cracklin' Rosie" was on top before it, and The Partridge Family's "I Think I Love You" came next.

So the chart week that contains November 19 was the fifth and last of five.

The song is number 7 on the 1970 year-end Hot 100, in this site's year-end data.

More of the group's singles are on the Jackson 5 songs page.

1971: "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves" by Cher

The record company brought in Snuff Garrett to produce Cher after Sonny Bono's first attempts to revive her recording career had not worked.

Garrett had Bob Stone write the song for her to reach an adult audience.

Wikipedia describes a carnival calliope and a piano with strings in the arrangement.

It was her first single in four years to chart higher than number 84.

The album was later reissued under the song's title, and the song earned her a Grammy nomination.

This site's weekly data shows two weeks at number one, from November 6 to November 13, 1971.

Rod Stewart's "Maggie May" was on top before it, and Isaac Hayes's "Theme from Shaft" came next.

So the chart week that contains November 19 was the second and last of two.

The song is number 39 on the 1971 year-end Hot 100, in this site's year-end data.

She is one of the voices on the female singers of the 70s list.

1972: "I Can See Clearly Now" by Johnny Nash

Johnny Nash wrote "I Can See Clearly Now" and produced it himself.

Wikipedia says he had worked with Bob Marley, and his approach drew strongly on Marley's reggae style.

Francis Monkman played the instrumental break on a Moog synthesizer.

The song also reached number one in Canada and South Africa.

Jimmy Cliff's 1993 version for the film Cool Runnings reached number 18 on the Hot 100.

This site's weekly data shows four weeks at number one, from November 4 to November 25, 1972.

Chuck Berry's "My Ding-a-Ling" was on top before it, and The Temptations' "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" came next.

So the chart week that contains November 19 was the third of four.

The song is number 47 on the 1972 year-end Hot 100, in this site's year-end data.

November 19 in Music History, 1973 to 1975: A Truck Sound, John Lennon's Only Solo Number One and Elton John

November 19 in music history in the middle of the decade has Elton John in two years running.

He played on John Lennon's 1974 number one, then had his own on top in 1975.

Eddie Kendricks was in his last week at number one in 1973.

1973: "Keep on Truckin'" by Eddie Kendricks

Leonard Caston Jr., Anita Poree and Frank Wilson wrote "Keep on Truckin'," and Caston and Wilson produced it.

It was recorded in 1973 at Motown's studios in Los Angeles.

The album version runs eight minutes, while the single edit runs 3:21.

Wikipedia says the single uses the sound of a truck on a highway to separate its two parts.

James Jamerson is listed on bass.

This site's weekly data shows two weeks at number one, from November 10 to November 17, 1973.

Gladys Knight & the Pips' "Midnight Train to Georgia" was on top before it, and Ringo Starr's "Photograph" came next.

So the chart week that contains November 19 was the second and last of two.

The song is number 35 on the 1973 year-end Hot 100, in this site's year-end data.

Its groove fits with the records on the 70s funk page.

1974: "Whatever Gets You thru the Night" by John Lennon

John Lennon wrote "Whatever Gets You thru the Night," the lead single from his album Walls and Bridges.

May Pang told Radio Times that he took the title from a TV preacher, Reverend Ike, while channel-surfing late at night.

Elton John played piano and sang harmony on the record.

Elton bet Lennon it would reach number one, and Lennon promised to join him on stage if it did.

He kept that promise at Madison Square Garden on November 28, 1974, which Wikipedia calls his last major concert appearance.

It was Lennon's only solo number one in the United States in his lifetime.

This site's weekly data shows one week at number one, the chart week of November 16, 1974.

Bachman-Turner Overdrive's "You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet" was on top before it, and Billy Swan's "I Can Help" came next.

1975: "Island Girl" by Elton John

Elton John and Bernie Taupin wrote "Island Girl," the first single from Rock of the Westies.

Kiki Dee sang backing vocals, and James Newton Howard played ARP synthesizer and Mellotron.

The B-side, "Sugar on the Floor," was written by Kiki Dee.

Wikipedia says it was his last solo number one for 22 years.

It replaced Neil Sedaka's "Bad Blood," a record Elton had sung on without credit.

This site's weekly data shows three weeks at number one, from November 1 to November 15, 1975.

KC and the Sunshine Band's "That's the Way (I Like It)" came next.

So the chart week that contains November 19 was the third and last of three.

The song is number 65 on the 1976 year-end Hot 100, in this site's year-end data.

His other hits of the decade are on the Elton John page.

November 19 in Music History, 1976 to 1979: Rod Stewart's Eight Weeks, Debby Boone, Donna Summer and the Commodores

November 19 in music history closed the decade with two long runs.

Rod Stewart started an eight-week stay, and Debby Boone was past the halfway mark of ten weeks.

The Commodores got one week of their own in 1979.

1976: "Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)" by Rod Stewart

Rod Stewart recorded "Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)" at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio in Sheffield, Alabama.

It was on his 1976 album A Night on the Town, and the final vocal was cut at Caribou Ranch with producer Tom Dowd.

The song debuted on the Hot 100 at number 81 on October 2, 1976.

Wikipedia says it climbed from number eight to number one on November 13, 1976.

Its eight weeks on top were the longest US run for a single since the Beatles' "Hey Jude" in 1968.

This site's weekly data shows eight weeks at number one, from November 13, 1976, to January 1, 1977.

Steve Miller Band's "Rock'n Me" was on top before it, and Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr.'s "You Don't Have to Be a Star (To Be in My Show)" came next.

So the chart week that contains November 19 was the first of eight.

The song is number 1 on the 1977 year-end Hot 100, in this site's year-end data.

Its mellow side sits well with the 70s soft rock list.

1977: "You Light Up My Life" by Debby Boone

Debby Boone recorded "You Light Up My Life" in 1977 under the guidance of Mike Curb and songwriter Joseph Brooks.

It came out as a Warner-Curb single and as the title track of her first solo album.

Wikipedia says it topped Record World's singles chart for 13 weeks in a row.

It also hit number one on the adult contemporary chart and number four on the country chart.

The record won Boone the 1978 Grammy for Best New Artist.

This site's weekly data shows ten weeks at number one, from October 15 to December 17, 1977.

Meco's "Star Wars Theme/Cantina Band" was on top before it, and the Bee Gees' "How Deep Is Your Love" came next.

So the chart week that contains November 19 was the sixth of ten.

The song is number 3 on the 1978 year-end Hot 100, in this site's year-end data.

Find more ballads like it on the slow songs of the 70s list.

1978: "MacArthur Park" by Donna Summer

Giorgio Moroder said he heard Richard Harris's original "MacArthur Park" on the radio while driving the Hollywood Freeway.

He decided it was the 1960s song he and Pete Bellotte had been looking for to remake as a dance track.

Greg Mathieson did the arrangement.

Moroder recorded his own voice and looped it to make the choir behind Summer on the chorus.

It earned Summer her first Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance.

This site's weekly data shows three weeks at number one, from November 11 to November 25, 1978.

Anne Murray's "You Needed Me" was on top before it, and Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond's "You Don't Bring Me Flowers" came next.

So the chart week that contains November 19 was the second of three.

The song is number 12 on the 1979 year-end Hot 100, in this site's year-end data.

Read how it came together on the MacArthur Park by Donna Summer page, or hear more of the sound in disco music of the 70s.

1979: "Still" by Commodores

"Still" came out on Motown Records, with "Such a Woman" on the B-side.

It is on the Commodores' 1979 album Midnight Magic.

Cash Box called it a "tender, lilting ballad."

Wikipedia says it was their last number one in the United States.

John Schneider took a cover to number 69 on the pop chart in 1981.

This site's weekly data shows one week at number one, the chart week of November 17, 1979.

The Eagles' "Heartache Tonight" was on top before it, and Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer's "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)" came next.

More ballads and grooves from the decade are on the 70s soul music page.

November 19 in Music History by the Numbers: Four Farewells and Three New Arrivals

Ranking the ten songs of November 19 in music history by weeks at number one puts Debby Boone first and Rod Stewart second.

Each box is one week at number one and the gold box is the week that contains November 19.

Chart: Music of the 70s, from this site's weekly Billboard Hot 100 data.

Where November 19 Fell in Each Run

The weeks split three ways:

• 4 songs were in the last week of their run: "I'll Be There," "Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves," "Keep on Truckin'" and "Island Girl."
• 3 songs were in their first week at number one: "Whatever Gets You thru the Night," "Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)" and "Still."
• Two of those three lasted only that one week, while Rod Stewart stayed for eight.
• 3 were in the middle of a longer run: "I Can See Clearly Now," "You Light Up My Life" and "MacArthur Park."

Test Your Own Memory

Could you have named all ten November 19 in music history number ones, from The Jackson 5 in 1970 to the Commodores in 1979?

Other weeks have their own lists, including November 12 in music history, November 7 in music history, May 1 in music history, October 8 in music history, February 1 in music history, December 12 in music history, September 16 in music history, August 19 in music history, July 15 in music history, June 12 in music history, May 29 in music history, April 17 in music history, March 20 in music history, February 13 in music history and January 9 in music history.

For a quick game, the 70s Music Trivia Quiz deals ten new questions each round.

Every chart topper of the decade is on the 70s number one hits list.

More of the decade lives on the Music of the 70s home page.

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