One of the most depressing years in American history kicks off with a pair of somber hymns topping the charts, the second of which is a Beatles song that hits #1 the day after Paul McCartney leaves the band. The Jackson 5’s first four singles hit #1, The Carpenters debut, protest songs chart big after Kent State, and a new made-for-TV sitcom act comes complete with a #1 debut and the era’s top Teen heartthrob.

#1 Song of the Year   The top song according to our Chartcrush ranking of all Hot100 songs that earned the majority of their chart ranking points in the year

Artists of the Year   The top three artists based on all charted songs during the calendar year

1. Neil Diamond
2. The Jackson 5
3. The Guess Who

Artist with Most Charting Songs   Artist(s) with the most Hot100 charting songs during the year (song count in parentheses)

• TIE: Neil Diamond/James Brown (7)

Average #1 Artist Age   The average of how old artists who scored #1 Hot100 hits during the year were when their songs first reached #1

• 24.3 years

#1 Songs   List of Hot100 #1 songs that earned the majority of their chart ranking points in the year, and (in parentheses), the month the song first hit #1 and the total number of weeks it was #1

1. Diana Ross & The Supremes – Someday We’ll Be Together (December ’69, 1 wk)
2. B.J. Thomas – Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head (January, 4 wks)
3. The Jackson 5 – I Want You Back (January, 1 wk)
4. The Shocking Blue – Venus (February, 1 wk)
5. Sly & the Family Stone – Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin) (February, 2 wks)
6. Simon & Garfunkel – Bridge Over Troubled Water (February, 6 wks)
7. The Beatles – Let It Be (April, 2 wks)
8. The Jackson 5 – ABC (April, 2 wks)
9. The Guess Who – American Woman (May, 3 wks)
10. Ray Stevens – Everything Is Beautiful (May, 2 wks)
11. The Beatles – The Long and Winding Road (June, 2 wks)
12. The Jackson 5 – The Love You Save (June, 2 wks)
13. Three Dog Night – Mama Told Me (Not to Come) (July, 2 wks)
14. Carpenters – (They Long to Be) Close to You (July, 4 wks)
15. Bread – Make It with You (August, 1 wk)
16. Edwin Starr – War (August, 3 wks)
17. Diana Ross – Ain’t No Mountain High Enough (September, 3 wks)
18. Neil Diamond – Cracklin’ Rosie (October, 1 wk)
19. The Jackson 5 – I’ll Be There (October, 5 wks)
20. The Partridge Family – I Think I Love You (November, 3 wks)
21. Smokey Robinson & The Miracles – The Tears of a Clown (December, 2 wks)