Elton John can do no wrong at his pinnacle of fame and success, but other established acts and their fans are moving in bold new directions. Soppy ballads flood the charts but Disco dancing starts to emerge as America’s preferred escape from ecomonic, political and social woes as unemployment hits 9%, domestic terrorism spikes, New York City collapses and ’70s “malaise” deepens.

#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. Elton John
2. John Denver
3. Freddy Fender

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

• 4-WAY TIE: John Denver/Linda Ronstadt/Tony Orlando & Dawn/Gloria Gaynor (5)

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

• 30.8 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. Elton John – Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds (January, 2 wks)
2. Barry Manilow – Mandy (January, 1 wk)
3. Carpenters – Please Mr. Postman (January, 1 wk)
4. Neil Sedaka – Laughter in the Rain (February, 1 wk)
5. Ohio Players – Fire (February, 1 wk)
6. Linda Ronstadt – You’re No Good (February, 1 wk)
7. AWB – Pick Up the Pieces (February, 1 wk)
8. Eagles – Best of My Love (March, 1 wk)
9. Olivia Newton-John – Have You Never Been Mellow (March, 1 wk)
10. The Doobie Brothers – Black Water (March, 1 wk)
11. Frankie Valli – My Eyes Adored You (March, 1 wk)
12. LaBelle – Lady Marmalade (Voulez-Vous Coucher Avec Moi) (March, 1 wk)
13. Minnie Riperton – Lovin’ You (April, 1 wk)
14. Elton John Band – Philadelphia Freedom (April, 2 wks)
15. B.J. Thomas – (Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song (April, 1 wk)
16. Tony Orlando & Dawn – He Don’t Love You (Like I Love You) (May, 3 wks)
17. Earth, Wind and Fire – Shining Star (May, 1 wk)
18. Freddy Fender – Before the Next Teardrop Falls (May, 1 wk)
19. John Denver – Thank God I’m a Country Boy (June, 1 wk)
20. America – Sister Golden Hair (June, 1 wk)
21. Captain & Tennille – Love Will Keep Us Together (June, 4 wks)
22. Wings – Listen to What the Man Said (July, 1 wk)
23. Van McCoy & The Soul City Symphony – The Hustle (July, 1 wk)
24. Eagles – One of These Nights (August, 1 wk)
25. Bee Gees – Jive Talkin’ (August, 2 wks)
26. Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds – Fallin’ in Love (August, 1 wk)
27. KC & The Sunshine Band – Get Down Tonight (August, 1 wk)
28. Glen Campbell – Rhinestone Cowboy (September, 2 wks)
29. David Bowie – Fame (September, 2 wks)
30. John Denver – I’m Sorry (September, 1 wk)
31. Neil Sedaka – Bad Blood (October, 3 wks)
32. Elton John – Island Girl (November, 3 wks)
33. KC & The Sunshine Band – That’s the Way (I Like It) (November, 2 wks)
34. Silver Convention – Fly, Robin, Fly (November, 3 wks)
35. The Staple Singers – Let’s Do It Again (December, 1 wk)
36. Bay City Rollers – Saturday Night (January ’76, 1 wk)