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List of Billboard Adult Contemporary number ones of 1979

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Three men playing guitars and one playing drums, performing together on a stage
The band Poco, pictured performing in 2007, topped the chart with "Crazy Love" in 1979.

In 1979, Billboard magazine published a chart ranking the top-performing songs in the United States in the easy listening or adult contemporary music (AC) market. The chart was entitled Easy Listening through the issue dated March 31 and Adult Contemporary thereafter. It has undergone further name changes but has again been published under the title Adult Contemporary since 1996.[1] In 1979, 19 songs topped the chart based on playlists submitted by radio stations.[1]

On the first chart of the year, the Scottish singer Al Stewart held the top spot with "Time Passages", which was in its ninth week at number one.[2] The song would end its run at the top after ten weeks, the longest unbroken spell at number one on the chart for more than ten years.[3] Stewart had been a recording artist since the mid-1960s and would remain active for more than forty years,[4] but his U.S. chart success was confined to a four-year period at the end of the 1970s.[5][6] The Canadian singer Anne Murray was the only act with more than one Easy Listening/AC number one in 1979. One of Canada's biggest musical exports of the 1970s, Murray topped the U.S. country and Easy Listening/AC charts, as well as Billboard's pop listing, the Hot 100, during the decade.[7][8][9] In 1979 she topped the Easy Listening/AC chart with "I Just Fall in Love Again" in February and March, "Shadows in the Moonlight" in June, and "Broken Hearted Me" in October and November, and spent a total of 13 weeks in the top spot.

The country rock band Poco had the longest unbroken run at number one during the year, spending seven consecutive weeks in the top spot with "Crazy Love". The song was eventually knocked from the top of the chart in the issue of Billboard dated April 28 by "I Never Said I Love You" by Orsa Lia. One of the most obscure acts to top the chart, Lia never placed any other songs on either the AC or pop charts,[10][11] and there is no record of her having released another album after her self-titled 1979 debut.[12] Other acts who gained their only AC number ones in 1979 included the British singer Maxine Nightingale, who had three separate runs in the top spot with "Lead Me On",[13] and JD Souther, who had a five-week run at number one with "You're Only Lonely".[14] Souther experienced a brief period of chart success in his own right,[14] but was much better known as a songwriter for other artists, most notably the Eagles.[15] Only one AC number one of 1979 also topped the Hot 100:[16] the trumpeter Herb Alpert reached the top spot on both charts with his instrumental "Rise".[17] The final AC number one of the year was "Send One Your Love" by Stevie Wonder.

Chart history

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A blonde woman wearing an orange blouse and a black vest, smiling broadly
Canadian singer Anne Murray was the only act with more than one number one in 1979.
A dark-haired woman wearing a short dress, standing on a terrace overlooking the sea
British vocalist Maxine Nightingale had three separate spells at number one with "Lead Me On".
An older man wearing a black shirt, holding a guitar
"You're Only Lonely" was the only chart-topper for JD Souther.
Chart history
Issue date Title Artist(s) Ref.
January 6 "Time Passages" Al Stewart [2]
January 13 [18]
January 20 "This Moment in Time" Engelbert Humperdinck [19]
January 27 [20]
February 3 "Lotta Love" Nicolette Larson [21]
February 10 "I Just Fall in Love Again" Anne Murray [22]
February 17 [23]
February 24 [24]
March 3 [25]
March 10 "Crazy Love" Poco [26]
March 17 [27]
March 24 [28]
March 31 [29]
April 7 [30]
April 14 [31]
April 21 [32]
April 28 "I Never Said I Love You" Orsa Lia [33]
May 5 "Love Is the Answer" England Dan & John Ford Coley [34]
May 12 [35]
May 19 "Just When I Needed You Most" Randy VanWarmer [36]
May 26 "She Believes in Me" Kenny Rogers [37]
June 2 "Just When I Needed You Most" Randy VanWarmer [38]
June 9 "She Believes in Me" Kenny Rogers [39]
June 16 "Shadows in the Moonlight" Anne Murray [40]
June 23 [41]
June 30 [42]
July 7 "Lead Me On" Maxine Nightingale [43]
July 14 [44]
July 21 [45]
July 28 "Morning Dance" Spyro Gyra [46]
August 4 "Lead Me On" Maxine Nightingale [47]
August 11 [48]
August 18 [49]
August 25 "Mama Can't Buy You Love" Elton John [50]
September 1 "Lead Me On" Maxine Nightingale [51]
September 8 "Different Worlds" Maureen McGovern [52]
September 15 [53]
September 22 "Rise" Herb Alpert [54]
September 29 "Where Were You When I Was Falling in Love" Lobo [55]
October 6 [56]
October 13 "Broken Hearted Me" Anne Murray [57]
October 20 [58]
October 27 [59]
November 3 [60]
November 10 [61]
November 17 "You're Only Lonely" JD Souther [62]
November 24 [63]
December 1 [64]
December 8 [65]
December 15 [66]
December 22 "Send One Your Love" Stevie Wonder [67]
December 29 [68]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Whitburn 2007, p. vi.
  2. ^ a b "Adult Contemporary chart for January 6, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
  3. ^ Whitburn 2002, pp. 342–345.
  4. ^ Ruggiero, Bob (February 16, 2023). "Al Stewart: Of Zodiac Cats, Succulent Grapes and the Genius of Chuck Berry". Houston Press. Retrieved October 13, 2024.
  5. ^ Whitburn 2002, p. 232.
  6. ^ Whitburn 2005, p. 678.
  7. ^ Whitburn 1996, p. 220.
  8. ^ Whitburn 2002, p. 176.
  9. ^ Whitburn 2005, p. 493.
  10. ^ Whitburn 2002, p. 146.
  11. ^ Whitburn 2005, p. 411.
  12. ^ "Orsa Lia Album Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  13. ^ Whitburn 2002, p. 182.
  14. ^ a b Whitburn 2002, p. 227.
  15. ^ Sweeting, Adam (September 26, 2024). "JD Souther obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  16. ^ Whitburn 2005, p. 993.
  17. ^ Nawrocki, Tom (April 10, 2015). "Rewind The Biggest Instrumental Hits of the Past 50 Years". Medium. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  18. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 13, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
  19. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 20, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
  20. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 27, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
  21. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 3, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  22. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 10, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  23. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 17, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  24. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 24, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  25. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 3, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  26. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 10, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  27. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 17, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  28. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 24, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  29. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 31, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  30. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 7, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  31. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 14, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  32. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 21, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  33. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 28, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  34. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 5, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  35. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 12, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  36. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 19, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  37. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 26, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  38. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 2, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  39. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 9, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  40. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 16, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  41. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 23, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  42. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 30, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2019.
  43. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 7, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  44. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 14, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  45. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 21, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  46. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 28, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  47. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 4, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  48. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 11, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  49. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 18, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  50. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 25, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  51. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 1, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  52. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 8, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  53. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 15, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  54. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 22, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  55. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 29, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  56. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 6, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  57. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 13, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  58. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 20, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  59. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 27, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  60. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 3, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  61. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 10, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  62. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 17, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  63. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 24, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 7, 2019.
  64. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 1, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
  65. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 8, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
  66. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 15, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
  67. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 22, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
  68. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 29, 1979". Billboard. Retrieved June 5, 2019.

Works cited

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