List of Billboard Easy Listening number ones of 1973 explained

In 1973, Billboard magazine published a chart ranking the top-performing songs in the United States in the easy listening market. The chart, which in 1973 was entitled Easy Listening, has undergone various name changes and has been published under the title Adult Contemporary since 1996. In 1973, 26 songs topped the chart based on playlists submitted by easy listening radio stations and sales reports submitted by stores.

In the issue of Billboard dated January 6, 1973, the band Bread retained the number one position from the final chart of the previous year with "Sweet Surrender", but the song held the top spot for only one further week before being replaced by "Been to Canaan" by Carole King. Helen Reddy had the highest total number of weeks at number one in 1973, spending two weeks in the top spot with "Delta Dawn" and four with "Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)". The latter song tied with "All I Know" by Art Garfunkel for the year's longest unbroken run at number one. Reddy, the Carpenters, and Tony Orlando and Dawn were the only acts with more than one chart-topper during the year. Among acts to top the Easy Listening chart for the first time in 1973 was the English singer Elton John, who would achieve consistent success on the chart for more than 40 years. By 2016 he held the records for both the greatest number of entries and the largest amount of number ones on the chart, and five years earlier Billboard had named him the most successful act of the listing's first 50 years.[1]

The final number one of the year was "Time in a Bottle" by Jim Croce, which moved into the top spot in the issue of Billboard dated December 30. It was a posthumous chart-topper for the singer, who had died in an airplane crash three months earlier.[2] The song also topped Billboards pop singles chart, the Hot 100. In the early 1970s there was considerable crossover between the two charts, and seven of 1973's other Easy Listening number ones also reached the top spot on the Hot 100: "You're So Vain" by Carly Simon, "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" by Tony Orlando and Dawn, "My Love" by Paul McCartney and Wings, "Touch Me in the Morning" by Diana Ross, "Delta Dawn" by Reddy, "The Most Beautiful Girl" by Charlie Rich, and "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" by Stevie Wonder. Rich's song also reached number one on the Hot Country Songs chart.

Chart history

Issue date!scope=col
Titlescope=colArtist(s)scope=col class=unsortable
scope=row"Sweet Surrender"Bread[3]
scope=row"Been to Canaan"[4]
scope=row"You're So Vain"[5]
scope=row[6]
scope=row"Don't Expect Me to Be Your Friend"Lobo[7]
scope=row[8]
scope=row"Dueling Banjos" and Steve Mandell[9]
scope=row[10]
scope=row"Last Song" Edward Bear[11]
scope=row[12]
scope=row"Danny's Song"[13]
scope=row[14]
scope=row"Sing"[15]
scope=row"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree"[16]
scope=row"Sing"[17]
scope=row"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree"[18]
scope=row"You Are the Sunshine of My Life"[19]
scope=row[20]
scope=row"Daniel"[21]
scope=row[22]
scope=row"And I Love You So"[23]
scope=row"My Love"[24]
scope=row[25]
scope=row[26]
scope=row"Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy"[27]
scope=row[28]
scope=row"Yesterday Once More" [29]
scope=row[30]
scope=row[31]
scope=row"Touch Me in the Morning"[32]
scope=row"Delta Dawn"[33]
scope=row[34]
scope=row"Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose"[35]
scope=row[36]
scope=row[37]
scope=row"Loves Me Like a Rock"[38]
scope=row[39]
scope=row"My Maria"[40]
scope=row"I'm Coming Home"[41]
scope=row"All I Know"[42]
scope=row[43]
scope=row[44]
scope=row[45]
scope=row"Paper Roses"[46]
scope=row""[47]
scope=row[48]
scope=row[49]
scope=row"Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)"[50]
scope=row[51]
scope=row[52]
scope=row[53]
scope=row"Time in a Bottle"[54]

References

Works cited

. The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits. Joel Whitburn. Watson-Guptill. 1996. 978-0-82308-289-6.

. Joel Whitburn's Top Adult Contemporary, 1961 - 2001. Joel Whitburn. Record Research Incorporated. 2002. 978-0-89820-149-9.

. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 1955 - 2002. Joel Whitburn. Record Research Incorporated. 2005. 978-0-89820-155-0.

. Joel Whitburn Presents Billboard Top Adult Songs, 1961-2006. Record Research Incorporated. 2007. 978-0-89820-169-7. Joel Whitburn.

Notes and References

  1. Elton John Charts Record-Extending 72nd Adult Contemporary Hit. Billboard. Gary. Trust. June 13, 2016. March 16, 2019. June 26, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190626165533/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/7401402/elton-john-charts-record-extending-adult-contemporary-hit. live.
  2. Web site: Behind the Death of Jim Croce. Lorie. Liebig. American Songwriter. September 1, 2024. September 20, 2023. March 8, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240308142208/https://americansongwriter.com/behind-the-death-of-jim-croce/. live.
  3. Adult Contemporary chart for January 6, 1973. Billboard. March 5, 2019. March 6, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190306214945/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-01-06. live.
  4. Adult Contemporary chart for January 13, 1973. Billboard. March 11, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022042/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-01-13. live.
  5. Adult Contemporary chart for January 20, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022042/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-01-20. live.
  6. Adult Contemporary chart for January 27, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022041/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-01-27. live.
  7. Adult Contemporary chart for February 3, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022042/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-02-03. live.
  8. Adult Contemporary chart for February 10, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022039/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-02-10. live.
  9. Adult Contemporary chart for February 17, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022043/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-02-17. live.
  10. Adult Contemporary chart for February 24, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022041/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-02-24. live.
  11. Adult Contemporary chart for March 3, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022040/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-03-03. live.
  12. Adult Contemporary chart for March 10, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022041/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-03-10. live.
  13. Adult Contemporary chart for March 17, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022040/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-03-17. live.
  14. Adult Contemporary chart for March 24, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022041/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-03-24. live.
  15. Adult Contemporary chart for March 31, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022040/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-03-31. live.
  16. Adult Contemporary chart for April 7, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022043/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-04-07. live.
  17. Adult Contemporary chart for April 14, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022039/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-04-14. live.
  18. Adult Contemporary chart for April 21, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022039/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-04-21. live.
  19. Adult Contemporary chart for April 28, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022041/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-04-28. live.
  20. Adult Contemporary chart for May 5, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022041/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-05-05. live.
  21. Adult Contemporary chart for May 12, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022042/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-05-12. live.
  22. Adult Contemporary chart for May 19, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. December 24, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181224032313/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-05-19. live.
  23. Adult Contemporary chart for May 26, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022041/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-05-26. live.
  24. Adult Contemporary chart for June 2, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022041/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-06-02. live.
  25. Adult Contemporary chart for June 9, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022043/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-06-09. live.
  26. Adult Contemporary chart for June 16, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. August 18, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240818205622/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-06-16/. live.
  27. Adult Contemporary chart for June 23, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022045/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-06-23. live.
  28. Adult Contemporary chart for June 30, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022041/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-06-30. live.
  29. Adult Contemporary chart for July 7, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022041/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-07-07. live.
  30. Adult Contemporary chart for July 14, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022041/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-07-14. live.
  31. Adult Contemporary chart for July 21, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022043/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-07-21. live.
  32. Adult Contemporary chart for July 28, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022041/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-07-28. live.
  33. Adult Contemporary chart for August 4, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022039/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-08-04. live.
  34. Adult Contemporary chart for August 11, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022041/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-08-11. live.
  35. Adult Contemporary chart for August 18, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022041/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-08-18. live.
  36. Adult Contemporary chart for August 25, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022042/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-08-25. live.
  37. Adult Contemporary chart for September 1, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022039/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-09-01. live.
  38. Adult Contemporary chart for September 8, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022041/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-09-08. live.
  39. Adult Contemporary chart for September 15, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 27, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190927195412/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-09-15. live.
  40. Adult Contemporary chart for September 22, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022043/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-09-22. live.
  41. Adult Contemporary chart for September 29, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022043/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-09-29. live.
  42. Adult Contemporary chart for October 6, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022041/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-10-06. live.
  43. Adult Contemporary chart for October 13, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 27, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190927195422/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-10-13. live.
  44. Adult Contemporary chart for October 20, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 27, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190927195412/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-10-20. live.
  45. Adult Contemporary chart for October 27, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022041/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-10-27. live.
  46. Adult Contemporary chart for November 3, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022043/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-11-03. live.
  47. Adult Contemporary chart for November 10, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. November 26, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20181126013615/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-11-10. live.
  48. Adult Contemporary chart for November 17, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022042/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-11-17. live.
  49. Adult Contemporary chart for November 24, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022042/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-11-24. live.
  50. Adult Contemporary chart for December 1, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022104/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-12-01. live.
  51. Adult Contemporary chart for December 8, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022039/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-12-08. live.
  52. Adult Contemporary chart for December 15, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. August 18, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240818205613/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-12-15/. live.
  53. Adult Contemporary chart for December 22, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022041/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-12-22. live.
  54. Adult Contemporary chart for December 29, 1973. Billboard. March 13, 2019. September 24, 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190924022040/https://www.billboard.com/charts/adult-contemporary/1973-12-29. live.