#1 AC History

[Caseyfan4everRyanfanNever]

AC Charts tend to include songs that stay around longer than HAC (whose songs tend to stay around longer than CHR/Pop/Top 40). Most of the rotation for our main AC station in Memphis (WRVR 104) comes from playing different oldies from the 1970s, 1980s, (and to a lesser extent the 1990s) while current songs stay on the playlist there for 1/2 a year or longer. I don't know the exact reason for songs staying on AC charts longer but I assume it must be because the listeners and/or program directors either want to hear their favorites more or because there are simply not enough AC hits out at a given time for more rotation.

[mrjukebox]

Good point,caseyfan-Our local AC station here in Connecticut,WEBE 108,plays a wide variety of music from the 60's through today-WEBE 108 is the top rated station in both Fairfield & New Haven County.

[jdelachjr2002]

1971:

1/2: "One Less Bell To Answer" - 5th Dimension
1/9: "Watching Scotty Grow" - Bobby Goldsboro
1/16: "Watching Scotty Grow" - Bobby Goldsboro
1/23: "Watching Scotty Grow" - Bobby Goldsboro
1/30: "Watching Scotty Grow" - Bobby Goldsboro
2/6: "Watching Scotty Grow" - Bobby Goldsboro
2/13: "Watching Scotty Grow" - Bobby Goldsboro
2/20: "If You Could Read My Mind" - Gordon Lightfoot
2/27: "For All We Know" - The Carpenters
3/6: "For All We Know" - The Carpenters
3/13: "For All We Know" - The Carpenters
3/20: "Where Do I Begin (Love Story)" - Andy Williams
3/27: "Where Do I Begin (Love Story)" - Andy Williams
4/3: "When There's No You" - Engelbert Humperdinck
4/10: "Where Do I Begin (Love Story)" - Andy Williams
4/17: "Where Do I Begin (Love Story)" - Andy Williams
4/24: "If" - Bread
5/1: "If" - Bread
5/8: "If" - Bread
5/15: "Me And You And A Dog Named Boo" - Lobo
5/22: "Me And You And A Dog Named Boo" - Lobo
5/29: "Rainy Days And Mondays" - The Carpenters
6/5: "Rainy Days And Mondays" - The Carpenters
6/12: "Rainy Days And Mondays" - The Carpenters
6/19: "Rainy Days And Mondays" - The Carpenters
6/26: "It's Too Late" - Carole King
7/3: "It's Too Late" - Carole King
7/10: "It's Too Late" - Carole King
7/17: "It's Too Late" - Carole King
7/24: "It's Too Late" - Carole King
7/31: "You've Got A Friend" - James Taylor
8/7: "If Not For You" - Olivia Newton-John
8/14: "If Not For You" - Olivia Newton-John
8/21: "If Not For You" - Olivia Newton-John
8/28: "Beginnings" - Chicago
9/4: "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" - Joan Baez
9/11: "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" - Joan Baez
9/18: "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" - Joan Baez
9/25: "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" - Joan Baez
10/2: "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" - Joan Baez
10/9: "Superstar" - The Carpenters
10/16: "Superstar" - The Carpenters
10/23: "Never My Love" - 5th Dimension
10/30: "Peace Train" - Cat Stevens
11/6: "Peace Train" - Cat Stevens
11/13: "Peace Train" - Cat Stevens
11/20: "Baby I'm-A Want You" - Bread
11/27: "All I Ever Need Is You" - Sonny & Cher
12/4: "All I Ever Need Is You" - Sonny & Cher
12/11: "All I Ever Need Is You" - Sonny & Cher
12/18: "All I Ever Need Is You" - Sonny & Cher
12/25: "All I Ever Need Is You" - Sonny & Cher

[jdelachjr2002]

1972

1/1: "An Old Fashioned Love Song" - Three Dog Night
1/8: "Cherish" - David Cassidy
1/15: "American Pie" - Don McLean
1/22: "American Pie" - Don McLean
1/29: "American Pie" - Don McLean
2/5: "Hurting Each Other" - The Carpenters
2/12: "Hurting Each Other" - The Carpenters
2/19: "Without You" - Nilsson
2/26: "Without You" - Nilsson
3/4: "Without You" - Nilsson
3/11: "Without You" - Nilsson
3/18: "Without You" - Nilsson
3/25: "Rock n Roll Lullaby" - B.J. Thomas
4/1: "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" - Roberta Flack
4/8: "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" - Roberta Flack
4/15: "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" - Roberta Flack
4/22: "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" - Roberta Flack
4/29: "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" - Roberta Flack
5/6: "The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" - Roberta Flack
5/13: "Morning Has Broken" - Cat Stevens
5/20: "The Candy Man" - Sammy Davis, Jr.
5/27: "The Candy Man" - Sammy Davis, Jr.
6/3: "Song Sung Blue" - Neil Diamond
6/10: "Song Sung Blue" - Neil Diamond
6/17: "Song Sung Blue" - Neil Diamond
6/24: "Song Sung Blue" - Neil Diamond
7/1: "Song Sung Blue" - Neil Diamond
7/8: "Song Sung Blue" - Neil Diamond
7/15: "Song Sung Blue" - Neil Diamond
7/22: "Where Is The Love" - Roberta Flack & Donny Hathaway
7/29: "Alone Again (Naturally)" - Gilbert O'Sullivan
8/5: "Alone Again (Naturally)" - Gilbert O'Sullivan
8/12: "Alone Again (Naturally)" - Gilbert O'Sullivan
8/19: "Alone Again (Naturally)" - Gilbert O'Sullivan
8/26: "Alone Again (Naturally)" - Gilbert O'Sullivan
9/2: "Alone Again (Naturally)" - Gilbert O'Sullivan
9/9: "The Guitar Man" - Bread
9/16: "Baby, Don't Get Hooked On Me" - Mac Davis
9/23: "Baby, Don't Get Hooked On Me" - Mac Davis
9/30: "Baby, Don't Get Hooked On Me" - Mac Davis
10/7: "Black And White" - Three Dog Night
10/14: "Garden Party" - Rick Nelson
10/21: "Garden Party" - Rick Nelson
10/28: "If I Could Reach You" - 5th Dimension
11/4: "I Can See Clearly Now" - Johnny Nash
11/11: "I Can See Clearly Now" - Johnny Nash
11/18: "I Can See Clearly Now" - Johnny Nash
11/25: "I Can See Clearly Now" - Johnny Nash
12/2: "I'd Love You To Want Me" - Lobo
12/9: "Clair" - Gilbert O'Sullivan
12/16: "Clair" - Gilbert O'Sullivan
12/23: "Clair" - Gilbert O'Sullivan
12/30: "Sweet Surrender" - Bread

[jdelachjr2002]

1973:

1/6: "Sweet Surrender" - Bread
1/13: "Been To Canaan" - Carole King
1/20: "You're So Vain" - Carly Simon
1/27: "You're So Vain" - Carly Simon
2/3: "Don't Expect Me To Be Your Friend" - Lobo
2/10: "Don't Expect Me To Be Your Friend" - Lobo
2/17: "Dueling Banjos" - Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell
2/24: "Dueling Banjos" - Eric Weissberg & Steve Mandell
3/3: "Last Song" - Edward Bear
3/10: "Last Song" - Edward Bear
3/17: "Danny's Song" - Anne Murray
3/24: "Danny's Song" - Anne Murray
3/31: "Sing" - The Carpenters
4/7: "Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round The Old Oak Tree" - Dawn
4/14: "Sing" - The Carpenters
4/21: "Tie A Yellow Ribbon 'Round The Old Oak Tree" - Dawn
4/28: "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" - Stevie Wonder
5/5: "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life" - Stevie Wonder
5/12: "Daniel" - Elton John
5/19: "Daniel" - Elton John
5/26: "And I Love You So" - Perry Como
6/2: "My Love" - Paul McCartney & Wings
6/9: "My Love" - Paul McCartney & Wings
6/16: "My Love" - Paul McCartney & Wings
6/23: "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" - Bette Midler
6/30: "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" - Bette Midler
7/7: "Yesterday Once More" - The Carpenters
7/14: "Yesterday Once More" - The Carpenters
7/21: "Yesterday Once More" - The Carpenters
7/28: "Touch Me In The Morning" - Diana Ross
8/4: "Delta Dawn" - Helen Reddy
8/11: "Delta Dawn" - Helen Reddy
8/18: "Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose" - Dawn
8/25: "Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose" - Dawn
9/1: "Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose" - Dawn
9/8: "Loves Me Like A Rock" - Paul Simon
9/15: "Loves Me Like A Rock" - Paul Simon
9/22: "My Maria" - B.W. Stevenson
9/29: "I'm Coming Home" - Johnny Mathis
10/6: "All We Know" - Garfunkel
10/13: "All We Know" - Garfunkel
10/20: "All We Know" - Garfunkel
10/27: "All We Know" - Garfunkel
11/3: "Paper Roses" - Marie Osmond
11/10: "The Most Beautiful Girl" - Charlie Rich
11/17: "The Most Beautiful Girl" - Charlie Rich
11/24: "The Most Beautiful Girl" - Charlie Rich
12/1: "Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)" - Helen Reddy
12/8: "Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)" - Helen Reddy
12/15: "Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)" - Helen Reddy
12/22: "Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)" - Helen Reddy
12/29: "Time In A Bottle" - Jim Croce

[jdelachjr2002]

1974:

1/5: "Time In A Bottle" - Jim Croce
1/12: "The Way We Were" - Barbra Streisand
1/19: "The Way We Were" - Barbra Streisand
1/26: "Love's Theme" - Love Unlimited Orchestra
2/2: "Love's Theme" - Love Unlimited Orchestra
2/9: "Love Song" - Anne Murray
2/16: "Last Time I Saw Him" - Diana Ross
2/23: "Last Time I Saw Him" - Diana Ross
3/2: "Last Time I Saw Him" - Diana Ross
3/9: "Seasons In The Sun" - Terry Jacks
3/16: "Sunshine On My Shoulders" - John Denver
3/23: "Sunshine On My Shoulders" - John Denver
3/30: "A Very Special Love Song" - Charlie Rich
4/6: "A Very Special Love Song" - Charlie Rich
4/13: "Keep On Singing" - Helen Reddy
4/20: "Keep On Singing" - Helen Reddy
4/27: "I'll Have To Say I Love You In A Song" - Jim Croce
5/4: "TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia)" - MFSB & The Three Degrees
5/11: "TSOP (The Sound Of Philadelphia)" - MFSB & The Three Degrees
5/18: "The Entertainer" - Marvin Hamlisch
5/25: "Help Me" - Joni Mitchell
6/1: "I Won't Last A Day Without You" - The Carpenters
6/8: "Sundown" - Gordon Lightfoot
6/15: "Sundown" - Gordon Lightfoot
6/22: "You Won't See Me" - Anne Murray
6/29: "You Won't See Me" - Anne Murray
7/6: "Annie's Song" - John Denver
7/13: "Annie's Song" - John Denver
7/20: "Annie's Song" - John Denver
7/27: "You And Me Against The World" - Helen Reddy
8/3: "Please Come To Boston" - Dave Loggins
8/10: "Feel Like Makin' Love" - Roberta Flack
8/17: "Feel Like Makin' Love" - Roberta Flack
8/24: "Call On Me" - Chicago
8/31: "I'm Leaving It Up To You" - Donny & Marie Osmond
9/7: "I Love My Friend" - Charlie Rich
9/14: "I Honestly Love You" - Olivia Newton-John
9/21: "I Honestly Love You" - Olivia Newton-John
9/28: "I Honestly Love You" - Olivia Newton-John
10/5: "Tin Man" - America
10/12: "Stop And Smell The Roses" - Mac Davis
10/19: "Carefree Highway" - Gordon Lightfoot
10/26: "Back Home Again" - John Denver
11/2: "Back Home Again" - John Denver
11/9: "My Melody Of Love" - Bobby Vinton
11/16: "Longfellow Serenade" - Neil Diamond
11/23: "Laughter In The Rain" - Neil Sedaka
11/30: "Laughter In The Rain" - Neil Sedaka
12/7: "Angie Baby" - Helen Reddy
12/14: "When Will I See You Again" - Three Degrees
12/21: "Wishing You Were Here" - Chicago
12/28: "Mandy" - Barry Manilow

[jdelachjr2002]

1975:

1/4: "Mandy" - Barry Manilow
1/11: "Only You" - Ringo Starr
1/18: "Please Mr. Postman" - The Carpenters
1/25: "Morning Side Of The Mountain" - Donny & Marie Osmond
2/1: "Best Of My Love" - Eagles
2/8: "Sweet Surrender" - John Denver
2/15: "Lonely People" - America
2/22: "Nightingale" - Carole King
3/1: "Poetry Man" - Phoebe Snow
3/8: "Have You Never Been Mellow" - Olivia Newton-John
3/15: "I've Been This Way Before" - Neil Diamond
3/22: "(Hey, Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" - B.J. Thomas
3/29: "Emotion" - Helen Reddy
4/5: "My Boy" - Elvis Presley
4/12: "The Last Farewell" - Roger Whittaker
4/19: "He Don't Love You (Like I Love You)"- Tony Orlando & Dawn
4/26: "It's A Miracle" - Barry Manilow
5/3: "Only Yesterday" - The Carpenters
5/10: "The Immigrant" - Neil Sedaka
5/17: "Rainy Day People" - Gordon Lightfoot
5/24: "99 Miles From L.A." - Albert Hammond
5/31: "Wonderful Baby" - Don McLean
6/7: "Love Will Keep Us Together" - Captain & Tennille
6/14: "Wildfire" - Michael Murphey
6/21: "Midnight Blue" - Melissa Manchester
6/28: "Midnight Blue" - Melissa Manchester
7/5: "Every Time You Touch Me (I Get High)" - Charlie Rich
7/12: "Please Mr. Please" - Olivia Newton-John
7/19: "Please Mr. Please" - Olivia Newton-John
7/26: "Please Mr. Please" - Olivia Newton-John
8/2: "Rhinestone Cowboy" - Glen Campbell
8/9: "At Seventeen" - Janis Ian
8/16: "At Seventeen" - Janis Ian
8/23: "How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)" - James Taylor
8/30: "Fallin' In Love" - Hamilton, Joe Frank & Reynolds
9/6: "Solitaire" - The Carpenters
9/13: "The Proud One" - The Osmonds
9/20: "I'm Sorry" - John Denver
9/27: "I'm Sorry" - John Denver
10/4: "Ain't No Way To Treat A Lady" - Helen Reddy
10/11: "I Only Have Eyes For You" - Art Garfunkel
10/18: "Something Better To Do" - Olivia Newton-John
10/25: "Something Better To Do" - Olivia Newton-John
11/1: "Something Better To Do" - Olivia Newton-John
11/8: "The Way I Want To Touch You" - Captain & Tennille
11/15: "The Way I Want To Touch You" - Captain & Tennille
11/22: "My Little Town" - Simon & Garfunkel
11/29: "My Little Town" - Simon & Garfunkel
12/6: "Theme From Mahogany (Do You Know Where You're Going To)" - Diana Ross
12/13: "I Write The Songs" - Barry Manilow
12/20: "I Write The Songs" - Barry Manilow
12/27: "Country Boy (You've Got Your Feet In L.A.)" - Glen Campbell

The AC chart had a different song at #1 for 24 straight weeks which was more than the pop chart from this year which had a different #1 song for 13 straight weeks.

[dukelightning]

What you just pointed out along with the 41 total #1s on that chart make 1975 the year of high turnover at #1 when you consider that there were a record tying 35 #1s on the pop chart too.

[dukelightning]

To complete the story on 1975, there were 46 #1 songs on the country chart and 43 #1 songs on the soul chart. So 1975 takes the cake in the highest turnover at #1 category hands down.

[jgve1952]

Thanks so much for this jd: This is just awesome what you contribute to this site! I couldn't help but notice the disparity in chart peak positions for songs that reached #1 on AC chart vs. Billboard Hot 100. One extreme difference is 99 Miles to L.A. 91 only on Hot 100 and of course #1 on AC chart. I knew the Carpeners were "Easy Listening" but wow they sure racked up the hits, especially in 1971. I was also surprised speaking of the Carpenters that Top of the World was #1 on Hot 100 for two weeks but not #1 on AC chart. Thanks again for this entertaining post--really having fun with it and you picked the best years of the chart to post! Interesting also to note how quickly Theme from Mahagony went to #1 on AC chart (December 6, 1975 vs. January 24, 1976 on Hot 100).

[jgve1952]

jd: Two more comments from the "peanut gallery" ;D. I can't believe that Leave Me Alone by Helen Reddy had more weeks at #1 in 1973 than any other song of that same year. Also of the five years you selected I would never have guessed that Song Sung Blue would have had the longest run at #1 (seven weeks).
Thank you again for this listing ;D

[mstgator]

Mar 31, 2011 10:21:04 GMT -5 Caseyfan4everRyanfanNever said:

AC Charts tend to include songs that stay around longer than HAC (whose songs tend to stay around longer than CHR/Pop/Top 40). Most of the rotation for our main AC station in Memphis (WRVR 104) comes from playing different oldies from the 1970s, 1980s, (and to a lesser extent the 1990s) while current songs stay on the playlist there for 1/2 a year or longer. I don't know the exact reason for songs staying on AC charts longer but I assume it must be because the listeners and/or program directors either want to hear their favorites more or because there are simply not enough AC hits out at a given time for more rotation.

As you mentioned, most AC stations give a large part of their playlists to recurrents and golds, so the currents aren't played as often (two to four times a day versus ten to twelve times a day on CHR). As a result AC can keep a song around for a longer span of time before it burns out on its listeners.

[jdelachjr2002]

Before I post any more years, I want to ask if anybody that has listened or kept track of at least the Top 10 portion of Casey Kasem's AC shows (1992-2009) if Train's "Hey, Soul Sister" had the record for most weeks in the Top 10 on the AC chart (since I've been recapping AT10 and AT20 after those shows ended, the Train song definitely had the longest run I've seen).

[jdelachjr2002]

1976:

1/3: "Times of Your Life" - Paul Anka
1/10: "Fly Away" - John Denver
1/17: "Let It Shine" - Olivia Newton-John
1/24: "Let It Shine" - Olivia Newton-John
1/31: "Fly Away" - John Denver
2/7: "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" - Neil Sedaka
2/14: "Paloma Blanca" - George Baker Selection
2/21: "Break Away" - Art Garfunkel
2/28: "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" - Paul Simon
3/6: "50 Ways To Leave Your Lover" - Paul Simon
3/13: "Lonely Night (Angel Face)" - Captain & Tennille
3/20: "Venus" - Frankie Avalon
3/27: "Only Love Is Real" - Carole King
4/3: "There's A Kind Of Hush" - The Carpenters
4/10: "There's A Kind Of Hush" - The Carpenters
4/17: "Looking For Space" - John Denver
4/24: "Come On Over" - Olivia Newton-John
5/1: "Tryin' To Get The Feeling Again" - Barry Manilow
5/8: "Don't Pull Your Love/Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye" - Glen Campbell
5/15: "Welcome Back" - John Sebastian
5/22: "Welcome Back" - John Sebastian
5/29: "Silly Love Songs" - Paul McCartney & Wings
6/5: "Shop Around" - Captain & Tennille
6/12: "Save Your Kisses For Me" - Brotherhood Of Man
6/19: "Never Gonna Fall In Love Again" - Eric Carmen
6/26: "Today's The Day" - America
7/3: "Today's The Day" - America
7/10: "I Need To Be In Love" - The Carpenters
7/17: "If You Know What I Mean" - Neil Diamond
7/24: "I'm Easy" - Keith Carradine
7/31: "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" - Lou Rawls
8/7: "Let 'Em In" - Paul McCartney & Wings
8/14: "If You Know What I Mean" - Neil Diamond
8/21: "I'd Really Love To See You Tonight" - England Dan & John Ford Coley
8/28: "Shower The People" - James Taylor
9/4: "Summer" - War
9/11: "Don't Go Breakin' My Heart" - Elton John & Kiki Dee
9/18: "Don't Stop Believin'" - Olivia Newton-John
9/25: "If You Leave Me Now" - Chicago
10/2: "I Can't Hear You No More" - Helen Reddy
10/9: "Like A Sad Song" - John Denver
10/16: "Fernando" - ABBA
10/23: "Fernando" - ABBA
10/30: "Muskrat Love" - Captain & Tennille
11/6: "Muskrat Love" - Captain & Tennille
11/13: "This One's For You" - Barry Manilow
11/20: "Muskrat Love" - Captain & Tennille
11/27: "Muskrat Love" - Captain & Tennille
12/4: "After The Lovin'" - Engelbert Humperdinck
12/11: "After The Lovin'" - Engelbert Humperdinck
12/18: "Sorry Seems To Be The Hardest Word" - Elton John
12/25: "Torn Between Two Lovers" - Mary MacGregor

[jgve1952]

Wow John Denver really racked up on the AC chart--really did p**s poor on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1976. Thanks again jd--I spend way too much time on this but that's my problem--so enjoyable!!!