Airplay #1s (1970-73)

[rayshae3]

Gavin Report, named after its founder Bill Gavin, was a standard radio industry publication that predates Radio and Records by fifteen years. Its first issue came out in 1958. Actually, its origins date back to ’57 as an informal exchange between his research and some key programmers. But then-first subscriber-based issue came out on May 20, 1958 (a Tuesday date) The #1 on that issue was PURPLE PEOPLE EATER by Sheb Wooley. For the first couple of months, its frequency was actually sometimes more than once-a week; then officially became a weekly in July of that year. The publication’s cover date stablised on 10/17/58 for the last time when it moved to a Friday date (like R&R). The Friday cover-date continued until its very last issue in 2002.
For reference here are #1s on its CHR/Top 40 chart prior to the R&R’s first issue on 9/28/73; but post American Top 40 in 1970.

(First date at #1) TITLE-Artist (number of weeks at #1)

(June 26, 1970) CLOSE TO YOU-Carpenters (4wks)
(July 24, 1970) MAKE IT WITH YOU-Bread (2wks)
(August 7, 1970) IN THE SUMMERTIME-Mungo Jerry (2wks)
(August 21, 1970) PATCHES-Clarence Carter (1wk)
(August 28, 1970) AIN’T NO MOUNTAIN HIGH ENOUGH-D. Ross (2wks)
(September 11, 1970) JULIE DO YA LOVE ME-Bobby Sherman (1wk)
(September 18, 1970) CRACKLIN’ ROSE-Neil Diamond (1wk)
(September 25, 1970) GREEN EYED LADY-Sugarloaf (1wk)
(October 2, 1970) I’LL BE THERE-Jackson Five (2wks)
(October 16, 1970) WE’VE ONLY JUST BEGUN-Carpenters (2wks)
(October 30, 1970) I THINK I LOVE YOU-Partridge Family (2wks)
(November 13, 1970) GYPSY WOMAN-Brian Hyland (1wk)
(November 20, 1970) TEARS OF A CLOWN-Smokey Robinson (1wk)
(November 27, 1970) ONE LESS BELL TO ANSWER-5th Dimension (1wk)
(December 4, 1970) MY SWEET LORD-George Harrison (2wks)
(December 18, 1970) KNOCK THREE TIMES-Dawn (1wk+2wks in Jan. ‘71)
*note: no issues published for 12/25/70 or 1/1/71

(January 22, 1971) ONE BAD APPLE-Osmond (3wks)
(February 12, 1971) SWEET MARY-Wadsword Mansion (1wk)
(February 19, 1971) LOVE STORY-Henry Mancini (2wks)
(March 5, 1971) SHE’S A LADY-Tom Jones (1wk)
(March 12, 1971) JUST MY IMAGINATION-Temptations (2wks)
(March 26, 1971) JOY TO THE WORLD-3 Dog Night (6wks)
(May 7, 1971) ME AND YOU AND A DOG NAMED BOO-Lobo (1wk)
(May 14, 1971) WANT ADS-Honey Cone (2wks)
(May 28, 1971) IT’S TOO LATE-Carole King (2wks)
(June 11, 1971) RAINY DAYS & MONDAYS-Carpenters (1wk)
(June 18, 1971) INDIAN RESERVATION-Paul Revere & Raiders (3wks)
(July 9, 1971) DON’T PULL YOUR LOVE-Hamilton, JF&R (1wk)
(July 16, 1971) MR. BIG STUFF-Jean Knight (1wk)
(July 23, 1971) HOW CAN YOU MEND…-Bee Gees (1wk+1wk on 8/6/71)
(July 30, 1971) SIGNS-5 Man Electrical Band (1wk+1wk on 8/13/71)
(August 20, 1971) GO AWAY LITTLE GIRL-Donny Osmond (3wks)
(September 10, 1971) MAGGIE MAY-Rod Stewart (3wks)
(October 1, 1971) Superstar-Carpenters (1wk)
(October 8, 1971) YO-YO-Osmonds (1wk)
(October 15, 1971) GYPSYS, TRAMPS & THIEVES-Cher (2wks)
(October 29, 1971) THEME FROM SHAFT-Isaac Hayes (2wks)
(November 12, 1971) BABY I’M-A WANT YOU-Bread (2wks)
(November 26, 1971) FAMILY AFFAIR-Sly & Family Stone (1wk)
(December 3, 1971) BRAND NEW KEY-Melanie (3wks)
*note: no issues published for 12/24/71 or 12/31/71

(January 7, 1972) AMERICAN PIE-Don McLean (3wks)
(January 28, 1972) WITHOUT YOU-Nilsson (2wks)
(February 11, 1972) PRECIOUS AND FEW-Climax (2wks)
(February 25, 1972) HEART OF GOLD-Neil Young (2wks)
(March 10, 1972) HORSE WITH NO NAME-America (3wks)
(March 31, 1972) FIRST TIME EVER…-Roberta Flack (5wks)
(May 5, 1972) Sylvia’s Mother-Dr. Hook (1wk)
(May 12, 1972) CANDY MAN-Sammy Davis Jr. (2wks)
(May 26, 1972) OH GIRL-Chi-Lites (1wk)
(June 2, 1972) NICE TO BE WITH YOU-Gallery (2wks)
(June 16, 1972) LEAN ON ME-Bill Withers (3wks)
(July 7, 1972) BRANDY-Looking Glass (2wks)
(July 21, 1972) ALONE AGAIN NATURALLY-Gilbert O’Sullivan (1wk)
(July 28, 1972) LONG COOL WOMAN-Hollies (3wks)
(August 18, 1972) BABY DON’T GET HOOKED ON ME-Mac Davis (2wks)
(September 1, 1972) GUITAR MAN-Bread (1wk)
(September 8, 1972) BLACK AND WHITE-3 Dog Night (2wks)
(September 22, 1972) GARDEN PARTY-Rick Nelson (1wk)
(September 29, 1972) BURNING LOVE-Elvis Presley (2wks)
(October 13, 1972) NIGHTS IN WHITE SATIN-Moody Blues (1wk)
(October 20, 1972) I CAN SEE CLEARLY NOW-Johnny Nash (2wks)
(November 3, 1972) I’D LOVE YOU TO WANT ME-Lobo (2wks)
(November 17, 1972) SUMMER BREEZE-Seals & Crofts (2wks)
(December 1, 1972) IF YOU DON’T WANT ME-Harold Melvin & Blue Notes (1wk)
(December 8, 1972) ME & MRS. JONES-Billy Paul (2wks)
*no issue published for 12/22/72 or 12/29/72; However there was an in-between extra issue on 12/27.
(December 27, 1972) YOU’RE SO VAIN-Carly Simon (1wk+1wk on 1/5/73)

(January 12, 1973) CROCODILE ROCK-Elton John (2wks)
(January 26, 1973) DON’T EXPECT ME TO BE YOUR FRIEND-Lobo (1wk)
(February 2, 1973) DUELING BANJOS-Deliverance Soundtrack (2wks)
(February 16, 1973) KILLING ME SOFTLY-Roberta Flack (3wks)
(March 9, 1973) THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN GEORGIA-Vickie Lawrence (2wks)
(March 23, 1973) TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ‘ROUND THE OLD OAK TREE-Dawn (3wks)
(April 13, 1973) CISCO KID-War (2wks)
(April 27, 1973) FRNAKENSTEIN-Edgar Winter Group (3wks)
(May 18, 1973) MY LOVE-Paul McCartney (2wks)
(June 1, 1973) PLAYGROUND IN MY MIND-Clint Holmes (3wks)
(June 22, 1973) BAD BAD LEROY BROWN-Jim Croce (2wks)
(July 5, 1973) SMOKE ON THE WATER-Deep Purple (1wk)
(July 13, 1973) MORNING AFTER-Maureen McGovern (2wks)
(July 27, 1973) BROTHER LOIUE-Stories (2wks)
(August 10, 1973) LIVE AND LET DIE-Paul McCartney & Wings (2wks)
(August 24, 1973) DELTA DAWN-Helen Reddy (2wks)
(September 7, 1973) WE’RE AN AMERICAN BAND-Grand Funk (1wk)
(September 14, 1973) HALF-BREED-Cher (1wk)
(September 21, 1973) LOVES ME LIKE A ROCK-Paul Simon (1wk)

[jmack19]

Lobo had three #1 songs on Gavin. Journey had three #1 on R&R.
Lobo hit #2, 5 & 8 on Billboard with those songs.
Journey reach #2, 4 & 8 with their R&R chart toppers.

Stevie Wonder had four #1 songs on Cashbox that did not reach the top 2 spots on Billboard.

[80sat40fan]

Bread had three #1 songs on Gavin versus one on Billboard. Pretty amazing that "Guitar Man" would be a Gavin chart-topper while it only peaked at #11 on Billboard.

"Theme From 'Love Story'" was a Gavin #1 while only peaking at #13 on Billboard's Hot 100.

[doofus67]

Some other mild surprises: "Sweet Mary" (AT40 #7), "Don't Pull Your Love" (AT40 #5), "Sylvia's Mother" (AT40 #5), "Summer Breeze" (AT40 #6), and "Smoke on the Water" (AT40 #4).

[djjoe1960]

Looking over the Gavin #1's many of those that didn't reach #1 in Billboard, did make it to the top spot in either Cash Box or Record World.

[djjoe1960]

By the way, Broadcasting Magazine published a radio only airplay chart from Jan 1973- Jan 1980.

Here is a list of their #1's from 1973--

You're So Vain- Carly Simon
Crocodile Rock-Elton John
Killing Me Softly-Roberta Flack
Neither One Of Us-Gladys Knight & Pips
The Night The Lights Went Out IN GA-Vicki Lawrence
Tie A Yellow Ribbon-Dawn
Daniel-Elton John
My Love-Paul McCartney & Wings
Kodachrome-Paul Simon
Shambala-Three Dog Night
Bad Bad Leroy Brown-Jim Croce
Touch Me In The Morning-Diana Ross
The Morning After-Maureen McGovern
Brother Louie-Stories
Let's Get It On-Marvin Gaye
Delta Dawn-Helen Reddy
Half Breed-Cher
Angie-Rolling Stones
Midnight Train To GA-Gladys Knight & Pips
Photograph-Ringo Starr
Top Of The World-Carpenters
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road-Elton John

[doofus67]

The rate of turnover on Gavin is almost shocking. I'm sure their reporting panel had plenty of mega major market stations on it.

[doofus67]

Yes, a little bit of digging shows that the chart was called the Broadcasting Playlist. It was initially a top-75 list, with the total spins weighted to allow for differences in the audience size of the reporting stations and the daypart data.

Here's the link to the very first chart, in the issue dated 1/15/73:

www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1973/1973-01-15-BC.pdf

Scroll to page 54.

[djjoe1960]

Apr 15, 2021 0:56:16 GMT -5 doofus67 said:

Yes, a little bit of digging shows that the chart was called the Broadcasting Playlist. It was initially a top-75 list, with the total spins weighted to allow for differences in the audience size of the reporting stations and the daypart data.

Here's the link to the very first chart, in the issue dated 1/15/73:

www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-BC/BC-1973/1973-01-15-BC.pdf

Scroll to page 54.

I started working at my first radio station in August of 1979, and recall we had a subscription to both R&R and Broadcasting--using the A/C chart in Radio & Records to determine our record rotation at the small station I worked at in Alabama. Since there was no A/C chart in Broadcasting I didn't pay much attention to their pop chart, which went away in January 1980. The only other A/C chart I looked at was in Billboard , which a local record/electronics shop used to let me peruse on a weekly basis. 


  I guess Broadcasting stopped figuring their airplay chart, after R&R started to become the industry leader for radio airplay charts. Besides, Broadcasting only published a Top 40 and Country chart and the information was about two weeks old when it arrived at the stations that subscribed to it.