On the question of MOK, BPI only awarded certifications up to 1 million so it never got a double platinum certification therefore that won't help to clarify the issue either.

I loved Grease as a kid, and saw it many times in ‘78. But, for some weird (probably snobbish) reason I can’t remember, I didn’t really like the singles as standalone songs at the time. Nowadays I love them unironically, especially the two main duets.

I also like Mull Of Kintyre, especially the ‘pipes’ which are really lovely.

I had Summer Nights correctly in 4th place but thought that Mull Of Kintyre would be top of the list. The latter would be my favourite out of those two.

02. YOU’RE THE ONE THAT I WANT- Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta (1,544,300)

 

1978

26 weeks on chart          

peak position: 1

 

Much like “Summer Nights” this song was not part of the original Chicago run of the musical “Grease” but unlike that aforementioned song, this was not written at all until the play was turned into a film, indeed it was written with Olivia Newton-John in mind expressly.  It was another track which spent 9 weeks at the top but has significantly more panel sales than “Kintyre”

01. RIVERS OF BABYLON/ BROWN GIRL IN THE RING- Boney M (1,644,400)

 

1978

40 weeks on chart

Peak position: 1

 

With lyrics adapted from Psalms 19 and 137 of the Hebrew Bible “The Rivers Of Babylon” was originally recorded by The Melodians in 1972 which became a well known song in Jamaica though the government initially banned the track for its Rastafarian references though ultimately relented.  It was then featured on the soundtrack to the film “The Harder They Come” which took the song international and was later heard by Frank Farian who thought it was just the ticket for his act Boney M.  Most Rasterfarian references were removed and the song was an international hit spending 5 weeks at No 1 before descending the charts slowly.  Then something happened.  DJ’s began to flip the track and play the B-side “Brown Girl In The Ring” which was an old Caribbean nursey rhyme, and song rebounded climbing back to No 2 thirteen weeks after it dropped from the top, only being denied a return to the top by The Commodores (it was also No 1 when the chart expanded to a top 75).  It proved the first example of a song being changed from a sole listing to a double A-Side during its run due to demand, it spent 40 weeks on the chart all told (the longest chart run for a No 1 behind “Release Me” by Englebert Humperdink at the time) becoming the best seller of 1978 and, according to the panel sales, the best seller of the 1970s!

Full top 100

100. LE FREAK- Chic (518,800)*

99. SUBSTITUTE- Clout (518,900)

98. SHE- Charles Aznavour (520,000)

97. ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL- Pink Floyd (521,200)*

96. MERRY XMAS EVERYBODY- Slade (522,800)*

95. RASPUTIN- Boney M (525,100)

94. CHANSON D’AMOUR- Manhattan Transfer (525,900)

93. HOLD ME CLOSE- David Essex (526,000)

92. GIVE A LITTLE LOVE- Bay City Rollers (529,800)

91. ANGELO- Brotherhood Of Man (532,600)

 

90. YES SIR I CAN BOOGIE- Baccara (533,600)

89. HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE- The Bee Gees (541,400)*

88. SON OF MY FATHER- Chicory Tip (541,800)

87. SO YOU WIN AGAIN- Hot Chocolate (542,700)

86. MOTHER OF MINE- Neil Reid (549,000)

85. ROCK YOUR BABY- George McCrae (549,200)

84.HOT LOVE- T.Rex (549,400)

83. SANDY- John Travolta (550,100)

82. DA YA THINK I’M SEXY- Rod Stewart (551,900)*

81. GRANDAD- Clive Dunn (552,600)*

 

80. KNOCK THREE TIMES- Dawn (559,800)

79 FERNANDO- Abba (560,800)

78. SEE MY BABY JIVE- Wizzard (566,000)

77. TRAGEDY- Bee Gees (569,600)

76. WAY DOWN- Elvis Presley (570,500)

75. CUM ON FEEL THE NOIZE- Slade (572,000)

74. OLIVER’S ARMY- Elvis Costello & The Attractions (575,300)

73. WUTHERING HEIGHTS- Kate Bush (576,200)

72. I FEEL LOVE- Donna Summer (577,052)

71. THE FLORAL DANCE- Brighouse & Rastrick Brass Band (578,300)*

 

70. KNOWING ME KNOWING YOU- Abba (579,000)

69 STAND BY YOUR MAN- Tammy Wynette (580,400)

68. SPIRIT IN THE SKY- Norman Greenbaum (583,200)

67. WHEN WILL I SEE YOU AGAIN- Three Degrees (584,000)

66. BAND OF GOLD- Freda Payne (584,100)

65. DREADLOCK HOLIDAY- 10CC (589,500)

64. SILVER LADY- David Soul (594,200)

63. BILLY DON’T BE A HERO- Paper Lace (595,400)

62. WHISPERING GRASS- Windsor Davies & Don Estelle (598,600)

61. SEASONS IN THE SUN- Terry Jacks (604,100)

 

60. POP MUZIK- M (607,400)

59. WHEN I NEED YOU- Leo Sayer (610,700)

58. AMAZING GRACE- Judy Collins (613,600)

57. YOU WON’T FIND ANOTHER FOOL LIKE ME- The New Seekers (615,700)*

56.  CAN’T GIVE YOU ANYTHING (BUT MY LOVE)- The Stylistics (617,700)

55. GONNA MAKE YOU A STAR- David Essex (619,200)

54. A LITTLE BIT MORE- Dr Hook (623,100)

53. MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE- The Police (625,700)

52. ERNIE (THE FASTEST MILKMAN IN THE WEST)- Benny Hill (628,200)*

51. CHIRPY CHIRPY CHEAP CHEAP- Middle Of The Road (642,600)

 

50. DANCING QUEEN- Abba (650,500)

49. THE WONDER OF YOU- Elvis Presley (656,100)

48. MATCHSTALK MEN & MATCHSTALK CATS AND DOGS- Brian & Michael (656,700)

47. TAKE A CHANCE ON ME- Abba (658,000)

46. TIGER FEET- Mud (664,300)

45. IF YOU LEAVE ME NOW- Chicago (670,300)

44. SUNDAY GIRL- Blondie (671,900)

43. RAT TRAP- Boomtown Rats (676,900)

42. MAGGIE MAY- Rod Stewart (678,800)

41. UNDER THE MOON OF LOVE- Showaddywaddy (681,500)*

 

40. MY DING-A-LING- Chuck Berry (684,000)*

39. BLOCKBUSTER!- The Sweet (690,000)

38. ONE DAY AT A TIME-Lena Martell (691,800)

37. DANCE AWAY- Roxy Music (701,500)

36. IN THE SUMMERTIME- Mungo Jerry (721,400)

35. LONG HAIRED LOVER FROM LIVERPOOL- Little Jimmy Osmond (722,300)

34. ARE “FRIENDS” ELECTRIC- Tubeway Army (727,100)

33. I WILL SURVIVE- Gloria Gaynor (730,200)

32. HIT ME WITH YOUR RHYTHM STICK- Ian Dury & The Blockheads (730,500)*

31. DON’T GO BREAKING MY HEART- Elton John & Kiki Dee (738,400)

 

30. DON’T CRY FOR ME ARGENTINA- Julie Covington (739,000)

29. I DON’T LIKE MONDAYS- Boomtown Rats (747,300)

28. NIGHT FEVER- Bee Gees (758,400)

27. DON’T GIVE UP ON US- David Soul (759,900)*

26. BYE BYE BABY- Bay City Rollers (763,500)

25. MISSISSIPPI- Pussycat (770,500)

24. WHEN YOU’RE IN LOVE WITH A BEAUTIFUL WOMAN- Dr Hook (779,700)

23. HEART OF GLASS- Blondie (781,200)

22. WE DON’T TALK ANYMORE- Cliff Richard (795,200)

21. WITHOUT YOU- Nilsson (797,000)

 

 

20. WELCOME HOME- Peters And Lee (801,400)

19. THE SMURF SONG- Father Abraham and the Smurfs (808,200)

18. THREE TIMES A LADY- The Commodores (819,500)

17. PUPPY LOVE- Donny Osmond (824,400)

16. MARYS BOY CHILD- OH MY LORD- Boney M (832,500)*

15. SAVE YOUR KISSES FOR ME- Brotherhood Of Man (833,400)

14. MOULDY OLD DOUGH- Lieutenant Pigeon (837,000)

13. YMCA- Village People (848,600)*

12. AMAZING GRACE- The Pipes And Drums Of The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards (880,200)

11. EYE LEVEL- Simon Park Orchestra (896,800)

 

10. MY SWEET LORD- George Harrison (952,500)

09. TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OAK TREE- Dawn (966,000)

08. BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY- Queen (1,014,500)*

07. I’D LIKE TO TEACH THE WORLD TO SING- New Seekers (1,031,400)

06.BRIGHT EYES- Art Garfunkel (1,040,100)

05. SAILING- Rod Stewart (1.082,600)

04. SUMMER NIGHTS- Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta (1,194,300)

03. MULL OF KINTYRE/ GIRL’S SCHOOL- Wings (1,216,700)

02. YOU’RE THE ONE THAT I WANT- Olivia Newton-John & John Travolta (1,544,300)

01. RIVERS OF BABYLON/ BROWN GIRL IN THE RING- Boney M (1,644,400)

And that's all folks- a trip through the biggest hits of the 70s! It's time for me to eat the last of the angel delight and put my space hopper away!

Thanks, as always, to those that commented and make the thread!

I remember being shocked to find out that 'Rivers of Babylon' had been so big at the time when I first got into best sellers lists, as it didn't feel that familiar to me from a 21st century POV. But fair play to them! My favourite from Boney M is probably 'Ma Baker' now I am more well acquainted with their catalogue.

Love 'Bohemian Rhapsody' and 'You're The One That I Want' even if I agree with others that I'm not in a rush to seek out the former, since it's so ubiquitous.

Thanks for doing this, Gezza! Always love these threads but the 1970s was particularly refreshing.

Thanks Gezza! Mull Of Kintyre not being top something of a shocker, it seemed to be so far ahead it was a cert! I bought it, I bought You're The One That I Want, the other 2 I bought in the bargain bins after dropping out the charts. Boney M was the first example of some people buying the same record more than once (accidentally) as a lot of folks didnt always bother playing B sides (me, for one), there was some grumbling at the time, unless it was just newspaper babble 😄Probably not 100,000 of them though!

Late 1973 sales oddly under-stated with Slade so low, and Glitter (another million-seller) nowhere to be seen! I wonder if it was the 3-day week affecting panel returns as well as the Christmas break.....and maybe that also affected mid-1971 for the postal strike.

Mother fascinating journey! Thank you for doing this Gezza.

Glad Boney M won, rivers of Babylon is one of my favourite songs of all time! ❤️

Suprised grease didnt win maybe being released in 78 was a minor crux never mind just noticed both were 78

Prefer summer night to your the one that I want

Do love both those Boney M tracks though so worthy winners

Edited 8 hours ago8 hr by 777666jason

I’ve already expressed my Grease love so no surprise how fond I am of You’re The One That I Want, such a joyous song!

Once I knew Mull Of Kintyre wasn’t number one here, it was obvious the Boney M double A side would be. It, and they, were so massive for that short period around ‘78 and seemingly everywhere. Not scientific at all but I get the impression that the songs lingering around the chart longest have done better in this countdown, rather than those with higher peaks and time at number one (especially Christmas ). I’m thinking of Sailing and Rivers.., rather than Wings, Mary’s Boy Child and Queen, would you agree Gezza? Anyway, that and the generally massive ‘78 sales benefited that Boney M single. I don’t mind them but also don’t love them

Loved this countdown though Gezza, great memories, really interesting sales stats and really engaging so thank you!

Edited 7 hours ago7 hr by Jaz13music

Thanks everyone. Yes the missing sales from Christmas charts would have altered this, sometimes significantly, along with the fact that we don't know sales outside the top 50 (up to 1976) and then outside the monthly top 200 (1976 to 1979). Whilst not significant it would matter where sales are a within 10k of each other.

The Gary Glitter track from Christmas 1973 is another head scratcher but it certainly doesn't have the panel sales to be in the list.

Unlike the 80s one, this has its flaws so I do not present this as official but I think it's as close as we are ever likely to get to one.

Incidentally even though no one asked, the asterisk on certain tracks are to represent it was a sizeable hit over the festive period so you can see what is likely to have been more affected than the rest.

1 hour ago, Gezza said:

Incidentally even though no one asked, the asterisk on certain tracks are to represent it was a sizeable hit over the festive period so you can see what is likely to have been more affected than the rest.

I did wonder, but thought you might had said and I missed it!

As a matter of interest, Mull Of Kintyre did get a double platinum certification, albeit not until 1986, a year after double and triple platinum certifications had been introduced by the BPI with albums in mind.