A dark-haired older man in a suit, a young woman with long dark hair wearing a dress and a young man with mid-length hair wearing a jacket over a rollneck sweater
The Carpenters (pictured with President Richard Nixon (left)) had two number ones in 1973.

Adult Contemporary is a chart published by Billboard ranking the top-performing songs in the United States in the adult contemporary music (AC) market. In 1973, 26 songs topped the chart, then published under the title Easy Listening, based on playlists submitted by easy listening radio stations and sales reports submitted by stores.[1]

In the first issue of Billboard of 1973, the band Bread retained the number one position from the final chart of the previous year with "Sweet Surrender",[2] but the group 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 English singer Elton John,[3] a singer 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 hits 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.[4]

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.[5] The song also topped Billboard's all-genre single chart, the Hot 100.[6] 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,[7] "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" by Tony Orlando and Dawn,[7] "My Love" by Paul McCartney and Wings,[7] "Touch Me in the Morning" by Diana Ross,[7] "Delta Dawn" by Helen Reddy,[7] "The Most Beautiful Girl" by Charlie Rich,[8] and "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" by Stevie Wonder.[7] Rich's song was a triple chart-topper, as it also reached number one on the Hot Country Songs chart.[8]

Chart history

A dark-haired young woman in a black dress singing into a microphone
Helen Reddy's six weeks at number one was the highest total for any act in 1973.
A balding older man wearing a blue sweater
"All I Know" by Art Garfunkel (pictured in 2017) was one of two songs to spend four weeks at number one.
A young man wearing an elaborate shiny costume with a high collar and pointed hat playing a piano
Elton John topped the chart for the first time with "Daniel". He would go on to be one of the most successful acts in the chart's history.
Key
† Indicates best-performing easy listening song of 1973[9]


Issue date Title Artist(s) Ref.
January 6 "Sweet Surrender" Bread [2]
January 13 "Been to Canaan" Carole King [10]
January 20 "You're So Vain" Carly Simon [11]
January 27 [12]
February 3 "Don't Expect Me to Be Your Friend" Lobo [13]
February 10 [14]
February 17 "Dueling Banjos" Eric Weissberg and Steve Mandell [15]
February 24 [16]
March 3 "Last Song" Edward Bear [17]
March 10 [18]
March 17 "Danny's Song" Anne Murray [19]
March 24 [20]
March 31 "Sing" The Carpenters [21]
April 7 "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" Tony Orlando and Dawn [22]
April 14 "Sing" The Carpenters [23]
April 21 "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" Tony Orlando and Dawn [24]
April 28 "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" Stevie Wonder [25]
May 5 [26]
May 12 "Daniel" Elton John [27]
May 19 [28]
May 26 "And I Love You So" Perry Como [29]
June 2 "My Love" Paul McCartney and Wings [30]
June 9 [31]
June 16 [32]
June 23 "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" Bette Midler [33]
June 30 [34]
July 7 "Yesterday Once More" The Carpenters [35]
July 14 [36]
July 21 [37]
July 28 "Touch Me in the Morning" Diana Ross [38]
August 4 "Delta Dawn" † Helen Reddy [39]
August 11 [40]
August 18 "Say, Has Anybody Seen My Sweet Gypsy Rose" Tony Orlando and Dawn [41]
August 25 [42]
September 1 [43]
September 8 "Loves Me Like a Rock" Paul Simon [44]
September 15 [45]
September 22 "My Maria" B. W. Stevenson [46]
September 29 "I'm Coming Home" Johnny Mathis [47]
October 6 "All I Know" Art Garfunkel [48]
October 13 [49]
October 20 [50]
October 27 [51]
November 3 "Paper Roses" Marie Osmond [52]
November 10 "The Most Beautiful Girl" Charlie Rich [53]
November 17 [54]
November 24 [55]
December 1 "Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress)" Helen Reddy [56]
December 8 [57]
December 15 [58]
December 22 [59]
December 29 "Time in a Bottle" Jim Croce [60]

References

  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2007). Joel Whitburn Presents Billboard Top Adult Songs, 1961-2006. Record Research Incorporated. p. vi. ISBN 9780898201697.
  2. ^ a b "Adult Contemporary chart for January 6, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 5, 2019.
  3. ^ "Elton John Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  4. ^ Trust, Gary (June 13, 2016). "Elton John Charts Record-Extending 72nd Adult Contemporary Hit". Billboard. Retrieved March 16, 2019.
  5. ^ Weber, Barry. "Jim Croce Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved March 14, 2019.
  6. ^ Monaco, Rachel (May 22, 2015). "Jim Croce: 5 best songs lyrics or verses". AXS TV. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Hoffmann, Frank (2016). Chronology of American Popular Music, 1900-2000. Routledge. pp. 331–336. ISBN 9781135868864.
  8. ^ a b "Charlie Rich". Billboard. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  9. ^ "Billboard Adult Contemporary Year End, 1973". Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  10. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 13, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 11, 2019.
  11. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 20, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  12. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 27, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  13. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 3, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  14. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 10, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  15. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 17, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  16. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 24, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  17. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 3, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  18. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 10, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  19. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 17, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  20. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 24, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  21. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 31, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  22. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 7, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  23. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 14, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  24. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 21, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  25. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 28, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  26. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 5, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  27. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 12, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  28. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 19, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  29. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 26, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  30. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 2, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  31. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 9, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  32. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 16, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  33. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 23, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  34. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 30, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  35. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 7, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  36. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 14, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  37. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 21, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  38. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 28, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  39. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 4, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  40. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 11, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  41. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 18, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  42. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 25, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  43. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 1, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  44. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 8, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  45. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 15, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  46. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 22, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  47. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 29, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  48. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 6, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  49. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 13, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  50. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 20, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  51. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 27, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  52. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 3, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  53. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 10, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  54. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 17, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  55. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 24, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  56. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 1, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  57. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 8, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  58. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 15, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  59. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 22, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.
  60. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 29, 1973". Billboard. Retrieved March 13, 2019.

See also

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