# 1974 in British music

This is a summary of 1974 in music in the United Kingdom, including the official charts from that year.

## Events

* 6 April – The 19th Eurovision Song Contest is staged at the Dome in Brighton. The winners, Sweden's ABBA, go on to be the top-selling act of the decade.
* 7 May – Led Zeppelin announce their new record label, Swan Song Records, with a lavish party at the Four Seasons Hotel in New York.
* 19 June – Alan Bush's 1950 opera Wat Tyler receives its UK première at Sadler's Wells Theatre, the only time one of Bush's operas has been staged in the UK.
* 20 July – The first Knebworth Concert is held, headlined by the Allman Brothers Band.
* 2 November – George Harrison launches his George Harrison & Friends North American Tour in Vancouver. It is Harrison's first tour since the Beatles North American tour of 1966.
* 28 November – John Lennon joins Elton John on stage at Madison Square Garden for three songs. It would be Lennon's last stage performance.
* 12 December – Mick Taylor leaves the Rolling Stones after six years.

## Number Ones
### Singles

| Date | Single | Artist |
| 5 January | "Merry Xmas Everybody" | Slade |
| 12 January | "Merry Xmas Everybody" | Slade |
| 19 January | "You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me" | The New Seekers |
| 26 January | "Tiger Feet" | Mud |
| 2 February | "Tiger Feet" | Mud |
| 9 February | "Tiger Feet" | Mud |
| 16 February | "Tiger Feet" | Mud |
| 23 February | "Devil Gate Drive" | Suzi Quatro |
| 2 March | "Devil Gate Drive" | Suzi Quatro |
| 9 March | "Jealous Mind" | Alvin Stardust |
| 16 March | "Billy Don't Be a Hero" | Paper Lace |
| 23 March | "Billy Don't Be a Hero" | Paper Lace |
| 30 March | "Billy Don't Be a Hero" | Paper Lace |
| 6 April | "Seasons in the Sun" | Terry Jacks |
| 13 April | "Seasons in the Sun" | Terry Jacks |
| 20 April | "Seasons in the Sun" | Terry Jacks |
| 27 April | "Seasons in the Sun" | Terry Jacks |
| 4 May | "Waterloo" | ABBA |
| 11 May | "Waterloo" | ABBA |
| 18 May | "Sugar Baby Love" | The Rubettes |
| 25 May | "Sugar Baby Love" | The Rubettes |
| 1 June | "Sugar Baby Love" | The Rubettes |
| 8 June | "Sugar Baby Love" | The Rubettes |
| 15 June | "The Streak" | Ray Stevens |
| 22 June | "Always Yours" | Gary Glitter |
| 29 June | "She" | Charles Aznavour |
| 6 July | "She" | Charles Aznavour |
| 13 July | "She" | Charles Aznavour |
| 20 July | "She" | Charles Aznavour |
| 27 July | "Rock Your Baby" | George McCrae |
| 3 August | "Rock Your Baby" | George McCrae |
| 10 August | "Rock Your Baby" | George McCrae |
| 17 August | "When Will I See You Again" | The Three Degrees |
| 24 August | "When Will I See You Again" | The Three Degrees |
| 31 August | "Love Me for a Reason" | The Osmonds |
| 7 September | "Love Me for a Reason" | The Osmonds |
| 14 September | "Love Me for a Reason" | The Osmonds |
| 21 September | "Kung Fu Fighting" | Carl Douglas |
| 28 September | "Kung Fu Fighting" | Carl Douglas |
| 5 October | "Kung Fu Fighting" | Carl Douglas |
| 12 October | "Annie's Song" | John Denver |
| 19 October | "Sad Sweet Dreamer" | Sweet Sensation |
| 26 October | "Everything I Own" | Ken Boothe |
| 2 November | "Everything I Own" | Ken Boothe |
| 9 November | "Everything I Own" | Ken Boothe |
| 16 November | "Gonna Make You a Star" | David Essex |
| 23 November | "Gonna Make You a Star" | David Essex |
| 30 November | "Gonna Make You a Star" | David Essex |
| 7 December | "You're the First, the Last, My Everything" | Barry White |
| 14 December | "You're the First, the Last, My Everything" | Barry White |
| 21 December | "Lonely This Christmas" | Mud |
| 28 December | "Lonely This Christmas" | Mud |
| 4 January | "Lonely This Christmas" | Mud |

### Albums

| Date | Album | Artist | Weeks |
| 5 January | Tales from Topographic Oceans | Yes | 2 |
| 12 January | Tales from Topographic Oceans | Yes | 2 |
| 19 January | Sladest | Slade | 1 |
| 26 January | And I Love You So | Perry Como | 1 |
| 2 February | The Singles: 1969-1973 | The Carpenters | 4 |
| 9 February | The Singles: 1969-1973 | The Carpenters | 4 |
| 16 February | The Singles: 1969-1973 | The Carpenters | 4 |
| 23 February | The Singles: 1969-1973 | The Carpenters | 4 |
| 2 March | Old, New, Borrowed and Blue | Slade | 1 |
| 9 March | The Singles: 1969-1973 | The Carpenters | 11 |
| 16 March | The Singles: 1969-1973 | The Carpenters | 11 |
| 23 March | The Singles: 1969-1973 | The Carpenters | 11 |
| 30 March | The Singles: 1969-1973 | The Carpenters | 11 |
| 6 April | The Singles: 1969-1973 | The Carpenters | 11 |
| 13 April | The Singles: 1969-1973 | The Carpenters | 11 |
| 20 April | The Singles: 1969-1973 | The Carpenters | 11 |
| 27 April | The Singles: 1969-1973 | The Carpenters | 11 |
| 4 May | The Singles: 1969-1973 | The Carpenters | 11 |
| 11 May | The Singles: 1969-1973 | The Carpenters | 11 |
| 18 May | The Singles: 1969-1973 | The Carpenters | 11 |
| 25 May | Journey to the Centre of the Earth | Rick Wakeman | 1 |
| 1 June | The Singles: 1969-1973 | The Carpenters | 1 |
| 8 June | Diamond Dogs | David Bowie | 4 |
| 15 June | Diamond Dogs | David Bowie | 4 |
| 22 June | Diamond Dogs | David Bowie | 4 |
| 29 June | Diamond Dogs | David Bowie | 4 |
| 6 July | The Singles: 1969-1973 | The Carpenters | 1 |
| 13 July | Caribou | Elton John | 2 |
| 20 July | Caribou | Elton John | 2 |
| 27 July | Band on the Run | Paul McCartney & Wings | 7 |
| 3 August | Band on the Run | Paul McCartney & Wings | 7 |
| 10 August | Band on the Run | Paul McCartney & Wings | 7 |
| 17 August | Band on the Run | Paul McCartney & Wings | 7 |
| 24 August | Band on the Run | Paul McCartney & Wings | 7 |
| 31 August | Band on the Run | Paul McCartney & Wings | 7 |
| 7 September | Band on the Run | Paul McCartney & Wings | 7 |
| 14 September | Hergest Ridge | Mike Oldfield | 3 |
| 21 September | Hergest Ridge | Mike Oldfield | 3 |
| 28 September | Hergest Ridge | Mike Oldfield | 3 |
| 5 October | Tubular Bells | Mike Oldfield | 1 |
| 12 October | Rollin' | Bay City Rollers | 1 |
| 19 October | Smiler | Rod Stewart | 1 |
| 26 October | Rollin' | Bay City Rollers | 1 |
| 2 November | Smiler | Rod Stewart | 1 |
| 9 November | Rollin' | Bay City Rollers | 2 |
| 16 November | Rollin' | Bay City Rollers | 2 |
| 23 November | Greatest Hits | Elton John | 7 |
| 30 November | Greatest Hits | Elton John | 7 |
| 7 December | Greatest Hits | Elton John | 7 |
| 14 December | Greatest Hits | Elton John | 7 |
| 21 December | Greatest Hits | Elton John | 7 |
| 28 December | Greatest Hits | Elton John | 7 |
| 4 January | Greatest Hits | Elton John | 7 |

## Year-end charts

Between 2 January and 6 December 1974.

### Best-selling singles

| No. | Title | Artist | Peak position |
| 1 | "Tiger Feet" | Mud | 1 |
| 2 | "Seasons in the Sun" | Terry Jacks | 1 |
| 3 | "Billy Don't Be a Hero" | Paper Lace | 1 |
| 4 | "When Will I See You Again" | The Three Degrees | 1 |
| 5 | "Rock Your Baby" | George McCrae | 1 |
| 6 | "Gonna Make You a Star" | David Essex | 1 |
| 7 | "She" | Charles Aznavour | 1 |
| 8 | "Kung Fu Fighting" | Carl Douglas | 1 |
| 9 | "Everything I Own" | Ken Boothe | 1 |
| 10 | "Sugar Baby Love" | The Rubettes | 1 |
| 11 | "Devil Gate Drive" | Suzi Quatro | 1 |
| 12 | "Love Me for a Reason" | The Osmonds | 1 |
| 13 | "Jealous Mind" | Alvin Stardust | 1 |
| 14 | "The Air That I Breathe" | The Hollies | 2 |
| 15 | "Annie's Song" | John Denver | 1 |
| 16 | "Waterloo" | ABBA | 1 |
| 17 | "The Wombling Song" | The Wombles | 4 |
| 18 | "You Make Me Feel Brand New" | The Stylistics | 2 |
| 19 | "The Most Beautiful Girl" | Charlie Rich | 2 |
| 20 | "Y Viva España" | Sylvia | 4 |
| 21 | "Hey Rock and Roll" | Showaddywaddy | 2 |
| 22 | "Kissin' in the Back Row of the Movies" | The Drifters | 2 |
| 23 | "I'm Leaving It Up to You" | Donny Osmond & Marie Osmond | 2 |
| 24 | "The Streak" | Ray Stevens | 1 |
| 25 | "Teenage Rampage" | Sweet | 2 |
| 26 | "Remember You're a Womble" | The Wombles | 3 |
| 27 | "Always Yours" | Gary Glitter | 1 |
| 28 | "You're Sixteen" | Ringo Starr | 4 |
| 29 | "Killer Queen" | Queen | 2 |
| 30 | "This Town Ain't Big Enough for Both of Us" | Sparks | 2 |
| 31 | "Don't Stay Away Too Long" | Peters and Lee | 3 |
| 32 | "You're the First, the Last, My Everything" | Barry White | 1 |
| 33 | "Angel Face" | The Glitter Band | 4 |
| 34 | "Born with a Smile on My Face" | Stephanie de Sykes with Rain | 2 |
| 35 | "Hang On in There Baby" | Johnny Bristol | 3 |
| 36 | "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" | Jimmy Ruffin | 4 |
| 37 | "The Cat Crept In" | Mud | 2 |
| 38 | "There's a Ghost in My House" | R. Dean Taylor | 3 |
| 39 | "Sad Sweet Dreamer" | Sweet Sensation | 1 |
| 40 | "Dance with the Devil" | Cozy Powell | 3 |
| 41 | "Solitaire" | Andy Williams | 4 |
| 42 | "Summerlove Sensation" | Bay City Rollers | 3 |
| 43 | "Hey There Lonely Girl" | Eddie Holman | 4 |
| 44 | "Emma" | Hot Chocolate | 3 |
| 45 | "You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me" | The New Seekers | 1 |
| 46 | "You Are Everything" | Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye | 5 |
| 47 | "Far Far Away" | Slade | 2 |
| 48 | "All of Me Loves All of You" | Bay City Rollers | 4 |
| 49 | "Remember (Sha-La-La)" | Bay City Rollers | 6 |
| 50 | "Band on the Run" | Paul McCartney and Wings | 3 |

### Best-selling albums

The list of the top fifty best-selling albums of 1974 were published in Music Week and in Record Mirror at the end of the year, and later reproduced in the first edition of the BPI Year Book in 1976. However, in 2007 the Official Charts Company published album chart histories for each year from 1956 to 1977, researched by historian Sharon Mawer, and included an updated list of the top ten best-selling albums for each year based on the new research. The updated top ten for 1974 is shown in the table below.
| No. | Title | Artist | Peak position |
| 1 | The Singles: 1969–1973 | The Carpenters | 1 |
| 2 | Band on the Run | Paul McCartney and Wings | 1 |
| 3 | Tubular Bells | Mike Oldfield | 1 |
| 4 | 40 Greatest Hits | Elvis Presley | — |
| 5 | The Dark Side of the Moon | Pink Floyd | 7 |
| 6 | Diamond Dogs | David Bowie | 1 |
| 7 | Goodbye Yellow Brick Road | Elton John | 2 |
| 8 | And I Love You So | Perry Como | 1 |
| 9 | Greatest Hits | Simon & Garfunkel | 6 |
| 10 | Greatest Hits | Elton John | 1 |
Notes:
* ↑ 40 Greatest Hits was not eligible for the album chart in 1974, as television-advertised compilations were excluded from the chart until July 1975. The album did not officially reach number one until September 1977, following Presley's death.
* ↑ Reached number 2 in 1973
* ↑ Reached number 1 in 1973
* ↑ Reached number 2 in 1972

## Classical music: new works

* Benjamin Britten – Suite on English Folk Tunes: 'A time there was...'

## Film and Incidental music

* Richard Rodney Bennett – Murder on the Orient Express, starring Albert Finney.
* Herbert Chappell – The Pallisers
* Andrew Lloyd Webber – The Odessa File.
* Stanley Myers – House of Whipcord directed by Pete Walker.

## Births

* 2 January – Ian Vine, composer
* 12 January – Melanie C, singer (Spice Girls)
* 7 February – Danny Goffey, singer-songwriter and drummer (Supergrass, Babyshambles, The Jennifers, Lodger, and The Hotrats)
* 13 February – Robbie Williams, singer (Take That)
* 22 February
** James Blunt, singer-songwriter
** Chris Moyles, radio and television host
* 15 March – David Ross, singer (Bad Boys Inc)
* 23 March – David and Michael Smallwood, singers (Gemini)
* 1 April – Stuart Black, bassist (Menswear)
* 17 April – Victoria Beckham, singer (Spice Girls)
* 20 April – Tina Cousins, singer
* 3 May – Nick Keynes, bassist (Ultra)
* 7 May – Lynden David Hall, singer, songwriter, arranger, and record producer
* 3 June – Kelly Jones, singer-songwriter and guitarist
* 10 July – Simon White, guitarist (Menswear)
* 17 July – Laura Macdonald, Scottish saxophonist and composer
* 21 July – Terry Coldwell, singer (East 17)
* 5 August – Spike Dawbarn, singer (911)
* 8 August – Brian Harvey, singer (East 17)
* 18 August – Mark Baron, singer (Another Level)
* 9 September – Niall O'Neill, Irish singer (OTT)
* 22 September – G-Man, Trinidadian-born singer (MN8)
* 1 October – Keith Duffy, Irish singer (Boyzone)
* 4 November – Louise Nurding, singer and former member of Eternal
* 10 November – Heavenli Denton, singer (Honeyz)
* 23 November – Jacqui Blake, singer (Shampoo)
* 7 December – Nicole Appleton, Canadian-born singer (All Saints)
* 13 December – Nick McCarthy, English-German rhythm guitarist (Franz Ferdinand)
* 27 December – Tasha Baylis, drummer (Hepburn)
* date unknown
** Matthew Jones, violist, violinist and composer
** Sophie Viney, composer and arranger

## Deaths

* 1 April – Alfred Whitehead, English-born Canadian composer, organist, choirmaster, music educator and painter, 86
* 5 April – Jennifer Vyvyan, operatic soprano, 49 (bronchial condition)
* 28 April – Leslie Statham, composer and arranger,
* 5 May – Adge Cutler, folk musician, 42 (car accident)
* 8 May – Graham Bond, R&B musician, 36 (hit by train)
* 15 September – Thomas Fielden, pianist and teacher, 90
* November – Bessie Jones, musical theatre singer, 87
* 3 November – Victor Olof, violinist and conductor, 76
* 25 November – Nick Drake, singer/songwriter, 26 (overdose)