# List of NME number-one singles of the 1970s

NME (or New Musical Express) was a British weekly pop music newspaper. Record charts in the United Kingdom began life on 14 November 1952 when NME began compiling the first UK-wide sales-based hit parade. Prior to 15 February 1969, when the British Market Research Bureau chart was established, there was no one universally accepted source and many periodicals compiled their own chart. During this time the BBC used aggregated results of charts from the NME and other sources to compile the Pick of the Pops chart. In 1969, Record Retailer and the BBC commissioned the British Market Research Bureau (BMRB) to compile the singles chart.
Prior to this, The Official Charts Company and Guinness' British Hit Singles & Albums, consider Record Retailer the canonical source for the British singles chart in the 1960s; Nevertheless, in the 1960s, NME had the biggest circulation of charts in the decade and was more widely followed. After 1969, the joint venture between Record Retailer and the BBC is widely considered as the beginning of the official UK Singles Chart. NME continued compiling its own chart until 14 May 1988.
Significantly, NME had the Sex Pistols' anti-monarchy single "God Save the Queen" at number-one during the Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II. The single, released by Virgin Records, was the highest-selling single of the week but had been banned by the BBC and some major retailers. To prevent it from reaching the top of the BMRB chart, for one week compilers "decreed that shops which sold their own records could not have those records represented in the chart", thus sales from Virgin Megastores were not counted. Despite reaching number-two on the official chart, it is sometimes referred to as reaching number one.

## Number-one singles

Key :
| ‡ | The song did not reach number one on the BMRB chart which is considered as the official chart after 12 February 1969. |
| | The song spent a week at number one where it shared the top spot with another song. |
| No. | Artist | Single | Reached number one | Weeks at number one |
| 1970 |||||
| 280 | Rolf Harris | "Two Little Boys" | 20 December 1969 | 6 |
| 281 | Marmalade | "Reflections of My Life" ‡ | 28 January 1970 | 1 |
| 282 | Edison Lighthouse | "Love Grows (Where My Rosemary Goes)" | 4 February 1970 | 3 |
| 283 | The Jackson 5 | "I Want You Back" ‡ | 25 February 1970 | 1 |
| 284 | Lee Marvin | "Wand'rin' Star" | 4 March 1970 | 3 |
| 285 | Simon & Garfunkel | "Bridge over Troubled Water" | 25 March 1970 | 4 |
| 286 | Norman Greenbaum | "Spirit in the Sky" | 22 April 1970 | 2 |
| 287 | England World Cup Squad "70" | "Back Home" | 6 May 1970 | 3 |
| 288 | The Moody Blues | "Question" ‡ | 27 May 1970 | 1 |
| 289 | Christie | "Yellow River" | 3 June 1970 | 1 |
| 290 | Mungo Jerry | "In the Summertime" | 10 June 1970 | 4 |
| 291 | Free | "All Right Now" ‡ | 8 July 1970 | 3 |
| 292 | The Kinks | "Lola" ‡ | 29 July 1970 | 1 |
| 293 | Elvis Presley | "The Wonder of You" | 5 August 1970 | 3 |
| 294 | Smokey Robinson and The Miracles | "The Tears of a Clown" | 26 August 1970 | 4 |
| 295 | Freda Payne | "Band of Gold" | 23 September 1970 | 5 |
| 296 | Deep Purple | "Black Night" ‡ | 28 October 1970 | 1 |
| 297 | Matthews' Southern Comfort | "Woodstock" | 4 November 1970 | 3 |
| 298 | Jimi Hendrix Experience | "Voodoo Chile" | 25 November 1970 | 1 |
| 299 | Dave Edmunds's Rockpile | "I Hear You Knocking" | 2 December 1970 | 3 |
| 300 | McGuinness Flint | "When I'm Dead and Gone" ‡ | 23 December 1970 | 1 |
| 301 | Clive Dunn | "Grandad" | 30 December 1970 | 4 |
| 1971 |||||
| 302 | George Harrison | "My Sweet Lord" | 27 January 1971 | 6 |
| 303 | Mungo Jerry | "Baby Jump" | 10 March 1971 | 1 |
| 304 | Paul McCartney | "Another Day" ‡ | 17 March 1971 | 1 |
| 305 | T. Rex | "Hot Love" | 24 March 1971 | 5 |
| 306 | Dave and Ansel Collins | "Double Barrel" | 28 April 1971 | 2 |
| 307 | The Rolling Stones | "Brown Sugar" ‡ | 12 May 1971 | 1 |
| 308 | Dawn | "Knock Three Times" | 19 May 1971 | 3 |
| 309 | Free | "My Brother Jake" ‡ | 9 June 1971 | 1 |
| 310 | Tony Christie | "I Did What I Did for Maria" ‡ | 16 June 1971 | 1 |
| 311 | Middle of the Road | "Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep" | 23 June 1971 | 5 |
| 312 | T. Rex | "Get It On" | 28 July 1971 | 3 |
| 313 | The New Seekers | "Never Ending Song of Love" ‡ | 18 August 1971 | 1 |
| 314 | Diana Ross | "I'm Still Waiting" | 25 August 1971 | 3 |
| 315 | The Tams | "Hey Girl Don't Bother Me" | 15 September 1971 | 2 |
| 316 | Rod Stewart | "Maggie May" | 29 September 1971 | 6 |
| 317 | Slade | "Coz I Luv You" | 10 November 1971 | 3 |
| 318 | Benny Hill | "Ernie (The Fastest Milkman in the West)" | 1 December 1971 | 5 |
| 1972 |||||
| 319 | The New Seekers | "I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing (In Perfect Harmony)" | 5 January 1972 | 4 |
| 320 | America | "A Horse with No Name" ‡ | 2 February 1972 | 1 |
| 321 | T. Rex | "Telegram Sam" | 9 February 1972 | 1 |
| 322 | Chicory Tip | "Son of My Father" | 16 February 1972 | 2 |
| 323 | Don McLean | "American Pie" ‡ | 1 March 1972 | 1 |
| 324 | Nilsson | "Without You" | 8 March 1972 | 6 |
| 325 | Royal Scots Dragoon Guards | "Amazing Grace" | 19 April 1972 | 4 |
| 326 | T.Rex | "Metal Guru" | 17 May 1972 | 4 |
| 327 | Don McLean | "Vincent" | 14 June 1972 | 3 |
| 328 | Slade | "Take Me Bak 'Ome" | 5 July 1972 | 1 |
| 329 | Donny Osmond | "Puppy Love" | 12 July 1972 | 4 |
| 330 | Alice Cooper | "School's Out" | 9 August 1972 | 3 |
| 331 | Rod Stewart | "You Wear It Well" | 30 August 1972 | 2 |
| 332 | Slade | "Mama Weer All Crazee Now" | 13 September 1972 | 2 |
| 333 | T. Rex | "Children of the Revolution" ‡ | 27 September 1972 | 1 |
| 334 | David Cassidy | "How Can I Be Sure" | 4 October 1972 | 1 |
| 335 | Lieutenant Pigeon | "Mouldy Old Dough" | 11 October 1972 | 4 |
| 336 | Gilbert O'Sullivan | "Clair" | 8 November 1972 | 2 |
| 337 | Chuck Berry | "My Ding-a-Ling" | 22 November 1972 | 3 |
| 338 | Slade | "Gudbuy T'Jane" ‡ | 13 December 1972 | 1 |
| 339 | Little Jimmy Osmond | "Long Haired Lover from Liverpool" | 20 December 1972 | 4 |
| 1973 |||||
| 340 | David Bowie | "The Jean Genie" ‡ | 17 January 1973 | 1 |
| 341 | Sweet | "Blockbuster" | 24 January 1973 | 4 |
| 342 | Strawbs | "Part of the Union" ‡ | 21 February 1973 | 2 |
| 343 | Slade | "Cum On Feel the Noize" | 7 March 1973 | 3 |
| 344 | Donny Osmond | "The Twelfth of Never" | 28 March 1973 | 2 |
| 345 | Gilbert O'Sullivan | "Get Down" | 11 April 1973 | 1 |
| 346 | Dawn featuring Tony Orlando | "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" | 18 April 1973 | 5 |
| 347 | Wizzard | "See My Baby Jive" | 23 May 1973 | 2 |
| 348 | Suzi Quatro | "Can the Can" | 6 June 1973 | 3 |
| 349 | 10cc | "Rubber Bullets" | 27 June 1973 | 1 |
| 350 | Slade | "Skweeze Me, Pleeze Me" | 4 July 1973 | 2 |
| 351 | Peters and Lee | "Welcome Home" | 18 July 1973 | 2 |
| 352 | Gary Glitter | "I'm the Leader of the Gang (I Am!)" | 1 August 1973 | 4 |
| 353 | Donny Osmond | "Young Love" | 29 August 1973 | 2 |
| 354 | Wizzard | "Angel Fingers (A Teen Ballad)" | 12 September 1973 | 1 |
| 355 | David Essex | "Rock On" ‡ | 19 September 1973 | 1 |
| 356 | Sweet | "The Ballroom Blitz" ‡ | 26 September 1973 | 1 |
| 357 | Simon Park Orchestra | "Eye Level (Theme From The Thames TV Series "Van Der Valk")" | 3 October 1973 | 4 |
| 358 | David Cassidy | "The Puppy Song" / "Daydreamer" | 31 October 1973 | 2 |
| 359 | The Osmonds | "Let Me In" ‡ | 14 November 1973 | 1 |
| 360 | Gary Glitter | "I Love You Love Me Love" | 21 November 1973 | 4 |
| 361 | Slade | "Merry Christmas Everybody" | 19 December 1973 | 2 |
| 1974 |||||
| 362 | New Seekers feat. Lyn Paul | "You Won't Find Another Fool Like Me" | 2 January 1974 | 2 |
| 363 | Leo Sayer | "The Show Must Go On" ‡ | 16 January 1974 | 1 |
| 364 | Sweet | "Teenage Rampage" ‡ | 23 January 1974 | 1 |
| 365 | Mud | "Tiger Feet" | 30 January 1974 | 3 |
| 366 | Suzi Quatro | "Devil Gate Drive" | 20 February 1974 | 2 |
| 367 | Alvin Stardust | "Jealous Mind" | 6 March 1974 | 2 |
| 368 | Paper Lace | "Billy Don't Be a Hero" | 20 March 1974 | 3 |
| 369 | Terry Jacks | "Seasons in the Sun" | 10 April 1974 | 2 |
| 370 | Mud | "The Cat Crept In" ‡ | 24 April 1974 | 1 |
| 371 | ABBA | "Waterloo" | 1 May 1974 | 2 |
| 372 | The Rubettes | "Sugar Baby Love" | 15 May 1974 | 4 |
| 373 | Ray Stevens | "The Streak" | 12 June 1974 | 2 |
| 374 | Gary Glitter | "Always Yours" | 26 June 1974 | 1 |
| 375 | Charles Aznavour | "She" | 3 July 1974 | 3 |
| 376 | George McCrae | "Rock Your Baby" | 24 July 1974 | 3 |
| 377 | The Three Degrees | "When Will I See You Again" | 14 August 1974 | 3 |
| 378 | The Osmonds | "Love Me for a Reason" | 4 September 1974 | 2 |
| 379 | Carl Douglas | "Kung Fu Fighting" | 18 September 1974 | 4 |
| 380 | Peter Shelley | "Gee Baby" ‡ | 16 October 1974 | 1 |
| 381 | Ken Boothe | "Everything I Own" | 23 October 1974 | 2 |
| 382 | David Essex | "Gonna Make You a Star" | 6 November 1974 | 5 |
| 383 | Barry White | "You're the First, the Last, My Everything" | 11 December 1974 | 1 |
| 384 | Mud | "Lonely This Christmas" | 18 December 1974 | 3 |
| 1975 |||||
| 385 | Ralph McTell | "Streets of London" ‡ | 8 January 1975 | 2 |
| 386 | Status Quo | "Down Down" | 22 January 1975 | 1 |
| 387 | The Tymes | "Ms Grace" | 29 January 1975 | 1 |
| 388 | Pilot | "January" | 5 February 1975 | 2 |
| 389 | The Carpenters | "Please Mr. Postman" ‡ | 19 February 1975 | 1 |
| 390 | Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel | "Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me)" | 26 February 1975 | 1 |
| 391 | Telly Savalas | "If" | 5 March 1975 | 2 |
| 392 | Bay City Rollers | "Bye Bye Baby (Baby Goodbye)" | 19 March 1975 | 6 |
| 393 | Bobby Goldsboro | "Honey" ‡ | 30 April 1975 | 1 |
| 394 | Minnie Riperton | "Lovin' You" ‡ | 7 May 1975 | 1 |
| 395 | Tammy Wynette | "Stand by Your Man" | 14 May 1975 | 3 |
| 396 | Windsor Davies and Don Estelle | "Whispering Grass" | 4 June 1975 | 1 |
| 397 | Showaddywaddy | "Three Steps to Heaven" ‡ | 11 June 1975 | 1 |
| re | Windsor Davies and Don Estelle | "Whispering Grass" | 18 June 1975 | 1 |
| 398 | 10cc | "I'm Not in Love" | 25 June 1975 | 2 |
| 399 | Johnny Nash | "Tears on My Pillow" | 9 July 1975 | 2 |
| 400 | Bay City Rollers | "Give a Little Love" | 23 July 1975 | 1 |
| 401 | Typically Tropical | "Barbados" | 30 July 1975 | 2 |
| 402 | The Stylistics | "Can't Give You Anything (But My Love)" | 13 August 1975 | 2 |
| 403 | Rod Stewart | "Sailing" | 27 August 1975 | 4 |
| 404 | Leo Sayer | "Moonlighting" ‡ | 24 September 1975 | 1 |
| 405 | David Essex | "Hold Me Close" | 1 October 1975 | 3 |
| 406 | Art Garfunkel | "I Only Have Eyes for You" | 22 October 1975 | 2 |
| 407 | David Bowie | "Space Oddity" | 5 November 1975 | 2 |
| 408 | Billy Connolly | "D.I.V.O.R.C.E." | 19 November 1975 | 1 |
| 409 | Hot Chocolate | "You Sexy Thing" ‡ | 26 November 1975 | 1 |
| 410 | Queen | "Bohemian Rhapsody" | 3 December 1975 | 7 |
| 1976 |||||
| 411 | Sailor | "A Glass of Champagne" ‡ | 21 January 1976 | 1 |
| 412 | ABBA | "Mamma Mia" | 28 January 1976 | 2 |
| 413 | Slik | "Forever and Ever" | 11 February 1976 | 1 |
| 414 | The Four Seasons | "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)" | 18 February 1976 | 2 |
| 415 | Tina Charles | "I Love to Love (But My Baby Loves to Dance)" | 3 March 1976 | 3 |
| 416 | Brotherhood of Man | "Save Your Kisses for Me" | 24 March 1976 | 5 |
| 417 | ABBA | "Fernando" | 28 April 1976 | 6 |
| 418 | J. J. Barrie | "No Charge" | 9 June 1976 | 1 |
| 419 | Wings | "Silly Love Songs" ‡ | 16 June 1976 | 1 |
| 420 | The Real Thing | "You to Me Are Everything" | 23 June 1976 | 2 |
| 421 | Candi Staton | "Young Hearts Run Free" ‡ | 7 July 1976 | 1 |
| 422 | Demis Roussos | "The Roussos Phenomenon" | 14 July 1976 | 1 |
| 423 | Elton John & Kiki Dee | "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" | 21 July 1976 | 7 |
| 424 | ABBA | "Dancing Queen" | 8 September 1976 | 5 |
| 425 | Pussycat | "Mississippi" | 13 October 1976 | 3 |
| 426 | Chicago | "If You Leave Me Now" | 3 November 1976 | 4 |
| 427 | Showaddywaddy | "Under the Moon of Love" | 1 December 1976 | 3 |
| 428 | Johnny Mathis | "When a Child Is Born" | 22 December 1976 | 3 |
| 1977 |||||
| 429 | David Soul | "Don't Give Up on Us" | 12 January 1977 | 2 |
| 430 | Julie Covington | "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" | 26 January 1977 | 1 |
| re | David Soul | "Don't Give Up on Us" | 2 February 1977 | 1 |
| re | Julie Covington | "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" | 9 February 1977 | 2 |
| 431 | Leo Sayer | "When I Need You" | 23 February 1977 | 2 |
| 432 | The Manhattan Transfer | "Chanson D'Amour" | 9 March 1977 | 2 |
| 433 | ABBA | "Knowing Me, Knowing You" | 23 March 1977 | 6 |
| 434 | Deniece Williams | "Free" | 4 May 1977 | 3 |
| 435 | Rod Stewart | "I Don't Want to Talk About It" / "The First Cut Is the Deepest" | 25 May 1977 | 3 |
| 436 | Sex Pistols | "God Save the Queen" ‡ | 15 June 1977 | 1 |
| 437 | The Jacksons | "Show You the Way to Go" | 22 June 1977 | 2 |
| 438 | Hot Chocolate | "So You Win Again" | 6 July 1977 | 1 |
| 439 | Boney M. | "Ma Baker" ‡ | 13 July 1977 | 1 |
| 440 | Donna Summer | "I Feel Love" | 20 July 1977 | 5 |
| 441 | Brotherhood of Man | "Angelo" | 24 August 1977 | 1 |
| 442 | Elvis Presley | "Way Down" | 31 August 1977 | 1 |
| 443 | Space | "Magic Fly" ‡ | 7 September 1977 | 3 |
| re | Elvis Presley | "Way Down" | 28 September 1977 | 2 |
| 444 | David Soul | "Silver Lady" | 12 October 1977 | 1 |
| 445 | Baccara | "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" | 19 October 1977 | 1 |
| 446 | Rod Stewart | "You're in My Heart" ‡ | 26 October 1977 | 1 |
| re | Baccara | "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie" | 2 November 1977 | 1 |
| 447 | ABBA | "The Name of the Game" | 9 November 1977 | 2 |
| 448 | Status Quo | "Rockin' All Over the World" ‡ | 23 November 1977 | 1 |
| 449 | Wings | "Mull of Kintyre" | 30 November 1977 | 9 |
| 1978 |||||
| 450 | Althea & Donna | "Uptown Top Ranking" | 1 February 1978 | 2 |
| 451 | ABBA | "Take a Chance on Me" | 15 February 1978 | 3 |
| 452 | Kate Bush | "Wuthering Heights" | 8 March 1978 | 3 |
| 453 | Blondie | "Denis" ‡ | 29 March 1978 | 2 |
| 454 | Showaddywaddy | "I Wonder Why" ‡ | 12 April 1978 | 1 |
| 455 | Bee Gees | "Night Fever" | 19 April 1978 | 4 |
| 456 | Boney M. | "Rivers of Babylon" | 17 May 1978 | 4 |
| 457 | John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John | "You're the One That I Want" | 14 June 1978 | 10 |
| 458 | Commodores | "Three Times a Lady" | 23 August 1978 | 4 |
| 459 | 10cc | "Dreadlock Holiday" | 20 September 1978 | 2 |
| 460 | John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John | "Summer Nights" | 4 October 1978 | 6 |
| 461 | The Boomtown Rats | "Rat Trap" | 8 November 1978 | 3 |
| 462 | Rod Stewart | "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" | 29 November 1978 | 1 |
| 463 | Boney M. | "Mary's Boy Child – Oh My Lord" | 6 December 1978 | 4 |
| 1979 |||||
| 464 | Village People | "Y.M.C.A." | 3 January 1979 | 3 |
| 465 | Ian Dury | "Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick" | 24 January 1979 | 2 |
| 466 | Blondie | "Heart of Glass" | 7 February 1979 | 1 |
| 467 | ABBA | "Chiquitita" ‡ | 14 February 1979 | 1 |
| re | Blondie | "Heart of Glass" | 21 February 1979 | 2 |
| 468 | Bee Gees | "Tragedy" | 7 March 1979 | 1 |
| 469 | Elvis Costello | "Oliver's Army" ‡ | 14 March 1979 | 1 |
| 470 | Gloria Gaynor | "I Will Survive" | 21 March 1979 | 2 |
| 471 | Village People | "In the Navy" ‡ | 4 April 1979 | 1 |
| 472 | Art Garfunkel | "Bright Eyes" | 11 April 1979 | 5 |
| 473 | M | "Pop Muzik" ‡ | 16 May 1979 | 1 |
| re | Art Garfunkel | "Bright Eyes" | 23 May 1979 | 1 |
| 474 | Blondie | "Sunday Girl" | 30 May 1979 | 1 |
| 475 | Roxy Music | "Dance Away" ‡ | 6 June 1979 | 1 |
| 476 | Anita Ward | "Ring My Bell" | 13 June 1979 | 3 |
| 477 | Tubeway Army | "Are "Friends" Electric?" | 4 July 1979 | 2 |
| 478 | Janet Kay | "Silly Games" ‡ | 18 July 1979 | 1 |
| re | Tubeway Army | "Are "Friends" Electric?" | 25 July 1979 | 2 |
| 479 | The Boomtown Rats | "I Don't Like Mondays" | 8 August 1979 | 4 |
| 480 | Cliff Richard | "We Don't Talk Anymore" | 5 September 1979 | 3 |
| 481 | Gary Numan | "Cars" | 26 September 1979 | 2 |
| 482 | The Police | "Message in a Bottle" | 10 October 1979 | 2 |
| 483 | The Buggles | "Video Killed the Radio Star" | 24 October 1979 | 2 |
| 484 | Lena Martell | "One Day at a Time" | 7 November 1979 | 1 |
| 485 | Dr. Hook | "When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman" | 14 November 1979 | 4 |
| 486 | The Police | "Walking on the Moon" | 12 December 1979 | 1 |
| 487 | Pink Floyd | "Another Brick in the Wall (Part II)" | 19 December 1979 | 4 |