List of Hot Soul Singles number ones of 1978
Billboard published a weekly chart in 1978 ranking the top-performing singles in the United States in soul music and related African American-oriented genres; the chart has undergone various name changes over the decades to reflect the evolution of black music and since 2005 has been published as Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[1] In 1978, it was published under the title Hot Soul Singles,[2] and 22 different singles reached number one.
Three acts which formed part of George Clinton's Parliament-Funkadelic collective, known for its eclectic mix of funk and hard rock and its use of surreal futuristic imagery, topped the chart in 1978.[3] In the issue of Billboard dated March 4, Parliament reached number one for the first time with "Flash Light".[4] After three weeks in the top spot, the single was displaced by "Bootzilla" by Bootsy's Rubber Band, led by bass guitarist Bootsy Collins, one of the collective's principal members.[5][6] Finally, in September, Funkadelic gained its first chart-topper with "One Nation Under a Groove (Part 1)".[7] Both Parliament and Funkadelic featured largely the same musicians, with the different names reflecting differing styles of music.[8] "One Nation Under a Groove (Part 1)" was the year's longest-running chart-topper, spending six weeks at number one. The track is regarded as a classic of the funk genre and was included on a list of 500 songs that shaped rock and roll compiled by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[9]
Several other acts gained the first soul number ones of their respective careers in 1978, beginning in the issue of Billboard dated January 7 when Con Funk Shun topped the chart with "Ffun".[10] In February, both Stargard and Enchantment reached number one for the first time with "Theme Song from 'Which Way Is Up'" and "It's You That I Need", respectively.[11] Both Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams topped the chart for the first time when they collaborated on "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late" in April, and Quincy Jones, a successful producer, composer and band leader since the 1950s, gained his first chart-topping soul single in his own right with "Stuff Like That".[12] Later in the year, Teddy Pendergrass achieved his first solo number one after having been previously successful as the lead singer of Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, and Rick James, A Taste of Honey and Foxy all reached the top of the chart for the first time.[13] The year's final chart-topper "Le Freak" was another debut number one, as Chic reached the top spot for the first time in the issue of Billboard dated December 2 and stayed there for the remainder of the year.[14] The song is regarded as a classic of the disco genre and was selected in 2018 for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".[15]
Chart history
Issue date | Title | Artist(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
January 7 | "Ffun" | Con Funk Shun | [18] |
January 14 | [19] | ||
January 21 | "Our Love" | Natalie Cole | [20] |
January 28 | [21] | ||
February 4 | "Theme Song from 'Which Way Is Up'" | Stargard | [22] |
February 11 | [23] | ||
February 18 | "Too Hot ta Trot" | Commodores | [24] |
February 25 | "It's You That I Need" | Enchantment | [25] |
March 4 | "Flash Light" | Parliament | [26] |
March 11 | [27] | ||
March 18 | [28] | ||
March 25 | "Bootzilla" | Bootsy's Rubber Band | [29] |
April 1 | "The Closer I Get to You" | Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway | [30] |
April 8 | [31] | ||
April 15 | "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late" | Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams | [32] |
April 22 | [33] | ||
April 29 | [34] | ||
May 6 | [35] | ||
May 13 | "Take Me to the Next Phase (Part 1)" | The Isley Brothers | [36] |
May 20 | [37] | ||
May 27 | "Use ta Be My Girl" | The O'Jays | [38] |
June 3 | [39] | ||
June 10 | [40] | ||
June 17 | [41] | ||
June 24 | [42] | ||
July 1 | "Stuff Like That" | Quincy Jones | [43] |
July 8 | "Close the Door" | Teddy Pendergrass | [44] |
July 15 | [45] | ||
July 22 | "You and I" | Rick James | [46] |
July 29 | [47] | ||
August 5 | "Boogie Oogie Oogie" | A Taste Of Honey | [48] |
August 12 | "Three Times a Lady" | Commodores | [49] |
August 19 | [50] | ||
August 26 | "Get Off" | Foxy | [51] |
September 2 | [52] | ||
September 9 | "Holding On (When Love Is Gone)" | L.T.D. | [53] |
September 16 | [54] | ||
September 23 | "Got to Get You into My Life" | Earth, Wind & Fire | [55] |
September 30 | "One Nation Under a Groove (Part 1)" | Funkadelic | [56] |
October 7 | [57] | ||
October 14 | [58] | ||
October 21 | [59] | ||
October 28 | [60] | ||
November 4 | [61] | ||
November 11 | "I'm Every Woman" | Chaka Khan | [62] |
November 18 | [63] | ||
November 25 | [64] | ||
December 2 | "Le Freak" | Chic | [65] |
December 9 | [66] | ||
December 16 | [67] | ||
December 23 | [68] | ||
December 30 | [69] |
See also
References
- ^ Molanphy, Chris (April 14, 2014). "I Know You Got Soul: The Trouble With Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Chart". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
- ^ Whitburn 1996, p. xii.
- ^ O'Hagan, Sean (December 23, 1999). "The P-Father of P-Funk". The Guardian. Archived from the original on May 11, 2014. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
- ^ Whitburn 1988, p. 330.
- ^ Whitburn 2004, p. 450.
- ^ Kalia, Ammar (June 15, 2020). "Bootsy Collins: 'We're all funky, just not all of us know it'". The Guardian. Archived from the original on October 8, 2023. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
- ^ Whitburn 1988, p. 162.
- ^ "The Over/Under: Funkadelic". Magnet. June 22, 2010. Archived from the original on July 23, 2023. Retrieved October 9, 2023.
- ^ "500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll By Song (N–P)". Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Archived from the original on September 26, 2007. Retrieved August 2, 2020.
- ^ Whitburn 1988, p. 98.
- ^ Whitburn 1988, pp. 138, 388.
- ^ Whitburn 1988, pp. 228, 278, 444.
- ^ Whitburn 1988, p. 157, 217, 324, 401.
- ^ Whitburn 1988, p. 85.
- ^ "National Recording Registry Reaches 500". Library of Congress. March 21, 2018. Archived from the original on April 16, 2018. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
- ^ "Billboard.com - Year End Charts - Year-end Singles - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 11, 2007. Retrieved June 21, 2020.
- ^ Whitburn2004, p. 807.
- ^ "R & B Chart for January 7, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 18, 2022. Retrieved August 1, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for January 14, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 30, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for January 21, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 26, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for January 28, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 5, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for February 4, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 30, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for February 11, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 20, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for February 18, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 6, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for February 25, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 30, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for March 4, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 5, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for March 11, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 24, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for March 18, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 30, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for March 25, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 13, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for April 1, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 21, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for April 8, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for April 15, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for April 22, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 30, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for April 29, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 15, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for May 6, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 30, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for May 13, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 6, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for May 20, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for May 27, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for June 3, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for June 10, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for June 17, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for June 24, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 24, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for July 1, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for July 8, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for July 15, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for July 22, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for July 29, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for August 5, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for August 12, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 20, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for August 19, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 26, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for August 26, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for September 2, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 30, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for September 9, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 22, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for September 16, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on August 20, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for September 23, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 13, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for September 30, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 20, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for October 7, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 30, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for October 14, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 30, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for October 21, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for October 28, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 28, 2021. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for November 4, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 18, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for November 11, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 21, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for November 18, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 5, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for November 25, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on July 14, 2019. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for December 2, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 30, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for December 9, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 30, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for December 16, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 10, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for December 23, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
- ^ "R & B Chart for December 30, 1978". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 30, 2018. Retrieved August 3, 2020.
Works cited
- Whitburn, Joel (1988). Joel Whitburn's Top R & B Singles, 1942–1988. Record Research Incorporated. ISBN 978-0-89820-069-0.
- Whitburn, Joel (1996). Joel Whitburn's Top R & B Singles, 1942–1995. Record Research Incorporated. ISBN 978-0-89820-115-4.
- Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research Incorporated. ISBN 978-0-89820-160-4.