Stayin' Alive in '78: Ranking the Top Pop Songs That Took Over the Charts, Including the Bee Gees' Multiple #1 Hits

The Number One Hits Of 1978:

December 24, 1977 – January 13, 1978
Bee Gees
How Deep Is Your Love
The Bee Gees were a British-Australian pop music group formed by three brothers: Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb.
How Deep Is Your Love is a romantic ballad that became one of the group’s most enduring and beloved hits.
January 14, 1978 – January 20, 1978
Player
Baby Come Back
Player is an American rock band that succeeded in the late 1970s with its soft rock sound.
Baby Come Back is a smooth and catchy tune about a man pleading for his lover’s return.
January 21, 1978 – February 3, 1978
Rod Stewart
You’re In My Heart (The Final Acclaim)
Rod Stewart is a British rock singer-songwriter with a distinctive raspy voice.
You’re In My Heart is a heartfelt ballad that mixes themes of romance and Stewart’s love of soccer.
February 4, 1978 – February 17, 1978
Bee Gees
Stayin’ Alive
The song’s rhythm, with approximately 103 beats per minute, closely matches the recommended rate of chest compressions during CPR, which is 100-120 compressions per minute. As a result, “Stayin’ Alive” has been informally referred to as a song that can help individuals maintain the correct tempo while administering CPR, potentially increasing the chances of successful resuscitation. This unique connection between the song and life-saving techniques has contributed to its enduring popularity and cultural significance beyond its role as a disco anthem.
February 18, 1978 – March 3, 1978
Andy Gibb
Love Is Thicker Than Water

Barry Gibb initially wrote “(Love is) Thicker than Water” with the intention of giving it to American singer Andy Gibb, his younger brother who was also pursuing a music career. Andy Gibb was just starting his solo career and was enjoying great success at the time.

However, when Andy Gibb heard the song, he suggested that Barry should release it himself. Barry eventually decided to record the song and release it under his own name. This marked the first time Barry Gibb released a solo single, and it became a significant hit for him as well.

March 4, 1978 – March 17, 1978
Bee Gees
Night Fever

During the recording process, the Bee Gees had initially named the song “Night Fever (Lowdown and Dirty).” However, as they continued working on the track, they shortened the title to Night Fever. The change was made to give the song a more universal appeal and to avoid any potential negative connotations associated with the original title.

The decision to drop “Lowdown and Dirty” from the song’s title turned out to be a wise move, as “Night Fever” went on to become one of the Bee Gees’ signature songs and a disco anthem of the era.

March 18, 1978 – May 12, 1978
Yvonne Elliman
If I Can’t Have You
Yvonne Elliman is an American singer known for her role as Mary Magdalene in the original Jesus Christ Superstar.
If I Can’t Have You, also from the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack, became Elliman’s biggest hit and a disco classic.
May 13, 1978 – June 2, 1978
Wings
With A Little Luck
Wings was a British-American rock band formed by former Beatle Paul McCartney and his wife Linda McCartney.
With A Little Luck is an upbeat, synth-driven song that became a chart-topping hit for the band.
June 3, 1978 – June 23, 1978
Johnny Mathis and Deniece Williams
Too Much, Too Little, Too Late
Johnny Mathis is an American singer known for his smooth voice and romantic ballads; Deniece Williams is an American singer-songwriter known for her powerful four-octave vocal range.
Too Much, Too Little, Too Late is a duet that became a major hit, showcasing the vocal talents of both Mathis and Williams
June 24, 1978 – July 7, 1978
Andy Gibb
Shadow Dancing

While Andy Gibb is credited as the sole songwriter of the song, he sought advice and assistance from his brother Barry during its creation. Andy struggled to develop a suitable melody for the track, so he turned to Barry for help. Barry then suggested a melody that he had previously written but had not used for any of his own songs.

Taking his brother’s advice, Andy incorporated Barry’s melody into “Shadow Dancing” and crafted the rest of the song around it. The collaboration between the Gibb brothers resulted in a catchy and infectious disco-pop tune that resonated with audiences worldwide.

This little-known fact highlights the supportive and collaborative nature within the Gibb family. It showcases the influence and musical synergy between Andy and his older brothers, who were members of the Bee Gees. It also sheds light on the creative process behind “Shadow Dancing” and the shared musical talents within the Gibb family.

July 8, 1978 – July 14, 1978
Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
Still the Same
Bob Seger is an American singer-songwriter and musician known for his distinctive raspy voice and blue-collar themes.
Still the Same is a rock song that became one of Seger’s most successful singles.
July 15, 1978 – August 25, 1978
The Rolling Stones
Miss You
The Rolling Stones is a British rock band formed in 1962, consisting of members Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts, and Ronnie Wood.
Miss You is a danceable track that showcases the band’s willingness to experiment with disco influences.
August 26, 1978 – September 29, 1978
Frankie Valli
Grease
Frankie Valli is an American singer and actor, best known as the lead singer of The Four Seasons.
Grease is the title track for the 1978 musical film and became one of Valli’s most successful solo hits.
September 30, 1978 – October 6, 1978
A Taste of Honey
Boogie Oogie Oogie
A Taste of Honey was an American band formed in 1971, featuring Janice-Marie Johnson and Hazel Payne.
Boogie Oogie Oogie is a catchy disco track that became the band’s most successful single.
October 7, 1978 – October 13, 1978
Exile
Kiss You All Over
Exile is an American band initially known for their pop and disco hits before transitioning to country music in the 1980s.
Kiss You All Over is a sensual pop track that became the band’s biggest hit.
October 14, 1978 – November 3, 1978
Nick Gilder
Hot Child in the City
Nick Gilder is a British-Canadian musician known for his glam rock and pop-rock style.
Hot Child in the City is an infectious pop-rock song that became Gilder’s most successful single.
November 4, 1978 – November 10, 1978
Anne Murray
You Needed Me
Anne Murray is a Canadian singer known for her warm and expressive voice, with a career spanning various genres, including country, pop, and adult contemporary.
You Needed Me is a heartfelt ballad that showcases Murray’s vocal talents and became one of her biggest hits.
November 11, 1978 – November 17, 1978
Donna Summer
MacArthur Park
Donna Summer was an American singer and songwriter, often referred to as the “Queen of Disco.”
MacArthur Park is a disco-infused cover of a 1968 song by Richard Harris, with Summer’s version becoming a major hit.
November 18, 1978 – December 1, 1978
The Bee Gees
Too Much Heaven
Too Much Heaven is a harmonious ballad that showcases the distinctive falsetto vocals of the group members and became one of their many chart-topping hits.
December 2, 1978 – December 8, 1978
Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond
You Don’t Bring Me Flowers
Barbra Streisand is an American singer, actress, and filmmaker known for her powerful voice; Neil Diamond is an American singer-songwriter known for his emotionally charged performances and signature style.
You Don’t Bring Me Flowers is a poignant duet that became a popular hit, showcasing the vocal talents of both Streisand and Diamond.
December 9, 1978 – January 5, 1979
Chic
Le Freak
Chic is an American band formed in 1976, featuring Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards, known for their disco and funk hits.
Le Freak is an infectious dance track that became one of the band’s most successful singles and a defining song of the disco era.

The Biggest Pop Artists of 1978 include:
Abba, Andy Gibb, Anne Murray, Ashford & Simpson, Barbra Streisand, Barry Manilow, The Bee Gees, Billy Joel, Chic, The Commodores, Con Funk Shun, Daryl Hall & John Oates, Debby Boone, Dolly Parton, Donna Summer, The Eagles, Earth, Wind & Fire, Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), The Emotions, Evelyn ‘Champagne’ King, Fleetwood Mac, Foreigner, George Benson, George Duke, Geey Rafferty, Heatwave, Jefferson Starship, John Travolta, Johnny Mathis, KC & the Sunshine Band, Kiss, Leo Sayer, Linda Ronstadt, LTD (Love, Togetherness and Devotion), Marilyn McCoo & Billy Davis Jr, Olivia Newton-John, Parliament/ Funkadelic, Paul Davis, Paul McCartney & Wings, Player, Quincy Jones, Roberta Flack, Rod Stewart, The Rolling Stones, Rose Royce, Rufus featuring Chaka Kahn, Shaun Cassidy, Smokey Robinson, Steely Dan, Stevie Wonder, Teddy Pendergast

(HPS music data is compiled from charts, including Billboard’s Pop, Rock, Airplay, R&B/Dance, and Singles Charts. The Hot 100 is the primary chart used for this list.)

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