THE First 100 BILLBOARD DISCO CHART No. 1s. More: tomorrow.

Caffè  Lattè looks back on:

 

60 YEARS

OF THE

BILLBOARD

DISCO/DANCE

CHART

 

Billboard began ranking the top Disco and Dance tracks in 1974. Six decades of dancefloor favourites have kept us in discotheques and clubs to this day. This is a focus on the first 100 number ones on that chart which span the Disco Era:

 

THE FIRST 100 NUMBER ONE TRACKS

Oct. 26^th, 1974:         The Disco Chart debuts in Billboard.

 

21.

THAT’S WHERE THE HAPPY PEOPLE GO

The Trammps 2 weeks

A disco group from Philadelphia that first charted with “Trusting Heart” in 1974. Next entries “Stop And Think” and “Hooked For Life” both peaked at #5 in 1975.

22.

DISCO PARTY

The Trammps 5 weeks

The Trammps became the first act to replace itself at #1 on the Disco Chart; a rare achievement on this Billboard listing.

23.

TROUBLE-MAKER

Roberta Kelly 2 weeks

Only Disco Chart #1 for the black performer.

24.

HEAVEN MUST BE MISSING AN ANGEL

Tavares 2 weeks

Family act from Massachusetts consisting of brothers. First Disco chart entry “It Only Takes A Minute” peaked at #2 for 5 weeks in 1975.

25.

BEST DISCO IN TOWN

The Ritchie Family 1 week

Second Disco Chart #1 for the trio, it was a medley of dancefloor favourites including previous chart-toppers: “I Love Music”, “Fly Robin Fly” and “Brazil”.

26.

YOU SHOULD BE DANCING

The Bee Gees 7 weeks

Hard to believe that a group that was so integral to the success of disco only had 3 Disco Chart entries and that “You Should Be Dancing" is the only Bee Gees #1! “Stayin’ Alive/ Night Fever / More Than A Woman” peaked at #3 in 1978 and “Tragedy” reached #22 the following year.

27.

CHERCHEZ LA FEMME / SOUR AND SWEET/ I’LL PLAY THE FOOL

Dr. Buzzard’s Original Savannah Band 1 week

The only Disco chart #1 from the Brooklyn, New York group.

28.

MY SWEET SUMMER SUITE / BRAZILIAN LOVE SONG

Love Unlimited Orchestra 3 weeks (non-consecutive)

Instrumental #1s from the disco studio orchestra conducted and arranged by Barry White. Incredibly, he never topped the chart in his own right, but peaked at #2 with “You’re the First, The Last, My Everything” in 1974.

29.

MIDNIGHT LOVE AFFAIR / CRIME DON’T PAY

Carol Douglas 1 week

Disco singer from Brooklyn, New York best remembered for “Doctor’s Orders” which peaked at #2 in 1974. She later charted in 1977 with a cover of ABBA’s “Dancing Queen”.

30.

DOWN TO LOVE TOWN

The Originals 1 week

Sole Disco Chart #1 from Detroit R&B vocal group on the Motown label. Second and final entry was “Call Me Your Six Million Dollar Man / Hurry Up And Wait / Been Decided” in 1977.