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.

 

81.

THIS TIME BABY

Jackie Moore 1 week

The only Disco Chart #1 by the female singer from Jacksonville, Florida.

82.

HERE COMES THAT SOUND AGAIN

Love De-Luxe 1 week

Only Disco Chart entry for the studio group with vocalists Vicki Brown and Jo-Ann Stone. The act was recruited by producer Alan Hawkshaw. This #1 was also credited to Love De-Luxe with Hawkshaw’s Discophonia.

83.

THE BOSS {all cuts}

Diana Ross 2 weeks

Second Disco Chart #1 from the Queen of Motown. The album was written and produced by Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson. Among its key songs are “No One Gets The Prize” and the title track.

84.

FOUND A CURE / STAY FREE / NOBODY KNOWS

Ashford & Simpson 2 weeks

The only Disco Chart #1 for married couple Nickolas Ashford and Valerie Simpson. The singer/ songwriter/ producers replaced their Diana Ross project ‘The Boss’ at the top with this trio of cuts from the ‘Stay Free’ album.

85.

COME TO ME  / DON’T STOP DANCING / PLAYBOY

France Joli 3 weeks

Three tracks from the Canadian dance vocalist’s self-titled album. Her next 2 chart entries peaked in the Top 3: “Feel Like Dancing / The Heart To Break The Heart” (1980) and “Gonna Get Over You” (1981). 

86.

MOVE ON UP / UP UP UP / DESTINATION’S THEME

Destination 4 weeks

Only Disco Chart #1 from the New York disco trio. “Move On Up” is a remake of the Curtis Mayfield 1970 R&B hit.  

87.

HARMONY / OOH, LA, LA

Suzy Lane 1 week

Only Disco Chart entry from the female singer.

88.

BEAT OF THE NIGHT / PUMP IT UP

Fever 1 week

The only Disco Chart #1 by the disco group from Ohio.

89.

NO MORE TEARS (ENOUGH IS ENOUGH)

Donna Summer & Barbra Streisand 4 weeks

Donna Summer further extended her lead with a ninth Disco Chart #1. This was a duet recorded with Barbra Streisand who had previously charted with the #13 “The Main Event / Fight”. Summer continued racking up Top 10 hits with: “On The Radio”, The Wanderer”, “Love Is In Control (Finger On The Trigger)”, “She Works Hard For The Money”, “This Time I Know It’s For Real” and “Love’s About To Change My Heart”. She returned to the top with: “Melody Of Love (Wanna Be Loved)” in 1995, “I Will Go With You (Con Te Partiró)” and “Love Is The Healer”  in 1999, “I’m A Fire” and “Stamp Your Feet” in 2008, “Fame {The Game)” in 2009, “”To Paris With Love” in 2010 and a remix of “Macarthur Park” and “Hot Stuff” in 2013 and 2018 respectively.

90.

DEPUTY OF LOVE

Don Armando’s Second Avenue Rhumba Band 2 weeks

The last Disco Chart #1 of 1979 was the only entry from the disco group headed by Don Armando Bonilla, percussionist with Dr. Buzzard’s Original “Savannah” Band. The lead vocals were performed by Fonda Rae.