1970s

(click the logo to hear an early 70s jingle)

1970:

AT40 debuts for the Fourth of July Weekend. The first number one song on AT40 was "Mama Told Me Not to Come" by Three Dog Night

The number one song of the year was "Bridge Over Troubled Water" by Simon and Garfunkel

News headlines from 1970 included: At Kent State University, National Guardsmen fire into a crowd protesting the Vietnam War, killing four and wounding eight.

1971:

The number one song of the year was "Joy to the World" by Three Dog Night

AT40's first special, "Top 40 Recording Acts of the Rock Era" airs during the weekend of 1 May 1971

News headlines from 1971 included: George Harrison plays host at a rock 'n' roll benefit for Bangladesh is held in New York's Madison Square Garden

1972:

The number one song of the year is "First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" by Roberta Flack

AT40 specials include "All Time Rock and Roll Countdown", "National Album Countdown", and "Top 40 Recording Acts of the Past Five Years"

News headlines from 1972 included: The 1950s musical Grease opens on Broadway, setting the tone for a nostalgia craze that will sweep the nation.

1973:

The number one song of the year is "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" by Dawn featuring Tony Orlando

AT40 specials include "Top 40 Hits of the Past 5 Years", "Top 40 Disappearing Acts of the Rock Era", "Top 40 Acts of the Rock Era", and "All-Time Christmas Countdown"

News headlines from 1973 included: In March, Pink Floyd releases Dark Side of the Moon. It would remain on Billboard's album charts for over 741 weeks (15 1/2 years), easily surpassing the previous longevity record of 490 weeks for Johnny Mathis' Greatest Hits. (The album continues to chart at times in the 21st century.)

1974:

The number one song of the year is "The Way We Were" by Barbara Streisand

AT40 specials include "The Top 40 Most Extraordinary British Hits of the Rock Era", "Top 40 Acts of the 1970s", and "Top 10 Producers of the 70s"

News headlines from 1974 included: Streaking -- running naked for a few moments in a public place -- becomes a fad.

(click the logo to hear a jingle from the late 70s)  

1975:

The number one song of the year is "Love Will Keep Us Together" by The Captain and Tennille

AT40 specials include "Top 40 Disappearing Acts of the Rock Era", "American Top 40's First Show", and "The 40 Rock and Roll Acts of the 1950s"

News Headlines from 1975 include: President Ford escapes assassination twice within 17 days.

1976:

The number one song of the year is "Silly Love Songs" by Wings

AT40 specials include "The #1 Songs on the 4th of July, 1937-1976", and "The Top 40 Songs of the Beatles Years"

News headlines from 1976 include: America celebrates its Bicentennial in grand style

1977:

The number one song of the year is "I Just Want to Be Your Everything" by Andy Gibb

AT40 specials include "Top 40 Songs about Women"

News headlines from 1977 include: CB radios in cars and trucks are so popular that they begin interfering with radio and TV signals.

1978:

The number one song of the year is "Shadow Dancing" by Andy Gibb

AT40 specials include "Top 40 Songs from the Movies", and "Top 40 Acts of the 70s"

The first Long Distance Dedication is played in August. The show also expands to 4 hours in October.

News headlines from 1978 include: The first "test tube baby" is born to a British couple

1979:

The number one song of the year is "My Sharona" by the Knack

AT40 specials include "Top 40 Disco Hits" and "Top 50 Hits of the 1970s"

News headlines from 1979 include: Mother Teresa, the empress of charity, accepts the Nobel Peace Prize.