September 1977 -- the best of everything

An excellent late 70's countdown today -- it's peak disco, but country, rock, R&B, funk, and a/c all have representation.  Notable newcomer is Ronnie Milsap, who went on to have a nice run of country pop crossovers through 1983.

I listened to a few 1977 countdowns a year ago, and through them have been the only times I've ever heard "Edge of the Universe" by the Bee Gees, despite owning a very extensive greatest hits and that this is right when they were about to release "Saturday Night Fever" and have 10 #1's in a row.  Likewise, I'd never heard "Black Betty" or Meri Wilson's embarrassing "Telephone Man."  Ditto on the Elvis song, which re-enters this week, rebounding in the wake of his death.  Highest charting one I didn't know..."Float On" by the Floaters, which went to #2, a nice R&B ballad typical of the era.

But it you've ever listened to 70's music, this chart is full of long lasting favorites.  The biggest was at #2 this week -- Andy Gibb's "I Just Want to Be Your Everything" which had already been at #1 for 3 weeks, yet in 2 more weeks would rebound to #1, the longest such gap until 2013.  It hung out on the charts long enough to be listed in Billboards top 100 of the biggest hits of all time.

My favorites:  Andy Gibb, Ronnie Milsap, and the best, "Cold as Ice" by Foreigner.

1 1 BEST OF MY LOVE –•– The Emotions (Columbia)-13 (3 weeks at #1) (1)
2 2 I JUST WANT TO BE YOUR EVERYTHING –•– Andy Gibb (RSO)-20 (1)
3 3 (Your Love Has Lifted Me) HIGHER AND HIGHER –•– Rita Coolidge (A&M)-18 (3)
4 4 EASY –•– The Commodores (Motown)-14 (4)
5 5 HANDY MAN –•– James Taylor (Columbia)-12 (5)
6 8 FLOAT ON –•– The Floaters (ABC)-9 (6)
7 7 JUST A SONG BEFORE I GO –•– Crosby, Stills and Nash (Atlantic)-15 (7)
8 9 DON’T STOP –•– Fleetwood Mac (Warner Brothers)-9 (8)
9 10 STRAWBERRY LETTER 23 –•– The Brothers Johnson (A&M)-10 (9)
10 13 TELEPHONE LINE –•– Electric Light Orchestra (United Artists / Jet)-13 (10)

11 12 BARRACUDA –•– Heart (Portrait)-15 (11)
12 14 SMOKE FROM A DISTANT FIRE –•– The Sanford / Townsend Band (Warner Brothers)-12 (12)
13 16 STAR WARS (Main Title) –•– The London Symphony Orchestra / John Williams (20th Century)-9 (13)
14 6 WHATCHA GONNA DO? –•– Pablo Cruise (A&M)-21 (6)
15 15 GIVE A LITTLE BIT –•– Supertramp (A&M)-14 (15)
16 20 COLD AS ICE –•– Foreigner (Atlantic)-7 (16)
17 17 HOW MUCH LOVE –•– Leo Sayer (Warner Brothers)-9 (17)
18 19 BLACK BETTY –•– Ram Jam (Epic)-13 (18)
19 21 ON AND ON –•– Stephen Bishop (ABC)-17 (19)
20 22 SWAYIN’ TO THE MUSIC (Slow Dancin’) –•– Johnny Rivers (Big Tree)-11 (20)

21 24 KEEP IT COMIN’ LOVE –•– K.C. and the Sunshine Band (T.K.)-6 (21)
22 11 I’M IN YOU –•– Peter Frampton (A&M)-15 (2)
23 30 THAT’S ROCK ‘N’ ROLL –•– Shaun Cassidy (Warner Brothers / Curb)-7 (23)
24 29 DON’T WORRY BABY –•– B.J. Thomas (MCA)-10 (24)
25 27 CHRISTINE SIXTEEN –•– Kiss (Casablanca)-8 (25)
26 28 EDGE OF THE UNIVERSE –•– Bee Gees (RSO)-7 (26)
27 38 “STAR WARS” THEME / CANTINA BAND (Medley) –•– Meco (Millennium)-5 (27)
28 18 TELEPHONE MAN –•– Meri Wilson (GRT)-14 (18)
29 39 NOBODY DOES IT BETTER –•– Carly Simon (Elektra)-7 (29)
30 40 BOOGIE NIGHTS –•– Heatwave (Epic)-7 (30)

31 35 IT WAS ALMOST LIKE A SONG –•– Ronnie Milsap (RCA)-12 (31)
32 34 SO YOU WIN AGAIN –•– Hot Chocolate (Big Tree)-8 (32)
33 33 YOU MADE ME BELIEVE IN MAGIC –•– The Bay City Rollers (Arista)-14 (10)
34 36 HARD ROCK CAFE –•– Carole King (Capitol)-7 (34)
35 53 WAY DOWN –•– Elvis Presley (RCA)-11 (31)
36 23 DO YOU WANNA MAKE LOVE –•– Peter McCann (20th Century)-20 (5)
37 25 YOU AND ME –•– Alice Cooper (Warner Brothers)-19 (9)
38 43 JUNGLE LOVE –•– The Steve Miller Band (Capitol)-5 (38)
39 42 THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL –•– George Benson (Arista)-6 (39)
40 44 I FEEL LOVE –•– Donna Summer (Casablanca)-5 (40)