Poll: US vs. UK Top 10 this week in 1978 - Pick your faves

Vote for your favourite songs from the US and UK top 10 for the week ending 11 February, 1978!

US Top 10 Singles
1 1 STAYIN’ ALIVE –•– Bee Gees (RSO) -10 (2 weeks at #1) (1)
2 2 SHORT PEOPLE –•– Randy Newman (Warner Brothers) -14 (2)
3 5 (Love Is) THICKER THAN WATER –•– Andy Gibb (RSO) -15 (3)
4 4 WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS / WE WILL ROCK YOU –•– Queen (Elektra) -17 (4)
5 6 JUST THE WAY YOU ARE –•– Billy Joel (Columbia) -14 (5)
6 8 SOMETIMES WHEN WE TOUCH –•– Dan Hill (20th Century) -12 (6)
7 3 BABY COME BACK –•– Player (RSO) -20 (1)
8 10 EMOTION –•– Samantha Sang (Private Stock) -13 (8)
9 11 DANCE, DANCE, DANCE (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah) –•– Chic (Atlantic) -16 (9)
10 7 HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE –•– Bee Gees (RSO) -21 (1)

All US Top 40 Singles for 1978 - Top40Weekly.com

UK Top 10 Singles
1 1 Brotherhood Of Man - FIGARO
2 10 Abba - TAKE A CHANCE ON ME
3 1 Althia And Donna - UPTOWN TOP RANKING
4 4 Scott Fitzgerald And Yvonne Keely - IF I HAD WORDS
5 2 Wings - MULL OF KINTYRE / GIRL'S SCHOOL
6 5 Odyssey - NATIVE NEW YORKER
7 7 Bill Withers - LOVELY DAY
8 13 Baccara - SORRY I'M A LADY
9 6 Donna Summer - LOVE'S UNKIND
10 9 Bob Marley And The Wailers - JAMMING / PUNKY REGGAE PARTY

Complete UK Charts - Page 14

Here's a recap video I made featuring all of the songs:

 

I prefer the US top 10, thanks to the Bee Gees domination.

 

Great idea!

Chose:
Bee Gees/Andy Gibb songs
Queen (Champions)
Billy Joel
Dan Hill (As long as I don’t have to watch him perform it.)
Player
Samantha Sang
ABBA
Both Wings songs
Odyssey
Bill Withers
Donna Summer

 

I hate "Sometimes When We Touch".

 

Why on earth was 'Love's Unkind' not released as a single in the US, it's one of Donna Summer's best songs!

 

Oh, come on man. The honesty’s too much!

 

Sorry gonna have to pass on this one.

Based on the lists provided, with a couple notable exceptions, this week in 1978 was a pretty weak as far as "hits" are concerned.

 

That US chart is amazing, WOW.

1,2,4,5,7,8,10

On the UK chart, Lovely Day and Jammin, get my vote.

But 1978 was great for the Hot 100. Short People should've been a #1 hit.

 

First record by her I ever bought. Back In Love Again was the UK follow up. I bought that too.

 

Votes for "Stayin' Alive", "We Will Rock You"/"We Are the Champions", "Just the Way You Are", "How Deep is Your Love", "Take a Chance on Me", "Mull of Kintyre"/"Girls' School" and "Jammin'"/"Punky Reggae Party".

 

Rod Stewart's 'You're In My Heart' was #11 that week in the US, so that's another great one. What a week.

 

One of my favourite Rod songs.

 

The complete charts (well, almost complete):

USA
1 1 STAYIN’ ALIVE –•– Bee Gees (RSO) -10 (2 weeks at #1) (1)
2 2 SHORT PEOPLE –•– Randy Newman (Warner Brothers) -14 (2)
3 5 (Love Is) THICKER THAN WATER –•– Andy Gibb (RSO) -15 (3)
4 4 WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS / WE WILL ROCK YOU –•– Queen (Elektra) -17 (4)
5 6 JUST THE WAY YOU ARE –•– Billy Joel (Columbia) -14 (5)
6 8 SOMETIMES WHEN WE TOUCH –•– Dan Hill (20th Century) -12 (6)
7 3 BABY COME BACK –•– Player (RSO) -20 (1)
8 10 EMOTION –•– Samantha Sang (Private Stock) -13 (8)
9 11 DANCE, DANCE, DANCE (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah) –•– Chic (Atlantic) -16 (9)
10 7 HOW DEEP IS YOUR LOVE –•– Bee Gees (RSO) -21 (1)

11 9 YOU’RE IN MY HEART (The Final Acclaim) –•– Rod Stewart (Warner Brothers) -16 (4)
12 12 HEY DEANIE –•– Shaun Cassidy (Warner Brothers / Curb) -14 (7)
13 14 SERPENTINE FIRE –•– Earth, Wind and Fire (Columbia) -16 (13)
14 16 I GO CRAZY –•– Paul Davis (Bang) -25 (14)
15 20 PEG –•– Steely Dan (ABC) -13 (15)
16 17 DESIREE –•– Neil Diamond (Columbia) -11 (16)
17 19 DON’T LET ME BE MISUNDERSTOOD –•– Santa Esmeralda Starring Leroy Gomez (Casablanca) -15 (17)
18 28 LAY DOWN SALLY –•– Eric Clapton (RSO) -6 (18)
19 21 WHAT’S YOUR NAME –•– Lynyrd Skynyrd (MCA) -11 (19)
20 22 THEME FROM “CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND” –•– John Williams (Arista) -8 (20)

21 23 LONG, LONG WAY FROM HOME –•– Foreigner (Atlantic) -10 (21)
22 24 NATIVE NEW YORKER –•– Odyssey (RCA) -14 (22)
23 13 TURN TO STONE –•– Electric Light Orchestra (Jet) -13 (13)
24 26 TOO HOT TA TROT –•– The Commodores (Motown) -9 (24)
25 27 FFUN –•– Con Funk Shun (Mercury) -9 (25)
26 29 THEME FROM “CLOSE ENCOUNTERS” –•– Meco (Millennium) -6 (26)
27 33 THUNDER ISLAND –•– Jay Ferguson (Asylum) -9 (27)
28 35 THE NAME OF THE GAME –•– Abba (Atlantic) -8 (28)
29 31 HAPPY ANNIVERSARY –•– Little River Band (Harvest) -9 (29)
30 30 LOVELY DAY –•– Bill Withers (Columbia) -10 (30)

31 34 STREET CORNER SERENADE –•– Wet Willie (Epic) -11 (31)
32 76 NIGHT FEVER –•– Bee Gees (RSO) -2 (32)
33 53 WONDERFUL WORLD –•– Art Garfunkel with James Taylor and Paul Simon (Columbia) -4 (33)
34 38 THE WAY YOU DO THE THINGS YOU DO –•– Rita Coolidge (A&M) -5 (34)
35 39 FALLING –•– LeBlanc and Carr (Big Tree) -18 (35)
36 40 ALWAYS AND FOREVER –•– Heatwave (Epic) -6 (36)
37 37 I LOVE YOU –•– Donna Summer (Casablanca) -9 (37)
38 51 OUR LOVE –•– Natalie Cole (Capitol) -5 (38)
39 48 JACK AND JILL –•– Raydio (Arista) -5 (39)
40 43 GALAXY –•– War (MCA) -6 (40)

DEBUTS THIS WEEK

72 — RUNNING ON EMPTY –•– Jackson Browne (Asylum) -1 (72)
73 — THANK YOU FOR BEING A FRIEND –•– Andrew Gold (Asylum) -1 (73)
81 — MAMMAS DON’T LET YOUR BABIES GROW UP TO BE COWBOYS –•– Waylon and Willie (RCA) -1 (81)
82 — HOT LEGS –•– Rod Stewart (Warner Brothers) -1 (82)
83 — BOOGIE SHOES –•– K.C. and the Sunshine Band (T.K.) -1 (83)
84 — CALIFORNIA –•– Debby Boone (Warner Brothers / Curb) -1 (84)
85 — THE CIRCLE IS SMALL (I Can See It In Your Eyes) –•– Gordon Lightfoot (Warner Brothers) -1 (85)
87 — FEELS SO GOOD –•– Chuck Mangione (A&M) -1 (87)
88 — LITTLE ONE –•– Chicago (Columbia) -1 (88)
90 — FLASH LIGHT –•– Parliament (Casablanca) -1 (90)
94 — I CAN’T HOLD ON –•– Karla Bonoff (Columbia) -1 (94)

UK
05 - 03 - 01 - Brotherhood Of Man - FIGARO
02 - 10 - 02 - Abba - TAKE A CHANCE ON ME
08 - 01 - 03 - Althia And Donna - UPTOWN TOP RANKING
05 - 04 - 04 - Scott Fitzgerald And Yvonne Keely - IF I HAD WORDS
13 - 02 - 05 - Wings - MULL OF KINTYRE / GIRL'S SCHOOL
08 - 05 - 06 - Odyssey - NATIVE NEW YORKER
05 - 07 - 07 - Bill Withers - LOVELY DAY
05 - 13 - 08 - Baccara - SORRY I'M A LADY
11 - 06 - 09 - Donna Summer - LOVE'S UNKIND
10 - 09 - 10 - Bob Marley And The Wailers - JAMMING / PUNKY REGGAE PARTY
05 - 26 - 11 - Rose Royce - WISHING ON A STAR
03 - 20 - 12 - Darts - COME BACK MY LOVE
05 - 12 - 13 - Heatwave - THE GROOVE LINE
03 - 18 - 14 - Rod Stewart - HOT LEGS / I WAS ONLY JOKING
03 - 32 - 15 - Tonight - DRUMMER MAN
03 - 16 - 16 - Electric Light Orchestra - MR BLUE SKY
05 - 15 - 17 - War - GALAXY
03 - 21 - 18 - Sweet - LOVE IS LIKE OXYGEN
12 - 11 - 19 - Chic - DANCE DANCE DANCE
07 - 17 - 20 - Imperials - WHO'S GONNA LOVE ME
05 - 33 - 21 - Gordon Giltrap - HEARTSONG
02 - 50 - 22 - Stranglers - FIVE MINUTES
05 - 23 - 23 - T-Connection - ON FIRE
03 - 24 - 24 - Rich Kids - RICH KIDS
03 - 28 - 25 - Smokie - FOR A FEW DOLLARS MORE
02 - 49 - 26 - Yellow Dog - JUST ONE MORE NIGHT
11 - 08 - 27 - Bonnie Tyler - IT'S A HEARTACHE
14 - 14 - 28 - Crystal Gayle - DON'T IT MAKE MY BROWN EYES BLUE
03 - 27 - 29 - Stargard - THEME FROM 'WHICH WAY IS UP'
1 - NEW - 30 - Billy Joel - JUST THE WAY YOU ARE
02 - 34 - 31 - Bee Gees - STAYIN' ALIVE
02 - 41 - 32 - Rita Coolidge - WORDS
02 - 43 - 33 - Samantha Sang - EMOTIONS
11 - 22 - 34 - Julie Covington - ONLY WOMEN BLEED
03 - 35 - 35 - Linda Ronstadt - BLUE BAYOU
1 - NEW - 36 - Rush - CLOSER TO THE HEART
09 - 19 - 37 - David Soul - LET'S HAVE A QUIET NIGHT IN
02 - 42 - 38 - Adverts - NO TIME TO BE 21
04 - 29 - 39 - Modern Lovers - MORNING OF OUR LIVES
02 - 47 - 40 - Radio Stars - NERVOUS WRECK
1 - NEW - 41 - Biddu - JOURNEY TO THE MOON
1 - NEW - 42 - Kate Bush - WUTHERING HEIGHTS
1 - NEW - 43 - Peter Brown - DO YA WANNA GET FUNKY WITH ME
1 - NEW - 44 - Jacksons - EVEN THOUGH YOU'RE GONE
1 - NEW - 45 - Carpenters - SWEET SWEET SMILE
1 - NEW - 46 - Magazine - SHOT BY BOTH SIDES
04 - 38 - 47 - Eddie And The Hotrods - QUIT THIS TOWN
04 - 45 - 48 - People's Choice - JAM JAM JAM
1 - NEW - 49 - Earth Wind And Fire - FANTASY
03 - 44 - 50 - Roberta Kelly - ZODIACS

 

'If I Had Words' is the worst song for me in both top 10s, followed by 'Figaro'.

 

Managed four.

 

and I did grow up on East 83rd...

 

Stayin' Alive and Take A Chance On Me

 

Based on the U.S. chart, the 45's I'd have would be #1 - 3, 6, 9 (via original Buddah 45), 13, 15, 18, 22, 23, 32 and 36. From the U.K. chart, in my collection are #6, 13, 18, 19, 31 and 49.

I see there are a few intersections, based on US / UK: #1 / 31, #5 / 30, #8 / 33, #9 / 19, #30 / 7, #40 / 17 and #82 / 14(A).

 

If it wasn't for both Wings songs on that list, I'd be be fine if the whole concept of music didn't exist... if I was only stuck with all that other dreck.
It's one of the rare times I can heartily support both sides of a Wings single too. There are only about four times in their career releases that could happen.

 

Ooh yeah, I was 12 in Feb '78.

Decided to limit myself to just one pick, and it's ABBA all the way, baby! Not only did they bestride the pop charts of my childhood, but that one's a cracker.

 

Both Bee Gees and Althia & Donna

 

Woo-hoo, I'm 12 all over again!

 

#1 US: Bee Gees - Stayin' Alive
#3 US: Andy Gibb - (Love Is) Thicker Than Water
#4 US: Queen - We Are the Champions
#4 US: Queen - We Will Rock You
#10 US: Bee Gees - How Deep Is Your Love
#2 UK: ABBA - Take a Chance on Me

Darryl

 

Looking back in my poll laden thread history, I see I did a few of these same-week-US/UK-chart polls myself. It’s not easy to do as many charts have hits that are in both weeks which kind of spoils the top 10 concept.

 

The 5 songs by Queen, ABBA and the Bee Gees are still extremely popular nowadays - thanks to cover versions and their appearances in movies, TV shows, musicals etc.. They are among the most iconic songs of the 1970s as people from all age groups know them (at least here in Europe).