Below is a list from Billboard magazine’s Top ear-End Hot 100 songs for 1974. Chart © by Billboard, a part of MRC Media and Info, a division of MRC. All Rights Reserved. Learn more about Billboard here.
Top 100 Songs of 1974
1
T.S.O.P. (The Sound of Philadelphia) – MFSB
2
Bennie and the Jets – Elton John
3
One Hell of a Woman – Mac Davis
4
The Loco-Motion – Grand Funk Railroad
5
The Streak – Ray Stevens
6
Until You Come Back to Me (That’s What I’m Gonna Do) – Aretha Franklin
7
Jungle Boogie – Kool and The Gang
8
Midnight At the Oasis – Maria Muldaur
9
Rock On – David Essex
10
Sideshow – Blue Magic
11
Billy, Don’t Be a Hero – Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods
12
Band On the Run – Paul McCartney and Wings
13
The Most Beautiful Girl – Charlie Rich
14
Time In a Bottle – Jim Croce
15
Annie’s Song – John Denver
16
Let Me Be There – Olivia Newton-John
17
Sundown – Gordon Lightfoot
18
(You’re) Having My Baby – Paul Anka
19
Rock Me Gently – Andy Kim
20
Boogie Down – Eddie Kendricks
21
You’re Sixteen You’re Beautiful (And You’re Mine) – Ringo Starr
22
If You Love Me (Let Me Know) – Olivia Newton-John
23
Feel Like Makin’ Love – Roberta Flack
24
Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me – Gladys Knight and The Pips
25
Just Don’t Want to Be Lonely – The Main Ingredient
26
Nothing from Nothing – Billy Preston
27
Rock Your Baby – George McCrae
28
Top of the World – The Carpenters
29
The Joker – The Steve Miller Band
30
I’ve Got to Use My Imagination – Gladys Knight and The Pips
31
The Show Must Go On – Three Dog Night
32
Rock the Boat – The Hues Corporation
33
Smokin’ In the Boys Room – Brownsville Station
34
Living for the City – Stevie Wonder
35
The Night Chicago Died – Paper Lace
36
Then Came You – Dionne Warwick and The Spinners
37
The Entertainer – Marvin Hamlisch
38
The Air That I Breathe – The Hollies
39
Waterloo – Abba
More 61 Top Songs of 1974
-
- The Way We Were – Barbra Streisand
- Seasons In the Sun – Terry Jacks
- Love’s Theme – Love Unlimited Orchestra
- Come and Get Your Love – Redbone
- Dancing Machine – The Jackson 5
- You Make Me Feel Brand New – The Stylistics
- Show and Tell – Al Wilson
- Spiders and Snakes – Jim Stafford
- Sunshine On My Shoulders – John Denver
- Hooked On a Feeling – Blue Swede
- Dark Lady – Cher
- Rikki Don’t Lose that Number – Steely Dan
- Mockingbird – Carly Simon and James Taylor
- Help Me – Joni Mitchell
- You Won’t See Me – Anne Murray
- Never, Never Gonna Give You Up – Barry White
- Tell Me Something Good – Rufus
- You and Me Against the World – Helen Reddy
- Rock and Roll Heaven – The Righteous Brothers
- Hollywood Swinging – Kool and The Gang
- Be Thankful for What You Got – William Devaughn
- Hang On In There Baby – Johnny Bristol
- Touch the Wind (Eres Tu) – Mocedades
- Takin’ Care of Business – Bachman-Turner Overdrive
- Radar Love – Golden Earring
- Please Come to Boston – Dave Loggins
- Keep On Smilin’ – Wet Willie
- Lookin’ for a Love – Bobby Womack
- Put Your Hands Together – The O’Jays
- On and On – Gladys Knight and The Pips
- Oh Very Young – Cat Stevens
- Leave Me Alone (Ruby Red Dress) – Helen Reddy
- Goodbye Yellow Brick Road – Elton John
- (I’ve Been) Searchin’ So Long – Chicago
- Oh My My – Ringo Starr
- For the Love of Money – The O’Jays
- I Shot the Sheriff – Eric Clapton
- Jet – Paul McCartney and Wings
- Don’t Let the Sun Go Down On Me – Elton John
- Tubular Bells – Mike Oldfield
- A Love Song – Anne Murray
- I’m Leaving It (All) Up to You – Donny and Marie Osmond
- Hello It’s Me – Todd Rundgren
- I Love – Tom T. Hall
- Clap for the Wolfman – The Guess Who
- I’ll Have to Say I Love You In a Song – Jim Croce
- The Lord’s Prayer – Sister Janet Mead
- Trying To Hold On To My Woman – Lamont Dozier
- Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing – Stevie Wonder
- A Very Special Love Song – Charlie Rich
- My Girl Bill – Jim Stafford
- My Mistake (Was to Love You) – Diana Ross and Marvin Gaye
- Helen Wheels – Paul McCartney and Wings
- Wildwood Weed – Jim Stafford
- Beach Baby – First Class
- Me and Baby Brother – War
- Rockin’ Roll Baby – The Stylistics
- I Honestly Love You – Olivia Newton-John
- Call On Me – Chicago
- Wild Thing – Fancy
- Mighty Love – The Spinners
Looking for Other Great Heartfelt Songs?
Well, take a look at our thoughts on the Best 90s Love Songs, the Best Love Songs For Him, the Top Songs About Unrequited Love, the Best Songs About Crushes, and the Best Goodbye Songs for more incredible song selections.
Also, you’ll want to hear those tunes. So, check out our in-depth reviews of the Most Comfortable Earbuds, the Best Sound Quality Earbuds, the Best Noise Isolating Earbuds, the Best True Wireless Earbuds, and the Best Wireless Earbuds For Small Ears you can buy in 2023.
Top 100 Songs of 1974 – Final Thoughts
The year 1974 was a great year for music with classic hits across many genres. The Top 100 Songs of 1974 included iconic tracks from legends such as Elton John, Stevie Wonder, and Barbra Streisand. It was a year that saw the emergence of disco music with hits such as “Rock Your Baby” by George McCrae and “Kung Fu Fighting” by Carl Douglas.
The year was also marked by political and social upheaval, and many songs reflected this, including “I Am Woman” by Helen Reddy and “The Way We Were” by Barbra Streisand. Overall, the Top 100 Songs of 1974 captured the spirit of the times and still resonate with listeners today.