The UK Singles Chart is one of many music charts compiled by the Official Charts Company that calculates the best-selling singles of the week in the United Kingdom. Before 2004, the chart was only based on the sales of physical singles. This list shows singles that peaked in the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart during 1979, as well as singles which peaked in 1978 and 1980 but were in the top 10 in 1979. The entry date is when the single appeared in the top 10 for the first time (week ending, as published by the Official Charts Company, which is six days after the chart is announced).
One-hundred and forty-one singles were in the top ten in 1979. Nine singles from 1978 remained in the top 10 for several weeks at the beginning of the year, while "Day Trip to Bangor (Didn't We Have a Lovely Time)" by Fiddler's Dram, "Wonderful Christmastime" by Paul McCartney and "Brass in Pocket" by The Pretenders were all released in 1979 but did not reach their peak until 1980. "Song for Guy" by Elton John, "Lay Your Love on Me" by Racey and "Y.M.C.A." by The Village People were the singles from 1978 to reach their peak in 1979. Thirty-two artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 1979. Dire Straits, The Jam, Madness, The Police and The Specials were among the many artists who achieved their first UK charting top 10 single in 1979.
The 1978 Christmas number one, "Mary's Boy Child – Oh My Lord" by Boney M., remained at number one for the first two weeks of 1979. The first new number-one single of the year was "YMCA" by The Village People. Overall, eighteen different singles peaked at number one in 1979, with Blondie, Gary Numan and The Police (2) having the joint most singles hit that position.
Background Multiple entries One-hundred and forty-one singles charted in the top 10 in 1979, with one-hundred and thirty-one singles reaching their peak this year.
Thirty-two artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 1979. ABBA secured the record for most top 10 hits in 1979 with five hit singles.
Gary Numan was one of a number of artists with two top-ten entries, including the number-one single "Cars". Barbra Streisand, Edwin Starr, Ian Dury and the Blockheads, Paul McCartney and The Specials were among the other artists who had multiple top 10 entries in 1979.
Chart debuts Fifty-three artists achieved their first top 10 single in 1979, either as a lead or featured artist. Of these, eight went on to record another hit single that year: Amii Stewart, B. A. Robertson, Gary Numan, Gibson Brothers, Sister Sledge, The Specials, Squeeze and Supertramp. Earth, Wind and Fire and The Police both had two other entries in their breakthrough year.
The following table (collapsed on desktop site) does not include acts who had previously charted as part of a group and secured their first top 10 solo single.
Artist Number of top 10s First entry Chart position Other entriesEarth, Wind and Fire3"September"3"Boogie Wonderland" (4), "After the Love Has Gone" (4)Paul Evans1"Hello, This Is Joannie"6—Funkadelic1"One Nation Under a Groove"9—Driver 671"Car 67"7—Leif Garrett1"I Was Made for Dancin'"4—Dr. Feelgood1"Milk and Alcohol"9—Elvis Costello1"Oliver's Army"2—Lene Lovich1"Lucky Number"3—Gary's Gang1"Keep On Dancin'"8—Skids1"Into the Valley"10—Players Association1"Turn the Music Up"8—Squeeze2"Cool for Cats"2"Up the Junction" (2)Dire Straits1"Sultans of Swing"8—Tenpole Tudor1"Who Killed Bambi" (Part of double A-side with "Silly Thing" recorded by Sex Pistols)6—Sister Sledge2"He's the Greatest Dancer"6"We Are Family" (8)Milk and Honey1"Hallelujah"5—M1"Pop Muzik"2—Supertramp2"The Logical Song"7"Breakfast in America" (9)Amii Stewart2"Knock on Wood"6"Light My Fire/137 Disco Heaven" (5)Peaches & Herb1"Reunited"4—1"Banana Splits"7—Eruption1"One Way Ticket"9—Anita Ward1"Ring My Bell"1—McFadden & Whitehead1"Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now"5—Tubeway Army1"Are "Friends" Electric?"1—Quantum Jump1"The Lone Ranger"5—1"Babylon's Burning"7—1"My Sharona"6—3"Can't Stand Losing You"2"Message in a Bottle" (1), "Walking on the Moon" (1)Patrick Hernandez1"Born to Be Alive"10—BA Robertson2"Bang Bang"2"Knocked It Off" (8)2"Gangsters"6"A Message to You Rudy"/"Nite Klub" (10)1"Money"5—Gibson Brothers2"Ooh, What a Life"10"Que Sera Mi Vida (If You Should Go)" (5)Gary Numan2"Cars"1"Complex" (6)1"Street Life"5—Randy VanWarmer1"Just When I Needed You Most"8—Dollar1"Love's Gotta Hold on Me"4—Frantique1"Strut Your Funky Stuff"10—1"Video Killed the Radio Star"1—Rainbow1"Since You Been Gone"6—Lena Martell1"One Day at a Time"1—Sad Café1"Every Day Hurts"3—Viola Wills1"Gonna Get Along Without You Now"8—1"The Eton Rifles"3—1"On My Radio"8—Rico1"A Message to You, Rudy"/"Nite Klub"10—Kool & the Gang1"Ladies' Night"9—Madness1"One Step Beyond..."7—1"I Only Want to Be with You"4—1"Rapper's Delight"3—Fiddler's Dram1"Day Trip to Bangor (Didn't We Have a Lovely Time)" 3—
Songs from films Original songs from various films entered the top 10 throughout the year. These included "Bright Eyes" (from Watership Down) and "Theme From "The Deer Hunter" (Cavatina)" (The Deer Hunter).
Best-selling singles Art Garfunkel had the best-selling single of the year with "Bright Eyes". The single spent nine weeks in the top 10 (including six weeks at number one) and was certified platinum by the BPI. "Heart of Glass" by Blondie came in second place. Cliff Richard's "We Don't Talk Anymore", "I Don't Like Mondays" from The Boomtown Rats and "When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman" by Dr. Hook made up the top five. Singles by Gloria Gaynor, Tubeway Army, Roxy Music, Blondie ("Sunday Girl") and Lena Martell were also in the top ten best-selling singles of the year.
Top-ten singles Key SymbolMeaning‡Single peaked in 1978 but still in chart in 1979.♦Single released in 1979 but peaked in 1980.(#)Year-end top-ten single position and rankEnteredThe date that the single first appeared in the chart.PeakHighest position that the single reached in the UK Singles Chart.
Entered(week ending) Weeksintop10 Single Artist Peak Peak reached(week ending) WeeksatpeakSingles in 1978 7"Mary's Boy Child – Oh My Lord" ‡Boney M. 1 4 6"I Lost My Heart to a Starship Trooper" ‡Sarah Brightman and Hot Gossip 6 2 6"Too Much Heaven" ‡Bee Gees 3 1 6"A Taste of Aggro" ‡ 3 2 8"Le Freak" ‡Chic 7 2 9"Y.M.C.A."Village People 1 3 5"You Don't Bring Me Flowers" ‡Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond 5 2 7"Lay Your Love on Me"Racey 3 3 5"Song for Guy"Elton John 4 1Singles in 1979 7"Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick"Ian Dury & The Blockheads 1 1 5"September"Earth, Wind & Fire 3 1 4"A Little More Love"Olivia Newton-John 4 1 2"Hello, This Is Joannie"Paul Evans 6 1 1"One Nation Under a Groove"Funkadelic 9 1 4"Car 67" Driver 67 7 1 6"Woman in Love" 3 3 8"Heart of Glass" (#2) Blondie 1 4 5"Don't Cry for Me Argentina" 5 2 6"Chiquitita"ABBA 2 2 4"I Was Made for Dancin'"Leif Garrett 4 1 5"Contact"Edwin Starr 6 2 6"Tragedy"Bee Gees 1 2 2"Milk and Alcohol"Dr. Feelgood 9 1 7"Oliver's Army"Elvis Costello & The Attractions 2 3 9"I Will Survive" (#6) Gloria Gaynor 1 4 6"Lucky Number"Lene Lovich 3 1 1"Get It"Darts 10 1 4"Can You Feel the Force?" 5 3 5"Something Else"/"Friggin' in the Riggin'"Sex Pistols 3 1 1"Painter Man"Boney M. 10 1 4"I Want Your Love"Chic 4 1 3"Keep On Dancin'"Gary's Gang 8 1 1"Waiting for an Alibi"Thin Lizzy 9 1 1"Into the Valley"Skids 10 1 4"In the Navy"Village People 2 2 2"Turn the Music Up"Players Association 8 1 1"Don't Stop Me Now"Queen 9 1 9"Bright Eyes" (#1)Art Garfunkel 1 6 5"Cool for Cats"Squeeze 2 1 2"Sultans of Swing"Dire Straits 8 2 5"Some Girls"Racey 2 3 2"He's the Greatest Dancer"Sister Sledge 6 1 2"Silly Thing"/"Who Killed Bambi" Sex Pistols/Tenpole Tudor 6 1 4"Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)" 4 2 3"The Runner" 10 3 3"Hallelujah" Milk and Honey 5 1 7"Pop Muzik"M 2 2 3"The Logical Song"Supertramp 7 1 3"Goodnight Tonight"Wings 5 1 4"Hooray! Hooray! It's a Holi-Holiday"Boney M. 3 2 3"Knock on Wood"Amii Stewart 6 1 4"Does Your Mother Know"ABBA 4 3 6"Reunited"Peaches & Herb 4 1 1"Banana Splits" 7 1 8"Dance Away" (#8)Roxy Music 2 3 2"Parisienne Walkways" Gary Moore 8 1 2"One Way Ticket"Eruption 9 1 7"Sunday Girl" (#9)Blondie 1 3 7"Boogie Wonderland"Earth, Wind & Fire with The Emotions 4 3 3"Boys Keep Swinging"David Bowie 7 1 4"Theme From The Deer Hunter (Cavatina)" 9 2 6"Ring My Bell"Anita Ward 1 2 2"Shine a Little Love"Electric Light Orchestra 6 2 4"Ain't No Stoppin' Us Now"McFadden & Whitehead 5 1 8"Are 'Friends' Electric?" (#7)Tubeway Army 1 4 2"We Are Family"Sister Sledge 8 1 2"H.A.P.P.Y. Radio" Edwin Starr 9 1 5"Up the Junction"Squeeze 2 1 4"The Lone Ranger"Quantum Jump 5 1 4"Night Owl"Gerry Rafferty 5 1 5"Silly Games"Janet Kay 2 2 3"Light My Fire/137 Disco Heaven"Amii Stewart 5 1 4"C'mon Everybody"Sex Pistols 3 2 1"Babylon's Burning" 7 1 3"Lady Lynda" 6 1 4"Girls Talk"Dave Edmunds 4 3 2"Good Times"Chic 5 1 5"Wanted" 3 1 7"I Don't Like Mondays" (#4) 1 4 2"My Sharona" 6 1 2"Breakfast in America"Supertramp 9 1 3"Can't Stand Losing You" 2 1 4"Angeleyes"/"Voulez-Vous"ABBA 3 1 1"Beat the Clock"Sparks 10 1 8"We Don't Talk Anymore" (#3)Cliff Richard 1 4 4"Reasons to Be Cheerful, Part 3"Ian Dury & The Blockheads 3 1 3"Hersham Boys"Sham 69 6 1 3"The Diary of Horace Wimp"Electric Light Orchestra 8 1 1"Born to Be Alive"Patrick Hernandez 10 1 4"After the Love Has Gone"Earth, Wind & Fire 4 1 3"Duke of Earl"Darts 6 1 5"Bang Bang"BA Robertson 2 1 3"Gangsters" 6 2 4"Angel Eyes"Roxy Music 4 2 3"Money" 5 1 1"Ooh, What a Life"Gibson Brothers 10 1 6"Cars"Gary Numan 1 1 4"Street Life" 5 1 3"Just When I Needed You Most"Randy VanWarmer 8 1 4"Don't Bring Me Down"Electric Light Orchestra 3 1 5"If I Said You Have a Beautiful Body Would You Hold It Against Me" 3 1 4"Love's Gotta Hold on Me"Dollar 4 1 6"Message in a Bottle" 1 3 5"Dreaming"Blondie 2 1 1"Sail On"Commodores 8 1 1"Strut Your Funky Stuff"Frantique 10 1 3"Whatever You Want"Status Quo 4 1 5"Video Killed the Radio Star" 1 1 5"Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"Michael Jackson 3 1 3"Since You Been Gone"Rainbow 6 1 7"One Day at a Time" (#10)Lena Martell 1 3 1"On Stage (EP)"Kate Bush 10 1 5"Every Day Hurts"Sad Café 3 1 9"When You're in Love with a Beautiful Woman" (#5)Dr. Hook 1 3 3"The Chosen Few" 7 2 5"Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)"ABBA 3 1 4"Tusk"Fleetwood Mac 6 1 2"Gonna Get Along Without You Now"Viola Wills 8 1 6"Crazy Little Thing Called Love"Queen 2 2 4"The Eton Rifles" 3 1 2"On My Radio" 8 1 4"Still"Commodores 4 2 1"A Message to You Rudy"/"Nite Klub" featuring Rico 10 1 4"No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)"Donna Summer & Barbra Streisand 3 2 2"Knocked It Off"BA Robertson 8 1 1"Ladies' Night"Kool & the Gang 9 1 4"One Step Beyond"Madness 7 1 7"Walking on the Moon" 1 1 2"Complex"Gary Numan 6 1 2"Confusion"/"Last Train to London"Electric Light Orchestra 8 1 8"Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)"Pink Floyd 1 5 5"Que Sera Mi Vida (If You Should Go)"Gibson Brothers 5 1 7"I Only Want to Be with You" 4 2 5"Rapper's Delight" 3 1 1"Off The Wall"Michael Jackson 7 1 5"My Simple Heart" 9 2 5"I Have a Dream"ABBA2 4 5"Day Trip to Bangor (Didn't We Have a Lovely Time)" ♦Fiddler's Dram31 3"Wonderful Christmastime" ♦ Paul McCartney6 1 8"Brass in Pocket" ♦ 1 2
Entries by artist
The following table shows artists who achieved two or more top 10 entries in 1979, including singles that reached their peak in 1978 or 1980. The figures include both main artists and featured artists, while appearances on ensemble charity records are also counted for each artist. The total number of weeks an artist spent in the top ten in 1979 is also shown.