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 1978, as well as singles which peaked in 1977 and 1979 but were in the top 10 in 1978. 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 twenty-one singles were in the top ten in 1978. Seven singles from 1977 remained in the top 10 for several weeks at the beginning of the year, while "Song for Guy" by Elton John, "Lay Your Love on Me" by Racey and "Y.M.C.A." by The Village People were all released in 1978 but did not reach their peak until 1979. "It's a Heartache by Bonnie Tyler and "Love's Unkind" by Donna Summer were the singles from 1977 to reach their peak in 1978. Eighteen artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 1978. Blondie, Commodores, Kate Bush, Sarah Brightman and The Village People were among the many artists who achieved their first UK charting top 10 single in 1978.
The 1977 Christmas number-one, "Mull of Kintyre" by Wings, remained at number-one for the first four weeks of 1978. The first new number-one single of the year was "Uptown Top Ranking" by Althea & Donna. Overall, fourteen different singles peaked at number-one in 1978, with Boney M., John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John (2) having the joint most singles hit that position.
Background Multiple entries One-hundred and twenty-one singles charted in the top 10 in 1978, with one-hundred and thirteen singles reaching their peak this year.
Eighteen artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 1978. Bee Gees and Darts shared the record for most top 10 hits in 1978 with four hit singles each.
Kate Bush was one of a number of artists with two top-ten entries, including the number-one single "Wuthering Heights". ABBA, Bob Marley and the Wailers, The Boomtown Rats, Rose Royce, Sham 69 and Wings were the other artists who had multiple top 10 entries in 1978.
Chart debuts Fifty-eight artists achieved their first top 10 single in 1978, either as a lead or featured artist. Of these, four went on to record another hit single that year: Bob Marley and the Wailers, The Boomtown Rats, Kate Bush and Sham 69. Blondie, Chic and John Travolta all 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 entriesCrystal Gayle1"Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue"5—Chic3"Dance, Dance, Dance (Yowsah, Yowsah, Yowsah)"6"Everybody Dance" (9), "Le Freak" (7)Althea & Donna1"Uptown Top Ranking"1—Odyssey1"Native New Yorker"5—Bill Withers1"Lovely Day"7—Scott Fitzgerald1"If I Had Words"3—Yvonne KeeleyBob Marley and the Wailers2"Jamming"/"Punky Reggae Party"9"Is This Love" (9)Yellow Dog1"Just One More Night"8—Kate Bush2"Wuthering Heights"1"The Man with the Child in His Eyes" (6)Blondie3"Denis"2"(I'm Always Touched by Your) Presence, Dear" (10), "Hanging on the Telephone" (5)Eruption1"I Can't Stand the Rain"5—Brian and Michael1"Matchstalk Men and Matchstalk Cats and Dogs"1—Nick Lowe1"I Love the Sound of Breaking Glass"7—Andy Cameron1"Ally's Tartan Army"6—Genesis1"Follow You Follow Me"7—Andrew Gold1"Never Let Her Slip Away"5—1"Let's All Chant"8—Dee D. Jackson1"Automatic Lover"4—Patti Smith Group1"Because the Night"5—John Paul Young1"Love Is in the Air"5—Raffaella Carrà1"Do It, Do It Again"9—John Travolta3"You're the One That I Want"1"Summer Nights" (1), "Sandy" (2)Ian Dury1"What a Waste"3—The BlockheadsPlastic Bertrand1"Ça plane pour moi"8—The Scottish World Cup Squad1Ole Ola (Mulher Brasileira)"4—James Galway1"Annie's Song"3—Father Abraham1"The Smurf Song"2—Goldie1"Making Up Again"7—1"Airport"4—Marshall Hain1"Dancing In the City"4—2"Like Clockwork"6"Rat Trap" (1)Clout1"Substitute"2—A Taste of Honey1"Boogie Oogie Oogie"3—City Boy1"5.7.0.5"8—Commodores1"Three Times a Lady"1—Sham 692"If the Kids Are United"9"Hurry Up Harry" (10)Renaissance1"Northern Lights"10—Cerrone1"Supernature"8—Jilted John1"Jilted John"4—Child1"It's Only Make Believe"10—Hi-Tension1"British Hustle"8—Andy Gibb1"An Everlasting Love"10 —Siouxie and the Banshees1"Hong Kong Garden"7—Exile1"Kiss You All Over"6—Dean Friedman1"Lucky Stars"3—Sylvester1"You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)"3—Third World1"Now That We've Found Love"10—Public Image Ltd1"Public Image"9—Frankie Miller1"Darlin'"6—1"My Best Friend's Girl"3—Dan Hartman1"Instant Replay"8—Sarah Brightman1"I Lost My Heart to a Starship Trooper"6—Hot Gossip 1"Y.M.C.A." 1—Racey1"Lay Your Love on Me" 3—
Notes Gerry Rafferty was previously part of Stealers Wheel, who charted with the classic single "Stuck in the Middle with You" in 1973. "Baker Street" was his first top 10 solo entry. Justin Hayward started off as lead singer, songwriter and guitarist for The Moody Blues, among his writing credits the number two hit "Question". The composition "Forever Autumn" marked his first appearance in the chart on his own.
Public Image Ltd included members from several other bands - Johnny Rotten had recently left Sex Pistols and Keith Levene came over from The Clash (although Levene never recorded a top 10 single as part of his old group).
Charity singles "Too Much Heaven" was released by Bee Gees in aid of UNICEF, with all publishing royalties going towards the charity to support its work. The single peaked at number three on 9 December 1978, spending 6 weeks in the top ten. The group later performed the song at the Music for UNICEF Concert in January 1979, celebrating the International Year of the Child. A total of $7 million in publishing royalties was raised towards the charity from sales of the single.
Songs from films Original songs from various films entered the top 10 throughout the year. These included "Stayin' Alive" "Night Fever", "If I Can't Have You" & "More Than a Woman" (from Saturday Night Fever) and "You're the One That I Want", "Grease", "Summer Nights", "Sandy" & "Hopelessly Devoted to You" (Grease).
Best-selling singles Boney M. had the best-selling single of the year with "Rivers of Babylon"/"Brown Girl in the Ring". The song spent nineteen weeks in the top 10 (including five weeks at number one) and was certified platinum by the BPI. "You're the One That I Want" by John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John came in second place. John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John's "Summer Nights", "Three Times a Lady" from Commodores and "The Smurf Song" by Father Abraham & The Smurfs made up the top five. Singles by Boney M. ("Mary's Boy Child – Oh My Lord"), Bee Gees, The Boomtown Rats, ABBA and Brian and Michael were also in the top ten best-selling singles of the year.
Top-ten singles Key SymbolMeaning‡Single peaked in 1977 but still in chart in 1978.♦Single released in 1978 but peaked in 1979.(#)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.