1977 in music


This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1977. It marked the peak of vinyl record sales in the United States, which declined in the following decades before experiencing a resurgence in the 21st century.

Specific locations

Specific genres

Events

January–February

March–May

June–August

September–December

Also in 1977

Bands formed

  • ''See :Category:Musical groups established in 1977''

Bands reformed

  • ''See :Category:Musical groups reestablished in 1977''

Bands disbanded

  • ''See :Category:Musical groups disestablished in 1977''

Albums released

August

Release date unknown

Billboard Top popular records of 1977

Billboard's year-end Hot 100 for the year 1977, printed on December 24, 1977, was based on Hot 100 charts from the issue dates of November 6, 1976 through October 29, 1977. The decision to include the last two months of 1976 resulted in Rod Stewart's "Tonight's the Night" being listed as no. 1 record of 1977, despite seven of its eight weeks at #1 occurring in 1976.
The completed Billboard year-end list for 1977 is composed of records that entered the Billboard Hot 100 between November 1976 and December 1977. Records with chart runs that started in 1976 and ended in 1977, or started in 1977 and ended in 1978, made this chart if the majority of their chart weeks were in 1977. If not, they were ranked in the year-end charts for 1976 or 1978. If their weeks were equal, they were listed in the year they first entered. Appearing in multiple years is not permitted. Each week thirty points were awarded to the number one record, then nineteen points for number two, eighteen points for number three, and so on. The total points a record earned determined its year-end rank. The complete chart life of each record is represented, with number of points accrued. There are no ties, even when multiple records have the same number of points. The next ranking category is peak chart position, then weeks at peak chart position, weeks on Hot 100 chart, weeks in top forty, and finally weeks in top ten.
The chart presented here depicts the top 30 singles of 1977. In contrast with the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1977, this chart does not truncate or split chart runs between years. It does not add two months from 1976, delete two months from 1977 and then call itself the "Year-End Hot 100 singles of 1977", which it is obviously not. The true number one record of 1977 is Debby Boone's "You Light Up My Life", which spent the last 18 weeks of the year accumulating 362 points. The seven additional weeks it scored from 1978 were not even needed for the top prize. Rod Stewart's "Tonight's the Night" scored only 73 points in 10 weeks during 1977, so based on its 223 points from 13 weeks in 1976, its 296 total points made it the number one record of that year, not 1977. All chart rankings represented below for the Top Soul Singles, Top Country Singles, Top Easy Listening Singles, and Top CashBox pop singles were all calculated in the same manner.
The chart can be sorted by Artist, Song title, Recording and Release dates, Cashbox year-end ranking or units sold by clicking on the column header. Additional details for each record can be accessed by clicking on the song title, and referring to the Infobox in the right column of the song page. on its website. Sales information was derived from the, the and The Book of Golden Discs, but numbers listed should be regarded as estimates. Grammy Hall of Fame and National Recording Registry information with sources can be found on Wikipedia. Archived issues of Billboard from November 1976 to March 1978 and Hot 100 Year-End formulas were used to complete the 1977 year-end chart.
RankArtistTitleLabelRecordedRelease dateCBSalesCharts, Awards
1Debby Boone"You Light Up My Life"Warner Bros. 8455July 1977August 16, 197714.00US Billboard 1977 #1, Hot 100 # #1 for 10 weeks, 25 total weeks, 387 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 1998, National Recording Registry 2012
2The Bee Gees"How Deep Is Your Love"RSO 882April 1977September 197722.00US Billboard 1977 #2, Hot 100 #1 for 2 weeks, 33 total weeks, 323 points, Top Easy Listening Singles 1977 #1, Easy Listening Singles #1 for 6 weeks, 26 total weeks, 371 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 2011
3Andy Gibb"I Just Want To Be Your Everything"RSO 872October 1976April 197733.00US Billboard 1977 #3, Hot 100 #1 for 4 weeks, 31 total weeks, 321 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 2000
4The Emotions"Best Of My Love"Columbia 10544May 1977June 9, 1977155.00US Billboard 1977 #4, Hot 100 #1 for 5 weeks, 23 total weeks, 105 points, Top Soul Singles 1977 #3, Hot Soul Singles #1 for 4 weeks, 22 total weeks, 282 points
5Barbra Streisand"Love Theme From A Star Is Born (Evergreen)"Columbia 104501976December 197693.00US Billboard 1977 #5, Hot 100 #1 for 3 weeks, 25 total weeks, 256 points, Top Easy Listening Singles 1977 #2, Easy Listening Singles #1 for 6 weeks, 22 total weeks, 363 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 2004
6Player"Baby Come Back"RSO 8791977October 13, 197751.50US Billboard 1977 #6, Hot 100 #1 for 3 weeks, 32 total weeks, 219 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 2017
7Eagles"Hotel California"Asylum 45386March–October 1976February 22, 1977231.50US Billboard 1977 #7, Hot 100 #1 for 1 weeks, 19 total weeks, 186 points
8Stevie Wonder"Sir Duke"Tamla 542811976March 22, 1977333.00US Billboard 1977 #8, Hot 100 #1 for 3 weeks, 17 total weeks, 180 points
9ABBA"Dancing Queen"Atlantic 3372August 4–5, 1975August 15, 1976171.50US Billboard 1977 #9, Hot 100 #1 for 1 week, 22 total weeks, 178 points
10Crystal Gayle"Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue"United Artists 10161976August 197763.00US Billboard 1977 #10, Hot 100 #2 for 3 weeks, 26 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 1999, 77 points, Top Country Singles 1977 #3, Country Singles #1 for 4 weeks, 18 total weeks, 177 points
11Mary MacGregor"Torn Between Two Lovers"Ariola America 7638May 1976Nov 1, 197641.00US Billboard 1977 #11, Hot 100 #1 for 2 weeks, 22 total weeks, 175 points
12Carly Simon"Nobody Does It Better"Elektra 45413April 1977July 197783.25US Billboard 1977 #12, Hot 100 #2 for 3 weeks, 25 total weeks, 168 points, Top Easy Listening Singles 1977 #3, Easy Listening Singles #1 for 7 weeks, 25 total weeks, 322 points
13Marvin Gaye"Got To Give It Up (Part 1)"Tamla 54280March 18, 1977July 16, 1977252.25US Billboard 1977 #13, Hot 100 #1 for 1 week, 18 total weeks, 167 points, Top Soul Singles 1977 #4, Hot Soul Singles #1 for 5 weeks, 21 total weeks, 288 points
14Stevie Wonder"I Wish"Tamla 54274Summer 1976November 1976203.00US Billboard 1977 #14, Hot 100 #1 for 1 week, 17 total weeks, 166 points, Top Soul Singles 1977 #7, Hot Soul Singles #1 for 5 weeks, 18 total weeks, 274 points
15Eagles"New Kid In Town"Asylum 45373March–October 1976December 7, 1976311.50US Billboard 1977 #15, Hot 100 #1 for 1 week, 15 total weeks, 165 points
16Thelma Houston"Don't Leave Me This Way"Tamla 54278March 1976December 2, 1976321.25US Billboard 1977 #16, Hot 100 #1 for 1 week, 24 total weeks, 164 points
17Fleetwood Mac"Dreams"Warner Bros. 8332February–August 1976March 1977291.25US Billboard 1977 #17, Hot 100 #1 for 1 week, 19 total weeks, 163 points
18Linda Ronstadt"Blue Bayou"Asylum 45431June–July 1977August 23, 1977272.00US Billboard 1977 #18, Hot 100 #3 for 3 weeks, 23 total weeks, 162 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 1998
19Glen Campbell"Southern Nights"Capitol 4376October 2, 1976January 17, 1977141.50US Billboard 1977 #19, Hot 100 #1 for 1 week, 21 total weeks, 160 points
20Alan O'Day"Undercover Angel"Pacific 001January 27, 1977February 6, 197772.00US Billboard 1977 #20, Hot 100 #1 for 1 week, 23 total weeks, 158 points
21Heatwave"Boogie Nights"Epic 503701976May 11, 1977161.50US Billboard 1977 #21, Hot 100 #2 for 2 weeks, 27 total weeks, 158 points
22Barry Manilow"Looks Like We Made It"Arista 02441976April 20, 1977392.00US Billboard 1977 #22, Hot 100 #1 for 1 week, 19 total weeks, 154 points, Top Easy Listening Singles 1977 #7, Easy Listening Singles #1 for 3 weeks, 20 total weeks, 291 points
23Steve Miller Band"Fly Like An Eagle"Capitol 43721976August 13, 1976421.50US Billboard 1977 #23, Hot 100 #2 for 2 weeks, 20 total weeks, 154 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 1998
24Rita Coolidge"(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher"A&M 19221968January 1977112.00US Billboard 1977 #24, Hot 100 #2 for 1 week, 27 total weeks, 154 points
25Bill Conti"Gonna Fly Now (Theme From Rocky)"United Artists 940June 13, 1977August 21, 1977362.00US Billboard 1977 #25, Hot 100 #1 for 1 week, 20 total weeks, 152 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 1998
26Peter Frampton"I'm In You"A&M 1941April 1977June 3, 1977351.25US Billboard 1977 #26, Hot 100 #2 for 3 weeks, 20 total weeks, 150 points
27Daryl Hall & John Oates"Rich Girl"RCA 10860June 1976January 1977121.25US Billboard 1977 #27, Hot 100 #1 for 2 weeks, 20 total weeks, 148 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 2017
28Leo Sayer"When I Need You"Warner Bros. 8332Nov 4, 1976February 6, 1977136.00US Billboard 1977 #28, Hot 100 #1 for 1 week, 20 total weeks, 146 points
29K.C. and the Sunshine Band"I'm Your Boogie Man"TK 1022January 26, 1977May 11, 1977181.50US Billboard 1977 #29, Hot 100 #1 for 1 week, 23 total weeks, 145 points
30Manfred Mann's Earth Band"Blinded By The Light"Warner Bros. 8252Nov 4, 1976August 16, 1977386.00US Billboard 1977 #30, Hot 100 #1 for 1 week, 20 total weeks, 143 points
31Dolly Parton"Here You Come Again"RCA 11123June 1977September 26, 1977431.00US Billboard 1977 #31, Hot 100 #3 for 2 weeks, 19 total weeks, 141 points, Top Country Singles 1977 #2, Country Singles #1 for 5 weeks, 19 total weeks, 237 points
32Fleetwood Mac"Don't Stop"Warner Bros. 8413February–August 1976April 1, 1977241.25US Billboard 1977 #32, Hot 100 #3 for 2 weeks, 18 total weeks, 139 points
65The Floaters"Float On"ABC 122841977June 1977371.00US Billboard 1977 #65, Hot 100 #2 for 2 weeks, 16 total weeks, 92 points, Top Soul Singles 1977 #1, Hot Soul Singles #1 for 6 weeks, 20 total weeks, 305 points
158Waylon Jennings"Luckenbach, Texas (Back to the Basics of Love)"RCA 10924January 1977April 11, 19771611.00US Billboard 1977 #158, Hot 100 #25 for 2 weeks, 16 total weeks, 92 points, Top Country Singles 1977 #1, Country Singles #1 for 6 weeks, 18 total weeks, 247 points

Chronological table of US and UK and Japan number one hit singles

Japanese Oricon number one singles and artist
 

Published popular music

Punk rock, new wave music, and mod revival

1977 marks the beginning of the punk rock movement. Several albums associated with the development of punk music were released, including Never Mind the Bollocks, Here's the Sex Pistols by the Sex Pistols, The Clash by The Clash, Damned Damned Damned by The Damned, the Dead Boys' Young, Loud and Snotty, Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers' L.A.M.F., the Ramones' Rocket to Russia, Richard Hell and the Voidoids' Blank Generation, and Wire's Pink Flag.
The year saw the release of debut albums by bands associated with punk rock, though also with other new music genres, such as the mod revival and new wave music, including In the City by The Jam, My Aim Is True by Elvis Costello, Suicide by Suicide, Marquee Moon by Television, and Talking Heads: 77 by Talking Heads. It also saw the release of Iggy Pop's Lust for Life, his second record as a solo artist.

Classical music

  • John Adams
  • *China Gates, for piano
  • *Phrygian Gates, for piano
  • Samuel Adler
  • *Aeolus, God of the Winds, for clarinet, violin, cello, and piano
  • *Concerto for Flute and Orchestra
  • *A Falling of Saints, for tenor, bass, chorus, and orchestra
  • *It is to God I shall Sing, for chorus and organ
  • Kalevi Aho – Quintet, for bassoon and string quartet
  • Necil Kazım Akses
  • *Concerto for Orchestra
  • *Concerto for Viola and Orchestra
  • Franghiz Ali-Zadeh – Zu den Kindertotenlieder , for clarinet, violin, and percussion
  • Birgitte Alsted – Strygekvartet i CD, for string quartet
  • Javier Álvarez – Canciones de la Venta, for soprano, violin, viola, and baroque guitar
  • William Alwyn
  • *Invocations, for mezzo-soprano and piano
  • *A Leave-Taking, for tenor and piano
  • Charles Amirkhanian – Dutiful Ducks, for tape with optional live voices
  • Gilbert Amy
  • * Strophe, for soprano and orchestra
  • * Trois études, for flute
  • Beth Anderson – Joan, for tape
  • Laurie Anderson
  • *Audio Talk, performance art
  • *On Dit, performance art
  • *Some Songs, performance art
  • *Stereo Decoy, performance art
  • *That's Not the Way I Heard It, performance art
  • Ruth Anderson – Sound Portraits I–II, text pieces
  • Hendrik Andriessen – Ricercare, version for wind orchestra
  • Jurriaan Andriessen
  • *Psalmen-trilogie, for baritone, chorus, and orchestra
  • *Symphony no. 7, The Awakening Dream, for keyboard and electronics
  • *Symphony no. 8, La celebrazione
  • Louis Andriessen – Hoketus, for two groups of 6 players each
  • Denis ApIvor
  • *Chant Eolien, for oboe and piano, op. 65
  • *Concerto for Cello and Orchestra, op. 64
  • Violet Archer – Plainsongs, for mezzo-soprano and piano
  • Malcolm Arnold
  • *Sonata, for flute and piano, op. 121
  • *Variations on a Theme of Ruth Gipps, for orchestra, op. 122
  • Larry Austin – Quadrants: Event/Complex no. 11, for double bass and tape
  • Luciano Berio
  • *Coro, for 40 voices and 40 instruments
  • *Fantasia, for orchestra
  • *Il ritorno degli snovidenia, for cello and 30 instruments
  • *Sequenza VIII, for violin
  • *Toccata, for orchestra
  • Harrison Birtwistle – Silbury Air
  • Rob du Bois
  • *Skarabee, for orchestra
  • *Zodiak, for one or more instruments or instrumental groups
  • John Buller – Proença for mezzo-soprano, electric guitar, and large orchestra
  • Enrique Crespo – American Suite No. 1
  • George Crumb – Star-Child for soprano, antiphonal children's voices, male speaking choir, bell ringers, and large orchestra
  • Peter Maxwell Davies
  • *A Mirror of Whitening Light, for chamber orchestra
  • *Our Father Which in Heaven Art, for flute, clarinet, piano, percussion, violin, cello
  • *Runes from a Holy Island, for flute, clarinet, piano, percussion, violin, cello
  • *Westerlings, for SATB choir
  • Franco Donatoni
  • *Algo, for guitar
  • *Ali, for viola
  • *Diario ’76, for four trumpets and four trombones
  • *Portrait, for harpsichord and orchestra
  • *Spiri, for flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, celesta, vibraphone, 2 violins, viola, and cello
  • *Toy, for 2 violins, viola, and harpsichord
  • Morton Feldman
  • *Instruments 3, for flute, oboe, and percussion
  • *Spring of Chosroes, for violin and piano
  • Brian Ferneyhough – Time and Motion Study I, for bass clarinet
  • Lorenzo Ferrero
  • *Arioso
  • *Romanza seconda
  • Frans Geysen –
  • *Muziek voor toetsenbord, for piano
  • *Omtrent sib, for three oboes
  • *Orgelstuk, for organ
  • *Pentakel, for oboe
  • *Stadssteeg, for 6 oboes, 4 trumpets, 2 trombones
  • Alberto Ginastera
  • *Barabbas, opera
  • *Concerto No. 1 for Cello and Orchestra, op. 36
  • *Glosses sobre temes de Pau Casals, for orchestra, op. 48
  • Alexander Goehr – Romanza on the Notes of Psalm IV, op. 38c
  • Sembiin Gonchigsumlaa – Symphony No. 2
  • Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen
  • *Passacaglia for tabla, clarinet, violin, cello and piano
  • *Symfoni, Antifoni for orchestra
  • Rodolfo Halffter – Secuencia, op. 39, for piano
  • Bengt Hambraeus – Antiphonie: Cathedral Music for Organ
  • Alan Hovhaness
  • *Ananda, piano sonata, op. 303
  • *Celestial Canticle, for coloratura soprano and piano, op. 305
  • *Dawn on a Mountain Lake, for double bass and piano, op. 393
  • *Fred the Cat, piano sonata, op. 301
  • *Glory Sings the Setting Sun, cantata for coloratura soprano, clarinet, and piano, op. 292
  • *How I Love Thy Law, cantata for high soprano, clarinet, piano, op. 298
  • *Mount Belknap, piano sonata, op. 299, no. 1
  • *Mount Ossipee, piano sonata, op. 299, no. 2
  • *Mount Shasta, piano sonata, op. 299, no. 3
  • *A Presentiment, for coloratura soprano and piano, op. 304
  • *Suite, for flute and guitar, op. 300
  • *Sonata, for oboe and bassoon, op. 302
  • *Sonata, for 2 clarinets, op. 297
  • *Sonata No. 1, for harpsichord, Op. 306
  • *Sonatina, for piano, op. 288
  • *The Spirit's Map, for voice and piano, op. 391
  • *Srpouhi, duet for violin and piano, op. 398
  • *Symphony No. 31, for strings, op. 294
  • *Symphony No. 32, op. 296
  • *Symphony No. 33, op. 307
  • *Symphony No. 34, for bass trombone and strings, op. 310
  • Maki Ishii
  • *Black Intention, for recorder
  • *Voices—Violet, for gidayū ensemble, shō, and percussion
  • David C. Johnson – Ars Subtilior Electrica, electronic music
  • Mauricio Kagel
  • *An Tasten, étude for piano
  • *MM51, film score
  • *Présentation für zwei
  • *Quatre degrés
  • *Variété
  • Jonathan Kramer
  • *Renascence, for clarinet and tape
  • *Studies on Six Notes, for harpsichord
  • György Kurtág
  • *Hommage à Mihály András, op. 13
  • *, op. 15, for guitar
  • Helmut Lachenmann – Salut für Caudwell, music for two guitarists
  • André Laporte
  • *Icarus' Flight, for piano and twelve instruments
  • Mario Lavista
  • *Pieza para caja de música, for music box
  • *Los , incidental music
  • Luca Lombardi
  • *Tui-Gesänge, for soprano, flute, clarinet, piano, violin, and cello
  • *Variazioni su ‘Avanti popolo alla riscossa’, for piano
  • *Variazioni, for orchestra
  • John McGuire – Pulse Music II, for four pianos and small orchestra
  • Tomás Marco
  • *Herbania, for harpsichord
  • *Hoquetus, for 1, 2, or 3 clarinets, live and/or recorded
  • *Sicigia, for cello
  • *Sonata de Vesperia, for piano
  • *Tormer, for harpsichord, violin, viola, and cello
  • Bo Nilsson – Madonna, for mezzo-soprano and instrumental ensemble
  • Pehr Henrik Nordgren
  • *Violin Concerto No. 2, Op. 33v
  • *Summer Music for orchestra, Op. 34
  • *Akinosuke-no-yume for piano, Op. 35
  • *Jyūroku-zakura for piano, Op. 36
  • *Jikininki for piano, Op. 37
  • *Häjyt, orchestral music for the television play, Op. 38
  • *Butterflies for guitar solo, Op. 39
  • *Tuolla mun heilani asuskeloo for string orchestra, Op. 40
  • Per Nørgård
  • *Kredsløb, for SATB choir
  • *Mating Dance, for flute and guitar
  • *Twilight, for orchestra
  • Einojuhani Rautavaara
  • *Suomalainen myytti , for string orchestra
  • *Serenades of the Unicorn, for guitar
  • Arvo Pärt
  • *Cantus in Memoriam Benjamin Britten
  • *Fratres
  • *Tabula Rasa
  • *Variationen zur Gesundung von Arinuschka, for piano
  • Henri Pousseur
  • *Ballade berlinoise, for piano
  • *Liège à Paris, electronic music
  • Einojuhani Rautavaara
  • *Suomalainen myytti , for string orchestra
  • *Serenades of the Unicorn, for guitar
  • Aulis Sallinen
  • *Simppeli Simme ja Hamppari, for mixed choir
  • *Symphony No. 1
  • Dieter Schnebel
  • *Canon
  • *Handwerke-Blaswerke I , for 1 wind instrument, 1 string instrument, and 1 percussionist
  • *Orchestra, for orchestra
  • *Quintet in B major, for piano and strings
  • *Rhythmen, for 2 guitars, organ, and percussion
  • Kurt Schwertsik
  • *Concerto for Violin No. 1, op. 31
  • *Wiener Chronik 1848, ballet op. 28
  • Gerald Shapiro
  • *Dance Suite, for piano
  • *For Nancy, wordless vocalise, for soprano and piano
  • *Questions, for SATB choir
  • *You are Your Own Energy Source, electroacoustic dance score
  • Makoto Shinohara – Liberation, for orchestra
  • Roger Smalley – Seven Modulator Pieces, for 4 flutes
  • Karlheinz Stockhausen
  • *Atmen gibt das Leben, for choir and orchestra, Nr. 39
  • *In Freundschaft, Nr. 46
  • *Jahreslauf, Nr. 47
  • *Jubiläum, for orchestra, Nr. 45
  • *Sirius, electronic music with trumpet, soprano, bass clarinet, and bass voice, Nr. 43
  • *Tierkreis, for chamber orchestra, Nr. 417/8
  • Tōru Takemitsu
  • *A Flock Descends into the Pentagonal Garden
  • *Gitā no tame no jūni no uta, for guitar
  • *Hanare goze Orin, film score
  • *Ohan, incidental music for television
  • *Quatrain II, for clarinet, violin, cello, and piano
  • *Sabita honoo, film score
  • *Saigō Takamori den, incidental music for television
  • *Toono monogatari wo yuku: Yanagida Kunio no fūkei, incidental music for television
  • *Water-ways for clarinet, violin, cello, piano, two harps, and two vibraphones
  • Michael Tippett – Symphony No. 4
  • Alexander Vustin – In Memory of Boris Klyuzner
  • Iannis Xenakis – Jonchaies
  • Isang Yun – Concerto for Flute and Small Orchestra

Opera

Musical theatre

The Act – Broadway production opened at the Majestic Theatre and ran for 233 performancesAnnie – Broadway production opened at the Alvin Theatre on April 21, 1977, and ran for 2377 performancesI Love My Wife – Broadway production opened at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre on April 17 and ran for 857 performancesI Love My Wife – London production opened at the Prince of Wales Theatre on October 6 and ran for 401 performancesThe King and I – Broadway revivalPrivates on Parade – London production opened at the Aldwych Theatre on February 17 and ran for 208 performancesSide by Side by Sondheim – Broadway production opened at the Music Box Theatre and ran for 384 performancesOliver! – London revival

Musical films

ABBA: The MovieA Little Night MusicAmar Akbar AnthonyThe Hobbit New York, New YorkPete's Dragon

Births

Deaths

Awards