The Top 10 Hits That Dominated 1970

1970 was a fascinating transition year in music. Some of the acts that dominated the '60s were still pushing out quality tunes, while new and emerging artists helped define the following decade. In this list, we'll call back to the 10 biggest hits of the year. Each of these songs spent a minimum of two weeks at the coveted No. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100, and most spent three or more, with the very top hit of the year spending an incredible six weeks atop the U.S. commercial mountaintop. 

Some of these artists hit peak career success this year, including Motown's Edwin Starr, the TV show band the Partridge Family, and even Simon & Garfunkel's final and iconic hit. Others were only just beginning. In a year that balanced hard rock, soul music, and even love songs for the dance floor, 1970 had it all, from the takeoff of the youthful Jackson 5 to the emergence of the solo career of Diana Ross. They, along with the rest, made 1970 a year to remember in music, headlined by these songs. Here are the top 10 hits that dominated the year. 

The Jackson 5 were a force like no other in 1970, and this kids' classic is as memorable as any of their many hits. "ABC" rivals even the standard alphabet song with its instant melodic click, and though the group had a longer-reigning hit that we'll talk about later, this track spent two weeks at No. 1 beginning in late April. The song's bright melodies and vocals took it to radios across the country for the rest of the year, and it's remained in listeners' minds as one of the most iconic hits of its era. 

The Beatles' final album due to their breakup produced three chart-topping hits, two from 1970, making them the only other group besides the Jackson 5 with multiple No. 1s that year. The later smash was the double-sided "The Long and Winding Road/For You Blue" in June, but the most memorable was their album's title track, "Let It Be." This classic hit is a mature piano ballad that features some of Paul McCartney's best vocals and spent two weeks atop the charts, debuting in late March and peaking in early April. "Let It Be" is infinitely listenable, and it extended the Beatles' decade of chart dominance.

The Motown singer Edwin Starr brought this protest song to the very top of the charts for his only No. 1 hit. "War" was originally recorded by the Temptations, but Starr gave it new life that filled in the masses behind him in the summer of 1970, peaking in late August and holding the top spot for three straight weeks. Headlined by a groovy chorus with back-and-forth chants, "War" is a relatively universal protest song that notably matched the sentiments of its era. Today, it's remembered as one of the best — as well as the most successful — protest songs of all time. 

This warm and rocking track by Canadian rockers the Guess Who was one of rock 'n' roll's top hits in 1970. Though they had a handful of other songs reach the Top 10, "American Woman" was the band's only No. 1 hit, spending three weeks at the top spot beginning in early May. The tune embodies the transition from late '60s rock into the differing sounds of the decade to come, with gritty guitars and vocals as well as a head-thumping chorus. Rock fans may also know the song from its memorable late '90s cover from Lenny Kravitz.

This song from the hit 1970s sitcom hailed from its 1st season, bringing the fictitious Partridge Family their only No. 1 hit. "I Think I Love You" entered the top spot on November 21, and it held it for three weeks, its unique and almost eerie melody standing out among the other tracks on this list. Still, it's a fun track, with the Partridge Family certainly transcending the "TV song" archetype into a genuinely enjoyable smash. "I Think I Love You" may not be as remembered as some of this list's hits, but it's absolutely worth a revisit to be immersed in 1970. 

This classic song was first popularized in the late '60s by the dynamic singing duo of Martin Gaye and Tammi Terrell, and its return to the spotlight was thanks to none other than the legendary Diana Ross. Her rendition of "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" spent three weeks at No. 1 in the early fall of 1970 and totaled 14 weeks on the chart. It's a stripped-back take on the song, starting slower and building up to a more soulful and less high-energy conclusion than the most popular version — but it's still excellent. 

The Carpenters' timeless ballad was their most successful chart hit ever and their first of three No. 1s. "(They Long to Be) Close to You" is an enchanting and easy listen with a relaxed groove, calming vocals, and pretty brass and keys. Summer 1970 listeners couldn't get enough, as the song entered the No. 1 spot on July 25 and remained there for four weeks, with a total of 17 weeks on the charts. "(They Long to Be) Close to You" helped bring easy listening to the forefront of success in 1970, and it holds up just as well today.

"Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head," a song reminiscent of '50s easy listening, was a surprisingly huge chart success in 1970. After a late '69 release and debut, the track shot all the way to the top of the charts for four straight weeks in 1970. B.J. Thomas' warm vocals and the calm energy of "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" made it the first major hit of 1970, hitting the top spot on January 3. The track's soft guitars and lullaby melody are striking from just one listen, and though it may not have found the staying power of some of these other hits, it's a memorable piece of 1970.

1970 was the year of the Jackson 5. In addition to this breakout hit and the aforementioned "ABC," the group had two other No. 1s for a total of four consecutive top hits. "I'll Be There" was the top charter of the fall — it peaked on October 17 and held the top spot for five straight weeks, spending sixteen weeks on the chart in total. The wholesome ballad that later got a hit encore feels definitively 1970, and it was hard to miss thanks to its gorgeous vocals and well-documented star power.

Far and away the most successful song of 1970 is this folk rock classic from the final record of the 1960s' ultimate duo: Simon & Garfunkel. "Bridge over Troubled Water" hails from an album of the same name, and it was the last major hit for the pair as their third No. 1. The gorgeously sung anthem entered the charts in early February and rose to the No. 1 spot on February 28, which it held for a year-leading six weeks. Paul Simon's songwriting chops are at their best on this beautiful track, which brings it home thanks to the show-stopping vocals of Art Garfunkel.