The times they were a-changing in 1977. Punk rock was proving to be an excellent singles medium, with The Buzzcocks and The Jam and The (non-Tom Petty) Heartbreakers undeniably making that point. An English nerd named Declan MacManus excited critics with his wordplay and craftsmanship. Disco and Fleetwood Mac ruled the Top 40 airwaves, while groups like Television and The Ramones and The Talking Heads were establishing a New York dump named CBGB’s as the hippest club in the universe. A very good year.
Alison, Elvis Costello
American Girl, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Best of My Love, The Emotions
Blank Generation, Richard Hell and the Voidoids
Brick House, The Commodores
Chinese Rocks, The Heartbreakers
Closer to the Heart, Rush
Dancing Queen, ABBA
Deacon Blues, Steely Dan
Do Ya, Electric Light Orchestra
Don’t Leave Me This Way, Thelma Houston
Don’t Stop, Fleetwood Mac
Downed, Cheap Trick
Dreams, Fleetwood Mac
First Cut is the Deepest, Rod Stewart
Fly Like An Eagle, Steve Miller Band
Gimme Gimme Shock Treatment, The Ramones
Go Your Own Way, Fleetwood Mac
God Save the Queen, The Sex Pistols
Got to Give It Up, Marvin Gaye
Heard It in a Love Song, Marshall Tucker Band
Heroes, David Bowie
I Feel Love, Donna Summer
I Wish, Stevie Wonder
In the City, The Jam
Jamming, Bob Marley & the Wailers
Lido Shuffle, Boz Scaggs
Life in the Fast Lane, The Eagles
Luckenbach, Texas, Waylon Jennings
Lust for Life, Iggy Pop
Marquee Moon, Television
Maybe I’m Amazed, Paul Mccartney and Wings
Night Moves, Bob Seger
Only the Good Die Young, Billy Joel
Orgasm Addict, Buzzcocks
The Passenger, Iggy Pop
Peg, Steely Dan
Pretty Vacant, The Sex Pistols
Psycho Killer, Talking Heads
Rock and Roll Never Forgets, Bob Seger
Rockaway Beach, The Ramones
Sex & Drugs & Rock and Roll, Ian Dury
Sir Duke, Stevie Wonder
Smoke from a Distant Fire, The Sanford/Townsend Band
Solsbury Hill, Peter Gabriel
Stick to Me, Graham Parker & The Rumour
Take the Money and Run, Steve Miller Band
Walk This Way, Aerosmith
Watching the Detectives, Elvis Costello and the Attractions
We Are the Champions/We Will Rock You, Queen
What’s Your Name, Lynyrd Skynyrd
Whole Lotta Rosie, AC/DC
You Make Loving Fun, Fleetwood Mac