While I was putting together a list of my top ten albums of 1977, I was again reminded of the impressive run that Fleetwood Mac's Rumours had atop the Billboard album chart. So I thought maybe the battle immediately beneath the top spot might be worth a look. With the exception of the July 16 issue in which it was in the #3 spot, Rumours spent March 19 - December 24 in one of the top 2 spots. I didn't find the list of #2 albums to be terribly interesting, but since I've done the work anyway, here it is. All the #1 albums spent time in the #2 position, but all the #2 albums didn't make it to the top spot.
| Issue Date | #1 | #2 |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 8 | Songs in the Key of Life | Hotel California |
| Jan 15 | Hotel California | Songs in the Key of Life |
| Jan 22 | Wings over America | Hotel California |
| Jan 29 | Songs in the Key of Life | Wings over America |
| Feb 5 | Hotel California | A Star is Born |
| Feb 12 | A Star Is Born | Hotel California |
| Feb 19 | ||
| Feb 26 | ||
| March 5 | ||
| March 12 | ||
| March 19 | Rumours | |
| March 26 | Hotel California | |
| April 2 | Rumours | Hotel California |
| April 9 | ||
| April 16 | Hotel California | Rumours |
| April 23 | ||
| April 30 | ||
| May 7 | ||
| May 14 | ||
| May 21 | Rumours | Hotel California |
| May 28 | ||
| June 4 | ||
| June 11 | The Beatles at The Hollywood Bowl | |
| June 18 | ||
| June 25 | Book of Dreams | |
| July 2 | ||
| July 9 | Barry Manilow Live | |
| July 16 | Barry Manilow Live | I'm in You |
| July 23 | Rumours | |
| July 30 | ||
| Aug 6 | ||
| Aug 13 | CSN | |
| Aug 20 | ||
| Aug 27 | ||
| Sept 3 | ||
| Sept 10 | Star Wars Soundtrack | |
| Sept 17 | ||
| Sept 24 | ||
| Oct 1 | Simple Dreams | |
| Oct 8 | ||
| Oct 15 | ||
| Oct 22 | ||
| Oct 29 | ||
| Nov 5 | ||
| Nov 12 | ||
| Nov 19 | ||
| Nov 26 | ||
| Dec 3 | Simple Dreams | Rumours |
| Dec 10 | ||
| Dec 17 | ||
| Dec 24 |
Still can't get over the fact that Barry Manilow Live outsold Rumours, if only for one week and it wasn't even its first week. Back then, albums would build momentum and then move up the chart based on touring, the release of singles, and TV appearances. For the last twenty years or so, albums have one big first week and then they virtually disappear. Establishing momentum or increasing sales is a lost art.
ReplyDeleteAlso interesting how Hotel California kept registering at Number One, flip-flopping with Rumours.
Thanks for this