In 1973, Billboard magazine published a chart ranking the top-performing songs in the United States in the easy listening market.
The chart, which in 1973 was entitled Easy Listening, has undergone various name changes and has been published under the title Adult Contemporary since 1996.
[1] In the issue of Billboard dated January 6, 1973, the band Bread retained the number one position from the final chart of the previous year with "Sweet Surrender",[2] but the song held the top spot for only one further week before being replaced by "Been to Canaan" by Carole King.
[4] The final number one of the year was "Time in a Bottle" by Jim Croce, which moved into the top spot in the issue of Billboard dated December 30.
[6] In the early 1970s there was considerable crossover between the two charts, and seven of 1973's other Easy Listening number ones also reached the top spot on the Hot 100: "You're So Vain" by Carly Simon, "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" by Tony Orlando and Dawn, "My Love" by Paul McCartney and Wings, "Touch Me in the Morning" by Diana Ross, "Delta Dawn" by Reddy, "The Most Beautiful Girl" by Charlie Rich, and "You Are the Sunshine of My Life" by Stevie Wonder.