In 1974, Billboard magazine published a chart ranking the top-performing songs in the United States in the easy listening market.
[1] In the issue dated January 5, 1974, the number-one position on the chart was held by "Time in a Bottle" by Jim Croce for a second consecutive week.
Chicago, Gordon Lightfoot, Anne Murray and Charlie Rich also achieved two number ones in 1974, as did the Three Degrees, who had one chart-topper in their own right and another as featured vocalists on the song "TSOP (The Sound of Philadelphia)" by MFSB, the theme tune to the syndicated television show Soul Train.
The country-rock singer Denver was at the peak of his career in 1974, selling millions of records and achieving number ones on the pop, easy listening and country charts.
[6] Songs by Croce, Barbra Streisand, the Love Unlimited Orchestra, Terry Jacks, MFSB featuring the Three Degrees, Denver, Gordon Lightfoot, Olivia Newton-John and Reddy all topped both listings.