List of Hot Country Singles number ones of 1974
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File:Bobby Bare at the Grand Ole Opry.jpg had his only number one single in 1974.|alt=An older man wearing a white cowboy hat and a denim shirt, with a guitar hanging over his shoulder standing at a microphone raising his right fist in the air]]
Hot Country Songs is a chart that ranks the top-performing country music songs in the United States, published by Billboard magazine. In 1974, 41 different singles topped the chart, which at the time was published under the title Hot Country Singles, in 52 issues of the magazine, based on playlists submitted by country music radio stations and sales reports submitted by stores.{{cite book|title=Joel Whitburn's Top Country Songs: 1944-2005|page=ix|first=Joel|last=Whitburn|authorlink=Joel Whitburn|publisher=Record Research|date=2005|isbn=978-0-89820-165-9}}
At the start of the year, the number one song on the chart was "If We Make It Through December" by Merle Haggard, the song's third week in the top spot. Charlie Rich had the most number ones of 1974, taking five different songs to the top spot, followed by Dolly Parton, who had three solo chart-toppers and one in collaboration with her long-time mentor Porter Wagoner. Wagoner and Parton had charted with a number of duets since 1967,{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dolly-parton-mn0000175286/biography|first=David|last=Vinopal|title=Dolly Parton Biography & History|access-date=April 22, 2018|publisher=AllMusic|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417192427/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/dolly-parton-mn0000175286/biography|archive-date=April 17, 2018|url-status=live}} but "Please Don't Stop Loving Me" was their only number one as a duo.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/porter-wagoner/chart-history/country-songs|title=Porter Wagoner Chart History|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180519193550/https://www.billboard.com/music/porter-wagoner/chart-history/country-songs|archive-date=May 19, 2018|url-status=dead}} In 1973, Parton had taken the decision to end her working relationship with Wagoner, which served as the inspiration for the song "I Will Always Love You",{{cite web|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/entertainment/music/2015/12/26/dolly-parton-remembers-writing-always-love-you/77762172/|title=Dolly Parton remembers writing 'I Will Always Love You'|work=The Tennessean|first=David|last=Paulson|date=December 26, 2015|access-date=April 22, 2018}} one of her three solo number ones of 1974. In 1982 she re-recorded the song and it once again went to number one, making her the first artist to top the country chart with two different recordings of the same song.{{cite book|title=Country Music Culture: From Hard Times to Heaven|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780878057221|url-access=registration|page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780878057221/page/195 195]|date=1995|first=Curtis W.|last=Ellison|publisher=Univ. Press of Mississippi|isbn=978-1-60473-934-3}} Wagoner and Parton's chart-topper was one of two male-female duets to reach number one in 1974, the other being Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn's "As Soon as I Hang Up the Phone". Twitty and Lynn had a run of success with duet recordings in the early 1970s alongside their ongoing solo careers.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/conway-twitty-mn0000780451/biography|title=Conway Twitty Biography & History|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=December 23, 2019|first=Stephen Thomas|last=Erlewine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223083207/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/conway-twitty-mn0000780451/biography|archive-date=December 23, 2019|url-status=live}}
In addition to having the most individual chart-toppers, Charlie Rich also spent the highest total number of weeks at number one during the year. The singer nicknamed the "Silver Fox"{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/26/obituaries/charlie-rich-62-silver-fox-country-singer-and-songwriter.html|title=Charlie Rich, 62, 'Silver Fox,' Country Singer and Songwriter|work=New York Times|first=Stephen|last=Holden|date=July 26, 1995|access-date=January 28, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128083838/https://www.nytimes.com/1995/07/26/obituaries/charlie-rich-62-silver-fox-country-singer-and-songwriter.html|archive-date=January 28, 2020|url-status=live}} spent eight weeks in the top spot with "There Won't Be Anymore", "A Very Special Love Song", "I Don't See Me in Your Eyes Anymore", "I Love My Friend" and "She Called Me Baby", all of which also crossed over to Billboard{{'s}} pop singles chart, the Hot 100;{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/charlie-rich/chart-history/csi/|title=Charlie Rich Chart History|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524221204/https://www.billboard.com/music/charlie-rich/chart-history/country-songs|archive-date=May 24, 2018|url-status=live}} no other artist spent more than four weeks atop the country listing. Three of the five – "There Won't Be Anymore," "I Don't See Me In Your Eyes Anymore" and "She Called Me Baby" – were recorded in the mid-1960s and re-released by his old labels to cash in on his recent success.{{cite book|title=Joel Whitburn's Top Country Songs: 1944–1997|page=290|first=Joel|last=Whitburn|authorlink=Joel Whitburn|publisher=Record Research|date=1999|isbn=978-0-89820-129-1}} A fifteen-year veteran of the music industry, Rich had finally achieved stardom in both the country and pop markets in the early 1970s and was at the peak of his success in 1974, but changing musical tastes and increasing personal problems led to him largely retiring at the end of the decade.{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/charlie-rich-mn0000179730/biography|title=Charlie Rich Biography & History|publisher=AllMusic|access-date=January 28, 2020|first=Stephen Thomas|last=Erlewine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200128101944/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/charlie-rich-mn0000179730/biography|archive-date=January 28, 2020|url-status=live}} In June, Ronnie Milsap had his first number one with "Pure Love".{{cite web|url=https://theboot.com/top-ronnie-milsap-songs/|title=Top 10 Ronnie Milsap Songs|work=The Boot|publisher=Townsquare Media|date=February 6, 2019|first=Annie|last=Zaleski|access-date=April 22, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190206225539/http://theboot.com/top-ronnie-milsap-songs/|archive-date=February 6, 2019|url-status=live}} He would go on to become one of the most successful country performers of the 1970s and 1980s, topping the Hot Country Singles chart more than 30 times. In the same month, Waylon Jennings reached number one for the first time with "This Time".{{cite book|title=The Comprehensive Country Music Encyclopedia|page=[https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780812922479/page/184 184]|publisher=Times Books|date=1994|isbn=978-0-8129-2247-9|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780812922479/page/184}} Jennings would go on to become one of the mainstays of the successful outlaw country movement of the late 1970s and, like Milsap, is a member of the Country Music Hall of Fame.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/country/news/country-music-hall-of-fame-announces-outlaw-country-exhibit-w515380|title=Country Music Hall of Fame Announces Massive Outlaw Country Exhibit|magazine=Rolling Stone|first=Jeff|last=Gage|date=January 12, 2018|access-date=April 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180319004320/https://www.rollingstone.com/country/news/country-music-hall-of-fame-announces-outlaw-country-exhibit-w515380|archive-date=March 19, 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/waylon-jennings-dead-at-sixty-four-20020214|title=Waylon Jennings Dead at Sixty-four|magazine=Rolling Stone|first=Andrew|last=Dansby|date=February 14, 2002|access-date=April 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180311021808/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/waylon-jennings-dead-at-sixty-four-20020214|archive-date=March 11, 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/ronnie-milsap-to-be-focus-of-country-hall-of-fame-exhibit-20150112|title=Ronnie Milsap to Be Focus of Country Hall of Fame Exhibit|magazine=Rolling Stone|first=Stephen L.|last=Betts|date=January 12, 2015|access-date=April 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423170341/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/ronnie-milsap-to-be-focus-of-country-hall-of-fame-exhibit-20150112|archive-date=April 23, 2018|url-status=live}} A third future Hall of Fame inductee to top the chart for the first time in 1974 was Bobby Bare,{{cite web|url=http://www.cmt.com/news/1716332/kenny-rogers-bobby-bare-jack-clement-inducted-into-country-music-hall-of-fame//|title=Kenny Rogers, Bobby Bare, Jack Clement Inducted Into Country Music Hall of Fame|first=Edward|last=Morris|date=October 28, 2013|publisher=CMT|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423170554/http://www.cmt.com/news/1716332/kenny-rogers-bobby-bare-jack-clement-inducted-into-country-music-hall-of-fame//|access-date=April 23, 2018|archive-date=2018-04-23}} who achieved the only number one of his lengthy career in July with "Marie Laveau".{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/booting-ass-and-taking-names-countrys-20-best-revenge-songs-20150213/bobby-bare-marie-laveau-20150213|title=Booting Ass and Taking Names: Country's 20 Best Revenge Songs|magazine=Rolling Stone|first1=Stephen L.|last1=Betts|first2=Andrew|last2=Leahey|first3=Melinda|last3=Newman|first4=Joseph|last4=Hudak|first5=Erin|last5=Manning|first6=Beville|last6=Dunkerley|first7=Adam|last7=Gold|first8=Marissa R.|last8=Moss|date=February 13, 2015|access-date=April 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423232307/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/booting-ass-and-taking-names-countrys-20-best-revenge-songs-20150213/bobby-bare-marie-laveau-20150213|archive-date=April 23, 2018|url-status=live}} Mickey Gilley, Billy Swan, Melba Montgomery and Billy "Crash" Craddock were also first-time chart-toppers in 1974.{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/room-full-of-roses-gilleys-smokin-mw0000031295|title=Room Full of Roses/Gilley's Smokin'|work=AllMusic|first=Thom|last=Jurek|access-date=April 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423170830/https://www.allmusic.com/album/room-full-of-roses-gilleys-smokin-mw0000031295|archive-date=April 23, 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/billy-swan/chart-history/csi/|title=Billy Swan Chart History|magazine=Billboard|access-date=April 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180524221359/https://www.billboard.com/music/billy-swan/chart-history/country-songs|archive-date=May 24, 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/melba-montgomery-mn0000868456/biography|title=Melba Montgomery Biography & History|work=AllMusic|first=Jason|last=Ankeny|access-date=April 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423170810/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/melba-montgomery-mn0000868456/biography|archive-date=April 23, 2018|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/billy-crash-craddock-mn0000080659/biography|title=Billy "Crash" Craddock Biography & History|work=AllMusic|first=Steve|last=Huey|access-date=April 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423170724/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/billy-crash-craddock-mn0000080659/biography|archive-date=April 23, 2018|url-status=live}} The final number one of the year was "What a Man My Man Is" by Lynn Anderson.
Chart history
File:Charlie_Rich_1973.JPG had five number ones in 1974.|alt=A grey-haired man]]
File:Ronnie Milsap.png had the first of more than 30 country number ones.|alt=A dark-haired man wearing dark glasses, smiling broadly]]
File:Billy Crash Craddock.png had one of the few chart-toppers to spend more than a single week at number one.|alt=A dark-haired man wearing a shirt and a dark jacket, smiling broadly]]
File:Dolly Parton accepting Liseberg Applause Award 2010 portrait.jpg had four number ones, including one of her best-known songs, "I Will Always Love You".|alt=A blonde woman wearing dark clothing, holding a trophy in the shape of hands applauding]]
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
!scope=col|Issue date !scope=col|Title !scope=col|Artist(s) !scope=col class=unsortable|Ref. |
| scope=row|{{dts|January 5}}
|rowspan=2|"If We Make It Through December" |rowspan=2|{{sortname|Merle|Haggard}} |
|---|
| scope=row|{{dts|January 12}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|January 19}}
|rowspan=2|"I Love" |rowspan=2|{{sortname|Tom T.|Hall}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|January 26}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|February 2}}
|"Jolene" |{{sortname|Dolly|Parton}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|February 9}}
|{{sortname|Bill|Anderson|Bill Anderson (singer)}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|February 16}}
|{{sortname|Johnny|Rodriguez}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|February 23}}
|rowspan=2|"Another Lonely Song" |rowspan=2|{{sortname|Tammy|Wynette}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|March 2}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|March 9}}
|rowspan=2|"There Won't Be Anymore" |rowspan=2|{{sortname|Charlie|Rich}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|March 16}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|March 23}}
|"There's a Honky Tonk Angel (Who'll Take Me Back In)" |{{sortname|Conway|Twitty}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|March 30}}
|"Would You Lay with Me (In a Field of Stone)" |{{sortname|Tanya|Tucker}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|April 6}}
|rowspan=3|"{{sort|Very|A Very Special Love Song}}" |rowspan=3|{{sortname|Charlie|Rich}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|April 13}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|April 20}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|April 27}}
|"Hello Love" |{{sortname|Hank|Snow}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|May 4}}
|"Things Aren't Funny Anymore" |{{sortname|Merle|Haggard}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|May 11}}
|"Is It Wrong (For Loving You)" |{{sortname|Sonny|James}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|May 18}}
|{{sortname|Cal|Smith}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|May 25}}
|"No Charge" |{{sortname|Melba|Montgomery}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|June 1}}
|"Pure Love" |{{sortname|Ronnie|Milsap}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|June 8}}
|{{sortname|Dolly|Parton}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|June 15}}
|"I Don't See Me in Your Eyes Anymore" |{{sortname|Charlie|Rich}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|June 22}}
|"This Time" |{{sortname|Waylon|Jennings}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|June 29}}
|{{sortname|Mickey|Gilley}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|July 6}}
|rowspan=2|"He Thinks I Still Care" |rowspan=2|{{sortname|Anne|Murray}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|July 13}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|July 20}}
|"Marie Laveau" |{{sortname|Bobby|Bare}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|July 27}}
|"You Can't Be a Beacon If Your Light Don't Shine" |{{sortname|Donna|Fargo}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|August 3}}
|rowspan=2|"Rub It In" |rowspan=2|{{sortname|Billy "Crash"|Craddock}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|August 10}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|August 17}}
|"As Soon as I Hang Up the Phone" |{{sortname|Conway|Twitty}} and Loretta Lynn |
| scope=row|{{dts|August 24}}
|{{sortname|Merle|Haggard}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|August 31}}
|"{{sort|Grand|The Grand Tour}}" |{{sortname|George|Jones}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|September 7}}
|rowspan=2|"Please Don't Tell Me How the Story Ends" |rowspan=2|{{sortname|Ronnie|Milsap}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|September 14}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|September 21}}
|"I Wouldn't Want to Live If You Didn't Love Me" |{{sortname|Don|Williams}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|September 28}}
|{{sortname|Waylon|Jennings}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|October 5}}
|{{sortname|Charlie|Rich}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|October 12}}
|"Please Don't Stop Loving Me" |{{sortname|Porter|Wagoner}} and Dolly Parton |
| scope=row|{{dts|October 19}}
|rowspan=2|"I See the Want To in Your Eyes" |rowspan=2|{{sortname|Conway|Twitty}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|October 26}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|November 2}}
|{{sortname|Mickey|Gilley}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|November 9}}
|{{sortname|Dolly|Parton}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|November 16}}
|"Country Is" |{{sortname|Tom T.|Hall}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|November 23}}
|{{sortname|Loretta|Lynn}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|November 30}}
|{{sortname|John|Denver}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|December 7}}
|{{sortname|Charlie|Rich}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|December 14}}
|rowspan=2|"I Can Help" |rowspan=2|{{sortname|Billy|Swan}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|December 21}} |
| scope=row|{{dts|December 28}}
|{{sortname|Lynn|Anderson}} |
See also
References
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
{{Hot Country Songs}}
{{featured list}}