Since 1976 was 30 years ago, I thought I'd post what people were listening to and watching on TV that bicentenary year (in the U.S):

For the '75-'76 TV schedule, go here.
For the '76-'77 TV schedule, go here.

The 100 biggest songs of 1976 according to Billboard magazine:

1 SILLY LOVE SONGS - Wings (#1)
2 DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART - Elton John and Kiki Dee (#1)
3 DISCO LADY - Johnnie Taylor (#1)
4 DECEMBER, 1963 (OH, WHAT A NIGHT) - Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons (#1)
5 PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC - Wild Cherry (#1)
6 KISS AND SAY GOODBYE - Manhattans (#1)
7 LOVE MACHINE (PART 1) - Miracles (#1)
8 50 WAYS TO LEAVE YOUR LOVER - Paul Simon (#1)
9 LOVE IS ALIVE - Gary Wright
10 FIFTH OF BEETHOVEN - Walter Murphy And The Big Apple (#1)

11 SARA SMILE - Daryl Hall And John Oates
12 AFTERNOON DELIGHT - Starland Vocal Band (#1)
13 I WRITE THE SONGS - Barry Manilow (#1)
14 FLY, ROBIN, FLY - Silver Convention (#1)
15 LOVE HANGOVER - Diana Ross (#1)
16 GET CLOSER - Seals And Croft
17 MORE, MORE, MORE - Andrea True Connection
18 BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY - Queen
19 MISTY BLUE - Dorothy Moore
20 BOOGIE FEVER - Sylvers (#1)

21 I'D REALLY LOVE TO SEE YOU TONIGHT - England Dan And John Ford Coley
22 YOU SEXY THING - Hot Chocolate
23 LOVE HURTS - Nazareth
24 GET UP AND BOOGIE - Silver Convention
25 TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT - Eagles
26 (SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE) SHAKE YOUR BOOTY - KC And The Sunshine Band (#1)
27 SWEET LOVE - Commodores
28 RIGHT BACK WHERE WE STARTED FROM - Maxine Nightingale
29 THEME FROM "S.W.A.T." - Rhythm Heritage (#1)
30 LOVE ROLLERCOASTER - Ohio Players (#1)

31 YOU SHOULD BE DANCING - Bee Gees (#1)
32 YOU'LL NEVER FIND ANOTHER LOVE LIKE MINE - Lou Rawls
33 GOLDEN YEARS - David Bowie
34 MOONLIGHT FEELS RIGHT - Starbuck
35 ONLY SIXTEEN - Dr. Hook
36 LET YOUR LOVE FLOW - Bellamy Brothers (#1)
37 DREAMWEAVER - Gary Wright
38 TURN THE BEAT AROUND - Vicki Sue Robinson
39 LONELY NIGHT (ANGEL FACE) - Captain And Tennille
40 ALL BY MYSELF - Eric Carmen

41 LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY - Donna Summer
42 DEEP PURPLE - Donny and Marie Osmond
43 THEME FROM "MAHOGANY" - Diana Ross (#1)
44 SWEET THING - Rufus
45 THAT'S THE WAY I LIKE IT - KC And The Sunshine Band (#1)
46 A LITTLE BIT MORE - Dr. Hook
47 SHANNON - Henry Gross
48 IF YOU LEAVE ME NOW - Chicago (#1)
49 LOWDOWN - Boz Scaggs
50 SHOW ME THE WAY - Peter Frampton

51 DREAM ON - Aerosmith
52 I LOVE MUSIC (PART 1) - O'Jays
53 SAY YOU LOVE ME - Fleetwood Mac
54 TIMES OF YOUR LIFE - Paul Anka
55 DEVIL WOMAN - Cliff Richard
56 FOOLED AROUND AND FELL IN LOVE - Elvin Bishop
57 CONVOY - C.W. McCall (#1)
58 WELCOME BACK - John Sebastian (#1)
59 SING A SONG - Earth, Wind & Fire
60 HEAVEN MUST BE MISSING AN ANGEL - Tavares

61 I'LL BE GOOD TO YOU - Brothers Johnson
62 SHOP AROUND - Captain & Tennille
63 SATURDAY NIGHT - Bay City Rollers (#1)
64 ISLAND GIRL - Elton John (#1)
65 LET'S DO IT AGAIN - Staple Singers (#1)
66 LET 'EM IN - Wings
67 BABY FACE - Wing & A Prayer Fife & Drum Corps
68 THIS MASQUERADE - George Benson
69 EVIL WOMAN - Electric Light Orchestra
70 WHAM BAM - Silver

71 I'M EASY - Keith Carradine
72 WAKE UP EVERYBODY (PART 1) - Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes
73 SUMMER - War
74 LET HER IN - John Travolta
75 FOX ON THE RUN - Sweet
76 RHIANNON (WILL YOU EVER WIN) - Fleetwood Mac
77 GOT TO GET YOU INTO MY LIFE - Beatles
78 FANNY (BE TENDER WITH MY LOVE) - Bee Gees
79 GETAWAY - Earth, Wind & Fire
80 SHE'S GONE - Daryl Hall & John Oates

81 ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC - Beach Boys
82 STILL THE ONE - Orleans
83 YOU'RE MY BEST FRIEND - Queen
84 WITH YOUR LOVE - Jefferson Starship
85 SLOW RIDE - Foghat
86 WHO'D SHE COO - Ohio Players
87 WALK AWAY FROM LOVE - David Ruffin
88 BABY, I LOVE YOUR WAY - Peter Frampton
89 YOUNG HEARTS RUN FREE - Candi Staton
90 BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO - Neil Sedaka

91 MONEY HONEY - Bay City Rollers
92 TEAR THE ROOF OFF SUCKER - Parliament
93 JUNK FOOD JUNKIE - Larry Groce
94 TRYIN' TO GET THE FEELING AGAIN - Barry Manilow
95 ROCK AND ROLL ALL NIGHT - Kiss
96 DISCO DUCK - Rick Dees (#1)
97 THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN - Thin Lizzy
98 TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN - Steve Miller Band
99 SQUEEZE BOX - Who
100 COUNTRY BOY (YOU GOT YOUR FEET IN L.A.) - Glen Campbell

1976 was a great year for music.  For my fellow Canadians, here's a bunch of Canadian hits that were in the Canadian charts ...

Theme From S.W.A.T. - THP Orchestra
High in the Rockies - Brussel Sprout
Take it Like A Man - Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Anyway You Want - Charity Brown
Give A Little Love - Ken Tobias
Playin' in the Band - The Stampeders
Looking Out For #1 - Bachman-Turner Overdrive
Liars - Ian Thomas
Dolly - Liverpool
Roxy Roller - Sweeney Todd
You Can't Dance - Jackson Hawke
Say You Love Me - Shirley Eikhard
From New York to LA - Patsy Gallant
Two For the Show - Trooper
National Poddy - Sweet Blindness
Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald - Gordon Lightfoot
Take it or Leave It - Moxy
Stand Tall - Burton Cummings
Come and See My Man - C.B. Victoria
Loving You Baby - Wednesday
Make Me Your Baby - Suzanne Stevens
General Hand Grenade - Trooper

There were some duds as well, like John Travolta's "Let Her In". Eeewww.

Did Disco begin in 1976? I think the film 'Saturday Night Fever' was in 1976 or 1977, but many (to me erroneously) state Disco began in 1978. Which is kinda confusing...

Odd there's nothing in the chart by KISS or AC/DC, or even Aerosmith...three bands which really struck it big in '76.

Did Disco begin in 1976? I think the film 'Saturday Night Fever' was in 1976 or 1977, but many (to me erroneously) state Disco began in 1978. Which is kinda confusing...

Odd there's nothing in the chart by KISS or AC/DC, or even Aerosmith...three bands which really struck it big in '76.


It's been said that the first true disco songs began in 1972.  In 1974, Billboard created the "Disco Action Charts" to monitor the success of disco songs played in the club.  This chart is now called "Hot Dance Music / Club Play" :)

The 100 biggest songs of 1976 according to Billboard magazine:

1 SILLY LOVE SONGS - Wings (#1)
2 DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART - Elton John and Kiki Dee (#1)
3 DISCO LADY - Johnnie Taylor (#1)
4 DECEMBER, 1963 (OH, WHAT A NIGHT) - Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons (#1)
5 PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC - Wild Cherry (#1)
6 KISS AND SAY GOODBYE - Manhattans (#1)
7 LOVE MACHINE (PART 1) - Miracles (#1)
8 50 WAYS TO LEAVE YOUR LOVER - Paul Simon (#1)
9 LOVE IS ALIVE - Gary Wright
10 FIFTH OF BEETHOVEN - Walter Murphy And The Big Apple (#1)

11 SARA SMILE - Daryl Hall And John Oates
12 AFTERNOON DELIGHT - Starland Vocal Band (#1)
13 I WRITE THE SONGS - Barry Manilow (#1)
14 FLY, ROBIN, FLY - Silver Convention (#1)
15 LOVE HANGOVER - Diana Ross (#1)
16 GET CLOSER - Seals And Croft
17 MORE, MORE, MORE - Andrea True Connection
18 BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY - Queen
19 MISTY BLUE - Dorothy Moore
20 BOOGIE FEVER - Sylvers (#1)

21 I'D REALLY LOVE TO SEE YOU TONIGHT - England Dan And John Ford Coley
22 YOU SEXY THING - Hot Chocolate
23 LOVE HURTS - Nazareth
24 GET UP AND BOOGIE - Silver Convention
25 TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT - Eagles
26 (SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE) SHAKE YOUR BOOTY - KC And The Sunshine Band (#1)
27 SWEET LOVE - Commodores
28 RIGHT BACK WHERE WE STARTED FROM - Maxine Nightingale
29 THEME FROM "S.W.A.T." - Rhythm Heritage (#1)
30 LOVE ROLLERCOASTER - Ohio Players (#1)

31 YOU SHOULD BE DANCING - Bee Gees (#1)
32 YOU'LL NEVER FIND ANOTHER LOVE LIKE MINE - Lou Rawls
33 GOLDEN YEARS - David Bowie
34 MOONLIGHT FEELS RIGHT - Starbuck
35 ONLY SIXTEEN - Dr. Hook
36 LET YOUR LOVE FLOW - Bellamy Brothers (#1)
37 DREAMWEAVER - Gary Wright
38 TURN THE BEAT AROUND - Vicki Sue Robinson
39 LONELY NIGHT (ANGEL FACE) - Captain And Tennille
40 ALL BY MYSELF - Eric Carmen

41 LOVE TO LOVE YOU BABY - Donna Summer
42 DEEP PURPLE - Donny and Marie Osmond
43 THEME FROM "MAHOGANY" - Diana Ross (#1)
44 SWEET THING - Rufus
45 THAT'S THE WAY I LIKE IT - KC And The Sunshine Band (#1)
46 A LITTLE BIT MORE - Dr. Hook
47 SHANNON - Henry Gross
48 IF YOU LEAVE ME NOW - Chicago (#1)
49 LOWDOWN - Boz Scaggs
50 SHOW ME THE WAY - Peter Frampton

51 DREAM ON - Aerosmith
52 I LOVE MUSIC (PART 1) - O'Jays
53 SAY YOU LOVE ME - Fleetwood Mac
54 TIMES OF YOUR LIFE - Paul Anka
55 DEVIL WOMAN - Cliff Richard
56 FOOLED AROUND AND FELL IN LOVE - Elvin Bishop
57 CONVOY - C.W. McCall (#1)
58 WELCOME BACK - John Sebastian (#1)
59 SING A SONG - Earth, Wind & Fire
60 HEAVEN MUST BE MISSING AN ANGEL - Tavares

61 I'LL BE GOOD TO YOU - Brothers Johnson
62 SHOP AROUND - Captain & Tennille
63 SATURDAY NIGHT - Bay City Rollers (#1)
64 ISLAND GIRL - Elton John (#1)
65 LET'S DO IT AGAIN - Staple Singers (#1)
66 LET 'EM IN - Wings
67 BABY FACE - Wing & A Prayer Fife & Drum Corps
68 THIS MASQUERADE - George Benson
69 EVIL WOMAN - Electric Light Orchestra
70 WHAM BAM - Silver

71 I'M EASY - Keith Carradine
72 WAKE UP EVERYBODY (PART 1) - Harold Melvin & The Bluenotes
73 SUMMER - War
74 LET HER IN - John Travolta
75 FOX ON THE RUN - Sweet
76 RHIANNON (WILL YOU EVER WIN) - Fleetwood Mac
77 GOT TO GET YOU INTO MY LIFE - Beatles
78 FANNY (BE TENDER WITH MY LOVE) - Bee Gees
79 GETAWAY - Earth, Wind & Fire
80 SHE'S GONE - Daryl Hall & John Oates

81 ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC - Beach Boys
82 STILL THE ONE - Orleans
83 YOU'RE MY BEST FRIEND - Queen
84 WITH YOUR LOVE - Jefferson Starship
85 SLOW RIDE - Foghat
86 WHO'D SHE COO - Ohio Players
87 WALK AWAY FROM LOVE - David Ruffin
88 BABY, I LOVE YOUR WAY - Peter Frampton
89 YOUNG HEARTS RUN FREE - Candi Staton
90 BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO - Neil Sedaka

91 MONEY HONEY - Bay City Rollers
92 TEAR THE ROOF OFF SUCKER - Parliament
93 JUNK FOOD JUNKIE - Larry Groce
94 TRYIN' TO GET THE FEELING AGAIN - Barry Manilow
95 ROCK AND ROLL ALL NIGHT - Kiss
96 DISCO DUCK - Rick Dees (#1)
97 THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN - Thin Lizzy
98 TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN - Steve Miller Band
99 SQUEEZE BOX - Who
100 COUNTRY BOY (YOU GOT YOUR FEET IN L.A.) - Glen Campbell



Perfect examples of why I quit listening to AM radio in late 1974...

I counted exactly six songs on that list that did NOT make me want to run screaming from the room... ::)

Damn, this is my birth year!

Here are the top 10 movies in the U.S. in 1976 in millions of unadjusted U.S. dollars:

1  Rocky - $117.235
2  To Fly! - $82.500
3  All President's Men - $70.600
4  A Star is Born - $63.130
5  King Kong (1976) - $52.600
6  Silver Streak - $51.079
7  The Omen - $48.571
8  The Enforcer - $46.200
9  Midway - $43.220
10  Bad News Bears (1976) - $42.350

Source.

Damn, this is my birth year!


Well at least you did manage to squeeze in just before Bolan checked out... :)

Well at least you did manage to squeeze in just before Bolan checked out... :)


omg! didn't I? It's crazy.

Damn, this is my birth year!


Mine too! Saw most of it (bday's in Feb.)

Mine too! Saw most of it (bday's in Feb.)


cool!

I was a high school Junior/Senior in '76.  So I suppose I should have some memories...

Among the songs listed, some of my favorites at that time were:

YOU SHOULD BE DANCING - Bee Gees
FANNY (BE TENDER WITH MY LOVE) - Bee Gees
(My Bee Gees' fanship probably peaked in '76.  It would go downhill real fast-)

BOOGIE FEVER - Sylvers
LOVE ROLLERCOASTER - Ohio Players
I'LL BE GOOD TO YOU - Brothers Johnson
I LOVE MUSIC - O'Jays
(Sure, I got into a little disco then...)

SWEET THING - Rufus
IF YOU LEAVE ME NOW - Chicago
LOWDOWN - Boz Scaggs
SHOW ME THE WAY - Peter Frampton
DREAM ON - Aerosmith
DECEMBER, 1963 (OH, WHAT A NIGHT) - Four Seasons
SARA SMILE - Daryl Hall And John Oates
GET CLOSER - Seals And Crofts
DEVIL WOMAN - Cliff Richard
SING A SONG - Earth, Wind & Fire
LET 'EM IN - Wings
EVIL WOMAN - Electric Light Orchestra
STILL THE ONE - Orleans
WITH YOUR LOVE - Jefferson Starship
BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO - Neil Sedaka

Of the movies that were mentioned, my favorite (still a long-time favorite): Silver Streak

I was, of course, a typical she-male at that age, chasing all the "young dudes"  ;D 

I joined the girl's track team at my school.  As I recall, it was only the second year we had track for girls...  :-\\

(I wasn't too fast, so my coach made me run the 2 mile.  I never was very good - but I finished!)

Here are the top 10 movies in the U.S. in 1976 in millions of unadjusted U.S. dollars:

1  Rocky - $117.235
2  To Fly! - $82.500
3  All President's Men - $70.600
4  A Star is Born - $63.130
5  King Kong (1976) - $52.600
6  Silver Streak - $51.079
7  The Omen - $48.571
8  The Enforcer - $46.200
9  Midway - $43.220
10  Bad News Bears (1976) - $42.350

Source.


To Fly! ??

I had to look that one up...

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0075333/

Never seen it.

And out of the 10 listed above there are only two I'd actually sit through and watch

1  Rocky - $117.235
6  Silver Streak - $51.079

:)

Did Disco begin in 1976? I think the film 'Saturday Night Fever' was in 1976 or 1977, but many (to me erroneously) state Disco began in 1978. Which is kinda confusing...

Odd there's nothing in the chart by KISS or AC/DC, or even Aerosmith...three bands which really struck it big in '76.


Actually, '70s Disco officially began in spring of 1974, with songs like "Rock the Boat" by Hues Corporation and "TSOP" (The Sound Of Philadelphia) by MFSB. "Saturday Night Fever" was release in December of 1977.

I still love that song "Rock The Boat". Still gets me dancing and singing.

Mine too! Saw most of it (bday's in Feb.)


Me three... I was born August '76. Soleil Moon Frye (tv's Punky Brewster) is also an August 76er.

I also love 1976 cos the sitcom 'What's Happening' had it's first run.

1  SILLY LOVE SONGS - Wings (#1)---cute

2  DON'T GO BREAKING MY HEART - Elton John and Kiki Dee (#1)------not bad at all

4  DECEMBER, 1963 (OH, WHAT A NIGHT) - Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons (#1)-----okay

5  PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC - Wild Cherry (#1)-----kinda annoying

6  KISS AND SAY GOODBYE - Manhattans (#1)----------a little bit too mushy

7  LOVE MACHINE (PART 1) - Miracles (#1)-----------ok

8  50 WAYS TO LEAVE YOUR LOVER - Paul Simon (#1)-----------okay

10  FIFTH OF BEETHOVEN - Walter Murphy And The Big Apple (#1)----------innovative

11  SARA SMILE - Daryl Hall And John Oates------------not for me

12  AFTERNOON DELIGHT - Starland Vocal Band (#1)-----a guilty pleasure of mine

15  LOVE HANGOVER - Diana Ross (#1)--------good

18  BOHEMIAN RHAPSODY - Queen---------annoying. Heard too much of it in highschool thanks to Wayne's World

20  BOOGIE FEVER - Sylvers (#1)-----------kinda annoying

21  I'D REALLY LOVE TO SEE YOU TONIGHT - England Dan And John Ford Coley-----amusing because I still here, "I'm not talking about the linen"

22  YOU SEXY THING - Hot Chocolate------------fun to sing along once in a while

25  TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT - Eagles-----definitely not one of the Eagles' best

26  (SHAKE, SHAKE, SHAKE) SHAKE YOUR BOOTY - KC And The Sunshine Band (#1)-----fun to dance to

30  LOVE ROLLERCOASTER - Ohio Players (#1)------not bad

31  YOU SHOULD BE DANCING - Bee Gees (#1)-------not one of my favorites from the Bee Gees

33  GOLDEN YEARS - David Bowie-------cool

34  MOONLIGHT FEELS RIGHT - Starbuck-----love this song!

36  LET YOUR LOVE FLOW - Bellamy Brothers (#1)----------don't like it

37  DREAMWEAVER - Gary Wright-------mediocre

38  TURN THE BEAT AROUND - Vicki Sue Robinson-----good if I really want to bust a move

40  ALL BY MYSELF - Eric Carmen---------okay

45  THAT'S THE WAY I LIKE IT - KC And The Sunshine Band (#1)----kinda annoying

47  SHANNON - Henry Gross----------this is just a bad song; too much whining for a guy

48  IF YOU LEAVE ME NOW - Chicago (#1)------another guilty pleasure of mine. I seriously think I remember hearing this song when I was 18 months

50  SHOW ME THE WAY - Peter Frampton------another great tune. Think it can go well at students' house parties.

51  DREAM ON - Aerosmith----it's funny to hear this in the morning because that beeping in the song reminds me of an alarm clock!

52  I LOVE MUSIC (PART 1) - O'Jays--------great tune

53  SAY YOU LOVE ME - Fleetwood Mac-------good.

56  FOOLED AROUND AND FELL IN LOVE - Elvin Bishop---another guilty pleasure

58  WELCOME BACK - John Sebastian (#1)--------okay I guess not really into songs from sitcoms

63  SATURDAY NIGHT - Bay City Rollers (#1)----kinda gay

64  ISLAND GIRL - Elton John (#1)-------okay

66  LET 'EM IN - Wings-------I remember when I was a kid this song was playing on the radio, and our family dog would bark because of the doorbell at the beginning

69  EVIL WOMAN - Electric Light Orchestra-----overplayed

76  RHIANNON (WILL YOU EVER WIN) - Fleetwood Mac------good year for Fleetwood Mac

77  GOT TO GET YOU INTO MY LIFE - Beatles-------isn't that from the 60s???

80  SHE'S GONE - Daryl Hall & John Oates---------okay

82  STILL THE ONE - Orleans------reminds me of a tune that could be played for a restaurant commercial

83  YOU'RE MY BEST FRIEND - Queen----like the guitar work

85  SLOW RIDE - Foghat------nothing original here

88  BABY, I LOVE YOUR WAY - Peter Frampton-----kinda annoying

90  BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO - Neil Sedaka--------I thought this tune was from 1962!?

95  ROCK AND ROLL ALL NIGHT - Kiss--------heard it too much

96  DISCO DUCK - Rick Dees (#1)--------funny

97  THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN - Thin Lizzy--------great driving music

98  TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN - Steve Miller Band------like the story

99  SQUEEZE BOX - Who--------------Hate this song. YUCK!!! So cheesy.  :P

Looking Out For #1 - Bachman-Turner Overdrive---great tune, but I can't believe it's from the same year I was born (it sounds like it came out in the Flower Power years)

Roxy Roller - Sweeney Todd-------don't like

Two For the Show - Trooper----"  "

Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald - Gordon Lightfoot---another great tune from Lightfoot

Stand Tall - Burton Cummings------not bad

Make Me Your Baby - Suzanne Stevens-----"  "

Jewel, "Breaking Up Is Hard To Do" was from 1962. It was just rereleased in '76.

1976 stands out as a special year for me as it was the year I first saw The Who. And yes, they did Squeeze Box, which I have to say I found quite embarassing. Pete Townshend described the song as "A poorly aimed dirty joke" and was amazed when the rest of The Who wanted to record it. He was even more amazed when it got quite high in the charts in the UK.

I can live with the song now - I just enjoy the musicianship and Roger's voice and try to forget that I'm listening to the musical equivalent of a seaside dirty postcard!

"40 songs turning 40 in 2016"

http://www.baltimoresun.com/entertainment/music/bal-40-songs-turning-40-in-2016-20160201-htmlstory.html