Song of the Year 1977

Jimmy Buffett Margaritaville

Jimmy Buffett's breakthrough album Changes in Latitudes, Changes in Attitudes with the hit single Margaritaville. The song gained popular airtime boosting him from a successful local Key West storyteller to a pop icon still parotting about today. With 4 alums behind him Buffet found a new sound by putting country music to his Caribbean soul. This editor lived in Key West in 1974 and wore the grooves off of two copies of his album A1A. Jimmy Buffet Margaritaville website.

Billboard Top 40 of 1977

1. Tonight's The Night, Rod Stewart
2. I Just Want To Be Your Everything, Andy Gibb
3. Best Of My Love, Emotions
4. Love Theme From "A Star Is Born", Barbra Streisand
5. Angel In Your Arms, Hot
6. I Like Dreamin', Kenny Nolan
7. Don't Leave Me This Way, Thelma Houston
8. (Your Love Has Lifted Me) Higher And Higher, Rita Coolidge
9. Undercover Angel, Alan O'Day
10. Torn Between Two Lovers, Mary MacGregor
11. I'm Your Boogie Man, K.C. and The Sunshine Band
12. Dancing Queen, Abba
13. You Make Me Feel Like Dancing, Leo Sayer
14. Margaritaville, Jimmy Buffet
15. Telephone Line, Electric Light Orchestra
16. Whatcha Gonna Do?, Pablo Cruise
17. Do You Wanna Make Love, Peter McCann
18. Sir Duke, Stevie Wonder
19. Hotel California, Eagles
20. Got To Give It Up, Pt. 1, Marvin Gaye
21. Theme From "Rocky" (Gonna Fly Now), Bill Conti
22. Southern Nights, Glen Campbell
23. Rich Girl, Daryl Hall and John Oates
24. When I Need You, Leo Sayer
25. Hot Line, Sylvers
26. Car Wash, Rose Royce
27. You Don't Have To Be A Star, Marilyn McCoo and Billy Davis Jr.
28. Fly Like An Eagle, Steve Miller Band
29. Don't Give Up On Us, David Soul
30. On And On, Stephen Bishop
31. Feels Like The First Time, Foreigner
32. Couldn't Get It Right, Climax Blues Band
33. Easy, Commodores
34. Right Time Of The Night, Jennifer Warnes
35. I've Got Love On My Mind, Natalie Cole
36. Blinded By The Light, Manfred Mann's Earth Band
37. Looks Like We Made It, Barry Manilow
38. So In To You, Atlanta Rhythm Section
39. Dreams, Fleetwood Mac
40. Enjoy Yourself, Jacksons

Top Albums of 1977

Music News 1977

An overweight 42 year Elvis Presley - having trouble standing on stage in his 1977 tour due to drug use - was found dead on the floor of his Graceland mansion bathroom from an overdose of prescription drugs. Washington Post Obit.

Forever Young

The Band plays its Last Waltz filmed by Martin Scorcesse. Band members Levon Helm, Garth Hudson, Rick Danko, Robbie Robertson and Richard Manuel began as Bob Dylan's studio band and went on their own to become one of the top bands of all time. The Band Hall of Fame.

Southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd looses members Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines and Cassie Gaines in a plane crash in Gillsburg, Mississippi. Lynyrd Skynyrd Crash.

Rock & Roll 1977

Fleetwood Mac, Go Your Own Way

After years of personnel changes,

With the song

Rhythm & Blues 1977

Exodus by Bob Marley and the Wailers

Rastafarian's from Jamaica Bob Marley and the Wailers break into the international pop market with the critically acclaimed album Exodus. In the same year Marley was diagnosed with Melanoma and passed away in 1981. Stand up for your Rights

Folk Rock 1977

Running on Empty Jackson Browne

Running on Empty is songwriter Jackson Browne's best selling album. Unusual in that it is a live album of songs none of which appear on any of his previous five albums. Jackson Browne Website

Country & Western 1977

Lucille, Kenny Rogers

Lucille became Kenny Rogers' first major hit as a solo artist after leaving his band The First Edition. It lead to the mega hit album The Gambler making Kenny Rogers the new King of Country. Kenny Rogers Website