May 1970

Fifty years ago this month, what what happening on the music charts?

Well, during the 5 weeks of May 1970, there were 52 songs that spent time in the Top 40. Lots of great stuff.

Three (3) songs made the Top spot: The Jackson 5's "ABC" started at #1, for the 2nd of their 2 week run atop the charts.  then The Guess Who took over for 3 weeks, with "American Woman / No Sugar Tonight".  Ray Stevens closed out the month at the top, with "Everything is Beautiful".

Here's the top 10 songs of the month, ranked by average chart position over the 5 weeks:

• American Woman/No Sugar Tonight - The Guess Who - 1.5
• Let It Be - The Beatles - 5.0
• Vehicle - The Ides Of March - 5.4
• ABC Jackson 5 - 5.8
• Everything Is Beautiful - Ray Stevens - 7.0
• Turn Back The Hands Of Time - Tyrone Davis - 7.6
• Spirit In The Sky - Norman Greenbaum - 9.0
• Cecilia - Simon & Garfunkel  - 9.4
• Reflections Of My Life - The Marmalade - 11.2
• Love On A Two-Way Street - The Moments - 11.6

24 songs made their Top 40 debut, here they are (ranked by entering position):

• The Letter - Joe Cocker with Leon Russell & The Shelter People - 26
• My Baby Loves Lovin' - White Plains - 26
• Question - The Moody Blues - 29
• Up Around The Bend/Run Through The Jungle - Creedence Clearwater Revival - 30
• United We Stand - The Brotherhood Of Man - 30
• Daughter Of Darkness - Tom Jones - 31
• Soolaimón (African Trilogy II) - Neil Diamond - 33
• Brother Rapp (Part 1) - James Brown - 33
• Viva Tirado - Part I - El Chicano - 36
• The Long And Winding Road/For You Blue - The Beatles - 35
• Hitchin' A Ride - Vanity Fare - 36
• The Wonder Of You/Mama Liked The Roses - Elvis Presley - 36
• Reach Out And Touch (Somebody's Hand) - Diana Ross - 37
• Band Of Gold - Freda Payne - 37
• Puppet Man - The 5th Dimension - 38
• Hey Lawdy Mama - Steppenwolf - 38
• Ride Captain Ride - Blues Image - 38
• It's All In The Game - Four Tops - 38
• Let Me Go To Him - Dionne Warwick - 39
• Lay Down (Candles In The Rain) - Melanie with The Edwin Hawkins Singers - 39
• Come Saturday Morning - The Sandpipers - 40
• Oh Happy Day - Glen Campbell - 40
• Sugar Sugar/Cole, Cooke & Redding - Wilson Pickett - 40
• Love Land - Charles Wright And The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band - 40