The Adult Contemporary (AC) chart launched in July 1961 and originally known as Easy Listening, it was known as Middle-Of-the-Road Singles and then Pop-Standard Singles in the mid-sixties. It reverted to Easy Listening before finally changing name to Adult Contemporary in April 1979.

Originally, to qualify for a chart placing, the song had to have is a degree of familiarity to a female listener between 25 and 54.

According to US chart historian, Joel Whitburn, he claims Adult contemporary music is better known as melodies that are easy on the ears and gentle on the nerves.

The artist with the most AC number ones is Elton John with 16 in over 75 appearances.

The Carpenters’ have the second most with 14.

The top five acts are, Elton John at one, Neil Diamond at two, Barbra Streisand at three, Barry Manilow at four and Kenny Rogers at five.

Most weeks on the chart is Truly, Madly, Deeply by Savage Garden which spent 123 weeks on the chart in total.

The longest stay at number one was Maroon 5’s Girls Like You which stayed atop for 36 weeks.

Well known songs that didn’t get very high are Bee Gees’ Stayin’ Alive (28), Elton John’s Tiny Dancer (35) and Stevie Wonder’s Superstition (38).

An unlikely AC hit was Rubber Duckie by Ernie from the Muppets who reached number 36 in 1970.