FOR THE WEEK OF MAY 14, 2018

DEAR JERRY: Using just the No. 1 hits over three decades, I would expect to see far more singer-songwriters in the later years.

Specifically, I am only interested in a solo writer who wrote a No. 1 tune, whose name is the only one on the record label. No co-writers, please. Group names do not qualify, unless the writer's full name is followed by a backing group.

Can you identify them for each year, from 1950 through 1979?
—Art Moreland, San Angelo, Texas

DEAR ART: After reading the rules twice, I think I now know what to do.

You are right about the increase of performers recording their own compositions, especially by the mid-'70s. As you'll see, there are years in the 1950s and '60s where there were one or none. And there were no vocals until 1957:

1950:
Anton Karas "The Third Man Theme"

1952:
Leroy Anderson "Blue Tango"

1957:
Paul Anka "Diana"

1958:
Sheb Wooley "The Purple People Eater"
David Seville "Witch Doctor"

1959:
Paul Anka "Lonely Boy"

1960:
Marty Robbins "El Paso"
Maurice Williams "Stay" (with the Zodiacs)

1961:
Jimmy Dean "Big Bad John"

1962:
David Rose "The Stripper"
Tommy Roe "Sheila"

1963:
Jeanine Deckers (The Singing Nun) "Dominique"

1966:
Donovan (Leitch) "Sunshine Superman"

1967:
Bobbie Gentry "Ode to Billie Joe"

1969:
Sly (Stone) "Everyday People" (with the Family Stone)

1970:
Sly (Stone) "Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Again)" (with the Family Stone)
Ray Stevens "Everything Is Beautiful"
Neil Diamond "Cracklin' Rosie"
George Harrison "My Sweet Lord"

1971:
Isaac Hayes "Theme From Shaft"
Sly (Stone) "Family Affair" (with the Family Stone)
Melanie (Safka) "Brand New Key"

1972:
Don McLean "American Pie"
Neil Young "Heart of Gold"
Neil Diamond "Song Sung Blue"
Bill Withers "Lean on Me"
Gilbert O'Sullivan "Alone Again (Naturally)"
Mac Davis "Baby Don't Get Hooked on Me"
Chuck Berry "My Ding-a-Ling"
Johnny Nash "I Can See Clearly Now"

1973:
Carly Simon "You're So Vain"
Stevie Wonder "Superstition"
Stevie Wonder "You Are the Sunshine of My Life"
Edgar Winter "Frankenstein"
Paul McCartney "My Love" (with Wings)
George Harrison "Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)"
Jim Croce "Bad, Bad Leroy Brown"
Jim Croce "Time in a Bottle"

1974:
Ray Stevens "The Streak"
Paul McCartney "Band on the Run" (with Wings)
Gordon Lightfoot "Sundown"
John Denver "Annie's Song"
Paul Anka "(You're) Having My Baby"
Barry White "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe"
Andy Kim "Rock Me Gently"
Stevie Wonder "You Haven't Done Nothin"
John Lennon "Whatever Gets You Thru the Night"
Billy Swan "I Can Help"
Carl Douglas "Kung Fu Fighting"

1975:
Van McCoy "The Hustle" (with Soul City Symphony)
John Denver "I'm Sorry"

1976:
Paul Simon "50 Ways to Leave Your Lover"
John Sebastian "Welcome Back"
Walter Murphy "A Fifth of Beethoven"
Rick Dees "Disco Duck"
Steve Miller "Rock'n Me"
Rod Stewart "Tonight's the Night (Gonna Be Alright)"

1977:
Stevie Wonder "I Wish"
Daryl Hall "Rich Girl" (with John Oates)
Marvin Gaye "Got to Give It Up"
Alan O'Day "Undercover Angel"

1979:
Robert John "Sad Eyes"
Michael Jackson "Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough"
Rupert Holmes "Escape (The Pina Colada Song)"