Weekly Chart Toppers Of '69
1969 was a seminal year in music—with The Beatles only a year away from breaking up and the Woodstock Music Festival defining a generation both socially, politically and musically. There were so many great songs released in 1969, but only some of them made their way all the way up to number one on the Billboard Hot 100. And the question is...how many of those do you remember?
Let's find out...
"I Heard It Through The Grapevine" (Marvin Gaye)
4 Weeks: January 4, 11, 18 & 25
There were actually two recordings of this song released before the now-classic Marvin Gaye version—one by Gladys Knight & the Pips in 1967 and one by The Miracles in 1968. The Gladys Knight & the Pips version actually became the biggest selling Motown single of all time—that is, until the Marvin Gaye version took that crown and opened up 1969 with four straight weeks at number one.
Marvin Gaye - I Heard It Through The Grapevine (Live), Marvin Gaye
"Crimson And Clover" (Tommy James And The Shondells)
2 Weeks: February 1 & 8
"Crimson and Clover" was leaked by a radio station in 1968 and released as a rough mix. It spent 16 weeks on the charts, eventually making its way to number one for two weeks in February of 1969. It was the biggest hit Tommy James and the Shondells ever had.
Tommy James and the Shondells - Crimson & Clover, Tommy James
"Everyday People" (Sly & The Family Stone)
4 Weeks: February 15 & 22, March 1 & 8
Sly & the Family Stone had three songs reach the top of the Billboard Hot 100 charts—but "Everyday People", in 1969, was their first one to do so. It also hit number one on the soul singles charts—and was ranked fifth by Billboard on their end-of-year chart rankings.
Sly & The Family Stone - Everyday People (Official Video), Sly & The Family Stone
"Dizzy" (Tommy Roe)
4 Weeks: March 15, 22, 29 & April 5
While a younger generation may be more familiar with this song from the first Bob the Builder album in 2001 (with the lyrics changed to be about the character Dizzy)—the original version dates back to 1969 when it was a huge hit for Tommy Roe hitting number one in Canada and the UK to go along with his four weeks atop the Billboard Hot 100 in America.
ABC / Dunhill Records, Wikimedia Commons
"Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In" (The 5th Dimension)
6 Weeks: April 12, 19, 26 & May 3, 10, 17
The lead singer of The 5th Dimension, Billy Davis Jr, left his wallet in a New York City cab. The man who found it was involved in the production of the musical Hair on Broadway and invited the band to come see the show. After seeing it, they called their producer Bones Howe: "After they'd seen it, I received a phone call in which they were all talking over one another, saying 'We've got to cut this song 'Aquarius'. It's the best thing ever'".
The 5th Dimension- Aquarius / Let The Sunshine In (1969), Unodel53
"Get Back" (The Beatles With Billy Preston)
5 Weeks: May 24, 31 & June 7, 14, 21, 28
The Beatles, along with Billy Preston, got back to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and spent five straight weeks there in 1969. The song also topped the charts in a number of other countries—including the UK where it was, shockingly, the only Beatles single to debut on the UK singles charts at number one.
"Get Back" in Apple Basement | The Beatles: Get Back | Disney+, Disney
"Love Theme From Romeo And Juliet" (Henry Mancini)
2 Weeks: June 28 & July 5
Henry Mancini knocked The Beatles off the top spot on the Hot 100 with his instrumental arrangement of Nino Rota's music written for Franco Zeffirelli's film Romeo and Juliet.
Los Angeles Times, Wikimedia Commons
"In The Year 2525" (Zager And Evans)
6 Weeks: July 12, 19, 26 & August 2, 9, 16
Zager and Evans earned their one-hit wonder status with this song about mankind's 10,000-year journey to eventual extinction due to the negative impact of technological advances. "In the Year 2525" was a massive hit in the year 1969—but the pop rock duo would never have another song even enter the top 100.
Zager & Evans - In The Year 2525 - 2nd version (1969), Beat-Club
"Honky Tonk Women" (The Rolling Stones)
4 Weeks: August 23, 30 & September 6, 13
A country version called "Country Honk" was released on the Stones' 1969 album Let It Bleed—but "Honky Tonk Women" was released prior to that as a non-album single (according to Keith Richards, "Country Honk" is how "Honky Tonk Women" was originally written).
Rolling Stones - Honky Tonk Women (Hyde Park, 1969), RollingStones50yrs5
"Sugar, Sugar" (The Archies)
4 Weeks: September 20, 27 & October 4, 11
This bubblegum pop song wasn't just a Billboard number one song in 1969—it was the number one Billboard song of 1969. "Sugar, Sugar" ranked number one on Billboard's year-end Hot 100 chart and it topped the year-end charts in the UK as well.
The Archies - Sugar, Sugar (Official Animated Music Video), The Archies
"I Can't Get Next To You" (The Temptations)
2 Weeks: October 18, 25
The Temptations had had plenty of top 10 hits, but hadn't had a number one song on the Hot 100 since "My Girl" in 1964. But then along came "I Can't Get Next to You" and the group found themselves atop the charts for a second time (a position they would reach two more times in the future).
The Temptations "I Can't Get Next To You" on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Ed Sullivan Show
"Suspicious Minds" (Elvis Presley)
1 Week: November 1
Elvis Presley had 18 number one songs on the Billboard Hot 100 and 1969's "Suspicious Minds" was the 18th. His last number one song.
Elvis Presley - Suspicious Minds (Official Music Video), Elvis Presley
"Wedding Bell Blues" (The 5th Dimension)
3 Weeks: November 8, 15, 22
Following their massive hit "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In", The 5th Dimension peaked at 20 with their next single, "Workin' on a Groovy Thing". But then, when a San Diego DJ started playing "Wedding Bell Blues", the record company decided to release it as a single and it became the band's second, and last, number one song on the Hot 100.
NEW * Wedding Bell Blues - The 5th Dimension {Stereo} 1969, Smurfstools Oldies Music Time Machine
"Come Together"/"Something" (The Beatles)
1 Week: November 29
For one week in November of 1969, The Beatles had two songs in the number one spot on the Hot 100. Released as a double A-side single, both tracks were allowed to sit at number one after Billboard had changed their rules to allow for double A-side singles to be ranked as a single entry.
The Beatles - Something, The Beatles
"Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" (Steam)
2 Weeks: December 6, 13
A staple of sporting events everywhere (sung by the fans of the winning team as a taunt towards the losing side), "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" had a two-week run atop the Billboard Hot 100 at the end of 1969.
NEW * Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye - Steam {Stereo}, Smurfstools Oldies Music Time Machine
"Leaving On A Jet Plane" (Peter, Paul And Mary)
1 Week: December 20
"Leaving on a Jet Plane" is a song written and recorded by John Denver on multiple occasions. But while his versions never saw much chart success—folk group Peter, Paul and Mary had their biggest single success with their version of the song. PP&M also hit number one in Canada and number two in the UK with the track.
ITA-International Talent Associates, Wikimedia Commons
"Someday We'll Be Together" (Diana Ross & The Supremes)
1 Week: December 27
Ending the decade strong—"Someday We'll Be Together" was the last number one song of the 1960s and the last, of 12, Hot 100 chart-toppers for Diana Ross & the Supremes on the Motown label.
Now, let's check out a few Hot 100 facts for 1969...
Diana Ross & The Supremes "Someday We'll Be Together" on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Ed Sullivan Show
First-Timers Club
1969 saw eight artists top the Billboard Hot 100 for the first time ever: Sly & the Family Stone, The 5th Dimension, Billy Preston, Henry Mancini, Zager and Evans, The Archies, Steam, and Peter, Paul and Mary.
Soul City Records., Wikimedia Commons
Two Times
The Beatles and The 5th Dimension were the only two artists/bands to see more than one song top the charts in 1969.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
Most Weeks
The 5th Dimension had the most weeks at number one in 1969 (nine). These were the top three in that category:
1: The 5th Dimension - 9 weeks
2: Zager and Evans - 6 weeks
3: Billy Preston - 5 weeks
David Hume Kennerly, Wikimedia Commons
Year End
We mentioned earlier how "Sugar, Sugar" topped the Billboard Hot 100 year-end charts—but what were the top 10? You'll notice a few on this list that never even reached number one during the year:
1: "Sugar, Sugar" (The Archies)
2: "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" (The 5th Dimension)
3: "I Can't Get Next to You" (The Temptations)
4: "Honky Tonk Women" (The Rolling Stones)
5: "Everyday People" (Sly and the Family Stone)
6: "Dizzy" (Tommy Roe)
7: "Hot Fun in the Summertime" (Sly and the Family Stone)
8: "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" (Tom Jones)
9: "Build Me Up Buttercup" (The Foundations)
10: "Crimson and Clover" (Tommy James and the Shondells)
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