List of Billboard Easy Listening number ones of 1969
![Three dark-skinned men and two dark-skinned women singing on a stage. Various musicians are visible behind them.](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/46/5th_Dimension_1970.jpg/250px-5th_Dimension_1970.jpg)
In 1969, Billboard magazine published a chart ranking the top-performing songs in the United States in the easy listening market. The chart, which in 1969 was entitled Easy Listening, has undergone various name changes and has been published since 1996 under the title Adult Contemporary.[1] In 1969, 17 songs topped the chart based on playlists submitted by easy listening radio stations and sales reports submitted by stores.[1]
On the first chart of 1969, Glen Campbell held the top spot with "Wichita Lineman", which was in its fourth week at number one,[2] and remained atop the chart for a further two weeks. Campbell would go on to top the chart with "Galveston" and "Try a Little Kindness", making him the only act to achieve three Easy Listening number ones in 1969. His total of ten weeks in the top spot was also the highest achieved by any act during the year. The only other act with multiple chart-toppers during the year was the 5th Dimension, who reached the top spot with "Medley: Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)" and "Wedding Bell Blues". The longest unbroken run at number one by a song was eight weeks, achieved by the conductor[3] Henry Mancini's "Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet". Unusually, the number-one song on Billboard's year-end easy listening chart for the year was a track which did not reach number one in the weekly charts: "Hurt So Bad" by the Lettermen.[4][5]
Several of 1969's chart-toppers came from films and stage musicals. These included Mancini's theme from the film Romeo and Juliet,[6] Oliver's song "Jean" from the film The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,[7] "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" by B. J. Thomas from the film Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,[8] the 5th Dimension's medley of two songs from the musical Hair,[9] and Sammy Davis Jr.'s version of "I've Gotta Be Me", which placed highly on both the easy listening and pop charts even though the musical in which it originated, Golden Rainbow, was unsuccessful.[10] There was considerable crossover in 1969 between the Easy Listening chart and Billboard's pop chart, the Hot 100. Five songs topped both listings during the year: Mancini's "Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet",[11] both of the 5th Dimension's chart-toppers,[12], "In the Year 2525 (Exordium and Terminus)" by Zager and Evans,[13] and "Leaving on a Jet Plane" by Peter, Paul and Mary.[14] Additionally, the final Easy Listening number one of the year, "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head", went on to top the Hot 100 early in 1970.[14] Although Zager and Evans achieved the feat of topping both listings, the duo proved to be a one-hit wonder and never placed another song on either the pop or easy listening chart.[13][15][16]
Chart history
![A dark-haired middle-aged man wearing a tuxedo](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/ed/Henry_Mancini.jpg/170px-Henry_Mancini.jpg)
References
- ^ a b Whitburn 2007, p. vi.
- ^ a b "Adult Contemporary chart for January 4, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 16, 2019. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
- ^ Cassidy, Kenneth M. "Henry Mancini Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
- ^ Whitburn 2002, p. 144.
- ^ "Top Records of 1969", Billboard, p. 17, December 27, 1969
- ^ Breihan, Tom (November 27, 2018). "The Number Ones: Henry Mancini's "Love Theme From Romeo And Juliet"". Stereogum. Archived from the original on January 19, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
- ^ Hogan, Ed. "Oliver Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 20, 2019. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
- ^ Hayward, Anthony (June 10, 2021). "BJ Thomas: Grammy-winning musician who sang Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head". The Independent. Archived from the original on July 16, 2021. Retrieved June 28, 2024.
- ^ Huey, Steve. "The 5th Dimension Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 19, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
- ^ Fishgall 2010, p. 390.
- ^ Whitburn 2005, p. 437, 990.
- ^ Whitburn 2005, p. 242, 990.
- ^ a b Whitburn 2005, p. 785, 990.
- ^ a b Whitburn 2005, p. 544, 990.
- ^ Whitburn 2002, p. 265.
- ^ Breihan, Tom (November 28, 2018). "The Number Ones: Zager & Evans' "In The Year 2525″". Stereogum. Archived from the original on January 19, 2019. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 11, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 20, 2019. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 18, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 20, 2019. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 25, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 20, 2019. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 1, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 20, 2019. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 8, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 15, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 22, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 1, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 8, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 15, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 22, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 29, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 5, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 12, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 19, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 26, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 3, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 10, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 17, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 24, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 31, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 7, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 14, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 21, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 28, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 5, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 12, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 19, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 26, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 2, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 9, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 16, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 23, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 30, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 6, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 13, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 20, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 27, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 4, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 11, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 18, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 25, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 1, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 8, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 15, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 22, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 29, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 6, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 13, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 20, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 27, 1969". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
Works cited
- Fishgall, Gary (2010). Gonna Do Great Things: The Life of Sammy Davis, Jr. Scribner. ISBN 978-1-43913-157-2.
- Whitburn, Joel (2002). Joel Whitburn's Top Adult Contemporary, 1961–2001. Record Research Incorporated. ISBN 978-0-89820-149-9.
- Whitburn, Joel (2005). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 1955–2002. Record Research Incorporated. ISBN 978-0-89820-155-0.
- Whitburn, Joel (2007). Joel Whitburn Presents Billboard Top Adult Songs, 1961–2006. Record Research Incorporated. ISBN 978-0-89820-169-7.