My Choice Of Weekly #1 Songs Year By Year

[slf]

Hey, Bobbo428, thank you for contributing your fantasy #1 lists!  I was hoping that my contributions would inspire others to play along.  I'm looking forward to more of your posts.

[vince]

Here is my posting of my fantasy #1's starting with 1964. Generally I will stick with top 10 hits. The number after the song is the weeks at #1.

1964

1/4 Loui Loui – Kingsmen (3)
1/25 I Want To Hold Your Hand – Beatles (9)
3/28 She Loves You – Beatles (1)
4/4 Twist And Shout – Beatles (2)
4/18 Can’t Buy Me Love – Beatles (3)
5/9 Bits And Pieces – Dave Clark Five (2)
5/23 Love Me Do – Beatles (3)
6/13 A World Without Love – Peter and Gordon (2)
6/27 I Get Around – Beach Boys (3)
7/18 Memphis – Johnny Rivers (1)
7/25 A Hard Day’s Night - Beatles (4)
8/22 Where Did Our Love Go – Supremes (1)
8/29 The House of the Rising Sun – Animals (4)
9/26 Oh, Pretty Woman – Roy Orbison (3)
10/17 Dancing In The Streets – Martha and the Vandellas (2)
10/31 Do Wha Ditty Ditty – Manfred Man (1)
11/7 Baby Love – Supremes (3)
12/5 She’s Not There – Zombies (2)
12/19 I Feel Fine – Beatles (5)

[bobbo428]

Now it is time for 1966--the year I entered Kindergarten. Garage rock was the big craze at the time, though most of what I was listening to at the time was from the MOR station my parents were listening to. I actually remember some of these songs from when they were popular.

1-1 Sounds of Silence-Simon & Garfunkel
1-22 We Can Work It Out-Beatles
2-19 Lightnin’ Strikes-Lou Christie
3-5 These Boots Are Made for Walkin’-Nancy Sinatra
3-12 California Dreamin’-Mamas and the Papas
3-19 Listen People-Herman’s Hermits
3-26 Homeward Bound-Simon & Garfunkel
4-2 Magic Town-The Vogues
4-16 (You’re MY) Soul and Inspiration-Righteous Brothers
4-23 The Phoenix Love Theme-The Brass Ring
4-30 Time Won’t Let Me-The Outsiders
5-7 This Old Heart of Mine-Isley Brothers
5-14 Eight Miles High-The Byrds
6-4 I Am a Rock-Simon & Garfunkel
6-11 Paint It, Black-Rolling Stones
6-18 Opus 17 (Don’t You Worry ‘Bout Me)-Four Seasons
6-25 Red Rubber Ball-Cyrkle
7-9 Strangers in the Night-Frank Sinatra
7-23 The Pied Piper-Crispian St. Peters
7-30 Summer in the City-Lovin’ Sthingyful
8-13 I Couldn’t Live Without Your Love-Petula Clark
8-20 Summertime-Billy Stewart
8-27 God Only Knows-Beach Boys
9-3 Bus Stop-The Hollies
9-17 Eleanor Rigby-Beatles
10-1 Cherish-The Association
10-15 Reach Out I’ll Be There-Four Tops
10-22 Walk Away Renee-Left Banke
11-5 Poor Side of Town-Johnny Rivers
11-12 What Becomes of the Brokenhearted-Jimmy Ruffin
11-19 I’m Your Puppet-James & Bobby Purify
11-26 Born Free-Roger Williams
12-10 Winchester Cathedral-New Vaudeville Band
12-17 A Hazy Shade of Winter-Simon & Garfunkel
12-24 Sugar Town-Nancy Sinatra

[bobbo428]

Here we go with 1967, when garage rock was morphing into psychedelia, and I was a struggling kindergartener.

1-7 Sugar Town-Nancy Sinatra
1-14 (I’m Not Your)Steppin’ Stone-The Monkees
1-21 Georgy Girl-The Seekers
2-11 Music to Watch Girls By-Bob Crewe Generation
2-18 The Beat Goes On-Sonny & Cher
2-25 So You Want to Be a Rock ‘N’ Roll Star-The Byrds
3-4 The Dis-Advantages of You-The Brass Ring
3-11 Strawberry Fields Forever-The Beatles
3-25 Happy Together-The Turtles
4-8 The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin' Groovy)-Harpers Bizarre
4-15 Happy Together-The Turtles
4-29 Western Union-Five Americans
5-13 Casino Royale-Herb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass
5-20 Groovin’-Young Rascals
6-3 Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon-Neil Diamond
6-10 Windy-The Association
6-24 San Francisco (Flowers in Your Hair)-Scott McKenzie
7-1 Windy-The Association
7-8 Don’t Sleep in the Subway-Petula Clark
7-15 Society’s Child-Janis Ian
7-22 A Whiter Shade of Pale-Procol Harum
8-5 All You Need Is Love-The Beatles
8-19 Ode to Billie Joe-Bobbi Gentry
9-9 The Letter-Box Tops
9-16 Gimme Little Sign-Brenton Wood
9-23 Never My Love-The Association
10-7 To Sir, with Love-Lulu
10-21 It Must Be Him-Vikki Carr
11-4 Incense and Peppermints-Strawberry Alarm Clock
11-18 I Say a Little Prayer-Dionne Warwick
11-25 Ladybird-Nancy Sinatra/Lee Hazlewood
12-2 Lazy Day-Spanky and Our Gang
12-9 The Rain, the Park & Other Things-The Cowsills
12-16 Hello Goodbye-The Beatles
12-30 Summer Rain-Johnny Rivers

[bobbo428]

Sept 3, 2018 9:24:05 GMT -5 slf said:

Hello, again, and Happy Labor Day.
 
I though I'd take advantage of my day off and submit my next fantasy #1 installment, this time for 1966, another great year in music.  And, to emphasize the notion that some of the greatest songs lay below the Top 40, FOUR of my personal #1's fit that description. (Denoted by an asterisk)  Remember that the first column consists of actual Billboard #1's; the second column consists of my #1's.

1. 1/1/66      The Sounds Of Silence/Simon & Garfunkel                            Flowers On The Wall/The Statler Brothers
2. 1/8/66      We Can Work It Out/The Beatles                                          You Didn't Have To Be So Nice/The Lovin' Sp00nful
3. 1/15/66    We Can Work It Out/The Beatles                                          You Didn't Have To Be So Nice/The Lovin' Sp00nful
4. 1/22/66    The Sounds Of Silence/Simon & Garfunkel                             Lies/The Knickerbockers
5. 1/29/66    We Can Work It Out/The Beatles                                           Lies/The Knickerbockers
6. 2/5/66      My Love/Petula Clark                                                           No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In)/The T-Bones
7. 2/12/66    My Love/Petula Clark                                                           No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In)/The T-Bones
8. 2/19/66    Lightnin' Strikes/Lou Christie                                                Call Me/Chris Montez
9. 2/26/66    These Boots Are Make For Walkin'/Nancy Sinatra                   Andrea/The Sunrays *
10. 3/5/66    Ballad Of The Green Berets/SSgt. Barry Sadler                      Andrea/The Sunrays *
11. 3/12/66  Ballad Of The Green Berets/SSgt. Barry Sadler                      California Dreamin'/The Mamas & The Papas
12. 3/19/66  Ballad Of The Green Berets/SSgt. Barry Sadler                      You, Baby/The Turtles
13. 3/26/66  Ballad Of The Green Berets/SSgt. Barry Sadler                      It's Too Late/Bobby Goldsboro
14. 4/2/66    Ballad Of The Green Berets/SSgt. Barry Sadler                      Nowhere Man/The Beatles
15. 4/9/66    You're My Soul And Inspiration/The Righteous Brothers          Get Ready/The Temptations
16. 4/16/66  You're My Soul And Inspiration/The Righteous Brothers          Time Won't Let Me/The Outsiders
17. 4/23/66  You're My Soul And Inspiration/The Righteous Brothers          Time Won't Let Me/The Outsiders
18. 4/30/66  Good Lovin'/The Young Rascals                                             Time Won't Let Me/The Outsiders
19. 5/7/66    Monday, Monday/The Mamas & The Papas                             I Can't Let Go/The Hollies *
20. 5/14/66  Monday, Monday/The Mamas & The Papas                             I Can't Let Go/The Hollies *
21. 5/21/66  Monday, Monday/The Mamas & The Papas                             The More I See You/Chris Montez
22. 5/28/66  When A Man Loves A Woman/Percy Sledge                            The More I See You/Chris Montez
23. 6/4/66    When A Man Loves A Woman/Percy Sledge                            River Deep--Mountain High/Ike & Tina Turner *
24. 6/11/66  Paint It, Black/The Rolling Stones                                          River Deep--Mountain High/Ike & Tina Turner *
25. 6/18/66  Paint It, Black/The Rolling Stones                                          Don't Bring Me Down/The Animals
26. 6/25/66  Paperback Writer/The Beatles                                               Little Girl/Syndicate Of Sound
27. 7/2/66    Strangers In The Night/Frank Sinatra                                    Little Girl/Syndicate Of Sound
28. 7/9/66    Paperback Writer/The Beatles                                               I Saw Her Again/The Mamas & The Papas
29. 7/16/66  Hanky  Panky/Tommy James & The Shondells                        I Saw Her Again/The Mamas & The Papas
30. 7/23/66  Hanky Panky/Tommy James & The Shondells                         I Saw Her Again/The Mamas & The Papas
31. 7/30/66  Wild Thing/The Troggs                                                         I Saw Her Again/The Mamas & The Papas
32. 8/6/66    Wild Thing/The Troggs                                                         Summer In The City/The Lovin' Sp00nful
33. 8/13/66  Summer In The City/The Lovin' Sp00nful                               I Couldn't Live Without Your Love/Petula Clark
34. 8/20/66  Summer In The City/The Lovin' Sp00nful                               I Couldn't Live Without Your Love/Petula Clark
35. 8/27/66  Summer In The City/The Lovin' Sp00nful                               Sugar And Spice/The Cryan' Shames *
36. 9/3/66    Sunshine Superman/Donovan                                               There Will Never Be Another You/Chris Montez
37. 9/10/66  You Can't Hurry Love/The Supremes                                      There Will Never Be Another You/Chris Montez
38. 9/17/66  You Can't Hurry Love/The Supremes                                      Wouldn't It Be Nice/The Beach Boys
39. 9/24/66  Cherish/The Association                                                        Bus Stop/The Hollies
40. 10/1/66  Cherish/The Association                                                        Flamingo/Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass
41. 10/8/66  Cherish/The Association                                                        Flamingo/Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass
42. 10/15/66  Reach Out, I'll Be There/The Four Tops                                 All Strung Out/Nino Tempo & April Stevens
43. 10/22/66  Reach Out, I'll Be There/The Four Tops                                 Psychotic Reaction/The Count Five
44. 10/29/66  96 Tears/Question Mark & The Mysterians                             Ain't Gonna Lie/Keith
45. 11/5/66    Last Train To Clarksville/The Monkees                                   But It's Alright/J. J. Jackson
46. 11/12/66  Poor Side Of Town/Johnny Rivers                                          But It's Alright/J. J. Jackson
47. 11/19/66  You Keep Me Hangin' On/The Supremes                                You Keep Me Hangin' On/The Supremes
48. 11/26/66  You Keep Me Hangin' On/The Supremes                                Comin' On Strong/Brenda Lee
49. 12/3/66    Winchester Cathedral/The New Vaudeville Band                     Comin' On Strong/Brenda Lee
50. 12/10/66  Good Vibrations/The Beach Boys                                           I'm Ready For Love/Martha & The Vandellas
51. 12/17/66  Winchester Cathedral/The New Vaudeville Band                      Born Free/Roger Williams
52. 12/24/66  Winchester Cathedral/The New Vaudeville Band                      I Know I'm Losing You/The Temptations
53. 12/31/66  I'm A Believer/The Monkees                                                  I Know I'm Losing You/The Temptations

Next up, 1967!

                        

SLF--I'm enjoying reading your fantasy charts--we have several overlapping No. 1s--and a few of your No. 1s just missed the top of my fantasy charts.

[vince]

This is my version of 1965.

1965
1/23 Love Potion Number 9 – Searchers (1)
1/30 Downtown – Petula Clark (1)
2/6 You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ – Rightous Brothers (1)
2/13 All Day and All of the Night – Kinks (2)
2/27 You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feelin’ – Rightous Brothers (1; total 2)
3/6 My Girl – Temptations (1)
3/13 Eight Days A Week- Beatles (2)
3/27 King of the Road – Roger Miller (1)
4/3 Stop In The Name of Love – Supremes (2)
4/17 I Know A place – Petula Clark (1)
4/24 Tired of Waiting For You – Kinks (1)
5/1 I’ll Never Find Another You – Seekers (1)
5/8 Ticket To Ride – Beatles (3)
5/29 Help Me Rhonda – Beach Boys (2)
6/12 Wooly Bully – Sam the Sham & the Pharoahs (1)
6/19 I Can’t Help Myself – Four Tops (1)
6/26 Mr. Tamborine Man – Byrds (1)
7/3 (I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction – Rolling Stones (7)
8/21 I Got You Babe – Sonny & Cher (1)
8/28 California Girls – Beach Boys (1)
9/4 Help – Beatles (1)
9/11 Like A Rolling Stone – Bob Dylan (1)
9/18 Help – Beatles (2; total 3)
10/2 Hang On Sloopy – McCoys (1)
10/9 Yesterday – Beatles (3)
10/30 Positively 4th Street – Bob Dylan (1)
11/6 Get Off My Cloud – Rolling Stones (3)
11/27 I Hear A Symphony – Supremes (1)
12/4 Turn! Turn! Turn! – Byrds (1)
12/11 I Got You (I Feel Good) – James Brown (3)

[vince]

This is my version of 1966.

1966
1/1 The Sound of Silence – Simon & Garfunkel (1)
1/8 We Can Work It Out – Beatles (4)
2/5 Barbara Ann – Beach Boys (1)
2/12 My Love – Petula Clark (1)
2/19 Lightning Strikes – Lou Christie (1)
2/26 These Boots are Made For Walkin’ – Nany Sinatra (1)
3/5 California Dreamin’ – Mamas & Papas (2)
3/19 Nowhere Man – Beatles (1)
3/26 19th Nervous Breakdown – Rolling Stones (3)
4/16 (You’re My) Soul and Insiration – Rightous Brothers (1)
4/23 Secret Agent Man – Johnny Rivers (1)
4/30 Good Lovin’ – Young Rascals (1)
5/7 Monday Monday – Mamas & Papas (3)
5/28 When A Man Loves A Woman – Percy Sledge (1)
6/4 Paint It Black – Rolling Stones (3)
6/25 Paperback Writer – Beatles (3)
7/16 Wild Thing – Troggs (2)
7/30 The Pied Piper – Crispian St. Peters (1)
8/6 Summer In The City – Lovin’ Sp00nful (3)
8/27 Sunny – Bobby Hebb (1)
9/3 Sunshine Superman – Donovan (2)
9/17 You Can’t Hurry Love – Supremes (1)
10/1 Black Is Black – Los Bravos (1)
10/8 Reach Out, I’ll Be There – Four Tops (3)
10/29 96 Tears - ? & the Mysterians (3)
11/19 You Keep Me Hangin’ On – Supremes (2)
12/3 Good Vibrations – Beach Boys (3)
12/24 Winchester Cathedral – New Vaudeville Band (1)
12/31 I’m A Believer – Monkees (5)

[bobbo428]

Here we go with 1968--the year where anti-Vietnam War protests were at their peak, Lyndon Johnson said he wouldn't seek another term as president, and Martin Luther King Jr. and Bobby
Kennedy were tragically assassinated that spring. I was in Kindergarten and first grade that year, and I remembered many of these songs from when they were popular. Musically, this was arguably my favorite year for pop hits--notably instrumentals.

1-6 Hello Goodbye-The Beatles
1-20 Different Drum-Stone Poneys/Linda Ronstadt
1-27 Monterey-Eric Burdon & the Animals
2-10 Love Is Blue-Paul Mauriat
2-24 Some Velvet Morning-Nancy Sinatra/Lee Hazelwood
3-2 Love Is Blue-Paul Mauriat
3-9 I Wish It Would Rain-Temptations
3-16 La-La Means I Love You-Delfonics
3-30 (Sittin’ on) The Dock of the Bay)-Otis Redding
4-6 Scarborough Fair/Canticle-Simon & Garfunkel
4-13 The Unicorn-Irish Rovers
4-20 Young Girl-Gary Puckett/Union Gap
4-27 Cowboys to Girls-The Intruders
5-4 The Good, the Bad and the Ugly-Hugo Montenegro
5-25 Beautiful Morning-The Rascals
6-1 Mrs. Robinson-Simon & Garfunkel
6-15 The Look of Love-Sergio Mendes & Brasil ‘66
6-22 The Horse-Cliff Nobles & Co.
6-29 This Guy’s in Love with You-Herb Alpert
7-6 Angel of the Morning-Merilee Rush
7-13 Reach Out of the Darkness-Friend & Lover
7-20 Lady Willpower-Gary Puckett & the Union Gap
7-27 Grazing in the Grass-Hugh Masakela
8-3 Classical Gas-Mason Williams
8-31 Light My Fire-Jose Feliciano
9-21 The Fool on the Hill-Sergio Mendes & Brasil ‘66
9-28 Harper Valley P.T.A.-Jeanne C. Riley
10-5 Girl Watcher-O’Kaysions
10-12 Over You-Gary Puckett & the Union Gap
10-26 Hey Jude-Beatles
11-9 White Room-Cream
11-16 Love Child-Diana Ross & the Supremes
11-30 Wichita Lineman-Glen Campbell
12-7 Abraham, Martin and John-Dion
12-14 Stormy-Classics IV
12-28 Soulful Strut-Young-Holt Unlimited



On deck: 1969

[bobbo428]

In 1969, I was in Grades 1 and 2 and enjoying my teachers. The New York Mets, 100-to-1 underdogs, staged a miracle World Championship run. This occurred two months after Woodstock.The moon landing was the events that I remember best from that year.

1-4 Soulful Strut-Young Hold Umlimited
1-18 Hang ‘Em High-Booker T. & the M.G.’s
2-1 Crimson and Clover-Tommy James and the Shondells
2-8 Hang "em High-Booker T. & the M.G.'s
2-15 I’ve Gotta Be Me-Sammy Davis Jr.
3-1 Games People Play-Joe South
3-8 Dizzy-Tommy Roe
3-22 Time of the Season-The Zombies
3-29 Dizzy-Tommy Roe
4-12 Aquarius/Let the Sun Shine In-Fifth Dimension
5-10 Sweet Cherry Wine-Tommy James & the Shondells
5-17 Hawaii Five-O-The Ventures
5-31 Love (Can Make You Happy)-Mercy
6-14 Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet-Henry Mancini and his Ork
6-28 One-Three Dog Night
7-5 Crystal Blue Persuasion-Tommy James & the Shondells
7-26 In the Year 2525-Zager & Evans
8-9 Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good)-Neil Diamond
8-16 Put a Little Love in Your Heart-Jackie DeShannon
8-23 Get Together-Youngbloods
9-6 Sugar, Sugar-The Archies
9-13 Easy to Be Hard-Three Dog Night
9-20 Sugar, Sugar-The Archies
10-11 Little Woman-Bobby Sherman
10-18 Tracy-Cuff Links
10-25 Suspicious Minds-Elvis Presley
11-8 Wedding Bell Blues-Fifth Dimension
11-22 Try a Little Kindness-Glen Campbell
12-6 And When I Die-Blood, Sweat & Tears
12-20 Holly Holy-Neil Diamond

[slf]

Hello, again.  This time around my fantasy #1 list is from 1978, when disco was at its peak.  And while disco is well-represented in my list, so is soft rock, classic rock, and even smooth jazz.  I'd like to thank vince and bobbo428 for providing their own fantasy #1 lists and adding some variety to this thread.  I was hope others would be inspired to play along.  (The left column are Billboard #1's; the right column are my #1's.)


1.        1/7/78  How Deep Is Your Love/The Bee Gees                                                Here You Come Again/Dolly Parton
2.      1/14/78  Baby Come Back/Player                                                                    Here You Come Again/Dolly Parton
3.      1/21/78  Baby Come Back/Player                                                                    Come Sail Away/Styx
4.      1/28/78  Baby Come Back/Player                                                                    Stayin' Alive/The Bee Gees
5.        2/4/78  Stayin' Alive/The Bee Gees                                                                I Love You/Donna Summer
6.      2/11/78  Stayin' Alive/The Bee Gees                                                                Native New Yorker/Odyssey
7.      2/18/78  Stayin' Alive/The Bee Gees                                                                Native New Yorker/Odyssey
8.      2/25/78  Stayin' Alive/The Bee Gees                                                                Peg/Steely Dan
9.        3/4/78  Love Is Thicker Than Water/Andy Gibb                                               Peg/Steely Dan
10.    3/11/78  Love Is Thicker Than Water/Andy Gibb                                               Night Fever/The Bee Gees
11.    3/18/78  Night Fever/The Bee Gees                                                                 Night Fever/The Bee Gees
12.    3/25/78  Night Fever/The Bee Gees                                                                 We'll NeverHaveToSayGoodbyeAgain/EnglandDan&JohnFordColey
13.      4/1/78  Night Fever/The Bee Gees                                                                 We'll NeverHaveToSayGoodbyeAgain/EnglandDan&JohnFordColey
14.      4/8/78  Night Fever/The Bee Gees                                                                 Ebony Eyes/Bob Welch
15.    4/15/78  Night Fever/The Bee Gees                                                                 Ebony Eyes/Bob Welch
16.    4/22/78  Night Fever/The Bee Gees                                                                 Running On Empty/Jackson Browne
17.    4/29/78  Night Fever/The Bee Gees                                                                 If I Can't Have You/Yvonne Elliman
18.      5/6/78  Night Fever/The Bee Gees                                                                 More Than A Woman/Tavares
19.    5/13/78  If I Can't Have You/Yvonne Elliman                                                    If I Can't Have You/Yvonne Elliman
20.    5/20/78  With A Little Luck/Wings                                                                   Feels So Good/Chuck Mangione
21.    5/27/78  With A Little Luck/Wings                                                                   Feels So Good/Chuck Mangione
22.      6/3/78  Too Much, Too Little, Too Late/Johnny Mathis & Denise Williams          Deacon Blues/Steely Dan
23.    6/10/78  You're The One That I Want/John Travolta & Olivia Newton-John          Deacon Blues/Steely Dan
24.    6/17/78  Shadow Dancing/Andy Gibb                                                              You're The Love/Seals & Crofts
25.    6/24/78  Shadow Dancing/Andy Gibb                                                              You're The Love/Seals & Crofts
26.      7/1/78  Shadow Dancing/Andy Gibb                                                              The Groove Line/Heatwave
27.      7/8/78  Shadow Dancing/Andy Gibb                                                              Thank God It's Friday/Love And Kisses
28.    7/15/78  Shadow Dancing/Andy Gibb                                                               Runaway/Jefferson Starship (RIP Marty Balin)
29.    7/22/78  Shadow Dancing/Andy Gibb                                                               Runaway/Jefferson Starship
30.    7/29/78  Shadow Dancing/Andy Gibb                                                               Runaway/Jefferson Starship
31.      8/5/78  Miss You/The Rolling Stones                                                              Last Dance/Donna Summer
32.    8/12/78  Three Times A Lady/The Commodores                                                Copacabana/Barry Manilow
33.    8/19/78  Three Times A Lady/The Commodores                                                You/Rita Coolidge
34.    8/26/78  Grease/Frankie Valli                                                                          Love Is In The Air/John Paul Young
35.      9/2/78  Grease/Frankie Valli                                                                          Love Is In The Air/John Paul Young

36.      9/9/78  Boogie Oogie Oogie/A Taste Of Honey                                                Love Is In The Air/John Paul Young

37.    9/16/78  Boogie Oogie Oogie/A Taste Of Honey                                                Don't Look Back/Boston
38.    9/23/78  Boogie Oogie Oogie/A Taste Of Honey                                                Don't Look Back/Boston
39.    9/30/78  Kiss You All Over/Exile                                                                      Don't Look Back/Boston
40.    10/7/78  Kiss You All Over/Exile                                                                      Don't Look Back/Boston
41.  10/14/78  Kiss You All Over/Exile                                                                      Don't Look Back/Boston
42.  10/21/78  Kiss You All Over/Exile                                                                      Love Is In The Air/John Paul Young

43.  10/28/78  Hot Child In The City/Nick Gilder                                                        MacArthur Park/Donna Summer
44.    11/4/78  You Needed Me/Anne Murray                                                             Time Passages/Al Stewart
45.  11/11/78  MacArthur Park/Donna Summer                                                         Time Passages/Al Stewart
46.  11/18/78  MacArthur Park/Donna Summer                                                         On The Shelf/Donny & Marie Osmond
47.  11/25/78  MacArthur Park/Donna Summer                                                         On The Shelf/Donny & Marie Osmond
48.    12/2/78  You Don't Bring Me Flowers/Barbara Streisand & Neil Diamond             Change Of Heart/Eric Carmen
49.    12/9/78  Le Freak/Chic                                                                                   The Power Of Gold/Dan Fogelberg & Tim Weisburg
50.  12/16/78  You Don't Bring Me Flowers/Barbara Streisand & Neil Diamond             The Power Of Gold/Dan Fogelberg & Tim Weisburg
51.  12/23/78  Le Freak/Chic                                                                                   YMCA/The Village People
52.  12/30/78  Le Freak/Chic  (frozen week)                                                             YMCA/The Village People

Next up, 1979!
                 

[bobbo428]

Now I break into the 1970s--the year saw continued social unrest regarding the Vietnam War, and many of us turned to solace via music. Thaat year, even as an eight/nine-year-old, I perceived a lot of emotion--namely melancholia--in the popular songs--notably the ones from the summer. Anyway, here are my personal favorites from that year:

1-3 Holly Holy-Neil Diamond
A gospel-tinged number with a killer hook--reminds me of a big snowstorm we had at the end of 1969
1-10 Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head-B.J. Thomas
A melodic Bacharach/David number that one the Best Song Oscar (Butch Cassidy & the Sundance Kid)
1-17 Traces/Memories Medley-The Lettermen
This song was playing, ironically, while we wee playing the board game Memory one winter day. I enjoyed the instrumental hook, as well as the vocal harmonizing this MOR act displayed well on this seldom-heard cover of the Elvis Presley “Memories” and the Classics IV “Traces.”
1-24 Early in the Morning-Vanity Fare
I remember singing this song many times that winter, changing the lyrics as I went. It is a happy, sunshiny song, the sort that was quite popular as the ‘70s began.
1-31 Walkin’ in the Rain-Jay & the Americans
An uplifting song that helped us through the long winter of 1969-70. this song made me think that the sun was staying out a little later—and winter was losing its bite a little more each day. It made me long for the spring because the song had a springlike feel to it.
2-14 Rainy Night in Georgia-Brook Benton
Even this song is downbeat, it brought me hope because there is a message of perseverance in the lyrics and melody. Plus, the song was about rain. February saw some days that were mild enough for rain, and it was right around the time I first heard this song. It was Benton’s first hit in a long time, and it was one of my favorites of the year.
3-7 Give Me Just a Little More Time-Chairmen of the Board
A song of yearning, yet a plea for patience
3-14 He Ain't Heavy, He’s My Brother-The Hollies
This stirring pop rocker was about the need to be our brothers’ keeper. The Hollies did an excellent job singing and harmonizing on this classic. A well-crafted and sung pop rocker, this was excellently sung by the band. It had a reassuring, early spring feel, which was good after the long, tough winter we had.
3-21 Temma Harbour-Mary Hopkin
This was not a big hit, but I remember it quite well because of its irresistible, springlike feel. The reggae-like hook is irresistible to boot. The song was popular in March, the tail end of a long, hard winter. Every time I heard the song I thought of the approach9ing spring.
4-11 For the Love of Him-Bobbi Martin
Melodic MOR number that is seldom heard anymore
4-18 The Girls’ Song-Fifth Dimension
A forgotten gem by that irresistible group
4-25 Everybody’s Out of Town-B.J. Thomas
A seldom-heard song that was a lot of fun to listen to. I remember being captivated by the mysterious melody and lyrics. I remember the song being on my mind on a sunny April morning.
5-2 Let It Be-The Beatles
A classic that resonated with many of us
5-9 Reflections of My Life-Marmalade
I associate this song with the Kent State massacre, because the lyrics are troubled. I thought the song was about a soldier in Vietnam longing to go back home. The melody was haunting
5-23 Which Way You Goin’ Billy-Poppy Family
Melancholy, organ-drenched pop rocker that had a strong hook in the chorus. The lead singer, Susan Jacks had a voice that reminded me of Mary Hopkin—when I was young, I used to confuse the two acts, thinking Mary Hopkin was a member of the Poppy Family.
6-6 Daughter of Darkness-Tom Jones
Like “Delilah” two years before, Tom was singing about a woman who had done him wrong. “Daughter” had an irresistible hook and was one of my favorites in June.
6-13 The Long and Winding Road-The Beatles
This song is one of the ultimate graduation songs-it is the sort of hit that often reaches #1 during the month of June. It still holds up quite well all these years later.
6-27 Band of Gold-Freda Payne
A good, soulful record
7-11 Save the Country-Fifth Dimension
Seldom-heard cover of the Laura Nyro classic
7-25 (They Long to Be) Close to You-The Carpenters
This was the biggest hit of the summer, and I heard it all the time. However, I enjoyed it a lot because Karen Carpenter’s voice could soothe a child in the throes of summer melancholia; the tune was in the same vein as the 1968 summer hit “This Guy’s In Love with You.”.
8-15 Overture from Tommy-Assembled Multitude
This record was all over the radio that August.
8-29 Solitary Man-Neil Diamond
One of my all-time Diamond favorites, this had a folk-like tinge. It came out when I was beginning to perk up after a summer of melancholia.
9-12 Rainbow-Marmalade
A reassuring strummer that wasn’t a big hit but was one of my personal favorites in September.
9-19 Ain’t No Mountain High Enough-Diana Ross
Cover of 1967 hit built up to a rousing climax—was one of my favorite songs of the year. This was popular around the time the melancholy summer segued into the happier fall.
10-17 Yellow River-Christie
This song had an irresistible hook, and it was on my mind all day one Friday that fall. The song tells of a man (probably a soldier) who was returning home after a traumatizing spell in Vietnam.
10-31 We’ve Only Just Begun-Carpenters
This was a song of hope: it was early in the school year, and I was enjoying my teacher a lot. It was a mild autumn, and I was in a much better frame of mind than I had been during the melancholy summer. The lyrics conveyed the optimism of young couples.
11-7 It Don’t Matter to Me-Bread
Mellow, enjoyable soft rock with conciliatory lyrics
11-14 Fire and Rain-James Taylor
One of my favorite songs of the ‘70s, it was one I enjoyed the minute I first heard it.
11-21 Montego Bay-Bobby Bloom
This reggae-tinged toe-tapper was one of my favorites that fall--it was a happy song that was easy to sing along to.
11-28 I Think I Love You-Partridge Family
The first #1 pop hit I can recall my sister Beth singing while it was popular.
12-12 Stoned Love-The Supremes
One of my favorites of 1970, this was inspirational.

There were many other songs that could have hit No. 1 that year but just missed. BTW, I believe that TV morning show host was born on this date in 1970. I am not a TV watcher, but I have seen her show several times. I find her to be attractive, especially when her hair is long.

Up next: 1971

[bobbo428]

Now we go to 1971--soul music was near its pinnacle, as was the singer-songwriter genre. I turned age 10 in April of that year.

1-2 Stoney End-Barbra Streisand
This unforgettable Laura Nyro composition brought Streisand into the ‘70s
1-9 One Less Bell to Answer-Fifth Dimension
A well-written Bacharach/David composition, this song has aged quite well. It was an evocative song about a woman who did not realize how much she'd miss her departed husband until he left. She has a great deal of difficulty getting over him. Thematically, the song is similar to Michael Johnson's 1978 hit "Bluer than Blue."
1-23 Your Song-Elton John
This song was very well-written and sung--I enjoyed it greatly back then. It was the first time I had ever heard of Elton, who would become one of the biggest stars of the '70s.
2-6 Lonely Days-Bee Gees
A haunting, melodic, melancholy number
2-20 We Gotta Get You a Woman-Runt
This was one of my favorites of that winter, as well as the first Todd Rundgren song I heard. I didn't know Runt was Rundgren until the late-'70s. This song stayed on my mind all day one mild Friday--the song reminded me that the long, cold winter would end soon.
2-27 One Bad Apple-The Osmonds
A cheerful bubblegum tune that was a good imitation of the Jackson Five and a lot of fun to listen to.
3-13 She’s a Lady-Tom Jones
A knockout tune from this pop/MOR artist
3-27 For All We Know-The Carpenters
This song conveyed the cautious optimism of early spring—wondering whether love/mild weather would last.
4-3 Oye Como Va-Santana
An excellent slice of Latin rock
4-10 Wild World-Cat Stevens
Stevens' first American hit had a strong hook.
4-17 What Is Life-George Harrison
A tune with a killer hook
4-24 No Love at All-B.J. Thomas
An overlooked song, I enjoyed both the lyrics and the hook.
5-1 Woodstock-Matthews’ Southern Comfort
An excellent, mellow cover of the Joni Mitchell-penned tune
5-8 Lucky Man-Emerson, Lake & Palmer
This melodic number should have been a much bigger hit nationally.
5-15 Me and You and a Dog Named Boo-Lobo
A folk-tinged pop number with a strong hook
5-29 That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be-Carly Simon
An excellent, introspective folk rock number
6-5 House at Pooh Corner-Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Steller, overlooked cover of the Kenny Loggins song
6-12 It Don't Come Easy-Ringo Starr
Ringo's first major solo hit was a coup: It was catchy and carried an important message. It reminds me of riding in a car in June.
6-19 Nathan Jones-The Supremes
Another strong release by these ladies
6-26 Treat Her Like a Lady-Cornelius Brothers & Sister Rose
The groove is unmistakable, and the lyrics carry an important message
7-3 (The Lament of the Cherokee) Indian Reservation-The Raiders
I recall having this song on my mind on the last day of third grade--I recall hearing it all summer and was one of my favorites of the year: The lyrics, the instrumentation, and the vocal hooks. A killer record with a potent message of Native American empowerment.
7-10 Funky Nassau-Beginning of the End
An irresistible R&B tune that was a real joy to listen to because of its quirky brassy instrumentation, as well as its innovative, trippy vocals.
7-17 Indian Reservation-The Raiders
7-31 Chicago-Graham Nash
Protest song with a strong hook
8-7 Rings-Cymarron
A folk-tinged song that tells of various kinds of rings, most notably the one around the singer’s girlfriend's finger. When I was 10. called "Rain, Rain." That was probably because I often heard the also current hit "Here Comes That Rainy Day Feeling Again."
8-14 Mr. Big Stuff-Jean Knight
Sassy R&B/pop number that stood up to an arrogant rich snob; unfortunately, in recent years most pop songs are from the point of view of the snobs (i.e. “No Scrubs” by TLC), so you don’t hear songs like this anymore.
8-28 The Wedding Song (There Is Love)-Paul Stookey
Folk-tinged song that was one of my MOR favorites late that summer
9-4 Ain't No Sunshine-Bill Withers
One of my favorites of the year, this R&B/pop chestnut has it all: a singable chorus, a killer hook, and scatting, as well as a thumping beat.
9-18 The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down-Joan Baez
Cover of the 1969 song written by Robbie Robertson was a huge hit—the tune had been inspired by the ravages of the Civil War in 1865. the song was from the losers’ point of view.
9-25 Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey-Paul and Linda McCartney
A whimsical medley—both songs had irresistible hooks. I thought the tune was called “Across the Water.”
10-16 Superstar-Carpenters
My personal favorite by the duo, the song starts out with soft yearning, then explodes into an urgent refrain telling her beau to remember her even when he’s become a star.
10-30 One Fine Morning-Lighthouse
Adrenaline-inducing pop rocker that reminded me of warm October days
11-6 Peace Train-Cat Stevens
Hopeful sounding, folk-tinged pop tune with a strong hook
11-13 Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves-Cher
A story song with a killer hook
11-20 Imagine-John Lennon
I can recall the melody of this song haunting me a great deal when I first heard it, in the fall of 1971. It remains one of the best protest songs ever written, a song of an ideal world that has yet to be realized.
11-27 Theme from Shaft-Isaac Hayes
A creative instrumental and vocal masterpiece, this blaxploitation flick theme was Hayes’ tour de force—it foreshadowed disco yet was also funky and soulful.
12-4 Two Divided by Love-Grass Roots
Another catchy number with an irresistible hook; upbeat melody was in contrast to the desperate-sounding lyrics.
12-11 Family Affair-Sly & the Family Stone
A soulful, finky number with a killer hook
12-18 You Are Everything-Stylistics
A mellow ballad with a strong hook--Thom Bell production at its best
12-25 Brand New Key-Melanie
This was the first 45 I ever bought-it had a childlike feel to it, and I was blithely unaware of the song’s double entendre.

[bobbo428]

Sept 8, 2018 20:16:20 GMT -5 slf said:

Hello, again.  It's time now to present my fantasy #1 list for the year 1969.  One thing I'd like to mention is that a song that I have at #1 for multiple weeks is not necessarily more loved than a song that is at #1 for just one week.  For instance, I have a certain Fifth Dimension song topping my chart for three weeks, but there are certain single week #1's from earlier in the year that I love better.  But sometimes songs spend longer at #1 on my list because IMHO the competition is not as strong, whereas many single week #1's in a row mean that IMHO the competition is stronger.  (As usual, the left column are Billboard #1's; the right column are my #1's; and my #1's outside the Top 40 are denoted by an asterisk.)


1. 1/4/69     I Heard It Through The Grapevine/Marvin Gaye                    I'm Gonna Make You Love Me/Supremes & Temptations
2. 1/11/69   I Heard It Through The Grapevine/Marvin Gaye                    Soulful Strut/Young-Holt Unlimited
3. 1/18/69   I Heard It Through The Grapevine/Marvin Gaye                    California Soul/The Fifth Dimension
4  1/25/69   I Heard It Through The Grapevine/Marvin Gaye                    California Soul/The Fifth Dimension
5. 2/1/69     Crimson And Clover/Tommy James & The Shondells             Touch Me/The Doors
6. 2/8/69     Crimson And Clover/Tommy James & The Shondells             Hang 'Em High/Booker T. And The M.G.'s
7. 2/15/69   Everyday People/Sly And The Family Stone                          You Showed Me/The Turtles
8. 2/22/69   Everyday People/Sly And The Family Stone                          Witchi Tai To/Everything Is Everything *
9. 3/1/69     Everyday People/Sly And The Family Stone                          Ramblin' Gamblin' Man/The Bob Seger System
10. 3/8/69   Everyday People/Sly And The Family Stone                          Things I'd Like To Say/The New Colony Six
11. 3/15/69  Dizzy/Tommy Roe                                                             Goodbye Columbus/The Association *

We have a lot of overlap--nine songs went to No. 1 on both of our charts, and New Colony Six's song just missed the top of my chart, as did Mama Cass's "It's Getting Better."
12. 3/22/69  Dizzy/Tommy Roe                                                             Goodbye Columbus/The Association *
13. 3/29/69  Dizzy/Tommy Roe                                                             Goodbye Columbus/The Association *      
14. 4/5/69    Dizzy/Tommy Roe                                                             Move In A Little Closer, Baby/Mama Cass *
15. 4/12/69  Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine In/The Fifth Dimension             Galveston/Glen Campbell
16  4/19/69  Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine In/The Fifth Dimension             Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine In/The Fifth Dimension
17. 4/26/69  Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine In/The Fifth Dimension             Will You Be Staying After Sunday/The Peppermint Rainbow
18. 5/3/69    Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine In/The Fifth Dimension             "Hawaii 5-0" Theme/The Ventures
19  5/10/69  Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine In/The Fifth Dimension             Nothing But A Heartache/The Flirtations
20. 5/17/69  Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine In/The Fifth Dimension             Nothing But A Heartache/The Flirtations
21. 5/24/69  Get Back/The Beatles                                                        Nothing But A Heartache/The Flirtations
22. 5/31/69  Get Back/The Beatles                                                        Grazing In The Grass/The Friends Of Distinction
23. 6/7/69    Get Back/The Beatles                                                        Happy Heart/Andy Williams
24. 6/14/69  Get Back/The Beatles                                                        Happy Heart/Andy Williams
25. 6/21/69  Get Back/The Beatles                                                        Let Me/Paul Revere & The Raiders
26. 6/28/69  Love Theme From "Romeo & Juliet"/Henry Mancini               Israelites/Desmond Dekker & The Aces
27. 7/5/69    Love Theme From "Romeo & Juliet"/Henry Mancini              Let Me/Paul Revere & The Raiders
28. 7/12/69  In The Year 2525/Zager & Evans                                       Let Me/Paul Revere & The Raiders 
29. 7/19/69  In The Year 2525/Zager & Evans                                       My Pledge Of Love/The Joe Jeffrey Group
30. 7/26/69  In The Year 2525/Zager & Evans                                       My Cheri Amour/Stevie Wonder
31. 8/2/69    In The Year 2525/Zager & Evans                                       It's Getting Better/Mama Cass
32. 8/9/69    In The Year 2525/Zager & Evans                                       It's Getting Better/Mama Cass
33. 8/16/69  In The Year 2525/Zager & Evans                                       Questions 67 & 68/Chicago *
34. 8/23/69  Honky Tonk Woman/The Rolling Stones                             Questions 67 & 68/Chicago *
35. 8/30/69  Honky Tonk Woman/The Rolling Stones                             Working On A Groovy Thing/The Fifth Dimension
36. 9/6/69    Honky Tonk Woman/The Rolling Stones                             Working On A Groovy Thing/The Fifth Dimension
37. 9/13/69  Honky Tonk Woman/The Rolling Stones                             Sugar, Sugar/The Archies
38. 9/20/69  Sugar, Sugar/The Archies                                                 Sugar, Sugar/The Archies
39. 9/27/69  Sugar, Sugar/The Archies                                                 Keem-O-Sabe/The Electric Indian
40. 10/4/69  Sugar, Sugar/The Archies                                                 When I Die/Motherlode
41. 10/11/69 Sugar, Sugar/The Archies                                                Suspicious Minds/Elvis Presley
42. 10/18/69 I Can't Get Next To You/The Temptatons                           Tracy/The Cuff Links
43. 10/25/69 I Can't Get Next To You/The Temptatons                           Tracy/The Cuff Links
44. 11/1/69   Suspicious Minds/Elvis Presley                                          Suspicious Minds/Elvis Presley
45. 11/8/69   Wedding Bell Blues/The Fifth Dimension                            Wedding Bell Blues/The Fifth Dimension
46. 11/15/69 Wedding Bell Blues/The Fifth Dimension                            Wedding Bell Blues/The Fifth Dimension
47. 11/22/69 Wedding Bell Blues/The Fifth Dimension                            Wedding Bell Blues/The Fifth Dimension
48. 11/29/69 Come Together/Something/The Beatles                             And When I Die/Blood, Sweat, And Tears
49. 12/6/69   Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye/Steam                          Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye/Steam      
50. 12/13/69 Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye/Steam                          Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye/Steam
51. 12/20/69 Leaving On A Jet Plane/Peter, Paul, & Mary                       Whole Lotta Love/Led Zeppelin
52. 12/27/69 Someday We'll Be Together/Diana Ross & The Supremes    Whole Lotta Love/Led Zeppelin

Next up, 1970!

[vince]

This my version of 1967. For a couple of songs I listed the flip side.

1967
2/4 Georgy Girl – Seekers (2)
2/18 Kind of a Drag – Buckinghams (1)
2/25 Let’s Spend The Night Together – Rolling Stones (3)
3/18 Penny Lane – Beatles (1)
4/1 Happy Together – Turtles (2)
4/8 Bernaddette – Four Tops (1)
4/15 Happy Together – Turtles (3; total 5)
5/6 The Happening – Supremes (2)
5/20 Groovin’ – Young Rascals (1)
5/27 Respect – Aretha Franklin (3)
6/17 Somebody To Love – Jefferson Airplane (1)
6/24 She’d Rather Be with Me – Turtles (2)
7/8 Windy – Association (1)
7/15 Can’t Take My eyes Off Of You – Frankie Valli (1)
7/22 Light My Fire – Doors (4)
8/19 All You Need Is Love – Beatles (2)
9/2 Reflections – Supremes (2)
9/16 Ode To Billy Joe – Bobbie Gentry (1)
9/23 The Letter – Box Tops (6)
11/4 To Sir With Love – Lulu (1)
11/11 Soul Man – Sam & Dave (1)
11/18 Incense And Peppermints – Strawberry Alarm Clock (3)
12/9 Daydream Believer – Monkees (2)
12/23 I Am The Walrus – Beatles (4)

[vince]

Here is 1968. There were a lot of good songs this year. I had to give "Hey Jude" a longer run at #1.

1968
1/20 Judy In Disguise – John Fred & His Playboy Band (2)
2/10 Green Tambourine – Lemon Pipers (1)
2/17 Love Is Blue – Paul Mauriat (2)
3/2 I Wonder What She Is Doing Tonight – Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart (1)
3/9 Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In) – First Edition (1)
3/16 (Sitting On ) The Dock of the Bay – Otis Redding (5)
4/20 Lady Madonna – Beatles (3)
5/11 Tighten Up – Archie Bell & the Drells (2)
5/25 Mrs. Robinson – Simon & Garfunkel (4)
6/22 Mac Arthur Park – Richard Harris (1)
6/29 Reach Out Of the Darkness – Friend & Lover (1)
7/6 Jumpin’ Jack Flash – Rolling Stones (4)
8/3 Hello I Love You – Doors (3)
8/24 Born To Be Wild – Steppenwolf (3)
9/14 People Got To Be Free – Rascals (1)
9/21 Hey Jude – Beatles (11)
12/7 Love Child – Diana Ross & the Supremes (2)
12/21 For Once In My Life – Stevie Wonder (1)
12/28 I Heard it Through the Grapevine - Marvin Gaye (5)