Adult Contemporary is a chart published by Billboard ranking the top-performing songs in the United States in the adult contemporary music (AC) market. In 1969, 17 songs topped the chart, then published under the title Easy Listening, 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 orchestra leader Henry Mancini's "Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet".
Several of 1969's chart-toppers came from films and stage musicals. These included Mancini's theme from the film Romeo and Juliet,[3] Oliver's song "Jean" from the film The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,[4] The 5th Dimension's medley of two songs from the musical Hair,[5] and Sammy Davis Jr.'s version of "I've Gotta Be Me", which was a major hit despite the musical in which it originated, Golden Rainbow, being unsuccessful.[6][7] There was considerable crossover in 1969 between the Easy Listening chart and Billboard's all-genres chart, the Hot 100. Five songs topped both charts during the year: Mancini's "Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet"[3] and both of The 5th Dimension's chart-toppers,[5] as well as "In the Year 2525 (Exordium and Terminus)" by Zager and Evans[8] and "Leaving on a Jet Plane" by Peter, Paul and Mary.[9] Additionally, the final Easy Listening number one of the year, "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" by B. J. Thomas, went on to top the Hot 100 early in 1970.[10] 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 any of Billboard's charts.[8][11]
Chart history
Billboard ranked "Hurt So Bad" by the Lettermen as the best-performing easy listening single of 1969, though it never reached the top position.[12] |
References
- ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2007). Joel Whitburn Presents Billboard Top Adult Songs, 1961-2006. Record Research Incorporated. p. vi. ISBN 9780898201697.
- 1 2 "Adult Contemporary chart for January 4, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
- 1 2 Breihan, Tom (November 27, 2018). "The Number Ones: Henry Mancini's "Love Theme From Romeo And Juliet"". Stereogum. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
- ↑ Hogan, Ed. "Oliver Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
- 1 2 Huey, Steve. "The 5th Dimension Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
- ↑ Rosenberg, Bernard; Harburg, Ernest (1993). The Broadway Musical: Collaboration in Commerce and Art. NYU Press. ISBN 9780814774335.
- ↑ Leigh, Spencer (2015). Frank Sinatra: An Extraordinary Life. McNidder and Grace Limited. ISBN 9780857160881.
- 1 2 Breihan, Tom (November 28, 2018). "The Number Ones: Zager & Evans' "In The Year 2525″". Stereogum. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
- ↑ Breihan, Tom (December 10, 2018). "The Number Ones: Peter, Paul & Mary's "Leaving On A Jet Plane"". Stereogum. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
- ↑ Breihan, Tom (December 12, 2018). "The Number Ones: B. J. Thomas' "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head"". Stereogum. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
- ↑ "Zager & Evans". Billboard. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
- ↑ 12, 2020 "Hot Adult Contemporary Singles & Tracks Year End, 1969". Billboard.
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value (help) - ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 11, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 18, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 25, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 1, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 8, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 15, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 22, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 1, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 8, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 15, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 22, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 29, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 5, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 12, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 19, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 26, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 3, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 10, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 17, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 24, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 31, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 7, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 14, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 21, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 28, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 5, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 12, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 19, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 26, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 2, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 9, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 16, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 23, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 30, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 6, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 13, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 20, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 27, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 4, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 11, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 18, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 25, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 1, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 8, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 15, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 22, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 29, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 6, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 13, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 20, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
- ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 27, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.