List of Best Selling Soul Singles number ones of 1969

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James Brown, known as the "Godfather of Soul", had two number ones in 1969, "Give It Up or Turnit a Loose" and "Mother Popcorn". James-Brown 1973.jpg
James Brown, known as the "Godfather of Soul", had two number ones in 1969, "Give It Up or Turnit a Loose" and "Mother Popcorn".

Billboard published a weekly chart in 1969 ranking the top-performing singles in the United States in rhythm and blues (R&B), soul, and related African American-oriented music genres; the chart has undergone various name changes over the decades to reflect the evolution of such genres and since 2005 has been published as Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. [1] In 1969, it was published under the title Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles through the issue of Billboard dated August 16 and Best Selling Soul Singles thereafter. [2] During that year, 17 different singles topped the chart.

Contents

In the issue of Billboard dated January 4, Marvin Gaye was at number one with "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", the song's fourth week in the top spot. [3] Gaye returned to number one in June with "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" and was one of three acts to have two number ones in 1969 along with James Brown and the Temptations. Gaye's cumulative total of ten weeks in the top spot was the most achieved by any artist during the year and the six weeks which "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" spent atop the chart was the year's longest unbroken run at number one. The chart-topping singles of Brown and the Temptations showcased new developments in black music, as Brown's tracks centred on the funk style, which had been developing since the mid-1960s as a harder-edged alternative to soul music and would continue to grow in popularity in the 1970s, [4] and the Temptations brought new elements to their style leading to their identification with the psychedelic soul sub-genre. [5]

Several acts topped the R&B/soul singles chart in 1969 for the first time, beginning with Tyrone Davis, who replaced Marvin Gaye in the top spot in the issue of Billboard dated February 1 with "Can I Change My Mind". [6] The next number one was also a debut chart-topper, as Sly & the Family Stone reached the peak position for the first time with "Everyday People", [7] which also topped the all-genre Hot 100 chart. [8] [9] Sly Stone and his band would prove key in the development of the funk and psychedelic soul sounds in the early 1970s. [8] The Isley Brothers, Joe Simon, and the Originals also gained the first number ones of their careers during 1969. [10] The year's final number one was "Someday We'll Be Together" by Diana Ross & the Supremes, which reached the peak position in the issue of Billboard dated December 13 and stayed there for the remainder of the year. It was the group's last single to feature lead singer Diana Ross, who departed early in 1970 for a highly successful solo career. [11] [12]

Chart history

Marvin Gaye had two number ones in 1969. Marvin Gaye 1966 (cropped).jpg
Marvin Gaye had two number ones in 1969.
"Can I Change My Mind" was the first chart-topper for Tyrone Davis. Tyrone Davis oct 1970.jpg
"Can I Change My Mind" was the first chart-topper for Tyrone Davis.
"Someday We'll Be Together" was the final number one for the Supremes to feature lead singer Diana Ross (far right). The Supremes 1966.JPG
"Someday We'll Be Together" was the final number one for the Supremes to feature lead singer Diana Ross (far right).
Jr. Walker & the All-Stars topped the chart with "What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)". Junior Walker.png
Jr. Walker & the All-Stars topped the chart with "What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)".
Key
Indicates number 1 on Billboard's year-end R&B/soul chart of 1969 [13]
Chart history
Issue dateTitleArtist(s)Ref.
January 4"I Heard It Through the Grapevine" Marvin Gaye [3]
January 11 [14]
January 18 [15]
January 25 [16]
February 1"Can I Change My Mind" Tyrone Davis [17]
February 8 [18]
February 15 [19]
February 22"Everyday People" Sly & the Family Stone [20]
March 1 [21]
March 8"Give It Up Or Turnit a Loose" James Brown [22]
March 15 [23]
March 22"Run Away Child, Running Wild" The Temptations [24]
March 29 [25]
April 5"Only the Strong Survive" Jerry Butler [26]
April 12 [27]
April 19"It's Your Thing" The Isley Brothers [28]
April 26 [29]
May 3 [30]
May 10 [31]
May 17" The Chokin' Kind " Joe Simon [32]
May 24 [33]
May 31 [34]
June 7"Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" Marvin Gaye [35]
June 14 [36]
June 21 [37]
June 28 [38]
July 5 [39]
July 12 [40]
July 19"What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)" Jr. Walker & the All-Stars [41]
July 26 [42]
August 2"Mother Popcorn (You Got To Have a Mother For Me)" James Brown [43]
August 9 [44]
August 16"Choice of Colors" The Impressions [45]
August 23"Share Your Love with Me" Aretha Franklin [46]
August 30 [47]
September 6 [48]
September 13 [49]
September 20 [50]
September 27"Oh, What a Night" The Dells [51]
October 4"I Can't Get Next to You" The Temptations [52]
October 11 [53]
October 18 [54]
October 26 [55]
November 1 [56]
November 8"Baby, I'm for Real" The Originals [57]
November 15 [58]
November 22 [59]
November 29 [60]
December 6 [61]
December 13"Someday We'll Be Together" Diana Ross & the Supremes [62]
December 20 [63]
December 27 [64]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Heard It Through the Grapevine</span> 1966 song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong

"I Heard It Through the Grapevine" is a song written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong for Motown Records in 1966. The first recording of the song to be released was produced by Whitfield for Gladys Knight & the Pips and released as a single in September 1967. It went to number one on the Billboard R&B Singles chart and number two on the Billboard Pop Singles chart and shortly became the biggest selling Motown single up to that time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You're All I Need to Get By</span> 1968 single by Tammi Terrell and Marvin Gaye

"You're All I Need to Get By" is a song recorded by the American R&B/soul duo Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell and released on Motown Records' Tamla label in 1968. It was the basis for the 1995 single "I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By" from Method Man and Mary J. Blige.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Too Busy Thinking About My Baby</span> 1969 single by Marvin Gaye

"Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" is a Motown song written by Norman Whitfield, Barrett Strong, and Janie Bradford. The song was first recorded by The Temptations as a track on their 1966 album Gettin' Ready. Eddie Kendricks sings lead on the recording, which was produced by Whitfield. Jimmy Ruffin also recorded a version with The Temptations providing background vocals in 1966. It remained unreleased until 1997.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hot Fun in the Summertime</span> 1969 single by Sly and the Family Stone

"Hot Fun in the Summertime" is a 1969 song recorded by Sly and the Family Stone. The single was released just prior to the band's high-profile performance at Woodstock, which greatly expanded their fanbase. The song peaked at number 2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart, kept out of the number 1 spot by "I Can't Get Next to You" by The Temptations. "Hot Fun in the Summertime" also peaked at number 3 on the U.S. Billboard soul singles chart in autumn 1969. It is ranked as the seventh biggest U.S. hit of 1969, and the 65th in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Family Affair (Sly and the Family Stone song)</span> 1971 single by Sly and the Family Stone

"Family Affair" is a 1971 number-one hit single recorded by Sly and the Family Stone for the Epic Records label. Their first new material since the double A-sided single "Thank You "/ "Everybody Is a Star" nearly two years prior, "Family Affair" became the third and final number-one pop single for the band. In 2021, Rolling Stone magazine ranked the song 57th on their list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. The cover version by John Legend, Joss Stone, and Van Hunt, won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals at 49th Annual Grammy Awards.

The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by Billboard. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 positions but was shortened to 50 positions in October 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gonna Give Her All the Love I've Got</span>

"Gonna Give Her All the Love I've Got" is a 1967 Soul song, originally recorded and made a hit by Jimmy Ruffin on Motown's Soul Label imprint. Ruffin's 1967 original version, from his album Jimmy Ruffin Sings Top Ten, reached the Pop Top 30, peaking at #29, and was a Top 20 R&B Hit as well, peaking at #14. It was also a hit in Britain, reaching #26 on the UK Singles Chart. The song has a social context: it depicts a man anticipating his release from prison on the morrow, when he'll return home on a train to "the girl that I left behind," promising himself that he will reward her steadfast love for him by "giv[ing] her all the love [he's] got." The song was written by Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong and produced by Whitfield.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)</span> 1964 song performed by Marvin Gaye

"How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" is a song recorded by American soul singer Marvin Gaye from his fifth studio album of the same name (1965). It was written in 1964 by the Motown songwriting team of Holland–Dozier–Holland, and produced by Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier. The song title was inspired by one of the actor and comedian Jackie Gleason's signature phrases, "How Sweet It Is!"

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Works cited