List of Hot Country Singles number ones of 1963

Last updated

Johnny Cash, pictured performing with his band The Tennessee Three, had a long-running number one with "Ring of Fire". Johnny Cash and The Tennessee Three 1963.JPG
Johnny Cash, pictured performing with his band The Tennessee Three, had a long-running number one with "Ring of Fire".

Hot Country Songs is a chart that ranks the top-performing country music songs in the United States, published by Billboard magazine. In 1963, 10 different singles topped the chart, at the time published under the title Hot Country Singles, although there were 21 distinct runs at the top, as the majority of the singles had multiple spells at number one. Chart placings were based on playlists submitted by country music radio stations and sales reports submitted by stores. [1]

Contents

In the issue of Billboard dated January 5, Marty Robbins climbed to number one with "Ruby Ann", replacing "Don't Let Me Cross Over" by Carl Butler and Pearl, which had been in the top spot in the last issue of 1962. [2] Robbins only held the number one position for a single week before the husband-and-wife duo returned to the top of the chart. "Don't Let Me Cross Over" had three separate runs at number one during the early part of the year, the last of which lasted for eight weeks, but it would be the only chart-topper of the duo's career. [3] Separating the song's three runs in the top spot during the spring of 1963 were two spells at number one for "The Ballad of Jed Clampett" by Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs, the first song in the bluegrass genre to top the chart. [4] The song, the theme from television sitcom "The Beverly Hillbillies", [5] was the only number one for the duo. [6] In May, "Lonesome 7-7203" by Hawkshaw Hawkins topped the chart, his first and only single to reach number one. [7] [8] This was a posthumous success for the singer, who had died in a plane crash two months earlier. [9] Later in the year, both George Hamilton IV and Ernest Ashworth achieved their first Hot Country number ones. [10] [11]

Another act to top the chart for the first time in 1963 was Buck Owens, who achieved a number of chart feats during the year. He spent more weeks at number one in 1963 than any other act, occupying the top spot for a cumulative total of sixteen weeks with "Act Naturally" and "Love's Gonna Live Here". The latter song was number one for the final eleven weeks of the year, the longest unbroken run at the top of the chart during 1963. The song remained at number one for a further five weeks in 1964 for a final total of sixteen consecutive weeks in the top spot. This set a new record for the longest unbroken run at number one on the Hot Country chart which would last for nearly 50 years, when Florida Georgia Line spent a seventeenth consecutive week atop the chart with "Cruise" in 2013. [12] [13] Owens was also the only act to take more than one single to number one in 1963; he went on to become one of the most successful recording artists of the mid-1960s, achieving 15 country number ones in a five-year period. [14]

Chart history

Buck Owens began a record-breaking run at number one in October with "Love's Gonna Live Here". Buck Owens.jpg
Buck Owens began a record-breaking run at number one in October with "Love's Gonna Live Here".
George Hamilton IV (pictured in later life) topped the chart for the first time with "Abilene". George Hamilton IV crop.jpg
George Hamilton IV (pictured in later life) topped the chart for the first time with "Abilene".
Earl Scruggs (pictured in later life) collaborated with Lester Flatt on the chart-topper "The Ballad of Jed Clampett". Earl Scruggs 2005.JPG
Earl Scruggs (pictured in later life) collaborated with Lester Flatt on the chart-topper "The Ballad of Jed Clampett".
Hot Country Singles number ones of 1963
Issue dateTitleArtist(s)Ref.
January 5"Ruby Ann" Marty Robbins [2]
January 12"Don't Let Me Cross Over" Carl Butler and Pearl [15]
January 19" The Ballad of Jed Clampett " Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs [16]
January 26"Don't Let Me Cross Over" Carl Butler and Pearl [17]
February 2" The Ballad of Jed Clampett " Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs [18]
February 9 [19]
February 16"Don't Let Me Cross Over" Carl Butler and Pearl [20]
February 23 [21]
March 2 [22]
March 9 [23]
March 16 [24]
March 23 [25]
March 30 [26]
April 6 [27]
April 13"Still" Bill Anderson [28]
April 20 [29]
April 27 [30]
May 4"Lonesome 7-7203" Hawkshaw Hawkins [31]
May 11"Still" Bill Anderson [32]
May 18 [33]
May 25 [34]
June 1"Lonesome 7-7203" Hawkshaw Hawkins [35]
June 8 [36]
June 15"Act Naturally" Buck Owens [37]
June 22"Lonesome 7-7203" Hawkshaw Hawkins [38]
June 29"Act Naturally" Buck Owens [39]
July 6"Still" Bill Anderson [40]
July 13"Act Naturally" Buck Owens [41]
July 20 [42]
July 27"Ring of Fire" Johnny Cash [43]
August 3 [44]
August 10 [45]
August 17 [46]
August 24 [47]
August 31 [48]
September 7 [49]
September 14"Abilene" George Hamilton IV [50]
September 21"Love's Gonna Live Here" Buck Owens [51]
September 28"Abilene" George Hamilton IV [52]
October 5 [53]
October 12"Talk Back Trembling Lips" Ernest Ashworth [54]
October 19"Love's Gonna Live Here" Buck Owens [55]
October 26 [56]
November 2 [57]
November 9 [58]
November 16 [59]
November 23 [60]
November 30 [61]
December 7 [62]
December 14 [63]
December 21 [64]
December 28 [65]

See also

References

  1. Whitburn, Joel (2005). Joel Whitburn's Top Country Songs: 1944-2005. Record Research. p. ix. ISBN   978-0-89820-165-9.
  2. 1 2 "Hot Country Songs chart for January 5, 1963". Billboard . Archived from the original on May 20, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  3. McCall, Michael; Rumble, John; Kingsbury, Paul (2004). The Encyclopedia of Country Music. Oxford University Press. p. 69. ISBN   978-0-19-977055-7.
  4. Rosenberg, Neil V. (2008). Bluegrass: A History. University of Illinois Press. p. 259. ISBN   978-0-252-07245-1.
  5. Zaleski, Annie (January 19, 2018). "55 Years Ago: 'The Ballad of Jed Clampett' Hits No. 1". The Boot. Townsquare Media. Archived from the original on January 19, 2018. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  6. Whitburn, Joel (1996). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits. Watson-Guptill. p. 110. ISBN   978-0-8230-8289-6.
  7. Koda, Cub. "Hawkshaw Hawkins Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 27, 2018. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  8. Whitburn, Joel (1996). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits. Watson-Guptill. p. 144. ISBN   978-0-8230-8289-6.
  9. Cooper, Peter (March 5, 2016). "Patsy Cline: Country music remembers its darkest day". The Tennessean . Retrieved April 24, 2018.
  10. "Opry star George Hamilton IV, known for 'Abilene,' 'Early Morning Rain,' dies at 77". The Washington Post . September 18, 2014. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  11. Manheim, James. "Ernest Ashworth Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 27, 2018. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  12. Larkin, Colin (2011). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Omnibus Press. ISBN   978-0-85712-595-8.
  13. Vinson, Christina (July 2, 2013). "Florida Georgia Line's 'Cruise' Sets 50-Year Chart Record". Taste of Country. Townsquare Media. Archived from the original on April 26, 2018. Retrieved April 29, 2018.
  14. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Buck Owens Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 4, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  15. "Hot Country Songs chart for January 12, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 20, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  16. "Hot Country Songs chart for January 19, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  17. "Hot Country Songs chart for January 26, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 20, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  18. "Hot Country Songs chart for February 2, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  19. "Hot Country Songs chart for February 9, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  20. "Hot Country Songs chart for February 16, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 27, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  21. "Hot Country Songs chart for February 23, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on April 1, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  22. "Hot Country Songs chart for March 2, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  23. "Hot Country Songs chart for March 9, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  24. "Hot Country Songs chart for March 16, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 27, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  25. "Hot Country Songs chart for March 23, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 27, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  26. "Hot Country Songs chart for March 30, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  27. "Hot Country Songs chart for April 6, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 20, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  28. "Hot Country Songs chart for April 13, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  29. "Hot Country Songs chart for April 20, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 27, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  30. "Hot Country Songs chart for April 27, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  31. "Hot Country Songs chart for May 4, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  32. "Hot Country Songs chart for May 11, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 21, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  33. "Hot Country Songs chart for May 18, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 20, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  34. "Hot Country Songs chart for May 25, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  35. "Hot Country Songs chart for June 1, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 20, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  36. "Hot Country Songs chart for June 8, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  37. "Hot Country Songs chart for June 15, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  38. "Hot Country Songs chart for June 22, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  39. "Hot Country Songs chart for June 29, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 20, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  40. "Hot Country Songs chart for July 6, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 20, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  41. "Hot Country Songs chart for July 13, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  42. "Hot Country Songs chart for July 20, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 20, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  43. "Hot Country Songs chart for July 27, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 25, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  44. "Hot Country Songs chart for August 3, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  45. "Hot Country Songs chart for August 10, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  46. "Hot Country Songs chart for August 17, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 21, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  47. "Hot Country Songs chart for August 24, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 21, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  48. "Hot Country Songs chart for August 31, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 20, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  49. "Hot Country Songs chart for September 7, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  50. "Hot Country Songs chart for September 14, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 20, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  51. "Hot Country Songs chart for September 21, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  52. "Hot Country Songs chart for September 28, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  53. "Hot Country Songs chart for October 5, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 20, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  54. "Hot Country Songs chart for October 12, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  55. "Hot Country Songs chart for October 19, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  56. "Hot Country Songs chart for October 26, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 20, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  57. "Hot Country Songs chart for November 2, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  58. "Hot Country Songs chart for November 9, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  59. "Hot Country Songs chart for November 16, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  60. "Hot Country Songs chart for November 23, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 29, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  61. "Hot Country Songs chart for November 30, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 20, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  62. "Hot Country Songs chart for December 7, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 20, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  63. "Hot Country Songs chart for December 14, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  64. "Hot Country Songs chart for December 21, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on March 31, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.
  65. "Hot Country Songs chart for December 28, 1963". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 25, 2018. Retrieved April 27, 2018.