Hot Country Songs is a chart that ranks the top-performing country music songs in the United States, published by Billboard magazine. In 1969, 23 different singles topped the chart, which was published at the time under the title Hot Country Singles, in 52 weekly issues of the magazine. Chart placings were based on playlists submitted by country music radio stations and sales reports submitted by stores. [1]
In the issue of Billboard dated January 4, Johnny Cash's single "Daddy Sang Bass" climbed from number 19 to the top spot, replacing "Wichita Lineman" by Glen Campbell. [2] Cash's single remained at number one for six weeks, the longest unbroken run of the year. The singer returned to the top of the chart later in the year with "A Boy Named Sue", which spent five weeks at number one. His cumulative total of eleven weeks atop the chart was the highest by any artist in 1969. Merle Haggard, Sonny James and Buck Owens each reached number one with three different singles, the most by any act. All three of James' chart-toppers were cover versions of successful rock and roll and pop songs from the late 1950s and early 1960s; the singer achieved the majority of his more than 20 country number ones with versions of pop songs. [3] Owens also took a country reworking of a rock and roll classic to the top spot, with a live version of Chuck Berry's 1958 song "Johnny B. Goode". [4] Haggard's three chart-toppers included "Okie from Muskogee", one of the best-known songs of his career. [5]
In March, Jerry Lee Lewis, regarded as a legend of the rock and roll genre, [6] [7] topped the chart with "To Make Love Sweeter For You". In doing so he achieved a country number one for the first time since Billboard combined sales and airplay into a single chart in 1958; his last country chart-topper had been on the C&W Best Sellers in Stores chart earlier in that year. [8] [9] Lewis had gained some success on the country charts in the 1950s with songs such as "Great Balls of Fire" in the rockabilly style which incorporated elements of country and rock and roll. [10] In 1968, however, after a decade with little success, he mounted a surprise comeback when he concentrated fully on the country genre, and would go on to achieve a succession of country chart entries into the 1970s. [11] [12] Charley Pride had his first chart-topper in August 1969 with "All I Have to Offer You (Is Me)", [13] and he quickly returned to the number one position with "(I'm So) Afraid of Losing You Again", which was the final number one of the year and thus of the decade. The first African-American performer to become a superstar in the country music genre, Pride would go on to achieve more than thirty number one singles on the Hot Country chart. [14]
"Since I Met You Baby" is an American rhythm and blues song written and recorded by pianist Ivory Joe Hunter. The song, which Hunter recorded in 1956, became an American standard, and saw renewed popularity in 1969 when country music artist Sonny James released his hit version.
"Workin' Man Blues" is a song written and performed by American country music artist Merle Haggard and The Strangers. It was released in May 1969 as the second single from the album A Portrait of Merle Haggard. The song was released during his early peak and became one of several signature songs during his career.
Wilburn Steven "Bill" Rice is an American country music singer and songwriter. Rice charted six singles between 1971 and 1978, including the Top 40 hit "Travelin' Minstrel Man", but is better known for his songwriting. Rice has written songs for artists such as Johnny Paycheck, Reba McEntire, Lynn Anderson, Charley Pride and Jerry Lee Lewis, and he has more awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers than any other songwriter. Rice has also been nominated for two Grammy Awards.
"Drinking Champagne" is a song written by Bill Mack. He released the first version of the song on Pike Records in the mid-sixties. The song grabbed nationwide attention when the version by Cal Smith reached #35 on the country music charts in 1968.
Ben James Peters was an American country music songwriter who wrote many #1 songs. Charley Pride recorded 68 of his songs and 6 of them went to #1 on the American country charts. Peters was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1980.
"Good Time Charlie's Got the Blues" is a song written and performed by Danny O'Keefe.
"She Even Woke Me Up to Say Goodbye" is a song written by Doug Gilmore and Mickey Newbury, and recorded by American country music artist Jerry Lee Lewis. Released in September 1969, it was the first single from his album She Even Woke Me Up to Say Goodbye. The song peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart. It also reached number 1 on the RPM Country Tracks chart in Canada.
"The Power of Love" is a song written by Gary Nicholson and Don Cook, and recorded by American country music artist Charley Pride. It was released in May 1984 as the first single and title track from his album The Power of Love. The song peaked at number 9 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart.
"How to Be a Country Star" is a song recorded by American country music group The Statler Brothers, written by group members Harold Reid and Don Reid. The song – a humorous, tongue-in-cheek advice song that names many of the top country music recording artists of the time, along with a number of classic country artists – was released in March 1979 as the first single from the album The Originals. The song eventually climbed to No. 7 on the Billboard Hot Country Singles chart that May, and also No. 18 on the Canadian RPM country singles chart.
The discography of American country artist Charley Pride contains 75 singles, one other charting song, two promotional singles, one featured single and 11 music videos. Pride signed his first recording contract with RCA Victor in 1966. His first two singles failed to become hits. His third single, "Just Between You and Me," became a hit when it reached the top ten of the country charts. Pride had several more top ten hits over the next several years until he had first chart-topper in 1969. The single, "All I Have to Offer You ," reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and spent 17 weeks charting. This was followed by five more number one hits, including "Is Anybody Goin' to San Antone." All of these singles also reached low-end positions on the Billboard Hot 100.
Charley is a studio album by American country music artist Charley Pride. It was released in May 1975 via RCA Victor Records and was produced by Jack Clement. The record was Pride's twentieth studio album released in his career and contained a total of ten tracks. The album included two singles which became major hits that year on the country chart: "I Ain't All Bad" and "Hope You're Feelin' Me ."