List of UK top-ten singles in 1969

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John Lennon had four UK top 10 singles in 1969, the most of any artist this year. Three of these were as part of The Beatles, of which two topped the chart: "Get Back" and "The Ballad of John and Yoko". Bed-In for Peace, Amsterdam 1969 - John Lennon & Yoko Ono 05 cropped.jpg
John Lennon had four UK top 10 singles in 1969, the most of any artist this year. Three of these were as part of The Beatles, of which two topped the chart: "Get Back" and "The Ballad of John and Yoko".
Marvin Gaye achieved his first UK top 10 single this year with "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", which spent three weeks at number-one. He would have a further two top 10 hits during the year. Marvin Gaye 1966 (cropped).jpg
Marvin Gaye achieved his first UK top 10 single this year with "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", which spent three weeks at number-one. He would have a further two top 10 hits during the year.
Bobbie Gentry secured two UK top 10 singles in 1969, including chart-topper "I'll Never Fall in Love Again". Bobbie Gentry in 1968.jpg
Bobbie Gentry secured two UK top 10 singles in 1969, including chart-topper "I'll Never Fall in Love Again".

The UK Singles Chart is one of many music charts compiled by the Official Charts Company that calculates the best-selling singles of the week in the United Kingdom. [1] Before 2004, the chart was only based on the sales of physical singles. [2] [3] This list shows singles that peaked in the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart during 1969, as well as singles which peaked in 1968 and 1970 but were in the top 10 in 1969. The entry date is when the single appeared in the top 10 for the first time (week ending, as published by the Official Charts Company, which is six days after the chart is announced).

Contents

One-hundred and fifteen singles were in the top ten in 1969. Eight singles from 1968 remained in the top 10 for several weeks at the beginning of the year while "All I Have to Do Is Dream" by Bobbie Gentry and Glen Campbell, "Melting Pot" by Blue Mink, "Suspicious Minds" by Elvis Presley and "Tracy" by The Cuff Links were all released in 1969 but did not reach their peak until 1970. "Albatross" by Fleetwood Mac and "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" by Marmalade were the singles from 1968 to reach their peak in 1969. Thirty artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 1969. David Bowie, Glen Campbell, Jethro Tull, Johnny Cash and Marvin Gaye were among the many artists who achieved their first UK charting top 10 single in 1969.

The 1968 Christmas number-one, "Lily the Pink" by The Scaffold, remained in the top 10 for the first weeks of 1969. The first new number-one single of the year was "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" by Marmalade. Overall, eighteen different singles peaked at number-one in 1969, with The Beatles (2) having the joint most singles hit that position.

Background

Multiple entries

One-hundred and fifteen singles charted in the top 10 in 1969, with one-hundred and five singles reaching their peak this year.

Thirty-one artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 1969. John Lennon secured the record for most top 10 hits in 1969 with four hit singles.

Amen Corner was one of a number of artists with two top-ten entries, including the number-one single "(If Paradise Is) Half as Nice". The Beach Boys, Elvis Presley, Marmalade. Simon & Garfunkel and The Temptations were among the other artists who had multiple top 10 entries in 1969.

Controversial French-language song reaches number-one

1969 saw a foreign-language song reach number-one in the UK Singles Chart for the first time in the chart's history; "Je t'aime... moi non plus" by Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg. The controversial French-language song was banned in several countries due to its overtly sexual content.

"Je t'aime..." was originally released in the UK by Fontana Records and the Fontana release entered the UK top 10 at number eight on 31 August 1969 (6 September 1969, week ending). However, after it had reached number two, Fontana deleted the single, allegedly because the wife of Fontana's boss was appalled at her husband's company releasing such a song. After this, "Je t'aime..." was picked up by Major Minor Records, who acquired the song's licensing rights and re-released the record. On 28 September 1969 (4 October 1969, week ending), the Major Minor release entered the UK chart at number three, while the Fontana release dropped out of the top 10 completely. The following week, the Major Minor release reached number-one, where it remained for one week.

Chart debuts

Forty-five artists achieved their first top 10 single in 1969, either as a lead or featured artist. Of these, eight went on to record another hit single that year: Bobbie Gentry, Clodagh Rodgers, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Desmond Dekker & the Aces, Glen Campbell, Jethro Tull, Peter Sarstedt and The Temptations. Marvin Gaye had two other entries in his breakthrough year.

The following table (collapsed on desktop site) does not include acts who had previously charted as part of a group and secured their first top 10 solo single.

ArtistNumber of top 10sFirst entryChart positionOther entries
Judy Clay 1"Private Number"8
William Bell
Martha and the Vandellas 1"Dancing in the Street"4
The Temptations 2"I'm Gonna Make You Love Me"3"Get Ready" (10)
Donald Peers 1"Please Don't Go"3
Peter Sarstedt 2"Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?"1"Frozen Orange Juice" (10)
Glen Campbell 2"Wichita Lineman"7"All I Have to Do Is Dream" (3) [A]
Marvin Gaye 3"I Heard It Through the Grapevine"1"Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" (5), "The Onion Song" (9)
Joe South 1"Games People Play"6
Desmond Dekker & the Aces 2"Israelites"1"It Miek" (7)
Noel Harrison 1"The Windmills of Your Mind"8
Billy Preston 1"Get Back"1
Clodagh Rodgers 2"Come Back and Shake Me"3"Goodnight Midnight" (4)
Bob & Earl 1"Harlem Shuffle"7
The Edwin Hawkins Singers 1"Oh Happy Day"2
Booker T. & the M.G.'s 1"Time Is Tight"4
Smokey Robinson 1"The Tracks of My Tears"9
The Miracles
Jethro Tull 2"Living in the Past"3"Sweet Dream" (7)
Thunderclap Newman 1"Something in the Air"1
Creedence Clearwater Revival 2"Proud Mary"8"Bad Moon Rising" (1)
The Family Dogg 1"A Way of Life"6
Plastic Ono Band 1"Give Peace a Chance"2
Joe Dolan 1"Make Me an Island"3
Vanity Fare 1"Early in the Morning"8
Max Romeo 1"Wet Dream"10
Zager and Evans 1"In the Year 2525"1
Jane Birkin 1"Je t'aime... moi non plus"1
Serge Gainsbourg
Humble Pie 1"Natural Born Bugie"4
Oliver 1"Good Morning Starshine"6
Bobbie Gentry 2"I'll Never Fall in Love Again"1"All I Have to Do Is Dream" (3) [A]
Johnny Cash 1"A Boy Named Sue"4
Hank Marvin 1"Throw Down a Line"7
Karen Young 1"Nobody's Child"6
Lou Christie 1"I'm Gonna Make You Mine"2
David Bowie 1"Space Oddity"5
The Archies 1"Sugar, Sugar"1
The Upsetters 1"Return of Django"/"Dollar in the Teeth"5
Jimmy Cliff 1"Wonderful World, Beautiful People"6
Kenny Rogers & The First Edition 1"Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town"2
Harry J All Stars 1"The Liquidator"9
Blue Mink 1"Melting Pot" [B] 3
Tammi Terrell 1"The Onion Song"9
The Cuff Links 1"Tracy" [C] 4
Notes

Robin Gibb was a member of the chart-topping British group Bee Gees, who had their first top 10 entry in 1967. His number two single "Saved by the Bell" was his debut appearance in the chart as a solo artist. Cass Elliot (known professionally as Mama Cass) sang in the band The Mamas & the Papas from 1965 to 1968 until they broke up. "It's Getting Better" was her only solo recording to reach the top 10 on the UK chart.

Songs from films

Original songs from various films entered the top 10 throughout the year. These included "The Windmills of Your Mind" (from The Thomas Crown Affair ) and "Time Is Tight" ( UpTight ).

Best-selling singles

Until 1970 there was no universally recognised year-end best-sellers list. However, in 2011 the Official Charts Company released a list of the best-selling single of each year in chart history from 1952 to date. According to the list, "Sugar, Sugar" by The Archies is officially recorded as the biggest-selling single of 1969.

Top-ten singles

Key
SymbolMeaning
Single peaked in 1968 but still in chart in 1969.
Single released in 1969 but peaked in 1970.
(#)Year-end best-selling single.
EnteredThe date that the single first appeared in the chart.
PeakHighest position that the single reached in the UK Singles Chart.
Entered
(week ending)
Weeks
in
top
10
SingleArtistPeakPeak reached
(week ending)
Weeks
at
peak
Singles in 1968
26 November 19689"Ain't Got No, I Got Life"/"Do What You Gotta Do" ‡ Nina Simone 224 December 19681
3 December 196810"Lily the Pink" ‡ The Scaffold 117 December 19684
10 December 19685"1–2–3 O'Leary" ‡ Des O'Connor 417 December 19683
17 December 19688"Build Me Up Buttercup" ‡ The Foundations 231 December 19682
7"I'm the Urban Spaceman" ‡ Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band 524 December 19683
24 December 19685"Sabre Dance" ‡ Love Sculpture 531 December 19681
9"Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" Marmalade 17 January 19693
31 December 196810"Albatross" Fleetwood Mac 14 February 19691
Singles in 1969
7 January 19692"Son of a Preacher Man" Dusty Springfield 97 January 19692
5"Something's Happening" Herman's Hermits 621 January 19692
14 January 19697"For Once in My Life" Stevie Wonder 328 January 19693
21 January 19693"Private Number" Judy Clay & William Bell 828 January 19692
28 January 19696"Blackberry Way" The Move 111 February 19691
2"Fox on the Run" Manfred Mann 54 February 19691
4 February 19694"You Got Soul" Johnny Nash 611 February 19691
11 February 19694"Dancing in the Street" Martha and the Vandellas 411 February 19691
2"To Love Somebody" Nina Simone 511 February 19691
6"I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" Diana Ross & the Supremes & The Temptations 325 February 19692
7"Please Don't Go" Donald Peers 311 March 19691
1"Mrs. Robinson (EP)" Simon & Garfunkel 911 February 19691
18 February 19694"(If Paradise Is) Half as Nice" Amen Corner 118 February 19692
25 February 19697"Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?" Peter Sarstedt 14 March 19694
5"The Way It Used to Be" Engelbert Humperdinck 318 March 19692
4 March 19694"Wichita Lineman" Glen Campbell 711 March 19691
1"I'll Pick a Rose for My Rose" Marv Johnson 104 March 19691
11 March 19694"Surround Yourself with Sorrow" Cilla Black 31 April 19691
9"I Heard It Through the Grapevine" Marvin Gaye 11 April 19693
5"Monsieur Dupont" Sandie Shaw 68 April 19691
8"Gentle on My Mind" Dean Martin 28 April 19691
18 March 19694"First of May" Bee Gees 618 March 19691
25 March 19691"You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" [D] The Righteous Brothers 1025 March 19691
1 April 19694"Sorry Suzanne" The Hollies 38 April 19691
4"Games People Play" Joe South 61 April 19691
6"Boom Bang-a-Bang" [E] Lulu 215 April 19691
1"Get Ready" The Temptations 101 April 19691
8 April 19697"Israelites" Desmond Dekker & The Aces 122 April 19691
4"In the Bad Bad Old Days (Before You Loved Me)" The Foundations 815 April 19692
15 April 19697"Goodbye" Mary Hopkin 222 April 19693
6"Pinball Wizard" The Who 429 April 19693
1"I Can Hear Music" The Beach Boys 1015 April 19691
22 April 19693"The Windmills of Your Mind" Noel Harrison 86 May 19691
29 April 19699"Get Back" The Beatles with Billy Preston 129 April 19696
6"Come Back and Shake Me" Clodagh Rodgers 313 May 19691
6 May 19692"Cupid" Johnny Nash 66 May 19691
1"Harlem Shuffle" Bob & Earl 76 May 19691
13 May 19695"My Sentimental Friend" Herman's Hermits 220 May 19692
6"Man of the World" Fleetwood Mac 23 June 19691
5"Behind a Painted Smile" The Isley Brothers 527 May 19691
7"My Way" Frank Sinatra 53 June 19692
20 May 19696"The Boxer" Simon & Garfunkel 610 June 19691
27 May 19696"Dizzy" Tommy Roe 110 June 19691
4"Ragamuffin Man" Manfred Mann 83 June 19691
3 June 19691"Love Me Tonight" Tom Jones 93 June 19691
10 June 19696"The Ballad of John and Yoko" The Beatles 117 June 19693
5"Oh Happy Day" The Edwin Hawkins Singers 224 June 19692
17 June 19695"Time Is Tight" Booker T. & the M.G.'s 424 June 19692
2"The Tracks of My Tears" [F] Smokey Robinson & The Miracles 917 June 19691
24 June 19694"Living in the Past" Jethro Tull 31 July 19691
1"Big Ship" Cliff Richard 824 June 19691
8"In the Ghetto" Elvis Presley 28 July 19693
1 July 19696"Something in the Air" Thunderclap Newman 18 July 19693
4"Break Away" The Beach Boys 615 July 19691
4"Proud Mary" Creedence Clearwater Revival 815 July 19691
8 July 19694"A Way of Life" The Family Dogg 622 July 19691
1"Frozen Orange Juice" Peter Sarstedt 108 July 19691
15 July 19694"Hello Susie" Amen Corner 415 July 19691
11"Honky Tonk Women" The Rolling Stones 129 July 19695
22 July 19696"Give Peace a Chance" Plastic Ono Band 229 July 19693
4"It Miek" Desmond Dekker & The Aces 722 July 19692
4"Baby Make It Soon" Marmalade 922 July 19694
29 July 19698"Saved by the Bell" Robin Gibb 216 August 19692
5"Goodnight Midnight" Clodagh Rodgers 49 August 19691
2 August 19695"Make Me an Island" Joe Dolan 316 August 19691
9 August 19696"My Cherie Amour" Stevie Wonder 423 August 19693
3"Conversations" Cilla Black 716 August 19691
16 August 19693"Early in the Morning" Vanity Fare 816 August 19691
1"Bringing on Back the Good Times" Love Affair 916 August 19691
1"Wet Dream" Max Romeo 1016 August 19691
23 August 19697"In the Year 2525" Zager and Evans 130 August 19693
6"Too Busy Thinking About My Baby" Marvin Gaye 513 September 19691
30 August 19695"Viva Bobby Joe" The Equals 630 August 19691
7"Bad Moon Rising" Creedence Clearwater Revival 120 September 19693
7"Don't Forget to Remember" Bee Gees 220 September 19691
6 September 19699"Je t'aime... moi non plus" [G] Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg 111 October 19691
4"Natural Born Bugie" Humble Pie 413 September 19691
20 September 19695"Good Morning Starshine" Oliver 64 October 19692
8"I'll Never Fall in Love Again" Bobbie Gentry 118 October 19691
27 September 19696"A Boy Named Sue" Johnny Cash 44 October 19693
4 October 19692"Throw Down a Line" Cliff Richard & Hank Marvin 74 October 19691
2"It's Getting Better" Mama Cass 84 October 19691
4"Lay Lady Lay" Bob Dylan 511 October 19691
11 October 19697"Nobody's Child" Karen Young 618 October 19692
18 October 19695"I'm Gonna Make You Mine" Lou Christie 21 November 19691
5"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother" The Hollies 31 November 19691
4"Space Oddity" David Bowie 51 November 19691
8"Oh Well" Fleetwood Mac 28 November 19692
25 October 196914"Sugar, Sugar" (#1) The Archies 125 October 19698
1 November 19695"Return of Django"/"Dollar in the Teeth" The Upsetters 58 November 19693
8 November 19692"Love's Been Good to Me" Frank Sinatra 88 November 19692
1"Delta Lady" Joe Cocker 108 November 19691
15 November 19696"(Call Me) Number One" The Tremeloes 222 November 19692
4"Something"/"Come Together" The Beatles 422 November 19691
4"Wonderful World, Beautiful People" [H] Jimmy Cliff 622 November 19691
22 November 19693"Sweet Dream" Jethro Tull 722 November 19691
12"Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town" Kenny Rogers and The First Edition 213 December 19696
8"Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday" Stevie Wonder 26 December 19691
29 November 19692"The Liquidator" [I] Harry J All Stars 929 November 19691
6 December 196912"Two Little Boys" Rolf Harris 120 December 19696
8"Melting Pot" ♦ Blue Mink 310 January 19701
9"Suspicious Minds" ♦ Elvis Presley 217 January 19701
13 December 19694"Winter World of Love" Engelbert Humperdinck 713 December 19691
1"The Onion Song" Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell 913 December 19691
20 December 19696"Tracy" ♦ The Cuff Links 410 January 19701
7"All I Have to Do Is Dream" ♦ Bobbie Gentry & Glen Campbell 317 January 19701
27 December 19692"Without Love (There is Nothing)" Tom Jones 1027 December 19692

Entries by artist

Creedence Clearwater Revival earned two UK top 10 hits this year, including "Bad Moon Rising", which spent three weeks at number-one. Creedence Clearwater Revival 1968.jpg
Creedence Clearwater Revival earned two UK top 10 hits this year, including "Bad Moon Rising", which spent three weeks at number-one.
Desmond Dekker (pictured in 2005) became the first reggae artist to have a number-one hit in the UK Singles Chart when his song "Israelites" reached the top spot for one week in April 1969. Dekker achieved a second top 10 hit in July with "It Miek", which peaked at number seven. Desmond Dekker in 2005.jpg
Desmond Dekker (pictured in 2005) became the first reggae artist to have a number-one hit in the UK Singles Chart when his song "Israelites" reached the top spot for one week in April 1969. Dekker achieved a second top 10 hit in July with "It Miek", which peaked at number seven.
Lou Christie reached the UK top 10 for the only time in his career in October of this year with "I'm Gonna Make You Mine", which peaked at number two. Lou Christie.png
Lou Christie reached the UK top 10 for the only time in his career in October of this year with "I'm Gonna Make You Mine", which peaked at number two.
Irish singer Joe Dolan (pictured in 1975) achieved his only UK top 10 single in 1969 with "Make Me an Island", which peaked at number three in August. JoeDolan1975.jpg
Irish singer Joe Dolan (pictured in 1975) achieved his only UK top 10 single in 1969 with "Make Me an Island", which peaked at number three in August.

The following table shows artists who achieved two or more top 10 entries in 1969, including singles that reached their peak in 1968 or 1970. The figures include both main artists and featured artists, while appearances on ensemble charity records are also counted for each artist. The total number of weeks an artist spent in the top ten in 1969 is also shown.

EntriesArtistWeeksSingles
4 John Lennon [K] 26"Get Back", "Give Peace a Chance", "Something"/"Come Together", "The Ballad of John and Yoko"
3 The Beatles 19"Get Back", "Something"/"Come Together", "The Ballad of John and Yoko"
Fleetwood Mac [J] 23"Albatross", "Man of the World", "Oh Well"
Marvin Gaye 16"I Heard It Through the Grapevine", "The Onion Song", "Too Busy Thinking About My Baby"
Stevie Wonder 19"For Once in My Life", "My Cherie Amour", "Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday"
2 Amen Corner 8"Hello Susie", "(If Paradise Is) Half as Nice"
The Beach Boys 5"Break Away", "I Can Hear Music"
Bee Gees 11"Don't Forget to Remember", "First of May"
Bobbie Gentry [M] 10"All I Have to Do Is Dream", "I'll Never Fall in Love Again"
Cilla Black 7"Conversations", "Surround Yourself with Sorrow"
Cliff Richard 3"Big Ship", "Throw Down a Line"
Clodagh Rodgers 11"Come Back and Shake Me", "Goodnight Midnight"
Creedence Clearwater Revival 11"Bad Moon Rising", "Proud Mary"
Desmond Dekker & the Aces 11"It Miek", "Israelites"
Elvis Presley [M] 12"In the Ghetto", "Suspicious Minds"
Engelbert Humperdinck 8"The Way It Used to Be", "Winter World of Love"
The Foundations [N] 9"Build Me Up Buttercup", "In the Bad Bad Old Days (Before You Loved Me)"
Frank Sinatra 9"Love's Been Good to Me", "My Way"
Glen Campbell [M] 6"All I Have to Do Is Dream", "Wichita Lineman"
Herman's Hermits 10"My Sentimental Friend", "Something's Happening"
The Hollies 10"He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother", "Sorry Suzanne"
Jethro Tull 7"Living in the Past", "Sweet Dream"
Johnny Nash 6"Cupid", "You Got Soul"
Manfred Mann 6"Fox on the Run", "Ragamuffin Man"
Marmalade [J] 11"Baby Make It Soon", "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da"
Nina Simone [N] 5"Ain't Got No, I Got Life"/"Do What You Gotta Do", "To Love Somebody"
Peter Sarstedt 8"Frozen Orange Juice", "Where Do You Go To (My Lovely)?"
Robin Gibb [L] 19"First of May", "Saved by the Bell"
Simon & Garfunkel 7"Mrs. Robinson (EP)", "The Boxer"
The Temptations 7"Get Ready", "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me"
Tom Jones 3"Love Me Tonight", "Without Love (There is Nothing)"

Notes

See also

References

General

Specific