Three dark-skinned men and two dark-skinned women singing on a stage. Various musicians are visible behind them.
The 5th Dimension had two chart-toppers in 1969.

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

A light-haired man wearing a sport coat
Glen Campbell had three number ones in 1969.
A dark-skinned man in a suit, singing into a microphone
Sammy Davis Jr. spent seven weeks at number one with "I've Gotta Be Me", a song from the short-lived stage musical Golden Rainbow.
A dark-haired middle-aged man wearing a tuxedo
Henry Mancini's "Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet" was the year's longest-running number one.
Key
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]
Issue date Title Artist(s) Ref.
January 4 "Wichita Lineman" Glen Campbell [2]
January 11 [13]
January 18 [14]
January 25 "I've Gotta Be Me" Sammy Davis Jr. [15]
February 1 [16]
February 8 [17]
February 15 [18]
February 22 [19]
March 1 [20]
March 8 [21]
March 15 "You Gave Me a Mountain" Frankie Laine [22]
March 22 [23]
March 29 "Galveston" Glen Campbell [24]
April 5 [25]
April 12 [26]
April 19 [27]
April 26 [28]
May 3 [29]
May 10 "Medley: Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)" The 5th Dimension [30]
May 17 [31]
May 24 "Happy Heart" Andy Williams [32]
May 31 [33]
June 7 "Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet" Henry Mancini [34]
June 14 [35]
June 21 [36]
June 28 [37]
July 5 [38]
July 12 [39]
July 19 [40]
July 26 [41]
August 2 "Spinning Wheel" Blood, Sweat & Tears [42]
August 9 [43]
August 16 "In the Year 2525 (Exordium and Terminus)" Zager and Evans [44]
August 23 [45]
August 30 "A Boy Named Sue" Johnny Cash [46]
September 6 [47]
September 13 "I'll Never Fall in Love Again" Tom Jones [48]
September 20 "Jean" Oliver [49]
September 27 [50]
October 4 [51]
October 11 [52]
October 18 "Is That All There Is?" Peggy Lee [53]
October 25 [54]
November 1 "Wedding Bell Blues" The 5th Dimension [55]
November 8 [56]
November 15 "Try a Little Kindness" Glen Campbell [57]
November 22 "Leaving on a Jet Plane" Peter, Paul and Mary [58]
November 29 [59]
December 6 [60]
December 13 "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" B. J. Thomas [61]
December 20 [62]
December 27 [63]

References

  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2007). Joel Whitburn Presents Billboard Top Adult Songs, 1961-2006. Record Research Incorporated. p. vi. ISBN 9780898201697.
  2. ^ a b "Adult Contemporary chart for January 4, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
  3. ^ a b Breihan, Tom (November 27, 2018). "The Number Ones: Henry Mancini's "Love Theme From Romeo And Juliet"". Stereogum. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  4. ^ Hogan, Ed. "Oliver Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  5. ^ a b Huey, Steve. "The 5th Dimension Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  6. ^ Rosenberg, Bernard; Harburg, Ernest (1993). The Broadway Musical: Collaboration in Commerce and Art. NYU Press. ISBN 9780814774335.
  7. ^ Leigh, Spencer (2015). Frank Sinatra: An Extraordinary Life. McNidder and Grace Limited. ISBN 9780857160881.
  8. ^ a b Breihan, Tom (November 28, 2018). "The Number Ones: Zager & Evans' "In The Year 2525″". Stereogum. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  9. ^ Breihan, Tom (December 10, 2018). "The Number Ones: Peter, Paul & Mary's "Leaving On A Jet Plane"". Stereogum. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  10. ^ Breihan, Tom (December 12, 2018). "The Number Ones: B. J. Thomas' "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head"". Stereogum. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  11. ^ "Zager & Evans". Billboard. Retrieved January 18, 2019.
  12. ^ 12, 2020 "Hot Adult Contemporary Singles & Tracks Year End, 1969". Billboard. ((cite web)): Check |url= value (help)
  13. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 11, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  14. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 18, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  15. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 25, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  16. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 1, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 19, 2019.
  17. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 8, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  18. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 15, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  19. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 22, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  20. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 1, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  21. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 8, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  22. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 15, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  23. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 22, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  24. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 29, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  25. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 5, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  26. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 12, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  27. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 19, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  28. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 26, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  29. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 3, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  30. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 10, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  31. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 17, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  32. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 24, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  33. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 31, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  34. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 7, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  35. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 14, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  36. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 21, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  37. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 28, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  38. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 5, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  39. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 12, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  40. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 19, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  41. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 26, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  42. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 2, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  43. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 9, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  44. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 16, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  45. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 23, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  46. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 30, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  47. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 6, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  48. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 13, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  49. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 20, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  50. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 27, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  51. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 4, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  52. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 11, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  53. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 18, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  54. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 25, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  55. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 1, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  56. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 8, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  57. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 15, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  58. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 22, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  59. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 29, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  60. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 6, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  61. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 13, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  62. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 20, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  63. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 27, 1969". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2019.

See also

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