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JUMP TO:
• 1986 – THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR / Dionne and Friends Featuring Elton John, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder
• 1976 – 50 WAYS TO LEAVE YOUR LOVER / Paul Simon
• 1966 – MY LOVE / Petula Clark
• 1956 – MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS / Dean Martin
Welcome to another #1 Songs On This Date! – another four-pack of the cream of the cream from the Top 40 Rock ‘n’ Roll music era.
65 distinct number one singles between the years 1956 and 1995 have already been presented since January – with literally hundreds more to come.
They’re all part of a permanent archive that’s being built at HouseoftheHits.com which will ultimately feature ALL 837 different number one singles as listed in 2,080 weekly national music charts published by Billboard® within that 40-year timeframe.
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Fortunately, HouseoftheHits has every one of those charts – plus secondary data – as published in the essential Joel Whitburn’s Record Research series (CD-ROM and eBook edition formats).
Everything is stored digitally on a HouseoftheHits computer – as are all 837 number one singles (in high-quality audio) from the music vault.
With the availability of precise data and the HOTH song files – together with some amazing technology – approximately 600 – 700 of those Billboard® chart-toppers will be presented this year – with the remainder to follow in early 2017.
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As the archive grows you will have continual free access to the accumulating repository, indexed by Decade, Month and Year. Plus, EVERY Title and Artist will be (blue) hyper-linked for smooth, easy navigation from song to song – with more great features to be added along the way.
Again, it will contain every #1 single in America, plus interesting commentary about each song (written by yours truly) and presented with a crystal clear High-Definition audio version of the complete original hit to instantly play as often as you wish.
The ever-expanding library is found HERE and you can bookmark this link for future instant access.
Enjoy!
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[NOTE]
Due to copyright issues, some audio song files may not play on tablets,
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#1 / February 11th, 1986
THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR
Dionne and Friends Featuring Elton John, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder
[1985]
Number One: 4 weeks
Replaced: SAY YOU, SAY ME / Lionel Richie
Succeeded by: HOW WILL I KNOW / Whitney Houston
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The title of the number one record on this date in 1986 turned out to be prophetic for the song’s writers, Burt Bacharach and Carole Bayer Sager and for singer Dionne Warwick.
Two dozen years earlier, the legendary Songwriters Hall of Fame team of Bacharach and Hal David wrote Ms. Warwick’s first hit, 1962’s Don’t Make Me Over, and in all, penned 33 charted songs by her between ’62 and 1971.
But the vocalist ended up suing the pair for not fulfilling their contract commitment.
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A decade of estrangement had passed when Bacharach called Dionne to attempt a reconciliation, leading to the pair reuniting to record a song he’d written called Finder Of Lost Loves.
Burt then recalled a song he and Ms. Bayer Sager had written for the 1982 movie Night Shift and he offered the tune to Dionne.
That song, of which Rod Stewart recorded an forgettable original version for the film, was titled That’s What Friends Are For.
https://youtu.be/LCajcx0vBfo
[Trivia Bit] The initial plan for the recording was for it to be just a duet between Warwick and Stevie Wonder, but it was later decided to record TWFAF using a superstar quartet, bringing on board the great Gladys Knight and Elton John.
Other #1 Singles by DIONNE WARWICK (2)
• 1974 / THEN CAME YOU (Dionne Warwicke and Spinners)
Other #1 Singles by ELTON JOHN (9)
• 1973 / CROCODILE ROCK
• 1974 / BENNIE AND THE JETS
• 1975 / LUCY IN THE SKY WITH DIAMONDS (Elton John with John Lennon)
• 1975 / PHILADELPHIA FREEDOM
• 1975 / ISLAND GIRL
• 1976 / DON’T GO BREAKING MY HEART (Elton John and Kiki Dee)
• 1992 / DON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME (George Michael with Elton John)
• 1997 / CANDLE IN THE WIND 1997
Other #1 Singles by GLADYS KNIGHT (2)
• 1973 / MIDNIGHT TRAIN TO GEORGIA (Gladys Knight & The Pips)
Other #1 Singles by STEVIE WONDER (10)
• 1963 / FINGERTIPS – Part 2 (Little Stevie Wonder)
• 1973 / SUPERSTITION
• 1973 / YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE
• 1974 / YOU HAVEN’T DONE NOTHIN
• 1977 / I WISH
• 1977 / SIR DUKE
• 1982 / EBONY AND IVORY (Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder)
• 1984 / I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU
• 1985 / PART-TIME LOVER
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#1 / February 11th, 1976
50 WAYS TO LEAVE YOUR LOVER
Paul Simon
[1975]
(Single Version)
Number One: 3 weeks
Replaced: LOVE ROLLERCOASTER / Ohio Players
Succeeded by: THEME FROM “S.W.A.T.” / Rhythm Heritage
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After 13 years as a singing duo, Paul Simon split from partner Arthur Garfunkel in 1972 to explore and expand his musical horizons, and it could be argued that Simon’s solo career was almost as prolific as that of Simon & Garfunkel.
The duo put up three #1 million-sellers on the board – The Sound Of Silence (1965), Mrs. Robinson (1968) and Bridge Over Troubled Water (1970) – supplemented by five other Top 10 tunes, including their fourth hit to attain gold record status, Cecilia in 1970.
“Rhymin’ Simon” solo also managed to crack one million in sales three times – Loves Me Like A Rock (1973 • #2), Slip Slidin’ Away (1977 • #5) and this one, 50 Ways To Leave Your Lover (1975 • #1) – coupled with three other Top-Ten’s.
From his third studio album, 1975’s Still Crazy After All These Years, ’50 Ways’ was a light-hearted look at relationship breakups; Simon himself at the time having just experienced a broken marriage.
https://youtu.be/Rq7BFX5O-6U
Other #1 Singles for PAUL SIMON (4)
• 1966 / THE SOUNDS OF SILENCE (Simon & Garfunkel)
• 1968 / MRS. ROBINSON (Simon & Garfunkel)
• 1970 / BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER (Simon & Garfunkel)
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#1 / February 11th, 1966
MY LOVE
Petula Clark
[1965]
Number One: 2 weeks
Replaced: WE CAN WORK IT OUT / The Beatles
Succeeded by: LIGHTNIN’ STRIKES / Lou Christie
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Petula Clark was enjoyed her first week of two in Billboard’s coveted #1 position, and while doing so, it made her the first female UK singer to cop a pair of U.S. chart-toppers (#1 SONGS on THIS DATE: February 5th • 1965).
https://youtu.be/sFb80jU0dVs
Other #1 Singles by PETULA CLARK (2)
• 1973 / DOWNTOWN
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#1 / February 11th, 1956
MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS
Dean Martin
[1955]
Number One: 5 weeks
Replaced: SIXTEEN TONS / Tennessee Ernie Ford
Succeeded by: ROCK AND ROLL WALTZ / Kay Starr
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[Note] This is the rotation during which a song from 1956 – a full 60 years ago, at the dawn of the rock ‘n’ roll era – is being featured. So, we’re going WAY back.
Back in the day, Dean Martin, from Steubenville, OH, played straight man for Jerry Lewis in the standup comedy duo Martin & Lewis.
But Martin also sang, signing a contract with Capitol Records in 1948 and placing several pre-rock ‘n’ roll-era singles on various Billboard charts.
Then in late 1955, he recorded a pop version of song that was rooted in folk music – being written by Terry Gilkyson of the Weavers fame – called Memories Are Made Of This.
https://youtu.be/ldiLF50duek
Martin’s version not only had what it took to compete with records from the new era of pop music, but it enjoyed a five-week stay on top while becoming the biggest single of Dino’s singing career.
Other #1 Singles by DEAN MARTIN (2)
• 1964 / EVERYBODY LOVES SOMEBODY
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Written By: Rick Murray Hunter
Songs Source: The Music Vault of HouseoftheHits Inc.
Billboard® Chart Data: Joel Whitburn’s Record Research (eBook Editions)
References: The Billboard Book Of Number One Hits (5th Edition) by Fred Bronson
The Archives of RollingStone.com
Record Sleeve & Label Graphics: Courtesy of 45cat
Other #1 Songs on This Date Posts are HERE
