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JUMP TO:
• 1993 – I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU / Whitney Houston
• 1983 – BABY, COME TO ME / Patty Austin with James Ingram
• 1973 – KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG / Roberta Flack
• 1963 – WALK LIKE A MAN / The 4 Seasons
Welcome to another #1 Songs On This Date! – another four-pack of the best of the best from the Top 40 Rock ‘n’ Roll music era.
Since we began on January 6th, over 100 (102 to be exact) distinct number one singles from the years 1956 through 1995 have been featured – with hundreds more to follow.
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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#1 / March 3rd, 1993
I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU
Whitney Houston
[1992]
(Single Version)
Number One: 14 weeks
Replaced: HOW DO YOU TALK TO AN ANGEL / The Heights
Succeeded by: A WHOLE NEW WORLD (Aladdin’s Theme) / Peabo Bryson and Regina Belle
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Whitney Houston’s marathon #1 record found its way to the Kevin Costner film The Bodyguard in an unintended way.
The filmmakers’ first choice was What Becomes Of The Broken Hearted, the 1966 soulful Motown hit by Jimmy Ruffin – along with a new version to be sung by Ms. Houston.
But two things occurred – producer David Foster was having trouble getting the right “take” on the recording by Whitney. Then, around the same time, the film Fried Green Tomatoes introduced a version by UK vocalist Paul Young.
Having to make a quick adjustment, several more Motown hits and tunes by others like the Eagles were considered. But they found their gem on a Linda Ronstadt album – her cover of a Dolly Parton original called I Will Always Love You.
It was the perfect replacement choice, with Houston performing a touching version of the Parton-penned tune using her own uniquely emotional style.
[Trivia Bit] Beginning with the Billboard chart dated November 28, 1992, I Will Always Love You dominated the Hot 100’s #1 position for an amazing 14 weeks!
Other #1 Singles by WHITNEY HOUSTON (11)
• 1985 / SAVING ALL MY LOVE FOR YOU
• 1986 / HOW WILL I KNOW
• 1986 / GREATEST LOVE OF ALL
• 1987 / I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY (Who Loves Me)
• 1987 / DIDN’T WE ALMOST HAVE IT ALL
• 1988 / SO EMOTIONAL
• 1988 / WHERE DO BROKEN HEARTS GO
• 1990 / I’M YOUR BABY TONIGHT
• 1991 / ALL THE MAN THAT I NEED
• 1995 / EXHALE (Shoop Shoop)
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#1 / March 3rd, 1983
BABY, COME TO ME
Patty Austin with James Ingram
[1982]
Number One: 2 weeks
Replaced: AFRICA / Toto
Succeeded by: BILLIE JEAN / Michael Jackson
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The pop music industry and several of its artists owe a lot to the ABC-TV soap series General Hospital. The venerable daytime drama – either directly, or indirectly – helped turn out no less than five big hit records between 1979 and 1984, including three #1’s.
As occasional musical backdrops on the show, the smooth instrumental Rise with Herb Alpert (1979 • #1), Think Of Laura from Christopher Cross (1983 • #9) and this date’s number one duet by Patti Austin and James Ingram, Baby, Come To Me (the latter two songs both revolved around the “Luke and Laura” storyline), all produced impressive chart performances.
As well, on-set actors Rick Springfield and Jack Wagner both had the biggest hits of their added musical careers with assistance from their high profiles on the show – Jessie’s Girl (1981 • #1) and All I Need (1984 • #2), respectively.
For Austin, it was her only hit in a brief recording career, whereas Ingram enjoyed several chart successes, such as Just Once, One Hundred Ways (with Quincy Jones), Somewhere Out There (with Linda Ronstadt) and his second chart-topper, I Don’t Have The Heart.
[Trivia Bits] Baby, Come To Me was written by Rod Temperton, keyboardist of the UK soul group Heatwave (Boogie Nights, The Groove Line) and produced by Quincy Jones.
In 1990, Jones had sought out Temperton to write a song for Michael Jackson‘s debut solo, which turned out to be the title track, Off The Wall.
Temperton ultimately also penned Rock With You (1979 • #1) as well as Burn The Disco Out for the album, and later wrote the title track and single from Jackson’s 1984 mega work Thriller (1984 • #1).
Other #1 Singles by JAMES INGRAM (2)
• 1990 / I DON’T HAVE THE HEART
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#1 / March 3rd, 1973
KILLING ME SOFTLY WITH HIS SONG
Roberta Flack
[1973]
Number One: 5 weeks
Replaced: CROCODILE ROCK / Elton John
Succeeded by: LOVE TRAIN / The O’Jays
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Killing Me Softly With His Song became the second #1 hit in a row and third consecutive million-selling single for vocalist/pianist Roberta Flack.
First up was The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face, originally from her 1969 album First Take. But an film appearance in the 1971 Clint Eastwood psychological thriller ‘Play Misty For Me’ compelled her label, Atlantic Records, to release the track as a single. It not only sold a million copies, but won Grammys for both Record and Song Of The Year.
Next came a duet with a former high school classmate named Donny Hathaway. Where Is The Love, which peaked at #5, also copped a gold record and a Grammy for ‘Best Pop Vocal-Duo.’
The magic continued for Flack on this date in 1973. KMSWHS hit the top for the first of 6 weeks, and would soon exceed the accomplishments of The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face.
Once again it reached gold record status, ‘Record of The Year’ and ‘Song of The Year Grammy honors, but scored a third gold gramophone for ‘Best Pop Vocal-Female.’
As well, it was Billboard magazine’s top single for all of 1973.
Two more chart successes lay ahead for Roberta Flack. 1974’s gold #1 single Feel Like Makin’ Love and a second duet with Donny Hathaway – the #2 million-seller The Closer I Get To You in 1978.
[Trivia Bit] Feel Like Makin’ Love was written by early 60’s singer Gene McDaniels (A Hundred Pounds Of Clay, Tower Of Strength).
Other #1 Singles by ROBERTA FLACK (3)
• 1972 / THE FIRST TIME EVER I SAW YOUR FACE
• 1974 / FEEL LIKE MAKIN’ LOVE
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#1 / March 3rd, 1963
WALK LIKE A MAN
The 4 Seasons
[1963]
Number One: 3 weeks
Replaced: HEY PAULA / Paul And Paula
Succeeded by: OUR DAY WILL COME / Ruby And The Romantics
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Frankie Valli and The 4 Seasons (alternately The Four Seasons) hold the rare distinction of having their first three regular (i.e. non-holiday) singles all hit the top spot of the Billboard Hot 100.
Beginning with Sherry (5 weeks) in mid-September of 1962, then mid-November’s 5-week run with Big Girls Don’t Cry through early 1963’s Walk Like A Man (3 weeks) the New Jersey quartet dominated the #1 position for virtually half of that 27-week period – 13!
All three singles were written or co-penned by Bob Gaudio and Bob Crewe, with the latter also producing the trio of recordings.
[Trivia Bits] The artist roster of The 4 Seasons’ label, Chicage-based Vee-Jay, was primarily black performers such as Jerry Butler, Gene Chandler and Gladys Knight. But with the success of the white quartet, the company decided to distribute a UK record on EMI by another caucasian – vocalist Frank Ifield (I Remember You).
Vee-Jay further agreed to a similar, longer-term deal with EMI for a hot new group from England – known as The Beatles.
Originally known as the Variatones and later changed to the Four Lovers, the group again renamed themselves after a Newark bowling alley – The Four Seasons.
Other #1 Singles by THE 4 SEASONS (5)
• 1962 / SHERRY
• 1962 / BIG GIRLS DON’T CRY
• 1964 / RAG DOLL
• 1976 / DECEMBER, 1963 (Oh, What A Night)
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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
