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JUMP TO:
• 1988 – FATHER FIGURE / George Michael
• 1978 – (Love Is) THICKER THAN WATER / Andy Gibb
• 1968 – LOVE IS BLUE (L’Amour Est Bleu) / Paul Mauriat And His Orchestra
• 1958 – DON’T / Elvis Presley with The Jordanaires

 

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 it began in early January, 110 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.

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.

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 / March 7th, 1988

FATHER FIGURE
George Michael
[1988]

Number One: 2 weeks
Replaced: SEASONS CHANGE / Exposé
Succeeded by: NEVER GONNA GIVE YOU UP / Rick Astley

As George Michael has been quoted as saying, 1988’s peak position record on this date was meant to be a disco-flavored tune in the beginning:

The initial concept for Father Figure was to make it a kind of mid-tempo dance track. And what happened was I wanted to hear something in my mix so I happened to cut out the snare [drum] on the board and suddenly it changed the whole entire mood of the track. Suddenly it just seemed really dreamy.”

Other #1 Singles by GEORGE MICHAEL (10)
1984 / WAKE ME UP BEFORE YOU GO-GO (WHAM!)
1985 / CARELESS WHISPER (WHAM! Featuring George Michael)
1985 / EVERYTHING SHE WANTS (WHAM!)
1987 / I KNEW YOU WERE WAITING (For Me) (Aretha Franklin and George Michael)
1988 / FAITH
1988 / ONE MORE TRY
1988 / MONKEY
1990 / PRAYING FOR TIME
1992 / DON’T LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON ME (George Michael with Elton John)

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    #1 / March 7th, 1978

(Love Is) THICKER THAN WATER
Andy Gibb
[1978]
(Album Version)

Number One: 2 weeks
Replaced: STAYIN’ ALIVE / The Bee Gees
Succeeded by: NIGHT FEVER / The Bee Gees

With the popularity of the music of The Bee Gees at its apex in 1977-1978, it wasn’t surprising that Barry, Robin and Maurice’s youngest male sibling, Andy, would burst onto the pop scene at some point.

With good looks similar to his eldest brother Barry – plus the senior Gibb’s songwriting acumen – Andy Gibb scored two #1 singles in succession starting in late 1977.

His debut album Flowing Rivers produced both – the first one, I Just Want To Be Your Everything was then followed by the premier hit on this date in ’78, (Love Is) Thicker Than Water.

The latter occurred while the Gibb family was simply dominating the Hot 100 during a 21-week period beginning December 24th, 1977 and ending May 19th, 1978 (see ‘Trivia Bits’ below).

The Brothers Gibb owned Billboard’s top spot for 18 of them – either by themselves or in related ways.

[Trivia Bits] In addition to Andy’s two weeks on top with (Love Is) Thicker Than Water, all of the following were either performed, written or produced by Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb in different combinations and permutations: How Deep Is Your Love (3 weeks), Stayin’ Alive (4 weeks), Night Fever (8 weeks) and Yvonne Elliman‘s If I Can’t Have You (1 week).

The only record to interrupt the continuous streak of songs at the top was Baby Come Back by Player for 3 weeks between How Deep Is Your Love and Stayin’ Alive (#1 Songs On This Date for January 28th, 1978).

Other #1 Singles by ANDY GIBB (3)
1977 / I JUST WANT TO BE YOUR EVERYTHING
1978 / SHADOW DANCING

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    #1 / March 7th, 1968

LOVE IS BLUE (L’Amour Est Bleu)
Paul Mauriat and His Orchestra
[1967]

Number One: 5 weeks
Replaced: GREEN TAMBOURINE / Lemon Pipers
Succeeded by: (Sittin’ On) THE DOCK OF THE BAY / Otis Redding

Love Is Blue was originally a French vocal song – titled L’Amour Est Bleu – recorded first in 1967 by Greek singer Vicky Leandros. But an instrumental cover version later that year by French orchestra leader Paul Mauriat is the most notable – although being a “one-hit wonder.”

Written by André Popp and lyricist Pierre Cour, it became the only hit single in America by a French artist to top the Billboard Hot 100.

[Trivia Bits] Another #1 U.S. hit record in French was by the guitar-playing The Singing Nun (Sœur Sourire) and called Dominique (1963) – an ode to Saint Dominic. But her country of origin was Belgium.

Love Is Blue was the first instrumental to reach Billboard’s top spot since late 1962’s Telstar by The Tornadoes.

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    #1 / March 7th, 1958

DON’T
Elvis Presley with The Jordanaires
[1957]

Number One: 5 weeks
Replaced: AT THE HOP / Danny and The Juniors
Succeeded by: TEQUILA / The Champs

On this date in 1958 Elvis Presley achieved his 10th Billboard number one hit single with Don’t.

During this period, Elvis was on two-month deferment prior to being inducted in the U.S. Army – originally set for January 20th, 1958.

[Note] Presley’s temporary draft reprieve produced many letters of protest to the Memphis (TN) Draft Board, citing “special treatment” because of his stature.

However, the King made the most of the opportunity he was given, finishing the filming of his fourth movie King Creole and its entire soundtrack, plus recording the future single All Shook Up as well as I Beg Of You (the B-side of Don’t, which had been completed the previous September).

Don’t is one of Presley’s recordings that features the distinguished vocals of his storied backup gospel quartet The Jordanaires.

[Trivia Bits] Don’t was the third #1 song by the King thus far written by the legendary team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, who’d also penned 1956’s Jailhouse Rock and Hound Dog – and the first “A-Side” ballad since the chart-topping Love Me Tender, also in ’56.

Private Elvis Presley – #53310761 – was inducted into the United States Army on Monday, March 24th, 1958 – a day referred to by his fans worldwide as “Black Monday.”

Other #1 Singles by ELVIS PRESLEY (18)
1956 / HEARTBREAK HOTEL
1956 / I WANT YOU, I NEED YOU, I LOVE YOU
1956 / DON’T BE CRUEL
1956 / HOUND DOG
1956 / LOVE ME TENDER
1957 / TOO MUCH
1957 / ALL SHOOK UP
1957 / (Let Me Be Your) TEDDY BEAR
1957 / JAILHOUSE ROCK
1958 / HARD HEADED WOMAN
1959 / A BIG HUNK O’ LOVE
1960 / STUCK ON YOU
1960 / IT’S NOW OR NEVER
1960 / ARE YOU LONESOME TO-NIGHT?
1961 / SURRENDER
1962 / GOOD LUCK CHARM
1969 / SUSPICIOUS MINDS

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Produced & Written By: Rick Murray Hunter / HouseoftheHits.com

Songs Source: The Music Vault of HouseoftheHits Inc.

Billboard® Chart Data: Joel Whitburn’s Record Research (eBook Editions)

References: The Archives of RollingStone.com
The Billboard Book Of Number One Hits (5th Edition) by Fred Bronson
1000 UK Chart Hits (Kindle Edition) by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh
Elvis Presley: A Life In Music (Kindle Edition) by Ernst Jorgensen

Record Sleeve & Label Graphics: Courtesy of 45cat

Other #1 Songs on This Date Posts are HERE

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