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JUMP TO:
• 1990 – BLACK VELVET / Alanna Myles
• 1980 – ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL Part II / Pink Floyd
• 1970 – BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER / Simon & Garfunkel
• 1960 – THE THEME FROM “A SUMMER PLACE” / Percy Faith and His Orchestra
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 exactly three months ago on January 6th, 136 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 into the first half of 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 / April 6th, 1990
BLACK VELVET
Alannah Myles
[1990]
Number One: 2 weeks
Replaced: ESCAPADE / Janet Jackson
Succeeded by: LOVE WILL LEAD YOU BACK / Taylor Dayne
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The cool-sounding Black Velvet by Canadian singer Alannah Myles topped America’s premier weekly music chart on this date.
Two other Canadian singer-songwriters composed it – Christoper Ward and David Tyson. The former also was a long-time VJ on that country’s equivalent of MTV, MUCH Music, and also was personally involved with Ms. Myles.
A track from the album Alannah Myles, Black Velvet clearly is about Elvis Presley and contains numerous references to “The King” or his music:
– “Black velvet and that little boy’s smile.”
– “Black velvet with that slow southern style.”
– “Up in Memphis the music’s like a heatwave.”
– “Love Me Tender leaves ’em cryin’ in the aisle.”
– “The way he moved, it was a sin, so sweet and true.”
– “Every word of every song that he sang was for you. In a flash he was gone, it happened so soon, what could you do?”
[Trivia Bits] Alannah Myles was her debut LP, and it was a huge hit in Canada, becoming the top-selling debut album in Canadian history.
Black Velvet was Myles’ first single in the U.S. and its follow-up was another song written by Tyson and Ward called Love Is (#36). And although that was her last Billboard entry in America, she had several more hits in Canada.
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#1 / April 6th, 1980
ANOTHER BRICK IN THE WALL Part II
Pink Floyd
[1980]
(Single Version)
Number One: 4 weeks
Replaced: CRAZY LITTLE THING CALLED LOVE / Queen
Succeeded by: CALL ME / Blondie
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Ironically, one of the preeminent ‘album’ bands of the Pop/Rock music era held the top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 Singles chart on this date.
In late 1979, the progressive and psychedelic British rock group Pink Floyd released their final studio work – a double LP titled The Wall. The concept album also was the last to feature their classic lineup of David Gilmour (guitars), Roger Waters (bass), Richard Wright (keyboards) and Nick Mason (drums).
The LP’s title was a statement about the perceived growing wall of separation between the band and their original cult-like following of fans as Pink Floyd’s commercialism and popularity increased. And in a 2009 interview with Mojo magazine, Roger Waters revealed that the single was a satirical indictment of the British educational systems.
Waters, who served as the group’s bassist until the departure of founding member Syd Barrett in 1968 – after which he also became their lyricist – stated:
“You couldn’t find anybody in the world more pro-education than me. But the education I went through in boys’ grammar school in the ’50s was very controlling and demanded rebellion. The teachers were weak and therefore easy targets.”
“The song is meant to be a rebellion against errant government, against people who have power over you, who are wrong. Then it absolutely demanded that you rebel against that.”
The ensemble – recruited from a school located near the recording studio in England – was comprised of 23 kids between the ages of 13 and 15. Their finished vocals were overdubbed 12 times to create as fuller sound with many more voices.
Concerning Pink Floyd’s founder Syd Barrett: there had been much speculation about his psychological state of mind, although he was never actually diagnosed with any mental illness. Many attributed his nervous breakdown in 1968 to his heavy use of LSD. However Dave Gilmour, who replaced Barrett on guitar, stated:
“(It) would have happened anyway. I just don’t think he could deal with the vision of success.”
Barrett passed away in July of 2006 from pancreatic cancer. His death certificate listed his occupation as “retired musician.” Gilmour and Waters paid homage to their former bandmate on their 1975 album Wish You Were Here with Shine on You Crazy Diamond.
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Other classic Floyd albums included The Dark Side of the Moon (1973), Animals (1977) and The Final Cut (1983).
Dark Side of the Moon and The Wall became two of the best-selling albums of all time.
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#1 / April 6th, 1970
BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER
Simon & Garfunkel
[1970]
Number One: 6 weeks
Replaced: THANK YOU Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin b/w EVERYBODY IS A STAR / Sly & The Family Stone
Succeeded by: LET IT BE / The Beatles
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Despite the vast success of both the single Bridge Over Troubled Water and the classic album of the same name, its recording was filled with tension and contention between the iconic duo, who would split up after the record was completed.
And despite all the tracks being billed as by Simon & Garfunkel, the LP was in fact much more a Paul Simon-only release. Art Garfunkel, distracted by a newly-launched acting career with the filming of the Mike Nichol’s movie Catch-22, was totally absent for the recording of a number of the album’s tunes.
However, Garfunkel’s vocals are pristine on BOTW.
Starting on February 28th, 1970, Bridge Over Troubled Water remained in Billboard’s pole position for six weeks.
[Trivia Bits] Paul Simon wrote “Bridge” in the same rented Hollywood Hills home (on Blue Jay Way) where George Harrison had written the Beatles song named after the street for the Magical Mystery Tour album and EP.
Much of the instrumental tracking for the single had been completed in Los Angeles by members of the famed Wrecking Crew, with Paul and Art later adding the vocals.
The song featured the outstanding piano-playing of keyboardist Larry Knechtel, and although drums were sparsely used in the song’s arrangement, Hal Blaine‘s big moments are heard beginning at 3 minutes and 43 seconds into the recording.
Other #1 Singles by SIMON & GARFUNKEL (3)
• 1966 / THE SOUNDS OF SILENCE
• 1968 / MRS. ROBINSON
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#1 / April 6th, 1960
THE THEME FROM “A SUMMER PLACE”
Percy Faith and His Orchestra
[1960]
Number One: 9 weeks
Replaced: TEEN ANGEL / Mark Dinning
Succeeded by: STUCK ON YOU / Elvis Presley
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Canadian-born violinist-pianist Percy Faith made a significant mark on rock ‘n roll history with his record-setting instrumental hit The Theme From “A Summer Place” (more below).
During a 5-year period of recovery from severe burns to his hands from a tragic fire in his late teens, Faith, from Toronto, shifted to song composing and worked for the country’s national CBC radio network as a staff conductor and arranger.
He relocated to the U.S. at the age of 32 and ten years later was hired by Columbia Records ‘Director of A&R’ (talent scouting) Mitch Miller (who discovered Aretha Franklin for the label) as ‘Director of Popular Music.’
Soon after, Faith recorded this monster hit for Columbia – his version of the theme song from a 1959 film titled A Summer Place.
[Trivia Bits] With nine weeks at the top, The Theme From “A Summer Place” was the most successful #1 instrumental single on Billboard during the Top 40 Rock ‘n Roll era – besting 24 other non-vocal singles in that spot since 1956.
The emerging new era of rock ‘n roll saw Columbia, with new head Clive Davis, ultimately signing important acts to its mid-1960’s roster, including The Byrds, Bob Dylan and Paul Revere & The Raiders.
The aforementioned Mitch Miller’s vehement disapproval (born from fear) of that fast-progressing musical genre led to the long-time label stalwart’s departure.
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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
