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JUMP TO:
🎵 1988 – ANYTHING FOR YOU / Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine
🎵 1978 – IF I CAN’T HAVE YOU / Yvonne Elliman
🎵 1968 – TIGHTEN UP / Archie Bell & The Drells
🎵 1958 – ALL I HAVE TO DO IS DREAM / The Everly Brothers
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Welcome to another #1 Songs On This Date! – and another four-pack of the best of the best from the Top 40 Rock ‘n’ Roll music era.
Since early January, 206 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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[NOTE]
Due to copyright issues, some audio song files may not play on smartphones, tablets and connected devices. Whenever possible, an alternate working audio source will be provided, but a PC, Mac or laptop may ultimately be required in some cases.
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#1 / May 18th, 1988
ANYTHING FOR YOU
Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine
[1988]
(English Version)
Number One: 1 week
Replaced: WISHING WELL / Terence Trent D’Arby
Succeeded by: ONE MORE TRY / George Michael
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After five Top 10 singles during the previous 24 months, including two million-sellers, Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine would generate their first #1 record, titled Anything For You – and the only single by MSM to reach the top before Gloria’s departure for a solo career in 1989.
Conga (1985 • #10 ), Bad Boy (1986 • #8 ), Words Get In The Way (1986 • #5), Rhythm Is Gonna Get You (1987 • #5) and Can’t Stay Away (1987 • #6) had all spent time in the upper echelon of the Hot 100 before their ultimate breakthrough on this date.
The Florida group started out as a quartet – Estefan, husband Emilio Estefan, Jr. (keyboards), Juan Avila (bass) and Enrique Garcia (drums), but expanded to as many as nine members comprising ‘The Sound Machine.’
Anything For You was recorded with three vocal variations: all-English, all-Spanish and Splanglish.
https://youtu.be/wEu22jkauSo
[Trivia Bit] As a solo act, Gloria Estefan would hold down the #1 spot on two more occasions, with 1989’s Don’t Wanna Lose You and Coming Out Of The Dark in 1991.
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#1 / May 18th, 1978
IF I CAN’T HAVE YOU
Yvonne Elliman
[1978]
Number One: 1 week
Replaced: NIGHT FEVER / The Bee Gees
Succeeded by: WITH A LITTLE LUCK / Wings
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The Bee Gees or Bee Gees-related control of Billboard’s highest chart perch for an astounding 15 consecutive weeks was capped off on this date by yet another track from the motion picture classic Saturday Night Fever (see below).
Honolulu-born Yvonne Elliman‘s Barry, Robin and Maurice Gibb-penned If I Can’t Have You was her only sojourn inside the Hot 100’s Top 10.
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Prior to her success with IICHY, Elliman played “Mary Magdalene” in the rock opera, movie and concept album Jesus Christ Superstar. From the latter, her version of I Don’t Know How To Love Him mid-charted at #28 in the spring of 1971 (A concurrently-released version by Helen Reddy bested Elliman’s take on the Hot 100 by reaching #13).
Yvonne also was a backup vocalist for Eric Clapton and appeared in an episode of the original incarnation of the TV series ‘Hawaii Five-O.’
If I Can’t Have You was released as a single from both the SNF soundtrack album (below, left) and Elliman’s own Night Flight LP (below, right).
https://youtu.be/OWPHqcbFgag
[Trivia Bits] To demonstrate the domination of the Bee Gees and of the Saturday Night Fever movie and soundtrack, four songs – either by the brothers or written/produced by them – all reached #1 (16 weeks total) during the first half of 1978 : How Deep Is Your Love, Stayin’ Alive, Night Fever and Elliman’s If I Can’t Have You.
And for good measure, non-SNF Bee Gees-penned/produced songs such as Andy Gibb‘s (Love Is) Thicker Than Water (#1 for 2 weeks) and a song recorded for the film but not used – Emotion by Samantha Sang (#3) – both joined that list during the early months of ’78.
A Fifth Of Beethoven (1976 • #1) by Walter Murphy & The Big Apple Band and KC and The Sunshine Band‘s Boogie Shoes (1978 • #35) were charted singles also featured in the movie.
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#1 / May 18th, 1968
TIGHTEN UP
Archie Bell & The Drells
[1968]
(Single Version)
Number One: 2 weeks
Replaced: HONEY / Bobby Goldsboro
Succeeded by: MRS. ROBINSON / Simon & Garfunkel
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Whenever I played Tighten Up by Archie Bell & The Drells on the radio, I’d always let their leader perform his well-done self introduction for me – after all, I was just the DJ!
Now that I’m on social media, I’ll keep it in that vein and continue the tradition of again allowing Archie the honor – albeit with a little help from my keyboard:
“Hi everybody. I’m Archie Bell of The Drells, of Houston, Texas. We don’t
only sing, but we dance just as good as we walk.”
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As he correctly states, “The Tighten Up” was a dance invented in nightclubs in and around Houston.
Essentially, the song is the R&B quartet’s step-by-step demonstration on how it’s done – at least the musical accompaniment. You’re on your own to self-improv the bodily gyrations.
The single was originally cut in 1967 for a the small Houston-based company called Ovide Records, after-which the label giant Atlantic purchased the master recording in early 1968.
Hey Archie! Go for it, man!
https://youtu.be/gReCz8BRDOg
[Trivia Bits] Tighten Up moved one million copies in 1968 and saw Archie clearly became addicted to his own cavorting. It’s follow-up, I Can’t Stop Dancing, was another Top 10 offering for AB&TD at #9.
The group would produce 11 more Hot 100-charting singles up until 1973, none of which reached higher than #59 – with one exception; There’s Gonna Be A Showdown topped out at #21 in early 1969.
The band faded into oblivion after ’73, but as of this writing, Archie Bell is still active on the “beach music” scene.
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#1 / May 18th, 1958
ALL I HAVE TO DO IS DREAM
The Everly Brothers
[1958]
Number One: 4 weeks
Replaced: WITCH DOCTOR / The Music of David Seville
Succeeded by: THE PURPLE PEOPLE EATER / Sheb Wooley
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One of the greatest singing duos from any era of popular music was Don and Phil Everly, better known as Everly Brothers.
Although they were rock and roll singers performing close harmonies set to steel-string guitar arrangements, the collective music of eldest sibling Isaac Donald “Don” Everly and Phillip “Phil” Everly – two years Don’s junior – was heavily influenced by country artists who’d preceded them.
And, in the natural order, numerous other vocal pairings in turn listed Don and Phil’s style as a major influence on their own music – perhaps most notably, Simon & Garfunkel.
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The #1 song on this date in 1958, All I Have To Do Is Dream, was penned by the male half of a prolific husband-wife songwriting team named Boudleaux Bryant and Felice Bryant. Together or solo, they authored many of the earlier hits for Don and Phil on the Cadence Records label: Bye, Bye Love (1957 • #2), Wake Up Little Susie (1957 • #1), Bird Dog (1958 • #1), Devoted To You (1958 • #10) and Problems (1958 • #2), among others.
Don and Phil’s careers and personal lives were marred by years of well-published feuding between the two. But even more sad was the passing of Phil Everly in 2014, just 16 days short of his 75th birthday. It put a permanent end to one the best duos heard during the early years of the musical era known as Top 40 Rock ‘n Roll.
https://youtu.be/z3lnQmCx8_Q
[Trivia Bits] The opening tremolo-style guitar riff on the song’s intro was played by country music guitar legend Chet Atkins.
After recording for Cadence for the first three years, the Everly Brothers signed a then-lucrative recording contract with Warner Brother Records in 1960 – a partnership which produced many more hits like Cathy’s Clown (1960 • #1), When Will I Be Loved (1976 • #8), So Sad To Watch Good Love Go Bad (1976 • #7), Walk Right Back (1961 • #8), Ebony Eyes (1961 • #8), Crying In The Rain (1962 • #6) and That’s Old Fashioned (1962 • #9).
All told, the duo scored fifteen Top 10 hits, of which four were number ones – All I Have To Do Is Dream and the three others listed below.
The Everly Brothers were elected to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986 and the Country Music Hall of Fame in 2001.
Other #1 Singles for THE EVERLY BROTHERS (4)
• 1957 / WAKE UP LITTLE SUSIE
• 1958 / BIRD DOG
• 1960 / CATHY’S CLOWN
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CREDITS
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 Billboard Book Of Number One Hits (5th Edition) by Fred Bronson
• The Billboard Book Of Number One Rhythm & Blues Hits by Adam White and Fred Bronson
• The Billboard Book Of Number One Adult Contemporary Hits by Wesley Hyatt
• The Billboard Book Of Number One Albums by Craig Rosen
• The Billboard’s Hottest Hot 100 Hits (4th Edition) by Fred Bronson
• 1000 UK Chart Hits (Kindle Edition) by Jon Kutner and Spencer Leigh
• The Archives of RollingStone.com
Record Sleeve & Label Graphics: Courtesy of 45cat.com
Special thanks to the patio of Starbucks, Little Road in New Port Richey, FL 😎
Other #1 Songs on This Date Posts are HERE
