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JUMP TO:
🎵 1993 – THAT’S THE WAY LOVE GOES / Janet Jackson
🎵 1983 – FLASHDANCE…WHAT A FEELING / Irene Cara
🎵 1973 – MY LOVE / Paul McCartney & Wings
🎵 1963 – SUKIYAKI / Kyu Sakamoto
EXTRA:
🎬 1973 – MY LOVE / Paul McCartney & Wings [Video]
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Welcome to the the latest edition of #1 Songs On This Date! – another four-pack of the best of the best from the Top 40 Rock ‘n’ Roll music era.
With this post, 263 distinct chart-topping singles from the years 1956 through 1995 have now 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 / June 23rd, 1993
THAT’S THE WAY LOVE GOES
Janet Jackson
[1993]
(CD Single)
Number One: 8 weeks
Replaced: FREAK ME / Silk
Succeeded by: WEAK / SWV
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Janet Jackson has managed to reel off a string of Billboard Hot 100 winners that impressively matched that of her late elder brother Michael Jackson.
To date, the R&B vocalist-actress has racked up ten #1 singles that are nestled among her total of 16 million-sellers and 4 platinums.
That’s The Way Love Goes was Janet’s first release for Virgin Records, with whom she had just signed a record-breaking (at the time) $32 million contract. But shortly after, MJ easily eclipsed that with a $50 million agreement inked with Epic.
The song would also be the thirteenth (of fourteen) JJ hits penned by her perennial tunesmith Jimmy Jam (Harris). The exception was 1990’s chart-topper Black Cat, of which Ms. Jackson had solo authorship.
[Trivia Bit] That’s The Way Love Goes took the Grammy Award for ‘Best R&B Song’ and a nomination for ‘Best Female R&B Vocal Performance.’
Other #1 Singles by JANET JACKSON (10)
• 1986 / WHEN I THINK OF YOU
• 1989 / MISS YOU MUCH
• 1990 / ESCAPADE
• 1990 / BLACK CAT
• 1991 / LOVE WILL NEVER DO (Without You)
• 1993 / AGAIN
• 1998 / TOGETHER AGAIN
• 2000 / DOESN’T REALLY MATTER
• 2001 / ALL FOR YOU
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#1 / June 23rd, 1983
FLASHDANCE…WHAT A FEELING
Irene Cara
[1983]
Number One: 6 weeks
Replaced: LET’S DANCE / David Bowie
Succeeded by: EVERY BREATH YOU TAKE / The Police
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Dance singer-actress-pianist Irene Cara is best remembered for her twin successes performing musical motion picture theme songs.
After being cast in the film version of ‘Fame’ as “Coco Hernandez,” the Bronx-born Ms. Cara shone with the title track – exposure which indeed led to her personal realization of the aspirations expressed in the tune – international stardom.
When movie producers Don Simpson and Jerry Bruckheimer were putting together their first collaborative motion picture project starring actress Jennifer Beals – ‘Flashdance’ – record producer Giorgio Moroder contacted Cara about singing another theme song.
From a fear of being viewed as a Donna Summer wanna-be, Cara was initially hesitant about working with the iconic disco diva’s producer, but she eventually relented.
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Cara co-composed the words to Flashdance…What A Feeling along with Keith Forsey. Initially, the former suggested the concept of the freedom-of-body a dancer feels while performing, to which the latter added the notion of ‘dancing for life – what a feeling.’
The finished lyrics were then added to the music composed by Moroder and resulted in another mega hit for Cara – and her only chart-topper.
Speaking of lyrics, Flashdance…What A Feeling comes from a relatively short list of songs in which the full title is never sung. I’m planning on featuring some of those here in the future.
[Trivia Bits] In addition to its euphoric 6-week ride atop Billboard’s summit and earning a gold record, Flashdance…What A Feeling won two other pieces of glittering hardware – the Grammy for ‘Best Pop Performance by a Female’ and an Oscar for ‘Best Song’ (Fame had also won the Oscar in that same category).
Irene Cara‘s two other Top 5 hits were the aforementioned Fame (1980 • #4) and Breakdance (1984 • #8), which she co-authored with producer Moroder.
Movie producers Simpson and Bruckheimer would go on to other film successes – the biggest being 1986’s ‘Top Gun’ starring Tom Hanks.
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#1 / June 23rd, 1973
MY LOVE
Paul McCartney & Wings
[1973]
Number One: 4 weeks
Replaced: FRANKENSTEIN / Edgar Winter Group
Succeeded by: GIVE ME LOVE (Give Me Peace On Earth) / George Harrison
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My Love, the second post-Beatles #1 single for Paul McCartney – and first by his newly-created band Wings – had just hit the Hot 100’s zenith on this date in 1973.
Like other songs written by Macca, this one was dedicated to his wife Linda (nee Linda Louise Eastman), who, along with Denny Laine (ex-Moody Blues, guitar) and Denny Seiwell (drums), comprised the initial incarnation of Wings in 1971. Mrs. McCartney played keyboards and also sang backing vocals.
But the band underwent much turmoil for the next decade that resulted in number of personnel changes. Seiwell and added fifth member Henry McCullough concurrently left in 1973. Their 1975 replacements, Joe English and Jimmy McCullough respectively, both departed in 1977.
By 1981, Paul McCartney & Wings had officially disbanded.
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It was no secret the band’s internal unrest stemmed from a common member sentiment – that Linda was unqualified to be in the group; she was only there through nepotism.
And in a Washington Post interview with Sir Paul by noted Beatles’ author Hunter Davies, McCartney conceded: “I could sense a feeling among the others of ‘Linda’s holding us back.'”
Furthermore, he candidly admitted: “Perhaps I did have doubts now and again about Linda on keyboard. I did once say to her in a row that I could have had Billy Preston. It just came out. I said I was sorry about an hour later.”
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Nonetheless, McCartney’s love for Linda was true, deep and long lasting, as evidenced in this ode.
Linda McCartney died from cancer on April 17th, 1998 at the age of 56.
Henry McCullough played the great guitar solo on My Love, a classic that he made up on the spot in front of a live orchestra. He passed away on June 14, 2016.
[Notes] As stated in the opening blog notes, some audio files, due to copyright protection, will not play on mobile devices and other connected hardware – a high likelihood with My Love.
If the following audio file won’t play on your device, the video rendition of the hit single, found immediately below it, should.
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EXTRA
MY LOVE
Paul McCartney & Wings
[1973]
(Video)
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Read more at http://www.nme.com/news/wings/94223#EeoiZ57wmOwAYUTO.99
Other #1 Singles for PAUL McCARTNEY (29)
• 1964 / I WANT TO HOLD YOUR HAND (The Beatles)
• 1964 / SHE LOVES YOU (The Beatles)
• 1964 / CAN’T BUY ME LOVE (The Beatles)
• 1964 / LOVE ME DO (The Beatles)
• 1964 / A HARD DAY’S NIGHT (The Beatles)
• 1964 / I FEEL FINE (The Beatles)
• 1965 / EIGHT DAYS A WEEK (The Beatles)
• 1965 / TICKET TO RIDE (The Beatles)
• 1965 / HELP! (The Beatles)
• 1965 / YESTERDAY (The Beatles)
• 1966 / WE CAN WORK IT OUT (The Beatles)
• 1966 / PAPERBACK WRITER (The Beatles)
• 1967 / PENNY LANE (The Beatles)
• 1967 / ALL YOU NEED IS LOVE (The Beatles)
• 1967 / HELLO GOODBYE (The Beatles)
• 1968 / HEY JUDE (The Beatles)
• 1969 / GET BACK (The Beatles with Billy Preston)
• 1969 / COME TOGETHER b/w SOMETHING (The Beatles)
• 1970 / LET IT BE (The Beatles)
• 1970 / THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD b/w FOR YOU BLUE (The Beatles)
• 1971 / UNCLE ALBERT/ADMIRAL HALSEY (Paul & Linda McCartney)
• 1973 / BAND ON THE RUN (Paul McCartney & Wings)
• 1975 / LISTEN TO WHAT THE MAN SAID (Wings)
• 1976 / SILLY LOVE SONGS (Wings)
• 1978 / WITH A LITTLE LUCK (Wings)
• 1980 / COMING UP (Live At Glasgow)
• 1982 / EBONY AND IVORY (Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder)
• 1983 / SAY SAY SAY (Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson)
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#1 / June 23rd, 1963
SUKIYAKI
Kyu Sakamoto
[1963]
Number One: 3 weeks
Replaced: IT’S MY PARTY / Lesley Gore
Succeeded by: EASIER SAID THAN DONE / The Essex
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Easily the biggest North American hit to emanate from Japan – the second largest music market in the world – was Sukiyaki from Kawasaki-born vocalist Kyu Sakamoto.
The recording’s title was actually Ue O Muite Aruka – translated to mean I Look Up When I Walk.
But to garner potential appeal in predominantly English-speaking countries, the more familiar and easier-to-pronounce word Sukiyaki was substituted – ergo why that designation is never heard in the song.
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After overwhelming success in Sakamoto’s native country, Sukiyaki was first introduced to the West in England – albeit a cover version from UK jazz artist Kenny Ball, who took his recording to #10 there in January of 1963.
In America, credit goes to a DJ named Rich Osborne for being the first to play Sakamoto’s original on his evening show at KORD/Pasco, Washington. The record received so much positive response throughout the northwest that Capitol Records negotiated the rights to release the single nationally under its British title.
[Trivia Bits] Only two other singles of Japanese origin have cracked the Billboard Hot 100. In 1979, a female disco duo called Pink Lady reached #39 with the English-language tune Kiss In The Dark. And one year later, the synthesizer instrumental Computer Games “Theme From The Circus”, performed by a trio led by Ryūichi Sakamoto (no relation) called Yellow Magic Orchestra managed a #60 showing.
The most successful North American cover version of Sukiyaki was by the L.A. R&B-disco quartet A Taste of Honey. Their English-language interpretation became a #3 million-seller on Billboard in 1981.
Kyu Sakamoto died in a plane crash in August, 1985 at age 43.
Initial pressings of the U.S. single by Capitol Records misspelled the de facto title
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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 Billboard Book of One-Hit Wonders (Revised and Expanded) by Wayne Jancik
• 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
