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JUMP TO:
🎵 1992 – JUMP / Kris Kross
🎵 1982 – EBONY AND IVORY / Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder
🎵 1972 – OH GIRL / Chi-Lites
🎵 1962 – STRANGER ON THE SHORE / Mr. Acker Bilk
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To quote a well-known phrase from 1960’s and 1970’s radio – “And the Hits, Just Keep on Comin!'” – and welcome to another installment of #1 Songs On This Date.
Since it began in early January – and including today’s songs – 221 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 28th, 1992
JUMP
Kris Kross
[1992]
(Radio Edit Version)
Number One: 8 weeks
Replaced: SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST / Vanessa Williams
Succeeded by: I’LL BE THERE / Mariah Carey
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This young male hip hop duo named Kris Kross hailed from the suburbs of Atlanta, GA and both members were barely in their teens when they held an 8-week stranglehold on Billboard’s top slot.
Chris “Mack Daddy” Kelly and Chris “Daddy Mack” Smith were just 13 years old when they sold four million copies of their monster hit. In fact, the latter was still 12 when the recording took place.
And the song’s writer and record’s producer, Jermaine Dupri, certainly understood being in the industry at a very young age, being only 14 when he first conducted professional recording sessions.
[Trivia Bits] Kris Kross never duplicated their initial success with Jump but managed three additional Top 20 singles that each moved a million units across record store counters: Warm It Up (1992 • #13), Alright (1993 • #19) and Tonite’s Tha Night (1995 • #12).
Chris Kelly died from a drug overdose in 2013.
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#1 / May 28th, 1982
EBONY AND IVORY
Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder
[1982]
Number One: 7 weeks
Replaced: CHARIOTS OF FIRE – TITLES / Vangelis
Succeeded by: DON’T YOU WANT ME / The Human League
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Ebony And Ivory, a song that espouses racial peace and harmony metaphorically via a piano keyboard, was the first duet single on which either Paul McCartney or Stevie Wonder had appeared.
Although in 1979 the latter had joined Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson and Diana Ross on a tribute single to the father of Motown Records founder Barry Gordy, Jr. called Pops, We Love You/A Tribute To Father (#59).
And in late 1982, plus again in 1983, Sir Paul would team with Michael Jackson on the hits The Girl Is Mine (#2) and their chart-topping Say Say Say, respectively.
Wonder subsequently was paired on two singles in 1988, one with Jackson (Get It) and the other with Julio Iglesias (My Love). Neither release performed well on the Hot 100 – both maxing out at #80.
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A seven-week domination at #1 by E&I was capped by a trio of Grammy Award nominations for ‘Record of the Year,’ ‘Song of the Year’ and ‘Best Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal,’ with Macca’s Tug Of War album also being a finalist in the ‘Album of the Year’ category.
Ebony And Ivory matched I Love Rock ‘N Roll by Joan Jett and The Blackhearts for longevity at #1, but, selling just one million copies, was nudged out by Ms. Jett and company for Billboard’s top single of 1982 honor; the latter was a platinum seller that doubled McCartney and Wonder’s sales success.
[Trivia Bits] Stevie Wonder played the drums on Ebony And Ivory, which capped both the Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts of Billboard for two weeks simultaneously (May 15-28). As well, it peaked on the weekly premier music chart’s R&B listings at #8.
On the strength of the single, the album from which it came, Tug Of War, held down the #1 position on Billboard’s album chart for three weeks.
The song has never appeared on any Stevie Wonder album from his parent Motown Records due to publishing rights. McCartney’s label at that time, Columbia, owns the recording.
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 (The Beatles)
• 1971 / UNCLE ALBERT/ADMIRAL HALSEY (Paul & Linda McCartney)
• 1973 / MY LOVE (Paul McCartney & Wings)
• 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)
• 1983 / SAY SAY SAY (Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson)
Other #1 Singles for STEVIE WONDER (10)
• 1963 / FINGERTIPS – Part 2 (Little Stevie Wonder)
• 1973 / SUPERSTITION
• 1973 / YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE
• 1974 / YOU HAVEN’T DONE NOTHIN
• 1977 / I WISH
• 1977 / SIR DUKE
• 1984 / I JUST CALLED TO SAY I LOVE YOU
• 1985 / PART-TIME LOVER
• 1986 / THAT’S WHAT FRIENDS ARE FOR (Dionne and Friends)
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#1 / May 28th, 1972
OH GIRL
Chi-Lites
[1972]
(Single Version)
Number One: 1 week
Replaced: THE FIRST TIME EVER I SAW YOUR FACE / Roberta Flack
Succeeded by: I’LL TAKE YOU THERE / Staple Singers
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A number of factors helped launch the soulful love ballad Oh Girl by the Chi-Lites to the top of the heap on Billboard’s Hot 100 during this week in 1972.
First came the predecessor to Oh Girl – also a mournful tune – called Have You Seen Her. By climbing all the way to #3, it demonstrated the Chicago R&B quartet was poised to create something even more special.
Second, it was the emotion-laden vocals of the group’s main man on both HYSH and Oh Girl, Eugene Record (yes, ‘Record’ truly was his last name). Coupled with his strong songwriting skills, it too made it clear that a chart-topping single was only a matter of time away for he and the boys.
Third, along with a beautiful string section, came some outstanding harmonica playing by group member Cy Touff that perfectly suited the wistful mood of the song.
And lastly, in March of 1972, the Chi-Lites were scheduled to appear on the TV variety show of comedian Flip Wilson – mainly to perform Have You Seen Her. But a second tune was needed for a later segment in the program. Wisely, just prior to the show’s taping, Oh Girl was decided upon, and that exposure sealed the deal for OG going all the way to the top on this date in ’72.
[Trivia Bits] In the late 1960’s Eugene Record was primarily a songwriter for the Chi-Lites’ record label, Brunswick.
Most notably, he co-authored a number a songs for one of the company’s big stars at the time, Barbara Acklin, with one of her records, Love Makes A Woman, reaching #15 in July of 1968.
Another Acklin tune on which Record had a hand in writing was called Am I The Same Girl. In 1968, the recording’s backing track had been a #3 million-selling instrumental single by Young-Holt Unlimited titled as Soulful Strut.
But when Acklin’s vocals were then added to what had been a successful instrumental hit, Am I The Same Girl managed to reached only #79 in early 1969.
Acklin would soon return the writing favor to Record and the Chi-Lites in 1971, helping him pen their aforementioned near-miss at #1 – and the song which set the table for Oh Girl – Have You See Her.
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#1 / May 28th, 1962
STRANGER ON THE SHORE
Mr. Acker Bilk
[1962]
Number One: 1 week
Replaced: SOLDIER BOY / The Shirelles
Succeeded by: I CAN’T STOP LOVING YOU / Ray Charles
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Acker Bilk, born Bernhard Stanley Bilk, was a UK clarinetist and composer whose sedate instrumental hit Stranger On The Shore somewhat caught the brave new world of Top 40 rock ‘n roll by surprise with its success in 1962.
Originally known as Jenny, this melancholy one-hit wonder by Bilk first gained attention as the theme number to a British TV show of the same name.
With his trademark bowler hat, Bilk become the first UK artist to top the U.S. Billboard’s Hot 100 – a feat to which not even the Beatles could lay claim.
[Trivia Bits] “Acker” was a British slang term for “buddy” or “mate” – with the addition of the formal prefix “Mr.” intended to give further uniqueness to Bilk’s moniker.
Stranger On The Shore was an even bigger success in Bilk’s native UK; a monster hit that remained on the British music charts for 55 weeks and ultimately sold 4 million records.
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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
