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JUMP TO:
🎵 1993 – FREAK ME / Silk
🎵 1983 – BEAT IT / Michael Jackson
🎵 1973 – TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE / Dawn featuring Tony Orlando
🎵 1963 – I WILL FOLLOW HIM / Little Peggy March
EXTRA TRAK:
🎵 1962 – I WILL FOLLOW HIM / Petula Clark
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Welcome to the 60th 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.
Also, with this post, the 200 singles mark has been reached. To be exact, 201 distinct chart-toppers 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 / May 14th, 1993
FREAK ME
Silk
[1993]
Number One: 2 weeks
Replaced: INFORMER / Snow
Succeeded by: THAT’S THE WAY LOVE GOES / Janet Jackson
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Silk, an R&B vocal group from Decatur, GA, became protégées of singer/songwriter Keith Sweat (I Want Her, I’ll Give All My Love To You) after being introduced to him by the wife of Sweat’s road manager.
The quintet performed an a cappella version of Greatest Love Of All for him which resulted in the R&B artist enlisting them for his tour as back-up vocalists and to sing selected lead parts.
A Sweat-produced debut album followed – titled Lose Control – from which the group’s record label, Keia, grossly misjudged their selection of the lead single. They chose a track called Happy Days, but it faltered badly, stalling at just #84.
However, demand from radio stations showed the way for Sweat’s misguided record company by giving Freak Me heavy airplay, thus forcing Keia to wisely release it as their next single.
https://youtu.be/n6RlMd0jjkA
[Trivia Bit] Besides it’s double-week stay at #1 on the Hot 100, Freak Me quadrupled that tenure on Billboard’s Hot R&B Singles chart.
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#1 / May 14th, 1983
BEAT IT
Michael Jackson
[1983]
Number One: 3 weeks
Replaced: COME ON EILEEN / Dexys Midnight Runners
Succeeded by: LET’S DANCE / David Bowie
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Yet another big hit for ‘The King of Pop’ from 1982’s Thriller album.
Beat It was the third of an amazing six Billboard Top Ten singles from Jackson’s signature work – and second consecutive number one – following on the heels of MJ’s biggest career hit Billie Jean. And both were platinum sellers.
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One of the interesting side-stories of this recording involves Van Halen superstar lead guitarist/keyboardist Eddie Van Halen.
Wanting a strong and powerful guitar solo during the song’s instrumental bridge, Jackson and producer Quincy Jones invited EVH to guest on that portion of the recording.
Not only did Eddie quickly accept the offer, he ended up playing on Beat It for free. He felt so honored to be working with Misters Jackson and Jones that he accepted no fee for his performance.
And with all due respect to Jackson, to me, the 32-second bridge of pure vintage Eddie Van Halen is the best part of song!
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https://youtu.be/OUyn0WUD4qo
[Trivia Bits] Beat It copped two Grammy Awards: ‘Record of the Year’ (for the writer and producer) and best ‘Rock Male Vocal.’
Other #1 Singles for MICHAEL JACKSON (17)
• 1970 / I WANT YOU BACK (The Jackson 5)
• 1970 / A B C (The Jackson 5)
• 1970 / THE LOVE YOU SAVE (The Jackson 5)
• 1970 / I’LL BE THERE (/b>The Jackson 5)
• 1972 / BEN
• 1979 / DON’T STOP ’TIL YOU GET ENOUGH
• 1980 / ROCK WITH YOU
• 1983 / BILLIE JEAN
• 1983 / SAY SAY SAY (Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson)
• 1987 / I JUST CAN’T STOP LOVING YOU
• 1987 / BAD
• 1988 / THE WAY YOU MAKE ME FEEL
• 1988 / MAN IN THE MIRROR
• 1988 / DIRTY DIANA
• 1992 / BLACK OR WHITE
• 1995 / YOU ARE NOT ALONE
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#1 / May 14th, 1973
TIE A YELLOW RIBBON ROUND THE OLE OAK TREE
Dawn featuring Tony Orlando
[1973]
Number One: 4 weeks
Replaced: THE NIGHT THE LIGHTS WENT OUT IN GEORGIA / Vicki Lawrence
Succeeded by: YOU ARE THE SUNSHINE OF MY LIFE / Stevie Wonder
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Just prior to Dawn featuring Tony Orlando knocking this one out of the park for 4 weeks during this period in 1973, disbandment had loomed on the horizon for Orlando, Telma Hopkins and Joyce Vincent.
Tough times had befallen them after the success of a couple of million-sellers as Dawn: their debut hit Candida in late 1971, followed by their first chart-topper in early 1971, Knock Three Times.
Two plus years and six failed singles later, the trio was coaxed into attending one more recording session prior to breaking up.
That last date yielded Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree – not only their biggest career hit single, but the penultimate record for all of 1973 based on Billboard’s year-end listing (it was nudged out of the top spot by Roberta Flack‘s Killing Me Softly With His Song).
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The tune, written by Irwin Levine and L. Russell Brown, was based on a true story of an ex-convict who was serving a three-year stint in a Georgia prison for falsifying checks.
In a letter penned just prior to his release, the gentleman asked his wife – as a signal of hopefully her continued love and support – to tie a yellow ribbon around a big old oak tree situated in their hometown’s city square. The loving, forgiving spouse carried out his request.
https://youtu.be/TGemdakPxn8
[Trivia Bits] Tony Orlando was initially reluctant to record Tie A Yellow Ribbon Round The Ole Oak Tree, feeling the tune was “corny.”
The record’s producer, Hank Medress, was one of the founding members of the early 1960’s Brooklyn vocal quartet The Tokens (along with future legendary singer-songwriter Neil Sedaka).
The song’s co-writer, Irwin Levine also co-composed Dawn’s Knock Three Times (link below) and the 1965 number one, This Diamond Ring by Gary Lewis and The Playboys.
Other #1 Singles by TONY ORLANDO/DAWN (3)
• 1971 / KNOCK THREE TIMES (Dawn)
• 1975 / HE DON’T LOVE YOU (Like I Love You) (Tony Orlando & Dawn)
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#1 / May 14th, 1963
I WILL FOLLOW HIM
Little Peggy March
[1963]
Number One: 3 weeks
Replaced: HE’S SO FINE / The Chiffons
Succeeded by: IF YOU WANNA BE HAPPY / Jimmy Soul
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Peggy March‘s moniker of “Little” was not only related to her vertically-challenged stature (4’ 10″) but she also was very young; she’d just turned 15 when I Will Follow Him was recorded with producers Hugo Peretti and Luigi Creatore – both of whom prefaced Peggy’s name with its apt adjective.
I Will Follow Him was co-authored a a foursome of writer, including two of France’s most well-known pop music composers, Paul Mauriat (Love Is Blue – 1968 • #1) and Frank Pourcel.
And both penned it under nom-de-plumes – Mauriat as Del Roma with Pourcel using the name J.W. Stole.
Pourcel actually was the first artist to record the song as an easy-listening instrumental, with another renowned French composer/bandleader – and friend of Pourcel – Raymond Lefevre (Soul Coaxing – 1968 • #37) thought to also have been involved in that initial recording.
A French-language issue of the record had been a chart-topper in France by Petula Clark – titled Chariot – prior to this international #1 hit by Ms. March (Clark’s English version can be found below).
And to this writer’s ears, it’s yet another “sonic whopper” in true stereo!
https://youtu.be/xn990s7dJDM
[Trivia Bits] Although born Margaret Battavio, March was born into a family which habitually called her Peggy. Thus, she chose that as her stage handle and paired it with a surname derived from the month in which she was born. She has since legalized it.
To this day, Peggy March holds the record for being the youngest female singer to have an international #1 hit. I Will Follow Him not only reached #1 in the U.S., but also in Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Scandinavia.
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EXTRA TRAK
I WILL FOLLOW HIM
Petula Clark
[1962]
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Recorded first as an MOR/Easy Listening instrumental by it’s co-writer Frank Pourcel, I Will Follow Him has been covered by many artists including co-writer Paul Mauriat (two versions), Canadian bandleader Percy Faith and this 1962 version by Petula Clark.
A French-language version by Petula Clark (called Chariot) was a #1 hit in France.
Here’s the latter’s English lyrics offering, one which failed to chart in either the U.S. or the UK.
https://youtu.be/KmqcA8WJDPU
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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
