List of Billboard Easy Listening number ones of 1968
![A group of five young men, two with blond hair and beards, two with blond hair and no beard, and one with dark hair and no beard](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/21/Harpers_Bizarre.png/310px-Harpers_Bizarre.png)
In 1968, Billboard magazine published a chart ranking the top-performing songs in the United States in the easy listening market. The chart, which in 1968 was entitled Easy Listening, has undergone various name changes and since 1996 has been published under the title Adult Contemporary.[1] In 1968, 13 songs topped the chart based on playlists submitted by easy listening radio stations and sales reports submitted by stores.[1]
In the issue of Billboard dated January 6, the number one spot was held by Harpers Bizarre with their version of Glenn Miller's 1941 song "Chattanooga Choo Choo", which climbed from number 3 the previous week.[2][3] It would prove to be the only time that the sunshine pop band topped the Easy Listening chart, and after 1968 they would achieve no further entries on the listing at all.[4][5] Other acts to top the Easy Listening chart for the first time in 1968 included the Brazilian bandleader Sérgio Mendes, who achieved the feat with a version of "The Fool on the Hill", originally recorded by the Beatles.[6][7] After a lengthy period without further major success, Mendes would achieve a second number one 15 years after the first when he made a comeback in 1983 and took his version of "Never Gonna Let You Go" to the top spot.[6][7]
The longest-running number one of 1968 was the French orchestra leader Paul Mauriat's instrumental version of a song which had originally been Luxembourg's entry to the 1967 Eurovision Song Contest,[8] "Love is Blue". Mauriat's recording spent 11 consecutive weeks in the top spot, setting a new record for the longest run at number one on the chart which would stand for 25 years until Billy Joel spent 12 weeks in the peak position with "The River of Dreams" in 1993.[9] "Love is Blue" also topped Billboard's pop chart, the Hot 100, although it would prove to be Mauriat's only number one on either listing.[10][11] "Honey" by Bobby Goldsboro and "This Guy's In Love With You" by Herb Alpert also topped both charts in 1968.[12] The final Easy Listening number one of the year was "Wichita Lineman" by Glen Campbell, the first time he topped the listing; after achieving his first three Easy Listening number ones within a 12-month period he would not return to the top of the chart until "Rhinestone Cowboy" reached number one in 1975.[13]
Chart history
![A dark-haired man wearing s tuxedo and smiling broadly](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e0/Herb_Alpert_1966.jpg/170px-Herb_Alpert_1966.jpg)
![A group of four men and two women standing together](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/17/Sergio_Mendes_%26_Brasil_%2766.png/170px-Sergio_Mendes_%26_Brasil_%2766.png)
![A young woman with long blonde hair wearing a dark dress, singing into a microphone](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/56/Mary_Hopkin%2C_Bestanddeelnr_923-3712.jpg/170px-Mary_Hopkin%2C_Bestanddeelnr_923-3712.jpg)
Issue date | Title | Artist(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
January 6 | "Chattanooga Choo Choo" | Harpers Bizarre | [2] |
January 13 | [14] | ||
January 20 | "In the Misty Moonlight" | Dean Martin | [15] |
January 27 | [16] | ||
February 3 | "Am I That Easy to Forget" | Engelbert Humperdinck | [17] |
February 10 | "The Lesson" | Vikki Carr | [18] |
February 17 | "Love Is Blue" | Paul Mauriat | [19] |
February 24 | [20] | ||
March 2 | [21] | ||
March 9 | [22] | ||
March 16 | [23] | ||
March 23 | [24] | ||
March 30 | [25] | ||
April 6 | [26] | ||
April 13 | [27] | ||
April 20 | [28] | ||
April 27 | [29] | ||
May 4 | "Honey" | Bobby Goldsboro | [30] |
May 11 | [31] | ||
May 18 | "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" | Hugo Montenegro | [32] |
May 25 | [33] | ||
June 1 | [34] | ||
June 8 | "This Guy's in Love with You" | Herb Alpert | [35] |
June 15 | [36] | ||
June 22 | [37] | ||
June 29 | [38] | ||
July 6 | [39] | ||
July 13 | [40] | ||
July 20 | [41] | ||
July 27 | [42] | ||
August 3 | [43] | ||
August 10 | [44] | ||
August 17 | "Classical Gas" | Mason Williams | [45] |
August 24 | [46] | ||
August 31 | [47] | ||
September 7 | "The Fool on the Hill" | Sérgio Mendes & Brasil '66 | [48] |
September 14 | [49] | ||
September 21 | [50] | ||
September 28 | [51] | ||
October 5 | [52] | ||
October 12 | [53] | ||
October 19 | "My Special Angel" | The Vogues | [54] |
October 26 | [55] | ||
November 2 | "Those Were the Days" | Mary Hopkin | [56] |
November 9 | [57] | ||
November 16 | [58] | ||
November 23 | [59] | ||
November 30 | [60] | ||
December 7 | [61] | ||
December 14 | "Wichita Lineman" | Glen Campbell | [62] |
December 21 | [63] | ||
December 28 | [64] |
References
- ^ a b Whitburn 2007, p. vi.
- ^ a b "Adult Contemporary chart for January 6, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 8, 2019. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
- ^ Warner 2006, p. 50.
- ^ Inman, Davis (November 14, 2011). "Van Dyke Parks, 'Come to the Sunshine'". American Songwriter. Archived from the original on June 24, 2024. Retrieved June 24, 2024.
- ^ Whitburn 2002, p. 111.
- ^ a b Whitburn 2002, p. 168.
- ^ a b Eder, Bruce. "Sergio Mendes Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Paul Mauriat Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on August 31, 2021. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
- ^ Whitburn 2002, pp. 342–348.
- ^ Whitburn 2002, p. 162.
- ^ Whitburn 2005, p. 452.
- ^ Whitburn 2005, p. 989.
- ^ Whitburn 2002, pp. 43–44.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 13, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 8, 2019. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 20, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 27, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 3, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 10, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 17, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 24, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 2, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 9, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 16, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 23, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 30, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 13, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 6, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 13, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 24, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 20, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 13, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 27, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 13, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 4, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 11, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 18, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 25, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 1, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 24, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 8, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 15, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 13, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 22, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 29, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 6, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 13, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 24, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 20, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 24, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 27, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 3, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 10, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 17, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 24, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 31, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 7, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 14, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 21, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 24, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 28, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 13, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 5, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 12, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 13, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 19, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 26, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 2, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 13, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 9, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 16, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 23, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 30, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 7, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 24, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 14, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 14, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 21, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on June 24, 2024. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
- ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 28, 1968". Billboard. Archived from the original on January 13, 2019. Retrieved January 13, 2019.
Works cited
- Warner, Jay (2006). American Singing Groups: A History from 1940s to Today. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 978-0-63409-978-6.
- Whitburn, Joel (2002). Joel Whitburn's Top Adult Contemporary, 1961–2001. Record Research Incorporated. ISBN 978-0-89820-149-9.
- Whitburn, Joel (2005). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 1955–2002. Record Research Incorporated. ISBN 978-0-89820-155-0.
- Whitburn, Joel (2007). Joel Whitburn Presents Billboard Top Adult Songs, 1961–2006. Record Research Incorporated. ISBN 978-0-89820-169-7.
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