Number Ones 1969
In the U.S. Marvin Gaye continued at the top from the previous year with “I Heard
It Through The Grapevine”. It reached number one in the U.K. in March.
Sly Stone of Sly and the Family Stone wrote the song “Everyday People” which topped
in February in America.
In November Elvis returned to number one after a long absence with the Fred Zambon
composition “Suspicious Minds”.
“Leaving On A Jet Plane” written by John Denver was top in December for Peter, Paul
& Mary.
The last number one of the decade in the U.S. was the final single from Dianna Ross
& the Supremes before she moved on to become a solo artist. “Someday We’ll Be Together”
was written by Jackey Beaver, Harvey Faqua and Johnny Bristol. This was their Twelfth
number one single in the U.S. Billboard top 100 charts.
Records which topped both charts in 1969 were the Zager & Evans song “In The Year
2525” written by rick Evans. “Honkey Tonk Women” The Rolling Stones. The song Tommy
Roe recorded and wrote with Freddy Weller “Dizzy”. The television cartoon show the
Archies song “Sugar Sugar” written by Jeff Barry & Andy Kim.
The Beatles “Get Back” topped both sides of the Atlantic and the George Harrison
composition “Something” was No1 in the U.S in November. “The Ballad Of John And Yoko”
went to number one in the U.K. in June and Lennon & McCartney wrote the song “Ob-La-Di-Ob-La-Da
which Marmalade took to the top in the U.K. at the start of the year.
“Albatross” the instrumental song written by Fleetwood Mac group member Peter Green
topped the charts in the U.K. in January.
Peter Sarstedt the brother of earlier pop star Eden Kane wrote and recorded the song
“Where Do You Go To My Lovely” which was top in February and won the Ivor Novello
award for song of the Year.
John “Speedy” Keen wrote the Thunderclap Newman number one which topped in July “Something
In The Air”.
John Fogarty wrote “Bad Moon Rising” which was taken to number one in September by
Creedence Clearwater Revival.
The One hit wonders Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg were at No.1 on the UK singles
chart in October with “Je t'aime... Moi non plus” which was banned by many radio
stations for its sexual content and sounds, it was the only French language chart
topper in the UK.
The music hall song “Two Little Boys” by Rolf Harris was the last number one of the
sixties in the U.K.