What was number one on this date in history?
Written by admin on April 28, 2010 – 10:22 pm -As a totally random exercise, I decided to look up what songs were number one on the US pop charts on this date in history (April 28.) What I found were some of the most memorable hits of all time, including classics by Elvis, the Beatles, the Bee Gees and the Jackson 5. I’ve picked 10 of the best to share with you.
“All Shook Up” – Elvis Presley
| Spring seemed to agree with Elvis Presley, because he was number one on this date in four different years – “Heartbreak Hotel” (1956), “All Shook Up” (1957), “Stuck on You” (1960) and Good Luck Charm” (1962).
“All Shook Up” was on the third of its eight week run at number one on this day in 1957. The song was also Elvis’ first number one in the UK. |
 |
“Come Softly to Me” – The Fleetwoods
 |
The Fleetwoods scored a number one with the doo-wop classic “Come Softly to Me” on April 13, 1959 and the song remained on top for four weeks.
Their second and only other number one was “Mr Blue” in November of the same year. |
“Runaway” – Del Shannon
| Sandwiched between Elvis’ 1960 and 1962 late April number ones, Del Shannon’s “Runaway” began its four weeks at number one on April 24, 1961.
Del knocked Elvis’ “Surrender” off the top spot. |
 |
“Can’t Buy Me Love” – The Beatles
 |
In this week of 1964, the Beatles’ “Can’t Buy Me Love” was in its fourth week at number one.
This was the Beatles’ third US number one and their third consecutive number one on the Billboard chart. “Can’t Buy Me Love” had replaced “She Loves You” at number one on April 4, which had in turn replaced “I Want To Hold Your Hand” at number one. |
“ABC” – The Jackson 5
| Moving forward a few years, the Jackson 5 were number one on this day in 1970 with the classic “ABC.” They knocked the Beatles’ “Let it Be” off the top spot and stayed at number one for two weeks.
“ABC” was the first single from their second album, which was also called “ABC.” |
 |
“The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” – Roberta Flack
 |
Roberta Flack hit the top spot with her memorable version of “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” on April 9, 1972 and remained at number one for six weeks
The song had already appeared on Roberta’s 1969 album “First Take,” but a re-edited (shorter) version was released as a single after featuring in the Clint Eastwood movie “Play Misty for Me.” |
“Night Fever” – The Bee Gees
| The Bee Gees were one of the most popular bands in the world when they were at number one with “Night Fever” in this week of 1978.
“Night Fever” was taken from the soundtrack of the hit movie “Saturday Night Fever” from the previous year. This would become the best selling soundtrack of all time. |
 |
“Call Me” – Blondie
 |
In 1979/80, Blondie did what Elvis had done in the 1950s and scored back to back April number ones with “Heart of Glass” and “Call Me,” respectively.
“Call Me” was beginning the third of its six weeks at number one on April 28, 1980. |
“I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll” – Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
| In the last week of April 1982, Joan and her band the Blackhearts were enjoying their sixth week at number one with the song most associated with her, “I Love Rock ‘N’ Roll.” Joan had originally recorded it in 1979 with Steve Jones and Paul Cook of the Sex Pistols, but this version remained unreleased until 1993.
Joan Jett’s profile has been raised recently with the release of the movie about her first band “The Runaways.” |
 |
“Beat It” – Michael Jackson
 |
The year 1983 belonged to Michael Jackson with his hugely successful “Thriller” album and five top ten singles.
“Beat It” was number one in the last week of April. “Billie Jean” had already hit the top spot in January and stayed there for seven weeks. Both tracks were on the “Thriller” album. |
Is it just me or has that video not aged so well?
More number ones
Other great songs to make number one this week in history included:
- 1967 – “Somethin’ Stupid” by Nancy Sinatra & Frank Sinatra
- 1969 – “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” by The Fifth Dimension
- 1971 – “Joy to the World” by Three Dog Night
- 1976 – “Let Your Love Flow” by The Bellamy Brothers
- 1986 – “Addicted to Love” by Robert Palmer
- 1989 – “Like a Prayer” by Madonna
Thanks to the great website www.joshhosler.biz for the chart data.
Tags: Blondie, Del Shannon, Elvis Presley, jackson 5, Joan Jett, Michael Jackson, Roberta Flack, The Beatles, The Bee Gees
Posted in 60s pop, British Invasion, Elvis, Rock 'n' roll, Soul, The Beatles |
