Billboard AC Chart Flashback: August 3, 1963
Aug 1, 2011 14:47:47 GMT -5
Post by johnm1120 on Aug 1, 2011 14:47:47 GMT -5
50 Years of Adult Contemporary continues with a look back at what was on the chart this week in 1963.
Back in 1963, the chart had changed names from its original "Easy Listening" name to "Middle-Road Singles." The name changed (temporarily) but the formality stayed the same of removing songs from the Hot 100 that were rock and roll to create a playlist for those stations who weren't into the rock sound.
Middle-Road Singles
August 3, 1963
TW LW WC Artist - Title
01 02 06 Peter Paul & Mary - Blowin' in the Wind
02 01 09 Rolf Harris - Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport
03 04 06 Andy Williams - Hopeless
04 06 08 Bobby Bare - Detroit City
05 03 13 Kyu Sakamoto - Sukiyaki
06 10 05 Kai Winding - More
07 09 07 The Classics - Till Then
08 14 06 The New Christy Minstrels - Green Green
09 05 12 Bobby Vinton - Blue On Blue
10 11 07 George Hamilton IV - Abilene
11 15 05 Brenda Lee - My Whole World is Falling Down
12 08 08 Brook Benton - My True Confession
13 07 07 Ray Charles - No One
14 18 05 Dion - Be Careful of Stones That You Throw
15 13 11 Dave Dudley - Six Days on the Road
16 19 04 Brenda Lee - I Wonder
17 DEBUT Wayne Newton - Danke Schoen
18 12 10 The Fleetwoods - Goodnight My Love
19 DEBUT Ben E. King - I (Who Have Nothing)
20 DEBUT Roy Clark - Tips of My Fingers
48 years ago this week, a protest song that would eventually become an anthem for the civil rights movement had topped the charts.
Folk trio Peter Paul & Mary had scored 15 AC hits between 1962 and 1969. 8 of those went top 10 and 3 of those went to #1. "Blowin' in the Wind" is a Bob Dylan cover, and it's the most successful commercial release of the song peaking at #2 on the Hot 100, but it would remain on top of the Middle-Road chart for 5 weeks. In 1966, Stevie Wonder's rendition of the song reached #1 on the R&B chart. It missed the AC chart, but got to #9 on the Hot 100.
Cracking the top 10 is country singer George Hamilton IV. No he is not the actor famous for his tan George Hamilton. This is his only AC appearance, but he had a few Hot 100 hits prior to 1961. George has had more success on the country chart making 39 appearances between 1960 and 1978, 9 of those reaching the top 10. "Abilene" is his only #1 over there.
Middle-Road looked more like a launching pad for country and folk artists to crossover than anything at this point. The New Christy Minstrels was a multi-member group, consistently changing its numbers. "Green Green" was one of only 2 hits on this chart for the band, eventually reaching #3 (#14 Hot 100). Their other AC hit was "Today" which peaked at #4 in 1964. They charted 6 times on the Hot 100 between 1962 and 1965, their final hit was a folk cover of "Chim Chim Cheree" from Mary Poppins.
Before becoming known as Mr. Las Vegas, Wayne Newton cranked out hits on pop and AC. Danke Schoen was his first AC hit, and eventually reached #3. Between 1963 and 1980, Wayne hit the chart 24 times, with 5 of those reaching the top 10. He had 2 more #3 peaks in 1972 with "Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast" and "Can't You Hear The Song?"
Ben E King comes in at #19 with the first version of I (Who Have Nothing) to make the chart. His version reached #29 on the Hot 100. The only version to peak higher than Ben's was Tom Jones' version in 1970 peaking at #14 (#2 AC).
Closing out the chart is another country singer, Roy Clark. Tips of My Fingers just made a small blurb on the chart since it only reached #45 on the Hot 100. By the book of one-hit wonder standards, Roy would qualify, but not with this song. His only top 20 on the Hot 100 was "Yesterday When I Was Young" which peaked at #19 on the Hot 100 and #6 on the AC chart in 1969. Roy has 6 Hot 100 appearances, but other than these two, no other song peaked higher than #81. Of his 50 Country hits between 1963 and 1989, 9 went top 10. His only #1 on that format was 1973's "Come Live With Me." Clark would find more fame in 1969 by becoming the host of the long running series "Hee Haw."
What else happened in 1963?
The United States was in a state of shock and mourning as President John F Kennedy was assassinated at the age of 46.
Country music also suffered a great loss as Patsy Cline was killed in a plane crash at age 30.
The Beatles release their debut album.
General Hospital and Doctor Who debut on television
The first James Bond film is shown in theaters.
Zip codes are introduced.
Martin Luther King Jr gives his "I Have A Dream" speech.
Grammy Winners:
Album of the Year: Vaughn Meader - The First Family
Record of the Year: Tony Bennett - I left My Heart In San Francisco
New Artist: Robert Goulet
Births in Music:
Tori Amos
Eva Cassidy (died 1996)
Coolio
Michael English
Whitney Houston
Julian Lennon
Richard Marx
Natalie Merchant
George Michael
Seal
Vanessa Williams
Back in 1963, the chart had changed names from its original "Easy Listening" name to "Middle-Road Singles." The name changed (temporarily) but the formality stayed the same of removing songs from the Hot 100 that were rock and roll to create a playlist for those stations who weren't into the rock sound.
Middle-Road Singles
August 3, 1963
TW LW WC Artist - Title
01 02 06 Peter Paul & Mary - Blowin' in the Wind
02 01 09 Rolf Harris - Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport
03 04 06 Andy Williams - Hopeless
04 06 08 Bobby Bare - Detroit City
05 03 13 Kyu Sakamoto - Sukiyaki
06 10 05 Kai Winding - More
07 09 07 The Classics - Till Then
08 14 06 The New Christy Minstrels - Green Green
09 05 12 Bobby Vinton - Blue On Blue
10 11 07 George Hamilton IV - Abilene
11 15 05 Brenda Lee - My Whole World is Falling Down
12 08 08 Brook Benton - My True Confession
13 07 07 Ray Charles - No One
14 18 05 Dion - Be Careful of Stones That You Throw
15 13 11 Dave Dudley - Six Days on the Road
16 19 04 Brenda Lee - I Wonder
17 DEBUT Wayne Newton - Danke Schoen
18 12 10 The Fleetwoods - Goodnight My Love
19 DEBUT Ben E. King - I (Who Have Nothing)
20 DEBUT Roy Clark - Tips of My Fingers
48 years ago this week, a protest song that would eventually become an anthem for the civil rights movement had topped the charts.
Folk trio Peter Paul & Mary had scored 15 AC hits between 1962 and 1969. 8 of those went top 10 and 3 of those went to #1. "Blowin' in the Wind" is a Bob Dylan cover, and it's the most successful commercial release of the song peaking at #2 on the Hot 100, but it would remain on top of the Middle-Road chart for 5 weeks. In 1966, Stevie Wonder's rendition of the song reached #1 on the R&B chart. It missed the AC chart, but got to #9 on the Hot 100.
Cracking the top 10 is country singer George Hamilton IV. No he is not the actor famous for his tan George Hamilton. This is his only AC appearance, but he had a few Hot 100 hits prior to 1961. George has had more success on the country chart making 39 appearances between 1960 and 1978, 9 of those reaching the top 10. "Abilene" is his only #1 over there.
Middle-Road looked more like a launching pad for country and folk artists to crossover than anything at this point. The New Christy Minstrels was a multi-member group, consistently changing its numbers. "Green Green" was one of only 2 hits on this chart for the band, eventually reaching #3 (#14 Hot 100). Their other AC hit was "Today" which peaked at #4 in 1964. They charted 6 times on the Hot 100 between 1962 and 1965, their final hit was a folk cover of "Chim Chim Cheree" from Mary Poppins.
Before becoming known as Mr. Las Vegas, Wayne Newton cranked out hits on pop and AC. Danke Schoen was his first AC hit, and eventually reached #3. Between 1963 and 1980, Wayne hit the chart 24 times, with 5 of those reaching the top 10. He had 2 more #3 peaks in 1972 with "Daddy Don't You Walk So Fast" and "Can't You Hear The Song?"
Ben E King comes in at #19 with the first version of I (Who Have Nothing) to make the chart. His version reached #29 on the Hot 100. The only version to peak higher than Ben's was Tom Jones' version in 1970 peaking at #14 (#2 AC).
Closing out the chart is another country singer, Roy Clark. Tips of My Fingers just made a small blurb on the chart since it only reached #45 on the Hot 100. By the book of one-hit wonder standards, Roy would qualify, but not with this song. His only top 20 on the Hot 100 was "Yesterday When I Was Young" which peaked at #19 on the Hot 100 and #6 on the AC chart in 1969. Roy has 6 Hot 100 appearances, but other than these two, no other song peaked higher than #81. Of his 50 Country hits between 1963 and 1989, 9 went top 10. His only #1 on that format was 1973's "Come Live With Me." Clark would find more fame in 1969 by becoming the host of the long running series "Hee Haw."
What else happened in 1963?
The United States was in a state of shock and mourning as President John F Kennedy was assassinated at the age of 46.
Country music also suffered a great loss as Patsy Cline was killed in a plane crash at age 30.
The Beatles release their debut album.
General Hospital and Doctor Who debut on television
The first James Bond film is shown in theaters.
Zip codes are introduced.
Martin Luther King Jr gives his "I Have A Dream" speech.
Grammy Winners:
Album of the Year: Vaughn Meader - The First Family
Record of the Year: Tony Bennett - I left My Heart In San Francisco
New Artist: Robert Goulet
Births in Music:
Tori Amos
Eva Cassidy (died 1996)
Coolio
Michael English
Whitney Houston
Julian Lennon
Richard Marx
Natalie Merchant
George Michael
Seal
Vanessa Williams