List of Billboard Easy Listening number ones of 1969
Introduction alt=Three dark-skinned men and two dark-skinned women singing on a stage. Various musicians are visible behind them.Adult Contemporary is a chart published by ''Billboard'' ranking the top-performing songs in the United States in the adult contemporary music (AC) market. In 1969, 17 songs topped the chart, then published under the title Easy Listening, based on playlists submitted by easy listening radio stations and sales reports submitted by stores.On the first chart of 1969, Glen Campbell held the top spot with "Wichita Lineman", which was in its fourth week at number one, and remained atop the chart for a further two weeks. Campbell would go on to top the chart with "Galveston" and "Try a Little Kindness", making him the only act to achieve three Easy Listening number ones in 1969.His total of ten weeks in the top spot was also the highest achieved by any act during the year. The only other act with multiple chart-toppers during the year was The 5th Dimension, who reached the top spot with "Medley: Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)" and "Wedding Bell Blues". The longest unbroken run at number one by a song was eight weeks, achieved by orchestra leader Henry Mancini's "Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet".Several of 1969's chart-toppers came from films and stage musicals. These included Mancini's theme from the film ''Romeo and Juliet'', Oliver's song "Jean" from the film ''The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie'', The 5th Dimension's medley of two songs from the musical ''Hair'', and Sammy Davis Jr.'s version of "I've Gotta Be Me", which was a major hit despite the musical in which it originated, ''Golden Rainbow'', being unsuccessful. There was considerable crossover in 1969 between the Easy Listening chart and ''Billboard''s all-genres chart, the Hot 100.Five songs topped both charts during the year: Mancini's "Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet" and both of The 5th Dimension's chart-toppers, as well as "In the Year 2525 (Exordium and Terminus)" by Zager and Evans and "Leaving on a Jet Plane" by Peter, Paul and Mary. Additionally, the final Easy Listening number one of the year, "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" by B. J. Thomas, went on to top the Hot 100 early in 1970.Although Zager and Evans achieved the feat of topping both listings, the duo proved to be a one-hit wonder and never placed another song on any of ''Billboard''s charts.
Chart history alt=A light-haired man wearing a sport coatSammy Davis Jr. spent seven weeks at number one with "I've Gotta Be Me", a song from the short-lived stage musical ''Golden Rainbow''.|alt=A dark-skinned man in a suit, singing into a microphoneHenry Mancini's "Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet" was the year's longest-running number one.|alt=A dark-haired middle-aged man wearing a tuxedo+Key''Billboard'' ranked "Hurt So Bad" by the Lettermen as the best-performing easy listening single of 1969, though it never reached the top position.Issue dateTitleArtist(s)"Wichita Lineman""I've Gotta Be Me""You Gave Me a Mountain""Galveston""Medley: Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)""Happy Heart""Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet""Spinning Wheel"Blood, Sweat & Tears"In the Year 2525 (Exordium and Terminus)"Zager and Evans"""I'll Never Fall in Love Again" "Jean"Oliver"Is That All There Is? ""Wedding Bell Blues""Try a Little Kindness""Leaving on a Jet Plane"Peter, Paul and Mary"Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head"
References
See also *1969 in music*List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Adult Contemporary chart