Every Entry Into The Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart- 1969- Part 43. The first of the three singles entered the chart on March 8, 1969- “Only You”- Bobby Hatfield, the other two were the highest debuting singles from the week of March 15, 1969- “Hair” The Cowsills and “It’s Your Thing”- The Isley Brothers.
128. ” Only You [ And You Alone} – Bobby Hatfield. Verve. Pop. Written by Ande Rand and Buck Ram. B-side “The Wonder of You.” “Only You” was a #5 hit for The Platters in 1955 and Ringo Starr took it to #5 in 1975 but Bobby Hatfield of The Righteous Brothers didn’t enjoy that kind of success- his single peaked at #95 and spent 4 weeks on the chart. It would be the only solo Hot 100 hit for Hatfield. The b-side “The Wonder Of You” was later a hit for that boy from Tupelo, Mississippi-Elvis Presley. Grade: C
129. “Hair”- The Cowsills. MGM. Pop. Written by Galt McDermot, Gerome Ragni, James Rado. B-side: ” What is Happy?” The Cowsills were a family band from Newport, Rhode Island -5 brothers, a younger sister and their mother. They would be the inspiration for the television show The Partridge Family. On the charts from 1967-69 they had 8 Hot 100 singles with 4 making the Top 40- “Hair” from the musical of the same name was their biggest hit #2 and 15 weeks on the chart. Grade: B
130. “It’s Your Thing”- The Isley Brothers. T-Neck. Soul-Funk. Written by O’Kelly and Ronald Isley. B-side: ” Don’t Give It Away.” The Isley Brothers started out as a gospel trio in Cincinnati, Ohio . They would go on to having 74 R&B hits- 41 Hot 100 hits on the Pop Chart and 11 Top 40 hits- their biggest pop hit was this one “It’s Your Thing” which peaked at #2 and spent 14 weeks in the Hot 100. The Isley Brothers were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992. Grade: A+
Still have my 45 singles of “Hair” and “It’s Your Thing”
Those would be great singles to have! I miss singles.
I bought so many between 1969-1975
Those would be prime years for some great singles. Mine are late 70’s.
Starting around 1976, I purchased many more vinyl albums, as they were still relatively inexpensive back then.
Could you possibly have found a worse video for Hair. The song itself is A+++++++++. It is a celebration of the freedom for a guy, or even a girl, to wear their hair how they wanted. I started to wear mine longer in 65, getting kicked out of 2 schools for wearing it too long. 54 years later it is still halfway down my back, though it is a bit thinner these days. But it still looks good. Don’t know what I would do without it.
The Isley Bros song is very similar, do what you want, don’t let anyone tell you you can’t. Another great song, very reminiscent of the times.
I’m surprised Only You wasn’t bigger for Hatfield. Hair is one of my favorite political anthems of all times. It’s Your Thing is chock full of funky goodness. One of the best trios of music so far.
The list I am following goes on how they enter the charts- typically the ones who are the highest debuts of the week end up being the biggest hits- those last two today being a good example.
Good stuff…