Every Entry Into The Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart- 1969- Part 166. The singles today are the final four to enter the chart during the week of October 18, 1969- “Proud Mary”- The Checkmates featuring Sonny Charles, “Just A Little Love”-B.B. King, “It’s Hard To Get Along”- Joe Simon and “We Must Be In Love”-The Five Stairsteps and Cubie.

542. “Proud Mary”- The Checkmates LTD featuring Sonny Charles. A&M. Soul. Written by John Fogerty. B-side:”Spanish Harlem.” Peaked at # 69 and spent 4 weeks on the chart. The 3rd of 3 Hot 100 singles in 1969 for The Checkmates- a cover of the Creedence Clearwater Revival hit also from 1969 which peaked at #2. “Proud Mary” would also make the charts with Solomon Burke #45 in 1969 and Ike and Tina Turner #4 in 1971.  This version by The Checkmates was produced by Phil Spector. Grade: B.

543. “Just A Little Love”- B.B. King. Bluesway. Blues. Written by B.B. King. B-side:”My Mood.”Peaked at #76 and spent 5 weeks in the Hot 100. B.B’s 3rd of 4 1969 Hot 100 hits-his biggest hit would come at the end of the year with “The Thrill Is Gone” #15. Grade: A-

544. “It’s Hard To Get Along”- Joe Simon. Sound Stage. Soul. Written by Allen Orange and Joe Simon. B-side:- was “San Francisco Is A Lonely Town” which earlier in the fall had peaked at #79. “It’s Hard To Get Along” peaked at #87 and spent 3 weeks in the Hot 100. Grade: B

545. “We Must Be In Love”-The Five Stairsteps and Cubie. Curtom. Soul. Written and produced by Curtis Mayfield. B-side:”Little Young Lover.” Peaked at #88 and spent 3 weeks on the chart. The Five Stairsteps and Cubie were an R&B group out of Chicago. They would have 18 Hot 100 singles from 1966 to 1980- with only one making the Top 40- “O-Oh Child”- #8 in 1970. Grade: B-