🏆 Billboard Chart Week of November 9, 1968
🎵 #1 Song: “Hey Jude” by The Beatles
⏱ Week at #1: Seventh week at #1
⚡ What Happened This Week
The Billboard Hot 100 for November 9, 1968 showed The Beatles continuing one of the most dominant chart runs of the entire 1960s as “Hey Jude” remained at #1 once again.
By now, the song had become unavoidable on American radio. Its emotional lyrics, giant singalong ending, and groundbreaking length had changed expectations for what a pop single could be.
But beneath The Beatles, the chart was evolving quickly as Motown soul, nostalgic folk-pop, and smooth crossover hits climbed higher during the final months of 1968.
🎂 What Was the #1 Song on Your Birthday?
If you were born during the week ending November 9, 1968, this was your birthday song:
🎵 Hey Jude by The Beatles
▶ Watch and experience this song →
🎂 Try your own birthday:
📊 Billboard Hot 100 – Top 5 Songs (November 9, 1968)
“Hey Jude” – The Beatles
“Those Were The Days” – Mary Hopkin
“Love Child” – Diana Ross & The Supremes
“Little Green Apples” – O.C. Smith
“Hold Me Tight” – Johnny Nash
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🎹 “Hey Jude” Nears Legendary Status
The Beatles held the #1 position for a seventh straight week with “Hey Jude.”
The song had become one of the biggest records ever released by the group. Its combination of emotional storytelling and massive audience participation helped make it feel larger than life.
Listeners across America embraced the uplifting anthem during a year filled with social unrest and political tension.
Even more remarkable was the fact that radio stations continued giving heavy airplay to a song running over seven minutes long — something almost unheard of in the 1960s.
🎻 Mary Hopkin Holds Strong at #2
Mary Hopkin remained at #2 with “Those Were The Days.”
Produced by Paul McCartney for Apple Records, the nostalgic folk-pop ballad continued connecting with audiences who were drawn to its emotional storytelling and old-world melody.
The song felt completely different from most rock records on the radio, helping it stand out in a crowded chart environment.
Its themes of youth, memories, and changing times resonated deeply during the uncertain atmosphere of late 1968.
❤️ Motown Strikes Back With “Love Child”
One of the biggest climbers this week was “Love Child” by Diana Ross & The Supremes at #3.
The socially conscious Motown hit tackled themes rarely discussed openly in pop music at the time, including poverty and social stigma.
The song’s serious subject matter showed how Motown was evolving beyond simple love songs into more mature storytelling.
Diana Ross delivered one of her strongest vocal performances, helping turn the song into another major Supremes success.
🍏 “Little Green Apples” Continues Its Run
O.C. Smith’s “Little Green Apples” slipped to #4 but remained one of the most respected crossover hits of the year.
The song’s warm lyrics about appreciating everyday life gave listeners a sense of comfort during a turbulent period in American history.
Its blend of country, pop, and soul styles helped it appeal to a wide audience across multiple radio formats.
The song continued proving that thoughtful storytelling still had a place on Top 40 radio.
🌴 Johnny Nash Brings Smooth Pop to the Top 5
At #5, Johnny Nash climbed higher with “Hold Me Tight.”
The upbeat pop tune mixed Caribbean influences with smooth vocals and catchy melodies.
Nash’s relaxed style gave the record a warm, easygoing feel that contrasted nicely against the heavier psychedelic and political songs climbing the charts in 1968.
The song helped establish Nash as one of the era’s most distinctive crossover performers.
🎶 Late 1968 Charts Show Incredible Variety
The November 9, 1968 chart captured the remarkable diversity of music during the late 1960s.
Listeners could hear:
- epic Beatles anthems,
- Motown social commentary,
- nostalgic folk-pop,
- soulful crossover ballads,
- and tropical-inspired pop hits
all sharing the same Top 5.
The boundaries between genres continued disappearing as artists experimented with new sounds and themes.
🔥 Final Thoughts
The Billboard Hot 100 for November 9, 1968 showed “Hey Jude” continuing its historic reign as one of the defining songs of the decade.
Meanwhile, songs like “Love Child” and “Those Were The Days” reflected how popular music was becoming more emotional, thoughtful, and adventurous as the 1960s approached their dramatic conclusion.