🏆 Billboard Chart Week of December 21, 1968
🎵 #1 Song: “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye
⏱ Second week at #1
⚡ What Happened This Week
The Billboard Hot 100 for December 21, 1968 showed Marvin Gaye firmly holding onto the #1 spot with the explosive soul classic “I Heard It Through The Grapevine.”
The chart also reflected the incredible diversity of late-1968 music, blending Motown soul, socially conscious pop, emotional folk ballads, and country crossover hits.
Meanwhile, Glen Campbell’s “Wichita Lineman” climbed into the Top 5 and quickly became one of the most admired songs of the era.
🎂 What Was the #1 Song on Your Birthday?
If you were born during the week ending December 21, 1968, this was your birthday song:
🎵 I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye
▶ Watch and experience this song →
🎂 Try your own birthday:
📊 Billboard Hot 100 – Top 5 Songs (December 21, 1968)
“I Heard It Through The Grapevine” – Marvin Gaye
“Love Child” – Diana Ross & The Supremes
“For Once In My Life” – Stevie Wonder
“Abraham, Martin And John” – Dion
“Wichita Lineman” – Glen Campbell
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🍇 Marvin Gaye Owns The Charts
Marvin Gaye remained at #1 for a second week with “I Heard It Through The Grapevine.”
By late December 1968, the song had become a national sensation. Its dramatic arrangement, emotional vocals, and unforgettable bassline helped separate it from almost everything else on the radio.
The recording captured feelings of heartbreak, suspicion, and emotional pain in a way listeners immediately understood.
The song would eventually become one of Motown’s biggest-selling singles and one of the greatest soul recordings ever made.
❤️ “Love Child” Still Holds Strong
At #2, Diana Ross & The Supremes continued their massive success with “Love Child.”
Even after leaving the #1 position, the song remained one of the most talked-about records in America because of its mature themes and emotional storytelling.
The Supremes had already become one of the most successful groups in music history, and “Love Child” showed they could evolve with changing times and changing audiences.
🎹 Stevie Wonder Continues His Rise
Stevie Wonder held the #3 position with “For Once In My Life.”
The upbeat Motown hit displayed Wonder’s incredible vocal range and growing confidence as both a singer and performer.
By the end of 1968, it was becoming clear that Stevie Wonder was developing into one of the most important artists of his generation.
His combination of energy, musicianship, and emotional warmth made him one of Motown’s brightest stars.
🇺🇸 Dion’s Emotional Tribute Resonates
At #4, Dion remained high on the chart with “Abraham, Martin And John.”
The reflective ballad continued connecting deeply with Americans still processing the tragedies and political turmoil of 1968.
The song honored Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy, and Robert Kennedy while expressing the sadness and uncertainty felt across the country.
Its quiet sincerity made it one of the most emotional hits of the year.
🤠 “Wichita Lineman” Becomes A Classic
Climbing to #5 was Glen Campbell’s “Wichita Lineman.”
Written by Jimmy Webb, the song blended country, pop, and orchestral music into something completely unique.
The lonely story of a telephone lineman working across the empty plains struck an emotional chord with listeners everywhere.
Campbell’s smooth vocals and the song’s haunting melody helped transform it into one of the most respected recordings of the late 1960s.
Today, many critics still consider “Wichita Lineman” one of the greatest songs ever written.
🎶 Late 1968 Produced Incredible Musical Variety
The December 21, 1968 chart perfectly captured how diverse popular music had become.
Soul music dominated the top positions with Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross & The Supremes, and Stevie Wonder, while folk-inspired reflection and country crossover music also found major success.
This variety helped make 1968 one of the richest and most important years in Billboard Hot 100 history.
🎤 Final Thoughts
The Billboard Hot 100 for December 21, 1968 showcased some of the greatest artists and songs of the entire decade.
Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” continued its legendary run at #1 while Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Dion, and Glen Campbell helped create one of the strongest Top 5 lineups of the 1960s.
As the year came to a close, popular music was becoming more emotional, more sophisticated, and more diverse than ever before.