🏆 Billboard Chart Week of December 28, 1968
🎵 #1 Song: “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye
⏱ Third week at #1
⚡ What Happened This Week
The final Billboard Hot 100 chart of 1968 belonged to Marvin Gaye.
“I Heard It Through The Grapevine” remained firmly planted at #1 as the year came to a close, confirming the song as one of the defining records of the late 1960s.
The chart also showed Motown’s incredible dominance, with Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, and Diana Ross & The Supremes all holding spots inside the Top 3.
Meanwhile, Glen Campbell’s “Wichita Lineman” continued climbing higher and becoming one of the most respected crossover hits of the era.
🎂 What Was the #1 Song on Your Birthday?
If you were born during the week ending December 28, 1968, this was your birthday song:
🎵 I Heard It Through the Grapevine by Marvin Gaye
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🎂 Try your own birthday:
📊 Billboard Hot 100 – Top 5 Songs (December 28, 1968)
“I Heard It Through The Grapevine” – Marvin Gaye
“For Once In My Life” – Stevie Wonder
“Love Child” – Diana Ross & The Supremes
“Wichita Lineman” – Glen Campbell
“Stormy” – Classics IV Featuring Dennis Yost
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🍇 Marvin Gaye Ends 1968 On Top
Marvin Gaye closed out the year at #1 with “I Heard It Through The Grapevine.”
The song’s dark atmosphere, emotional tension, and unforgettable groove made it unlike almost anything else on the radio.
Listeners were captivated by the dramatic storytelling and Marvin Gaye’s passionate vocal performance.
By the end of 1968, the record had become a cultural phenomenon and one of Motown’s biggest successes.
It would later be remembered as one of the greatest soul songs ever recorded.
🎹 Stevie Wonder Reaches #2
Stevie Wonder climbed to #2 with “For Once In My Life.”
The energetic Motown hit showcased Wonder’s growing maturity as a performer and recording artist.
Filled with joy, optimism, and powerful vocals, the song became one of Stevie’s signature recordings of the 1960s.
His rise near the top of the chart signaled the beginning of an extraordinary career that would dominate music for decades.
❤️ “Love Child” Remains A Massive Hit
At #3, Diana Ross & The Supremes continued their impressive chart run with “Love Child.”
Even after leaving the #1 position, the song remained one of the year’s biggest records.
Its socially conscious themes and emotional storytelling helped push Motown into more mature territory during the late 1960s.
The success of “Love Child” also reinforced Diana Ross & The Supremes as one of the most important groups in pop music history.
🤠 “Wichita Lineman” Keeps Climbing
Glen Campbell rose to #4 with “Wichita Lineman.”
Written by legendary songwriter Jimmy Webb, the song blended country, pop, and orchestral music into a deeply emotional recording.
The lonely portrait of a telephone lineman working across empty landscapes connected with listeners across America.
The record’s haunting melody and Campbell’s smooth delivery helped make it one of the most beloved songs of the decade.
🌧 “Stormy” Brings Soft Rock To The Top 5
At #5, Classics IV Featuring Dennis Yost climbed with “Stormy.”
The mellow, emotional soft rock hit offered a gentler sound compared to the heavier rock and soul records dominating the charts.
Its smooth arrangement and memorable melody helped it become one of the signature adult contemporary hits of the era.
The song also reflected the growing popularity of softer pop-rock music heading into the 1970s.
🎶 The Sound Of Late 1968
The final chart of 1968 perfectly captured the changing sound of American popular music.
Soul music dominated the upper chart positions, but country crossover songs, soft rock, folk-pop, and experimental rock all continued finding major audiences.
Artists were taking bigger creative risks, and listeners were embracing more emotional and sophisticated music than ever before.
🎤 Final Thoughts
The Billboard Hot 100 for December 28, 1968 served as a perfect ending to one of the most important years in music history.
Marvin Gaye ruled the charts with “I Heard It Through The Grapevine,” while Stevie Wonder, Diana Ross & The Supremes, Glen Campbell, and Classics IV helped create a Top 5 filled with timeless classics.
As 1969 approached, popular music was entering a new era — one filled with greater artistic freedom, emotional depth, and unforgettable songs.