Billboard Hot 100 Chart – Week of December 6, 1969

Billboard Hot 100 | Top 5 – Week of December 6, 1969

As 1969 entered its final month, the Billboard Hot 100 reflected a music world changing rapidly. Singalong anthems, folk-pop harmonies, socially conscious rock, and sophisticated studio productions all shared the charts at the same time.

The week of December 6, 1969 featured one of the most unlikely #1 songs of the entire decade.

🎵 Top 5 Songs (December 6, 1969)

1. “Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” – Steam
   The catchy singalong smash climbed to #1 and quickly became one of the most recognizable crowd songs in music history.
2. “Leaving On A Jet Plane” – Peter, Paul & Mary
   The folk trio reached the #2 spot with their emotional farewell ballad written by John Denver.
3. “Come Together/Something” – The Beatles
   The Beatles remained near the top with their legendary Abbey Road double-sided hit.
4. “Take A Letter Maria” – R.B. Greaves
   The soulful storytelling favorite continued its impressive chart run.
5. “Down On The Corner/Fortunate Son” – Creedence Clearwater Revival
   Creedence Clearwater Revival brought both working-class storytelling and anti-war protest energy into the Top 5.

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A #1 Hit Nobody Expected

“Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye” by Steam may have been one of the most accidental hits ever recorded.

Originally created almost as a studio joke, the song’s infectious chorus exploded across American radio stations. Fans loved the simple singalong energy, and before long it had become the #1 song in the country. Decades later, it would still be played at sporting events around the world whenever a losing team was being sent home.

At #2, Peter, Paul & Mary delivered a completely different kind of hit with “Leaving On A Jet Plane.” The emotional folk ballad became one of the trio’s signature songs and helped introduce many listeners to songwriter John Denver.

The Beatles continued their late-1969 dominance with “Come Together/Something,” a single that showcased both John Lennon’s bluesy edge and George Harrison’s growing songwriting brilliance.

Meanwhile, Creedence Clearwater Revival delivered one of the most important political rock songs of the era with “Fortunate Son.” Released during the Vietnam War, the song criticized social inequality and became an anthem for a generation questioning authority and privilege.

The Billboard Hot 100 for December 6, 1969 perfectly captures the musical diversity of the time. Fun pop singalongs, emotional folk music, sophisticated rock albums, soul storytelling, and protest songs all coexisted on the same chart — a fitting way for the revolutionary 1960s to begin coming to an end.