Billboard Hot 100 | Top 5 – Week of November 16, 1968
By November 16, 1968, The Beatles were still holding the Billboard Hot 100 firmly in their hands with Hey Jude. The song had now spent ten weeks on the chart and continued its historic run at number one. Its emotional opening, sweeping build, and unforgettable singalong ending made it feel larger than a normal pop single. Even in a year filled with major musical moments, Hey Jude stood above the crowd.
Apple Records continued to dominate the very top of the chart, with Mary Hopkin’s Those Were The Days remaining at number two. That gave the young label the top two positions again, a remarkable achievement. Motown was closing in fast, however, as Diana Ross & The Supremes held at number three with Love Child, one of the group’s strongest and most socially aware records.
Rock music was also pushing upward. Steppenwolf climbed to number four with Magic Carpet Ride, continuing the band’s strong year after Born To Be Wild. Johnny Nash rounded out the Top 5 with Hold Me Tight, bringing a warm, rhythmic pop sound to a chart otherwise filled with Beatles grandeur, Motown drama, and psychedelic rock energy.
This week’s Top 10 also showed new movement from Johnnie Taylor and Dion, both climbing quickly with records that reflected different sides of late-1968 America. Soul, rock, pop, nostalgia, and social reflection were all sharing the same chart space as the year moved toward its final stretch.
Top 5 Songs (November 16, 1968)
1. Hey Jude – The Beatles
Hey Jude remained at number one, extending one of the most memorable chart runs of the decade. The Beatles had created a record that felt both deeply personal and universally shared, beginning as encouragement and ending as a massive communal chorus.
The song’s success continued to prove that The Beatles could bend the rules of pop radio. Its length should have made it a challenge for airplay, but listeners embraced every minute. The final refrain became one of the most recognizable moments in 1960s music.
By mid-November, Hey Jude was no longer simply a hit record. It had become one of the defining songs of 1968 and one of the signature achievements of The Beatles’ career.
2. Those Were The Days – Mary Hopkin
Those Were The Days held steady at number two, continuing Mary Hopkin’s remarkable breakthrough. Its nostalgic melody and reflective mood gave it a timeless quality that stood apart from most of the rock and soul records surrounding it.
Hopkin’s clear vocal performance helped the song feel graceful and sincere. The record sounded old-fashioned by design, but that became part of its charm. In a fast-changing musical year, its wistful tone gave listeners something different.
Its continued strength also showed the power of Apple Records beyond The Beatles. The label had quickly placed two very different songs at the top of the American chart.
3. Love Child – Diana Ross & The Supremes
Love Child remained at number three, keeping Diana Ross & The Supremes in strong position near the top. The song marked a more serious turn for the group, dealing with social themes in a way that felt direct and contemporary.
Motown’s polished production gave the record its commercial strength, but the subject matter gave it added weight. Diana Ross delivered the lyric with urgency, helping the song connect beyond the usual boundaries of a pop single.
With steady momentum behind it, Love Child looked like one of the strongest challengers to The Beatles’ reign.
4. Magic Carpet Ride – Steppenwolf
Steppenwolf climbed from number seven to number four with Magic Carpet Ride, giving the band another major hit in 1968. The song’s swirling sound and driving rhythm captured the psychedelic edge of late-decade rock.
After the success of Born To Be Wild, Steppenwolf had become one of the strongest rock acts on the Hot 100. Magic Carpet Ride continued that momentum with a looser, more atmospheric feel while still carrying plenty of power.
Its climb into the Top 5 showed that heavier, more adventurous rock was becoming a regular part of mainstream radio.
5. Hold Me Tight – Johnny Nash
Hold Me Tight held at number five, giving Johnny Nash one of the brightest and most appealing records on the chart. Its warm rhythm and smooth vocal style made it stand out from the heavier rock and dramatic ballads around it.
Nash brought a relaxed confidence to the performance. The song’s upbeat feel and easy melody helped it connect with listeners looking for something joyful and accessible.
Its continued Top 5 presence showed that melodic, feel-good pop still had a strong place in the late-1968 chart landscape.
More Weeks at #1 for “Hey Jude”
This song spent multiple weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Explore each chart week below:
🎂 What Was the #1 Song on Your Birthday?
If you were born during the week ending November 16, 1968, this was your birthday song:
🎵 Hey Jude by The Beatles
▶ Watch and experience this song →
🎂 Born in the 60s? Try your own birthday:
Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 This Week
- Hey Jude – The Beatles
- Those Were The Days – Mary Hopkin
- Love Child – Diana Ross & The Supremes
- Magic Carpet Ride – Steppenwolf
- Hold Me Tight – Johnny Nash
- White Room – Cream
- Little Green Apples – O.C. Smith
- Who’s Making Love – Johnnie Taylor
- Abraham, Martin And John – Dion
- Elenore – The Turtles
Chart Movers This Week
Looking Back at November 1968
The November 16, 1968 chart mattered because it showed both dominance and change. The Beatles still controlled the top with Hey Jude, and Apple Records held the top two positions, but Motown and heavier rock were moving closer.
Love Child brought social realism into the Top 3, while Magic Carpet Ride showed Steppenwolf continuing to push hard rock and psychedelic sounds into the mainstream. Johnny Nash added a lighter rhythmic touch, giving the Top 5 a wide range of moods and styles.
Looking back, this week captures the richness of late 1968. One legendary song ruled the chart, but beneath it the next wave of soul, rock, and pop hits was already shaping the sound of the year’s final months.
