Billboard Hot 100 | Top 5 – Week of November 2, 1968
As November 1968 began, The Beatles continued their extraordinary hold on the Billboard Hot 100 with Hey Jude. The song remained at number one for another week, extending one of the most memorable chart runs of the decade. Its emotional opening, massive singalong ending, and unusual length made it feel larger than a typical pop single. By this point, Hey Jude had become the record everyone else on the chart was chasing.
Apple Records had an especially strong week, with Mary Hopkin’s Those Were The Days climbing to number two directly behind The Beatles. That gave the young label the top two songs in America. O.C. Smith remained near the top with Little Green Apples, while Arthur Brown’s theatrical Fire continued to hold strong after its dramatic climb through October.
The Grass Roots moved into the Top 5 with Midnight Confessions, adding another strong pop-rock entry to a chart filled with variety. Just below the Top 5, The Turtles, Gary Puckett and The Union Gap, Johnny Nash, Diana Ross & The Supremes, and Cream all showed how wide the pop audience had become by late 1968.
This week captured a chart in transition. The Beatles were still dominant, but Motown, harder rock, harmony pop, and soulful ballads were all pressing forward as the final months of 1968 began.
Top 5 Songs (November 2, 1968)
1. Hey Jude – The Beatles
Hey Jude remained at number one, continuing one of the most powerful chart runs of the 1960s. The Beatles had created a song that felt personal at first, then grew into a communal anthem that listeners could not ignore.
The song’s long running time made its success even more remarkable. Radio usually favored shorter singles, but Hey Jude broke that rule because the emotional payoff was so strong. The closing refrain became one of the most recognizable moments in popular music.
By its eighth week on the chart, Hey Jude was already more than a hit. It was becoming one of the signature recordings of The Beatles’ career.
2. Those Were The Days – Mary Hopkin
Those Were The Days climbed to number two, giving Mary Hopkin a major breakthrough and giving Apple Records another huge success. The song’s nostalgic melody and wistful tone sounded very different from most of the rock and soul records around it.
Hopkin’s clear vocal performance gave the song a timeless quality. It felt old-fashioned in the best possible way, offering listeners a reflective mood during a year filled with fast-changing sounds and cultural tension.
Its rise to number two showed that Apple was quickly becoming more than just The Beatles’ label. It was already helping introduce new voices to the top of the American charts.
3. Little Green Apples – O.C. Smith
Little Green Apples slipped one spot to number three, but O.C. Smith’s warm ballad remained one of the strongest records in the country. Its thoughtful lyrics and gentle delivery gave it broad appeal across pop and adult audiences.
The song stood apart because it relied on sincerity rather than flash. Smith’s performance made the lyric feel honest and lived-in, which helped the record connect deeply with listeners.
Even as newer hits climbed around it, Little Green Apples remained one of the most enduring ballads of late 1968.
4. Fire – The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown
Fire moved down to number four, but it remained one of the most unforgettable records on the Hot 100. Arthur Brown’s theatrical performance and the song’s psychedelic atmosphere gave it a sound unlike anything else in the Top 5.
The record felt closer to a stage spectacle than a standard pop single. Its dramatic vocal, organ-driven arrangement, and bold presentation made it stand out immediately on radio.
Its continued success showed that late-1960s listeners were open to adventurous records that pushed beyond normal pop expectations.
5. Midnight Confessions – The Grass Roots
The Grass Roots climbed into the Top 5 with Midnight Confessions, one of the group’s strongest pop-rock singles. Its driving rhythm, strong horn accents, and memorable chorus helped it stand out as fall radio grew more competitive.
The song captured the tension of hidden feelings and romantic frustration, giving it an emotional edge while still remaining highly radio-friendly. The Grass Roots had a gift for polished singles that carried just enough bite to feel exciting.
Its move into the Top 5 confirmed the group’s place among the most consistent hitmakers of the late 1960s.
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 2, 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
- Little Green Apples – O.C. Smith
- Fire – The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown
- Midnight Confessions – The Grass Roots
- Elenore – The Turtles
- Over You – Gary Puckett And The Union Gap
- Hold Me Tight – Johnny Nash
- Love Child – Diana Ross & The Supremes
- White Room – Cream
Chart Movers This Week
Looking Back at November 1968
The November 2, 1968 chart mattered because it showed The Beatles still dominating while the rest of the Top 10 continued to shift. Apple Records held the top two positions, a remarkable achievement for a label still in its early days.
At the same time, the chart showed how varied late-1968 radio had become. O.C. Smith brought adult-pop warmth, Arthur Brown brought psychedelic theater, The Grass Roots delivered polished pop-rock, and Cream and Motown were rising just below.
Looking back, this week captures the richness of the final stretch of 1968. The Hot 100 was still led by one of the decade’s biggest songs, but the next wave of hits was already moving into place.
