Billboard Hot 100 | Top 5 – Week of November 30, 1968
The final Billboard Hot 100 chart of November 1968 brought a major change at the top. After a long and historic run by The Beatles, Diana Ross & The Supremes moved into the number one position with Love Child. The song marked one of Motown’s strongest moments of the year, combining the label’s polished hitmaking sound with a more serious story than many earlier Supremes singles. In a year filled with social tension and musical experimentation, Love Child felt timely, dramatic, and powerful.
The Beatles did not disappear quietly. Hey Jude slipped to number two after one of the most dominant chart runs of the decade, remaining a massive presence after twelve weeks on the chart. Steppenwolf climbed to number three with Magic Carpet Ride, continuing the group’s strong year and showing how firmly harder rock had entered the mainstream.
Mary Hopkin’s Those Were The Days remained in the Top 5, giving Apple Records another major success, while Dion’s reflective Abraham, Martin And John held at number five. Together, the Top 5 captured late 1968 beautifully: Motown social drama, Beatles grandeur, psychedelic rock, nostalgic folk-pop, and national reflection all sharing the same space.
Below the Top 5, soul and country-pop were gaining strength. Johnnie Taylor, Stevie Wonder, Glen Campbell, Johnny Nash, and Cream helped make this one of the most varied charts of the season.
Top 5 Songs (November 30, 1968)
1. Love Child – Diana Ross & The Supremes
Love Child reached number one this week, giving Diana Ross & The Supremes one of their most important hits of the late 1960s. The song brought a more serious subject to the pop chart, showing that Motown could still evolve with the times.
The record’s strength came from its urgency. Diana Ross delivered the lyric with emotion and focus, while the production kept the song sharp, dramatic, and radio-ready. It was polished enough for pop audiences but carried more weight than a standard love song.
Its rise to number one showed that listeners were ready for records that mixed strong storytelling with social awareness. Love Child became one of the defining Supremes records of 1968.
2. Hey Jude – The Beatles
Hey Jude slipped to number two after its long stay at the top, but its impact remained enormous. The Beatles had already turned the song into one of the signature records of the decade.
Its emotional build and famous closing refrain helped it connect across generations. Even after losing the number one spot, the record still felt larger than almost anything else on the chart.
By late November, Hey Jude had secured its place as one of the biggest and most enduring hits of 1968.
3. Magic Carpet Ride – Steppenwolf
Steppenwolf climbed to number three with Magic Carpet Ride, continuing the band’s impressive 1968 run. The song carried a swirling psychedelic energy while still delivering the power that had made the group stand out earlier in the year.
After Born To Be Wild, Steppenwolf had become one of the clearest signs that heavier rock was no longer outside the mainstream. Magic Carpet Ride confirmed that their sound could keep reaching a wide radio audience.
Its rise into the Top 3 showed how much rock music was changing the shape of the Hot 100 as the decade neared its end.
4. Those Were The Days – Mary Hopkin
Those Were The Days moved to number four but remained one of the most distinctive records on the chart. Mary Hopkin’s clear voice and the song’s nostalgic melody gave it a timeless feel.
The record stood apart from the harder rock and soul records around it. Its old-world mood and reflective lyrics gave listeners something gentle and memorable during a fast-changing musical year.
Its continued Top 5 presence also showed the early strength of Apple Records beyond The Beatles themselves.
5. Abraham, Martin And John – Dion
Dion held at number five with Abraham, Martin And John, one of the most reflective songs of 1968. The record looked back on national loss and gave listeners a quiet moment of remembrance.
Its gentle arrangement and sincere vocal performance helped the song connect during a year marked by grief and uncertainty. Rather than sounding dramatic, it felt thoughtful and restrained.
The song’s continued climb showed how deeply it resonated with listeners who were still processing the events of the decade.
More Weeks at #1 for “Love Child”
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 30, 1968, this was your birthday song:
🎵 Love Child by Diana Ross & the Supremes
▶ Watch and experience this song →
🎂 Born in the 60s? Try your own birthday:
Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 This Week
- Love Child – Diana Ross & The Supremes
- Hey Jude – The Beatles
- Magic Carpet Ride – Steppenwolf
- Those Were The Days – Mary Hopkin
- Abraham, Martin And John – Dion
- Who’s Making Love – Johnnie Taylor
- For Once In My Life – Stevie Wonder
- Wichita Lineman – Glen Campbell
- Hold Me Tight – Johnny Nash
- White Room – Cream
Chart Movers This Week
Looking Back at November 1968
The November 30, 1968 chart mattered because it marked the end of Hey Jude’s reign and the return of Motown to number one with a powerful, socially aware Supremes record. Love Child showed that pop music could tackle serious themes while still reaching the very top.
The rest of the chart reflected the remarkable range of late 1968. Steppenwolf brought psychedelic rock, Mary Hopkin offered nostalgia, Dion brought reflection, and Stevie Wonder and Johnnie Taylor kept soul music moving upward.
Looking back, this week feels like a turning point. The Beatles’ historic run gave way to Motown, while the final weeks of 1968 began to take shape with soul, rock, and country-pop all competing for the next major chart moment.
