#1 Billboard Albums of 1969

As the 60’s closed there were some huge-selling albums which sat atop the Billboard 200 for many weeks, none more so than Hair which spent an impressive 13 weeks on top of the pile selling three million copies in 1969 alone. 

Easy to forget just what a cultural revolution Hair represented, albeit merely a respectable stage embodiment of the counterculture forment that was boiling away in youth culture.

But beyond that, there were some beautiful songs on it, many of which got covered by others, especially Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In and Good Morning Starshine, both of which I loved as a wee boy. They had such a positive, upbeat vibe and I think were the building blocks of what became my hippie sensibilities. That stuff goes deep when you're little. 

Elsewhere, Blood Sweat & Tears second album was busy selling 4 million copies and spending 6 weeks at #1 across two stretches. A fantastic and quite a revolutionary album I think, in its blend of jazz and psychedelic rock. 

Abbey Road came out and spent 8 weeks at #1 on its way to selling 12 million copies in the USA and 31 million worldwide. It was #1 all over the world but only got to #3 in Japan, y'know. 

The Blind Faith album was at the top for 2 week though with a different (and better) cover in the USA to the UK. Can’t believe the original was even allowed really. I was shocked by it even as a teenager. A great album though, even if most of the second side is a jam.

While The Beatles were number one at Christmas, it was only appropriate that Led Zeppelin had replaced them on 27th December with their seminal, genre defining, dizz-buster second album and in doing so, very much ended the decade pointing towards the future of rock n roll.  

The White Album - The Beatles

TCB  - Diana Ross & The Supremes and The Temptations / Soundtrack

Wichita Lineman  - Glen Campbell

Blood, Sweat & Tears -  Blood, Sweat & Tears

Hair - Original Cast Recording

Johnny Cash At San Quentin - Johnny Cash

Blind Faith - Blind Faith

Green River - Creedence Clearwater Revival

Abbey Road - The Beatles

Led Zeppelin II - Led Zeppelin