On this day in 1982: Stevie Wonder and Paul McCartney started their SIXTH week at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with ‘Ebony And Ivory’. The song gave McCartney his 24th U.S. #1 as a songwriter. The title was inspired by McCartney hearing Spike Milligan say “black notes, white notes, and you need to play the two to make harmony folks!”
It was the lead single from McCartney’s album ‘Tug Of War.’ Written by McCartney, the song aligns the black and white keys of a piano keyboard with the theme of racial harmony. The single reached number one on both the UK and the U.S. charts and was among the top-selling singles of 1982 in the US. It was ranked the #4 song of the year for 1982 by Billboard Magazine.
Here’s a look at the Top 20 on the U.S. singles chart from this day back in 1982:
1 1 EBONY AND IVORY –•– Paul McCartney with Stevie Wonder (Columbia)-11 (6 weeks at #1) (1)
2 3 DON’T YOU WANT ME –•– The Human League (A&M)-16 (2)
3 7 ROSANNA –•– Toto (Columbia)-10 (3)
4 4 THE OTHER WOMAN –•– Ray Parker, Jr. (Arista)-14 (4)
5 5 ALWAYS ON MY MIND –•– Willie Nelson (Columbia)-16 (5)
6 6 HEAT OF THE MOMENT –•– Asia (Geffen)-10 (6)
7 8 CRIMSON AND CLOVER –•– Joan Jett and the Blackhearts (Boardwalk)-8 (7)
8 16 LET IT WHIP –•– The Dazz Band (Motown)-9 (8)
9 17 HURTS SO GOOD –•– John Cougar (Riva)-9 (9)
10 10 IT’S GONNA TAKE A MIRACLE –•– Deniece Williams (ARC)-12 (10)
11 12 BODY LANGUAGE –•– Queen (Elektra)-8 (11)
12 15 LOVE’S BEEN A LITTLE BIT HARD ON ME –•– Juice Newton (Capitol)-7 (12)
13 13 MAKING LOVE –•– Roberta Flack (Atlantic)-16 (13)
14 2 DON’T TALK TO STRANGERS –•– Rick Springfield (RCA)-16 (2)
15 9 867-5309/JENNY –•– Tommy Tutone (Columbia)-22 (4)
16 20 CAUGHT UP IN YOU –•– 38 Special (A&M)-8 (16)
17 21 TAINTED LOVE –•– Soft Cell (Sire)-23 (17)
18 11 I’VE NEVER BEEN TO ME –•– Charlene (Duncan) (Motown)-19 (3)
19 14 MAN ON YOUR MIND –•– Little River Band (Capitol)-12 (14)
20 29 ONLY THE LONELY –•– The Motels (Capitol)-9 (20)
On this day in 1987: Guns N’ Roses made their UK live debut at a sold out The Marquee Club in London.
