On this day in 1980: Lipps Inc. started a four week run at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with ‘Funkytown.’ The song is from their debut album ‘Mouth To Mouth and was released as the album’s lead single in 1980.
‘Funkytown’ was written by musician, composer, and record producer Steven Greenberg and sung by Cynthia Johnson. The song expresses the singer’s pining for a metaphorical place that will “keep me movin’, keep me groovin’ with some energy”. Steven wrote the song while the band was living in Minneapolis with dreams of moving to New York.
‘Funkytown’ entered the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 on March 29, 1980 and spent four weeks at #1, from May 31 to June 21, 1980. It also hit the #1 spot on the disco chart in 1980.
Here’s a look at the Top 20 on the U.S. singles chart from this day back in 1980:
1 2 FUNKYTOWN –•– Lipps, Inc. (Casablanca)-10 (1 week at #1) (1)
2 1 CALL ME –•– Blondie (Chrysalis)-16 (1)
3 14 COMING UP / COMING UP (Live At Glasgow) –•– Paul McCartney and Wings (Columbia)-6 (3)
4 4 DON’T FALL IN LOVE WITH A DREAMER –•– Kenny Rogers with Kim Carnes (United Artists)-10 (4)
5 5 SEXY EYES –•– Dr. Hook (Capitol)-16 (5)
6 6 BIGGEST PART OF ME –•– Ambrosia (Warner Brothers)-9 (6)
7 7 STOMP! –•– The Brothers Johnson (A&M)-12 (7)
8 8 HURT SO BAD –•– Linda Ronstadt (Asylum)-8 (8)
9 11 AGAINST THE WIND –•– Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band (Capitol)-5 (9)
10 10 CARS –•– Gary Numan (Atco)-16 (10)
11 13 THE ROSE –•– Bette Midler (Atlantic)-11 (11)
12 12 I CAN’T HELP IT –•– Andy Gibb and Olivia Newton-John (RSO)-10 (12)
13 20 LITTLE JEANNIE –•– Elton John (MCA)-5 (13)
14 16 BRASS IN POCKET (I’m Special) –•– The Pretenders (Sire)-16 (14)
15 15 BREAKDOWN DEAD AHEAD –•– Boz Scaggs (Columbia)-10 (15)
16 18 STEAL AWAY –•– Robbie Dupree (Elektra)-8 (16)
17 19 SHE’S OUT OF MY LIFE –•– Michael Jackson (Epic)-7 (17)
18 3 LOST IN LOVE –•– Air Supply (Arista)-17 (3)
19 29 CUPID / I’VE LOVED YOU FOR A LONG TIME (Medley) –•– The Spinners (Atlantic)-3 (19)
20 25 LET’S GET SERIOUS –•– Jermaine Jackson (Motown)-10 (20)
On this day in 1986: Whitney Houston began her third and final week at #1 on the U.S. singles chart with “Greatest Love of All.” It would be ranked the #11 song for 1986 by Billboard Magazine on their year-end chart.
Here’s a look at the Top 20 on the U.S. singles chart from this day back in 1986:
1 1 GREATEST LOVE OF ALL –•– Whitney Houston (Arista)-10 (3 Weeks at #1) (1)
2 2 LIVE TO TELL –•– Madonna (Sire)-8 (2)
3 3 ON MY OWN –•– Patti LaBelle & Michael McDonald (MCA)-11 (3)
4 5 IF YOU LEAVE –•– Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark (A&M)-13 (4)
5 9 I CAN’T WAIT –•– Nu Shooz (Atlantic)-13 (5)
6 10 ALL I NEED IS A MIRACLE –•– Mike + The Mechanics (Atlantic)-11 (6)
7 12 SOMETHING ABOUT YOU –•– Level 42 (Polydor)-16 (7)
8 14 IS IT LOVE –•– Mr. Mister (RCA)-10 (8)
9 13 BE GOOD TO YOURSELF –•– Journey (Columbia)-8 (9)
10 6 WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR ME LATELY –•– Janet Jackson (A&M)-15 (4)
11 18 CRUSH ON YOU –•– The Jets (MCA)-8 (11)
12 16 MOVE AWAY –•– Culture Club (Virgin)-9 (12)
13 19 THERE’LL BE SAD SONGS –•– Billy Ocean (Jive)-7 (13)
14 4 WEST END GIRLS –•– Pet Shop Boys (EMI-America)-14 (1)
15 21 A DIFFERENT CORNER –•– George Michael (Columbia)-6 (15)
16 8 BAD BOY –•– Miami Sound Machine featuring Gloria Estefan (Epic)-13 (8)
17 20 NOTHIN’ AT ALL –•– Heart (Capitol)-7 (17)
18 7 TAKE ME HOME –•– Phil Collins (Atlantic)-12 (7)
19 22 NO ONE IS TO BLAME –•– Howard Jones (Elektra)-8 (19)
20 15 YOUR LOVE –•– The Outfield (Columbia)-16 (6)
