Number Ones: Songs That Topped The Charts

There are some songs that make you remember all the good times in your life. They are the backyard barbeque songs, the “Oooh, that’s my jam’ songs, the drop-your-cup-and-run-to-the-dance-floor songs, the songs that made the baby songs, the first-time-I-saw-her-songs and of course, the ‘Baby, I love you’ songs.

A lot of those memorable songs are also hits that went #1 on the charts. On the weekend of October 17^th, the Tom Joyner Morning Show will celebrate its favorite #1’s with a special #RemembertheHits TJMS Takeover weekend.

All of these artists will be performing on the 2016 Fantastic Voyage setting sail from Miami on April 23, returning on May 1. You can listen along via the stream or on the Tom Joyner Morning Show app.

Here are the stories behind some of the #1’s.

Con Funk Shun – Ffun (1978)

The Southern California based group hit in 1978 with this song off their album Secrets. It went #1 R&B in January 1978 and peaked at #23 on the pop chart.

Dazz Band – Let It Whip (1982)

“Let It Whip” was the Cleveland Ohio-based group’s biggest hit, off their album Keep It Live going to #1 R&B, #5 Dance and #5 Pop in 1982. The group won a Grammy for Best R&B Performance By A Group or Duo With Vocals in 1983. It’s gotten new life in the video game Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas and was sampled by Justin Timberlake for his huge 2003 hit Cry Me A River.

Gap Band – Outstanding (1983)

Tulsa, Oklahoma’s Gap Band, comprised of Charlie, Ronnie and Robert Wilson scored a #1 R&B hit with this mid-tempo song off their classic album Gap Band IV. The song is one of the most sampled in R&B and hip-hop, forming the basis of songs recorded by everyone from Ashanti to Mary J. Blige to Madonna to Redman and more.

 Big Daddy Kane – Smooth Operator (1989)

One of Brooklyn-born rapper Big Daddy Kane’s biggest hits, “Smooth Operator” off his second album It’s A Big Daddy Thing. went to #1 on the Rap chart in 1989, solidifying the rapper as hip-hop’s then biggest star. Comedian Chris Rock is in the video, as is Al B. Sure.

 Christopher Williams – I’m Dreaming (1991)

Bronx-born Christopher Williams’ only #1 hit, it was on the New Jack City soundtrack, the 1991 movie classic that he also starred in with Wesley Snipes.

The title track of the 1992 album by Eric B and Rakim, the song went #1 on the Rap chart and further established Rakim as one of hip-hop’s greatest lyricists.

Black Sheep – The Choice Is Yours (1992)

One of hip-hop’s most enduring and well-known classics, “The Choice Is Yours,” off the Wolf In Sheep’s Clothing debut album from the Queens, N.Y. duo Black Sheep, hit #1 on the Rap Chart in 1992, becoming the duo’s only big hit record. In 2010, the song was used as part of a Kia Soul car commercial.

 Faith Evans/Puff Daddy and 112 – I’ll Be Missing You (1997)

New Jersey-born Faith Evans is the First Lady of Bad Boy. She was signed by Diddy and scored two platinum albums but this song, a tribute to her late husband, Christopher “Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace was a major #1 Pop and R&B hit, selling over 8 million copies and becoming one of the top-selling hit of all time.

From the No Way Out album featuring Puff Daddy and the Family, “I’ll Be Missing You” won Faith, Puff Daddy and 112 a 1998 Grammy For Best Rap Performance By A Duo or Group.

112 – Only You (1996)

Bad Boy’s 112, an Atlanta-based quartet scored with “Only You”off their self-titled debut album in 1996. The song was remixed with Mase on the rap vocal and used a sample of both “Bounce, Rock, Skate Roll” from Vaughn Mason while the original sampled “I Get Lifted” by KC and The Sunshine Band.

 Bone Thugs-n-Harmony – Tha Crossroads (1996)

The Cleveland-based rap quartet’s biggest single, off their second album E.1999 Eternal. it went #1 in 1996. The song was dedicated to their late mentor, N.W.A’s Eazy E, who had succumbed to AIDS.

 Carl Thomas – I Wish (2000)

Chicago native Carl Thomas hit #1 straight out of the box with his single “I Wish,” released in 2000,  helping his debut album Emotional go platinum in 2000.