This Week in Billboard Chart History: In 1992, Madonna Won Gold Atop the Hot 100
The sports-themed "This Used to Be My Playground" bested all competitors for No. 1. Plus, remembering feats by Stevie Wonder, Richard Marx and Sonny & Cher.
Your weekly recap celebrating significant milestones from more than seven decades of Billboard chart history.
Aug. 8, 1992
Twenty-four years before the Games in Rio … Olympic memories: Madonna‘s “This Used to Be My Playground,” from the Olympics-themed 1992 album Barcelona Gold, finished first on the Billboard Hot 100. The song also served as the theme to the baseball movie A League of Their Own, starring Madonna, among others (although it was first released as a stand-alone single, and not on the film’s soundtrack, prior to its Barcelona Gold inclusion).
Aug. 9, 2003
Alan Jackson’s “It’s Five O’Clock Somewhere” began an eight-week reign on Hot Country Songs, the longest of his 26 career No. 1s. His singing and drinking buddy on the track? Jimmy Buffett. (And, did you know that Buffett worked as Billboard‘s Nashville correspondent in the early ’70s? Cheers to us!)
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Aug. 10, 1963
Stevie Wonder‘s iconic debut single, “Fingertips – Pt 2,” tops the Billboard Hot 100 for the first of three weeks. The song became his first of 10 No. 1s, the second-most among solo males. Only Michael Jackson, with 13 as a soloist, notched more Hot 100 leaders.
Aug. 11, 1984
Before the film’s new remake … Ray Parker, Jr.‘s “Ghostbusters” made No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 its haunt for the first of three weeks.
Aug. 12, 1989
Richard Marx‘s “Right Here Waiting” began a three-week command of the Billboard Hot 100. In 2014, Marx celebrated his highest Billboard 200 rank in 20 years, when his latest album, Beautiful Goodbye, debuted at No. 39.
Aug. 13, 1966
Fifty years ago today: The Lovin’ Spoonful‘s steamy “Summer in the City” was the hottest song on the Billboard Hot 100, burning a path to No. 1 for its first of three weeks on top.
Aug. 14, 1965
With one of the rock era’s sing-along favorites (just find a duet partner …), Sonny & Cher reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 with “I Got You Babe.”
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