Unexpected musical partnerships that rocked the charts
The Billboard Hot 100 is the ultimate chart in the United States, and indeed an indicator of success in the music industry. Many artists have had several no. 1 singles in other charts, but to get to the top spot of the Hot 100 is not easy. We know that not all music artists are songwriters, and that many of their hit songs are in fact written by other people. But who are these successful songwriters that managed to get so many no. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100? Click on to find out.
The Swedish musician and singer-songwriter wrote three no. 1 songs for his group, Roxette. First 'The Look' in 1989, then 'It Must Have Been Love' in 1990, and finally 'Joyride' in 1991.
You might be wondering who's the man posing with John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. His name is John Farrar, and he wrote the famous 'Grease' (1978) tune 'You’re the One That I Want.' He also wrote two of Newton-John’s no. 1 songs; 'Have You Never Been Mellow' in 1975, and 'Magic' in 1980.
What would be the '80s without Richard Marx's 1989 ballad 'Right Here Waiting,' right? But when this one came out, the singer already had two no. 1 singles under his belt: 'Hold On to the Nights' (1988) and 'Satisfied' (1989).
The American singer-songwriter wrote Peter, Paul and Mary’s 'Leaving on a Jet Plane' (1969), and Denver’s 'Annie’s Song' (1974) and 'I’m Sorry' (1975).
Better known as the front man for Sly and the Family Stone, this prolific songwriter has had three no. 1 hits with his band: 'Everyday People' (1969), 'Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)' (1970), and 'Family Affair' (1971).
You might not recognize Starr (top row, in the middle), but you might be familiar with the boy band he created: New Kids on the Block. Starr wrote three no. 1 singles for NKOTB: 'I’ll Be Loving You (Forever)' (1989), 'Hangin’ Tough' (1989), and 'Step By Step' (1990).
The R&B singer-songwriter wrote his no. 1 song 'Bump N’ Grind' in 1994. It was followed by Michael Jackson’s 'You Are Not Alone' (1995), and a duet with Celine Dion called 'I’m Your Angel' in 1998.
The "Piano Man" had three no. 1 singles in the Billboard Hot 100. They were: 'It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me' (1980), 'Tell Her About It' (1983), and 'We Didn’t Start the Fire' (1989).
Simon famously wrote four no. 1 singles. Three of them were played by his duo Simon & Garfunkel: 'The Sounds of Silence' in 1966 ("sounds" in the title was later changed to "sound"), 'Mrs. Robinson' (1968), and 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' (1970).
But Paul Simon also managed to get a no. 1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 with one of his singles: '50 Ways to Leave Your Lover' in 1976.
Neil Diamond only sang two of his four no. 1 singles: 'Cracklin’ Rosie' in 1970, and 'Song Sung Blue' in 1972.
His other two top songs were written for other artists, namely the famous 1966 tune 'I’m a Believer' by The Monkees, and UB40's biggest hit 'Red Red Wine' (1988).
Surprisingly, Phil Collins never had a no. 1 hit in the Billboard Hot 100 with his previous band, Genesis. Though he did amass four top singles under his own name.
These were: 'Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)' (1984), 'One More Night' (1985), 'Sussudio' (1985), and 'Another Day in Paradise' (1989).
The late artist is responsible for six no. 1 hits! These include Prince's 'When Doves Cry' (1984); Prince and the Revolution’s 'Let’s Go Crazy' (1984) and 'Kiss' (1986), and Prince's 'Batdance' in 1989.
In 1990, the hugely successful 'Nothing Compares 2 U” by Sinead O’Connor was released. And in 1991, Prince and the New Power Generation released his last no. 1 single: 'Cream.'
In 1963, Little Stevie Wonder became the youngest artist to top the chart at age 13 with 'Fingertips.' But the first no. 1 hit written by him was the famous 'Superstition' in 1973.
Wonder proved to be one of the most successful songwriters of all time, with another six no. 1 singles: 'You Are the Sunshine of My Life' (1973), 'You Haven’t Done Nothin’' (1974), 'I Wish' (1977), 'Sir Duke' (1977), 'I Just Called to Say I Love You'(1984), and 'Part-Time Lover' (1985).
Also holding the record of seven no. 1 singles in the Hot 100, the former Beatle had five of them in the '70s. They were Paul McCartney and Wings’ 'My Love' (1973) and 'Band on the Run' (1974), Wings’ 'Listen to What the Man Said' (1975), 'Silly Love Songs' (1976), and 'With a Little Luck'(1978).
These hits were followed by Paul McCartney and Wings’ 'Coming Up (Live at Glasgow)' in 1980, and a collaboration with Stevie Wonder called 'Ebony and Ivory' in 1982.
The singer was not just a pretty face. George Michael actually wrote the no. 1 singles 'Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go' (1984) and 'Everything She Wants' in 1985.
But Wham! was just the beginning. After going solo, George Michael wrote five more hits: 'Faith' (1987), 'Father Figure' (1988), 'One More Try' (1988), 'Monkey' (1988), and 'Praying for Time' (1990).
MJ wrote seven no. 1 singles in a period of nine years. It started in 1979, with 'Don’t Stop ‘Til You Get Enough,' and was followed by two huge hits in 1983: 'Billie Jean' and 'Beat It.'
But Michael Jackson had more in the tank and wrote four more no. 1 singles: 'I Just Can’t Stop Loving You' (1987), 'Bad' (1987), 'The Way You Make Me Feel' (1988), and the 1998 tune 'Dirty Diana.'
And sharing the top spot with another songwriter comes Diane Warren, who wrote Chicago’s 'Look Away' (1988), Bad English’s 'When I See You Smile' (1989), Milli Vanilli’s 'Blame It on the Rain' (1989), and Taylor Dayne’s 'Love Will Lead You Back' in 1990.
But you're probably more familiar with her more recent songs. Warren is the musical genius behind Celine Dion’s 'Because You Loved Me' (1996); Toni Braxton’s 'Un-Break My Heart' (1996); Aerosmith’s 'I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing' (1998), and Brandy’s 'Have You Ever?' (1999).
Sharing the top spot with Diane Warren with eight no. 1 hits in the Hot 100 comes the one and only Lionel Richie. He wrote Commodores’ 'Three Times a Lady' (1978) and 'Still' (1979), Kenny Rogers’ 'Lady' (1980), and sang a duet with Diana Ross called 'Endless Love' in 1981.
Lionel Richie continued to write hit after hit, with 'Truly' (1982), 'All Night Long (All Night)' (1983), 'Hello' (1984), and 'Say You, Say Me' (1985).
Sources: (Billboard)
Songwriters with the most no. 1 singles
Who has the most no. 1 songs on the Billboard Hot 100?
MUSIC Billboard hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the ultimate chart in the United States, and indeed an indicator of success in the music industry. Many artists have had several no. 1 singles in other charts, but to get to the top spot of the Hot 100 is not easy. We know that not all music artists are songwriters, and that many of their hit songs are in fact written by other people. But who are these successful songwriters that managed to get so many no. 1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100? Click on to find out.