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First #1 Stereo Singles

Printed From: Top 40 Music on CD
Category: Top 40 Music On Compact Disc
Forum Name: Chat Board
Forum Description: Chat away but please observe the chat board rules
URL: https://top40musiconcd.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=3285
Printed Date: 18 July 2025 at 11:35pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.07 - https://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: First #1 Stereo Singles

Posted By: BudB
Subject: First #1 Stereo Singles
Date Posted: 11 April 2008 at 2:34pm

     A while back someone asked what the first #1 stereo single was. I can't find that message now so I'll start the topic over again. (Some of us older folks get confused with all this chit-chat stuff.)
     The first Billboard Hot 100 chart to indicate availability of stereo singles was on May 18, 1959. The #1 song was not in stereo; only the #4, #8, and #9 songs in the top 10 were stereo singles. Therefore, the first #1 song to appear on a stereo 45 single in real true stereo was "Lonely Boy" by Paul Anka on July 19, 1959. Some record stores carried stereo 45s; they were not just available to juke box operators.
     On Febuary 28, 1960 we find the first true stereo 33 single to make #1 was "Theme From A Summer Place" by Percy Faith. (Columbia issued their stereo singles on 7" 33's and they were usually available in "Stereo/Hi-Fi" type stores.)
     Other early true stereo #1 hits: "The Three Bells" by the Browns (8/30/59) and "Why" by Frankie Avalon (1/3/60). I note true stereo because as I looked at the 8/30/59 chart, I noticed that the #3 song "Lavender Blue" by Sammy Turner was listed as stereo. To my dissappointment when I bought that stereo 45, it was re-garbaged stereo, not true!
     Hope this answers questions about the earliest stereo singles. By the way, the second generation of stereo singles started appearing around 1968. I seem to remember the Doors "Hello I Love You" as being the first #1 stereo single from that generation.

Replies:

Posted By: Yah Shure
Date Posted: 11 April 2008 at 3:18pm

BudB wrote:

I seem to remember the Doors "Hello I Love You" as being the first #1 stereo single from that generation.

Your memory is spot-on, Bud. That was the second stereo 45 I bought, some three months after having purchased The Fireballs' "Goin' Away" on ATCO simply because it was in stereo. It only missed #1 by 78 places. :)