Billboard published a weekly
chart in 1970 ranking the top-performing singles in the United States in
soul music and related
African American-oriented music genres; the chart has undergone various name changes over the decades to reflect the evolution of such genres and since 2005 has been published as
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[1] In 1970, it was published under the title Best Selling Soul Singles,[2] and 17 different singles topped the chart.
In the issue of Billboard dated January 3,
Diana Ross & the Supremes were at number one with "
Someday We'll Be Together", the song's fourth and final week in the top spot.[3] It was the final Supremes single to feature lead singer
Diana Ross, who departed for a successful solo career;[4][5] she would go on to achieve her first solo chart-topper later in the year with "
Ain't No Mountain High Enough". The Supremes, with new lead singer
Jean Terrell,[4] topped the chart again in December with "
Stoned Love", but it would prove to be the group's final soul number one.[6]
The Jackson 5 displaced the Supremes from the top spot in the year's second issue of Billboard with "
I Want You Back", giving the brothers their first number one with their debut single.[7][8] The Jackson 5, all of whom were in their teens or younger,[8] quickly experienced a run of continued success, achieving four number-one soul singles by the end of the year. All four also topped the all-genre
Hot 100 chart, making them the first act ever to top that listing with their first four singles.[8] "
I'll Be There", the Jackson 5's fourth number one of 1970, became the highest-selling single released by the
Motown label.[8] The group spent a total of 20 weeks at number one in 1970; no other act spent more than six weeks in the top spot during the year. In addition to the Jackson 5,
the Moments gained their first career number one when "
Love on a Two-Way Street" spent five weeks in the top spot in May and June.[9] In March,
Brook Benton achieved his first chart-topper for nearly ten years when he reached number one with "
Rainy Night in Georgia"; his last appearance in the top spot had been with "
Kiddio" in 1960.[10]
Billboard published a weekly
chart in 1970 ranking the top-performing singles in the United States in
soul music and related
African American-oriented music genres; the chart has undergone various name changes over the decades to reflect the evolution of such genres and since 2005 has been published as
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[1] In 1970, it was published under the title Best Selling Soul Singles,[2] and 17 different singles topped the chart.
In the issue of Billboard dated January 3,
Diana Ross & the Supremes were at number one with "
Someday We'll Be Together", the song's fourth and final week in the top spot.[3] It was the final Supremes single to feature lead singer
Diana Ross, who departed for a successful solo career;[4][5] she would go on to achieve her first solo chart-topper later in the year with "
Ain't No Mountain High Enough". The Supremes, with new lead singer
Jean Terrell,[4] topped the chart again in December with "
Stoned Love", but it would prove to be the group's final soul number one.[6]
The Jackson 5 displaced the Supremes from the top spot in the year's second issue of Billboard with "
I Want You Back", giving the brothers their first number one with their debut single.[7][8] The Jackson 5, all of whom were in their teens or younger,[8] quickly experienced a run of continued success, achieving four number-one soul singles by the end of the year. All four also topped the all-genre
Hot 100 chart, making them the first act ever to top that listing with their first four singles.[8] "
I'll Be There", the Jackson 5's fourth number one of 1970, became the highest-selling single released by the
Motown label.[8] The group spent a total of 20 weeks at number one in 1970; no other act spent more than six weeks in the top spot during the year. In addition to the Jackson 5,
the Moments gained their first career number one when "
Love on a Two-Way Street" spent five weeks in the top spot in May and June.[9] In March,
Brook Benton achieved his first chart-topper for nearly ten years when he reached number one with "
Rainy Night in Georgia"; his last appearance in the top spot had been with "
Kiddio" in 1960.[10]