Circuit’s Soundtrack

gabrielle chaisson staff

A song list made up of 10 notable Chitlin’ Circuit artists from the ’50s and ’60s and their highest-rated Billboard R&B hits, which tracked the success of Black artists among Black audiences.

Billboard charts have measured radio sales and jukebox successes since the 1940s. The “Race Records” chart highlighted music targeted at black audiences until 1950, when Billboard renamed it Rhythm and Blues, aka R&B.

Source: https://exhibitions.lib.umd.edu/fatsdomino/legacy/charts

Popular circuit performer Guitar Slim released his hit “The Things That I Used To Do” in 1953. In 1954, it spent 21 weeks on the Billboard R&B charts and 14 weeks at number one on the “Most Played in Juke Boxes” list. Ray Charles, another popular circuit performer, played the piano on this record.

Source: https://blues.org/blues_hof_inductee/the-things-that-i-used-to-do-guitar-slim-specialty-1953/

Following the success of Tutti Frutti in 1955, Little Richard released “Long Tall Sally” the following year. This record peaked at number one on the “Billboard Rhythm and Blues Best Sellers” chart. This song became Little Richard’s first number-one R&B hit.

Source: https://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/little-richard-biography-and-career-timeline/27612/

Source: https://www.billboard.com/music/rock/little-richards-best-moments-songs-movies-9374735/

Fats Domino’s 1956 version of “Blueberry Hill” dominated the R&B charts for 11 weeks and held the number two spot on the pop charts for three weeks, making it a hit with both black and white audiences.

Source: https://www.loc.gov/static/programs/national-recording-preservation-board/documents/Blueberry-Hill_DeWitt.pdf

Source: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/fats-domino-12-essential-songs-116967/aint-that-a-shame-1955-117550/

Ike and Tina Turner’s 1960 Billboard hit “A Fool In Love” held the number two spot on the “Hot R&B Sides” chart and peaked at number 27 on the “Hot 100” chart. It served as the duo’s first Billboard charting single.

Source: https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/tina-turner-hot-100-hits-favorite-song-poll-1235340447/

Sam Cooke released his Billboard hit “Bring It On Home To Me” in 1962. It spent 18 weeks on the Billboard R&B chart and peaked at number two. He received a Grammy nomination for “Best Rhythm and Blues Recording” with this record.

Source: https://www.billboard.com/artist/sam-cooke/

Source: https://www.billboard.com/music/awards/grammys-2022-sam-cookes-music-nominated-1235010070/

Ray Charles’ 1962 hit “I Can’t Stop Loving You” spent 16 weeks on the Billboard R&B charts. It peaked at number one and held that spot for 10 weeks. Charles released this song as part of his country album, Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music.

Source: https://www.billboard.com/artist/ray-charles/chart-history/hsi/

Source: https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/ray-charles-tops-charts/

Slim Harpo released his hit “Baby Scratch My Back” in 1966. It peaked at number one on the Billboard R&B chart for two weeks and stayed on the chart for 18 weeks. His music’s impact expanded beyond blues into rock n’ roll with remakes of The Rolling Stones and Grateful Dead.

Source: https://www.billboard.com/artist/slim-harpo/

Source: https://westbatonrougemuseum.org/277/James-Slim-Harpo-Moore

Aretha Franklin’s 1967 reimagining of Otis Redding’s song “Respect” stayed on Billboard’s R&B charts for 15 weeks and spent eight of those weeks at number one. It became an anthem for women's empowerment and appealed to black and white audiences during the Civil Rights Movement.

Source: https://www.billboard.com/artist/aretha-franklin/chart-history/bsi/

Source: https://www.biography.com/musicians/aretha-franklin-respect-meaning

James Brown released his hit “Cold Sweat” in 1967. It peaked at number one on Billboard’s R&B charts and held the spot for three weeks. Credited with creating a new genre of music, Brown blended soul with funk.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2015/oct/28/james-brown-10-of-the-best

Otis Redding’s 1968 (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay posthumous album remained on the Billboard R&B charts for 37 weeks and held the number one spot for three weeks. His song of the same title became the “first posthumous number-one record in chart history.”

Source: https://www.billboard.com/artist/otis-redding/chart-history/blp/

Source: https://americansongwriter.com/the-dock-of-the-bay-otis-redding-behind-the-song/