(The Hit Hammer is where I'm reviewing each #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. Starting from when the chart started in 1958 and eventually working my way to the present. To see my inspiration and more information about this blog, please refer to the "Poor Little Fool" post)
Dale & Grace - "I'm Leaving It Up to You"
Hit Number 1: November 23, 1963
Stay at Number 1: 2 Weeks
According to some, "I'm Leaving It Up to You" was the #1 song when JFK was assassinated in Dallas, but that doesn't seem to be accurate based off of what I see. According to Billboard itself, "I'm Leaving It Up to You" HIT #1 on November 23, 1963, the day after Kennedy died. So wouldn't that make "Deep Purple" the #1 song when that tragedy took place? Now, I'm open to the possibility of me being wrong, as I know that the issue dates don't always line up to the day the song actually became #1, but it's kind of hard to tell. I will leave this up to you readers (honestly, no pun intended) to decide what you think was really the #1 song when Kennedy died.
Ironically enough, Dale & Grace were present at the parade in Dallas where Kennedy would soon be killed. They were scheduled to perform later that night on Dick Clark's Caravan of Stars, and had waved to the president from a vantage point by their hotel. So unfortunately for them, they will always be linked to the president's assassination instead of just having a nice two weeks at #1. It's also unfortunate that instead of people looking at the qualities of the song, they look instead to JFK being killed while this song (according to some) was the #1 song in the country. And there are some GOOD qualities that the song boasts.
This was the first time that a duo replaced another duo at the #1 spot on the charts, and "I'm Leaving It Up to You" and "Deep Purple" are very similar songs. Just like on "Deep Purple", Dale & Grace's voices blend together pretty well on the song, and I have to say, Grace Broussard has a hell of a voice. That's one of the things I like about the song. Another thing is that it's a very simple song, without being a boring song. It has a good steady rhythm to it, and Dale & Grace don't try to steal the show from one another, which is a problem that duos and groups run into some times, but that doesn't seem to be the case here. Oh yeah, and I haven't even mentioned yet that this was a remake. Dale & Grace are not responsible for producing the original version of the song, but they have the best version. That's including a 1974 version by Donny & Marie Osmond that made it up to #4. It's okay, but again, not as good as Dale & Grace. Their version is a 6. (Donny Osmond will eventually appear in this blog)
So while it should have been just another #1 song, it will always have JFK's death tied to it, which is very unfortunate. "I'm Leaving It Up to You" isn't anything incredible, or among the best of the different #1 hits by any means, but it is a decent little piece of songcraft. It sure would be nice if most people could look past the somber note that's tied to it.
GRADE: 7/10
JUST MISSED:
A pretty cool sounding instrumental was kept from the #1 spot behind "I'm Leaving It Up to You". It's the Village Stompers' "Washington Square" and it's an 8.
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