I think 'Fire' is probably my favourite to appear since I last commented! As PCF referenced, the TOTP performance is a sight to behold with the burning helmet, "crazy world" of Arthur Brown indeed :lol:

Dream A Little Dream Of Me is one of my all-time favourites, such a beautiful melody and performance by Mama Cass too.

 

Anita's version sounds pleasant too but you can't beat the tone of Mama Cass, stunning.

Mama Cass's Dream A Little Dream Of Me is all kinds of stunning.

I adore Hold Me Tight, Johnny remains under-rated in reggae history, being American, but he gave Bob Marley his first hit. This song is still lovely. Voices In The Sky is a goodie, late 60's/early 70's Moody Blues were at their peak. Mama Cass was one of a batch of top faves here as I was about to discover to the Pick Of The Pops Sunday Alan Freeman chart rundown. This is such a gorgeous song, done beautifully, though Anita's version is decent few could outdo Mama Cass.

 

LOng John Baldry OK, not one I knew at the time, Classical Gas was fab, sadly forgotten mostly these days like most instrumentals, they just never get radio oldies play. Yesterday's Dreams passed me by in 1968, but it's good.

 

Ice In The Sun a friend had a copy of in the 70's, so I associate it later, fun enough. Hello I Love You is OK, never a fave though. C'mon Marianne the first version I knew was Donny Osmond's 1976 single, but as always The Four Seasons original is the best.

 

Jesamine, I loved that tune, my top record of this batch in '68, but it hasn't weathered as well as some others. Little Arrows was great fun, Leapy was fun, and the record was an early Albert Hammond smash song with many more to come from here onwards. Lady Willpower, dramatic, massive vocal, still rate it and Gary Puckett's back catalogue generally. Laurel & Hardy not the Equals' best choice, but they always had a charm to them.

A huge number of covers in this group but it’s strong despite that. “Hey Jude” isn’t one of my favourite Beatles tracks to listen to these days but it’s still an all time great.

 

9 The Beatles Hey Jude 258th #1 and the longest at the time: originally "Hey Jules" this is a brilliant record though I rarely have patience for the coda

8 The Band The Weight Debut hit for this Canadian group that has become something of a folk classic; a very interesting song with some Biblical lyrics

8 Jose Feliciano Light My Fire Debut hit for the Puerto Rican; while the Doors original is even better this is an excellently performed and produced version

7 Mary Hopkin Those Were The Days 259th #1: originates from a Russian 1920s song and debut hit for this early TV talent show winner; very good song done well

7 Love Affair A Day Without Love Their 3rd straight Top 10 hit and another dynamic pop song with slick Motown-like production and fab vocals from Steve Ellis

7 Hugo Montenegro, His Orchestra And Chorus The Good, The Bad And The Ugly 261st #1: a cover of Ennio Morricone's title track to the film; an in comic, incredibly atmospheric and varied instrumental

6 Jimmy James And The Vagabonds Red, Red Wine Debut hit for this British-Jamaican soul singer and band: a Neil Diamond album track originally but this soulful cover works well

6 Vanity Fare I Live For The Sun Debut for this UK group and a cover of a US hit: a lovely psychedelic pop song with trippy flute and Beach Boys style harmonies

5 Engelbert Humperdinck Les Bicyclettes De Belsize A film theme song originally all in French, this is a lovely tune and a nice restrained performance; think this is my favourite of his

5 The Dave Clark Five Red Balloon A cover of a Raymond Froggatt song from this year: it's an extremely catchy track with a march style rhythm that suits them well

4 The Tremeloes My Little Lady A nice jolly and sunny little number with a catchy chorus and summery trumpets: it just feels a little on the lightweight side

3 Tyrannosaurus Rex One Inch Rock I really liked "Debora" but this follow up is too similar and doesn't really go anywhere: can see why their 1st era didn't work out

3 Cliff Richard Marianne I like the expansive orchestral production on this and overall it's quite a pleasant listen but the song itself is not very memorable

2 Wilson Pickett I'm A Midnight Mover He performs this with a lot of gusto but to me that's the only thing that makes it not dreadful: a repetitive and tuneless song

 

 

1968 Group 13:

 

#3179 28/09/1968 The Marbles Only One Woman 5 48-34-26-17-12-{5}-6-8-8-12-17-30->12

#3180 05/10/1968 The Hollies Listen To Me 11 33-23-13-{11}-12-14-15-18-23-33-46->11

#3181 05/10/1968 Marvin Gaye And Tammi Terrell You're All I Need To Get By 19 40-43-30-26-23-21-{19}-21-21-27-28-41-38-40-45-33-41-43-29->19

#3182 05/10/1968 Joe Cocker With A Little Help From My Friends 1 42-38-20-13-2-{1}-2-5-10-18-25-30-39->13

#3183 05/10/1968 Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick And Tich The Wreck Of 'The Antoinette' 14 43-19-18-17-{14}-18-22-28-36->9

#3184 05/10/1968 Cupid's Inspiration My World 33 46-39-35-{33}-42-38-41-45->8

#3185 05/10/1968 Sly And The Family Stone M'Lady 32 49-34-{32}-35-40-43-45->7

#3186 12/10/1968 Cream Sunshine Of Your Love 25 40-33-{25}-28-30-36-50->7

#3187 12/10/1968 Billie Davis I Want You To Be My Baby 33 47-37-40-39-{33}-40-36-45->8

#3188 19/10/1968 The Bandwagon Breaking Down The Walls Of Heartache 4 40-24-20-16-9-{4}-6-5-10-11-12-19-19-40-45->15

#3189 19/10/1968 Locomotive Rudi's In Love 25 42-38-33-{25}-25-26-30-38->8

#3190 19/10/1968 Nina Simone Ain't Got No; I Got Life/Do What You Gotta Do 2 45-45-35-28-18-10-7-7-3-{2}-3-7-7-9-14-20-27-45->18

#3191 19/10/1968 Jeannie C Riley Harper Valley P.T.A. 12 47-32-27-24-21-22-15-{12}-15-17-17-26-21-22-36->15

#3192 26/10/1968 Barry Ryan Eloise 2 34-16-4-3-{2}-2-3-8-18-18-35-44->12

 

#3193 26/10/1968 Long John Baldry Mexico 15 37-21-17-16-{15}-19-31-42->8

#3194 26/10/1968 The Marmalade Wait For Me Mary-Anne 30 39-{30}-32-32-35->5

#3195 26/10/1968 Val Doonican If I Knew Then What I Know Now 14 46-34-27-26-{14}-17-20-21-24-22-23-27-42->13

#3196 26/10/1968 Jimi Hendrix Experience All Along The Watchtower 5 48-18-9-6-6-{5}-11-23-31-32-46->11

#3197 26/10/1968 The Who Magic Bus 26 49-29-{26}-28-27-39->6

#3198 26/10/1968 The Barron Knights An Olympic Record 35 50-37-{35}-38->4

#3199 02/11/1968 The Turtles Elenore 7 41-23-13-{7}-8-10-14-21-15-25-28-43->12

#3200 02/11/1968 Malcolm Roberts May I Have The Next Dream With You 8 47-31-24-20-14-{8}-9-15-11-16-18-21-28-39-45R(2)->15

#3201 02/11/1968 Betty Everett It's In His Kiss 34 50-37-37-37-{34}-41-47->7

#3202 09/11/1968 The Scaffold Lily The Pink 1 41-23-12-4-2-{1}-1-1-2-1-4-4-7-34-19-22-28-31-38-31-34-35-38-43->24

#3203 09/11/1968 The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band I'm The Urban Spaceman 5 44-34-25-18-13-6-{5}-6-5-5-7-9-13-48->14

#3204 09/11/1968 Aphrodite's Child Rain And Tears 29 48-33-30-31-{29}-35-47->7

#3205 09/11/1968 Lulu I'm A Tiger 9 50-30-17-{9}-9-12-12-13-13-11-18-20-32->13

#3206 16/11/1968 The Four Tops I'm In A Different World 27 42-32-32-28-32-{27}-33-34-43-49-40-46-43->13

Edited January 15, 20241 yr by JulianT

'Hey Jude' B-) one I do sing around the house randomly from time to time :lol:

And here we are at Popchart Ground Zero for me. Hey Jude on the top of the charts. Alan Freeman on the Chart Show. And me going mad on Those Were The Days for ages and ages. Listening on out portable radio from Germany in the dining room of 3 Sheepwalk, RAF Swinderby while also trying to simultaneously watch Land Of The Giants on the TV in the Living Room. What a dilemma...!

 

Hey Jude an all-time classic and very high on my all-time list, no question, mad on it then and again in 1976 when it went top 20 and on all the anniversary chart re-entries ever since. Loved the video on Top Of The Pops. The Weight OTOH, I always found a bit dreary (and it never went top 20 so I didn't get to hear it till years later). Light My Fire, Jose's was the original version for me, wasnt aware it was a cover at the time, but The Doors' is the best version, but I still love this very different version.

 

Those Were The Days, watched Mary on Opportunity Knocks winning week after week, singing Turn Turn Turn I remember one week, remember the headlines about Paul signing her to the Apple label, and the instant success of this haunting, plaintive ballad. It's worn off a tad over the last 20 years or so, but it was big again when it was on the Apple EP that recharted in the late 80's/early 90's and was on dad's 16 Big Hits album, the main reason I was desperate that dad bought it when we spotted it on the evening market record stall in Singapore.

 

A Day Without Love, another goodie from Steve as you say, The Good The Bad & The Ugly was a monster cultural tune, loved it and the Ennio Morricone version was on 16 Big Hits much to my disappointment, I wanted the Hugo Montenegro version. Memories of this tune at the Infants School lunchtime playing field and dinner area in Bassingham, Lincs. Us Juniors had to walk from our Victorian building to the new site for the little kiddies.

 

Red Red Wine, a much later discovery, post UB40! S'OK. I LIve For The Sun I like, Les Bicyclettes was a singalong French-flavoured fave from the Hump, Red Balloon was good to see Dave Clark 5 back again and very catchy, and The Trems' My Little lady was my fave of the 3 here, and still the most fun.

 

One Inch Rock I bought in 1974 when I got a budget early Tyrannosaurus-era T.Rex album with it on, but not the best track on the album. Marianne is pleasant, one I;d forgotten about for a long time. Wilson Pickett, meh always for me. Energetic, yes, but there's In The Midnight Hour and the same-sounding rest of his back catalogue.

“Do What You Gotta Do” is nice but takes Nina down from a 9 to an 8 for the single overall.

 

8 Nina Simone Ain't Got No; I Got Life/Do What You Gotta Do 2nd side is sweet but it's all about the mashup of 2 songs from the "Hair" musical turned into a fabulous empowerment anthem

8 The Hollies Listen To Me This is astoundingly catchy with its punchy rhythm and one of my very favourites of theirs: not sure how it missed the Top 10

7 Cupid's Inspiration My World 2nd and final hit for them and didn't do very well for some reason but I think it's a marvellous track very sincerely performed

7 Billie Davis I Want You To Be My Baby Chart position was hampered by a strike at Decca; it's a cover of a vibrant 50s blues song and I think it's a great and fun version

6 The Marbles Only One Woman Bee Gees penned song and biggest hit for this British duo: a good tune and the slow pace to this really gives it a feeling of drama

6 Barry Ryan Eloise Written by his twin Paul and the biggest hit for either, this 5 minute progressive pop epic with big orchestration is enjoyable

5 The Bandwagon Breaking Down The Walls Of Heartache Debut hit for this US soul group, this is an energetic and well performed song with some nice touches like the outro with organ

5 Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick And Tich The Wreck Of 'The Antoinette' One of their lower peaking and weaker hits but still a fun and frenetic slickly produced pop song with an interesting lyrical theme

5 Cream Sunshine Of Your Love The best part by far is the riff: otherwise it's an enjoyable song but I don't think it develops that much beyond the guitar parts

4 Sly And The Family Stone M'Lady I enjoy the "bom bom" baseline and the hook is strong but it feels more like an experiment with themes than a complete song

4 Joe Cocker With A Little Help From My Friends 260th #1: not a bad Beatles cover which he manages to put his own stamp on, but it does go on rather and become slightly boring

3 Locomotive Rudi's In Love Only hit for this Birmingham rock band and oddly it's a ska style song - nice harmonies but lacking an interesting enough melody

3 Marvin Gaye And Tammi Terrell You're All I Need To Get By Somehow this peaked higher than "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing" but it's quite a dull and soppy Heart FM style ballad for me

2 Jeannie C Riley Harper Valley P.T.A. Only hit for this US country singer that was #1 Stateside; the lyrics are quite specific and musically it plods a bit - not my thing

 

 

 

1968 Group 14:

 

#3193 26/10/1968 Long John Baldry Mexico 15 37-21-17-16-{15}-19-31-42->8

#3194 26/10/1968 The Marmalade Wait For Me Mary-Anne 30 39-{30}-32-32-35->5

#3195 26/10/1968 Val Doonican If I Knew Then What I Know Now 14 46-34-27-26-{14}-17-20-21-24-22-23-27-42->13

#3196 26/10/1968 Jimi Hendrix Experience All Along The Watchtower 5 48-18-9-6-6-{5}-11-23-31-32-46->11

#3197 26/10/1968 The Who Magic Bus 26 49-29-{26}-28-27-39->6

#3198 26/10/1968 The Barron Knights An Olympic Record 35 50-37-{35}-38->4

#3199 02/11/1968 The Turtles Elenore 7 41-23-13-{7}-8-10-14-21-15-25-28-43->12

#3200 02/11/1968 Malcolm Roberts May I Have The Next Dream With You 8 47-31-24-20-14-{8}-9-15-11-16-18-21-28-39-45R(2)->15

#3201 02/11/1968 Betty Everett It's In His Kiss 34 50-37-37-37-{34}-41-47->7

#3202 09/11/1968 The Scaffold Lily The Pink 1 41-23-12-4-2-{1}-1-1-2-1-4-4-7-34-19-22-28-31-38-31-34-35-38-43->24

#3203 09/11/1968 The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band I'm The Urban Spaceman 5 44-34-25-18-13-6-{5}-6-5-5-7-9-13-48->14

#3204 09/11/1968 Aphrodite's Child Rain And Tears 29 48-33-30-31-{29}-35-47->7

#3205 09/11/1968 Lulu I'm A Tiger 9 50-30-17-{9}-9-12-12-13-13-11-18-20-32->13

#3206 16/11/1968 The Four Tops I'm In A Different World 27 42-32-32-28-32-{27}-33-34-43-49-40-46-43->13

Edited January 15, 20241 yr by JulianT

Ain't Got No a total chart-topper for me, adored it. Love Hair the musical too, I even have the photonovel of the movie - back in the 70's we didn;t have video, so the only alternative was to buy books showing scenes and dialogue and lyrics in photo novel form. I bought every Star Trek episode they released, and Hair. Nina meanwhile has several versions of the song, but the hit single version from 1968 is the only version for me, powerful.

 

 

Listen To Me is a Hollies goodie, still with Graham Nash around but not for much longer, Stills and Crosby were calling. My World is brilliant, love it to bits, another one I discovered in the mid-70's on a compilation album I bought. Billie Davis ditto, except I didnt find it till the 90's, I genuinely dont recall hearing it at the time but it's so good I entered it into the BJSC (as often the case for obscure oldies just missed out on the final). The German pop show performance is fab. And yes she is rapping, cos I say so! :D

 

The Marbles was a huge fave of the time, The Bee Gees were so prolific with classic songs they could gift one to some pals no problem, and a goodie too. I think I would have preferred Robin Gibb singing it on a Bee Gees version though. The bandwagon a Northern Soul stomper, loved it at the time, still sounds exciting. Eloise, though, is my Record Of The Week by far, topped my charts, bought the single circa 1977 and it still sounded 10/10 brilliant manic cinematic ambitious and histrionic. Adore it, though The Damned did a decent version of it too.

 

Wreck Of The Antoinette reminds me of singing it in my head in the dinner queue at Bassingham infants school building, which reminds me of sticking love hearts in glasses of water to get "lemonade", and of the one time in my life I retaliated against a school bully in the dinner queue - he was often bothering me and grabbed me, so I grabbed his arm and swung him around in a circle till the momentum made him fall over. Wish I'd done that more often in later life, frankly. Made us both look silly. The record is not quite up the previous 2, but was great anyway.

 

Sunshine Of Your Love more of a hysterical 70's guitar Clapton Is God reputation than an actual classic record. Joe Cocker was a monster hit, one I liked and still prefer to Ringo's original. Definitely OTT, mind. Still his greatest record. M'Lady not one I knew till recently, S.OK. Rudy's In Love I did know I find out in the 80's, having thought I didn't know it in Hit Singles books. Fun.

 

You're All I Need To Get By is decent Marvin & Tammi, and Harper Valley PTA was another country classic iconic fave of the time. It's all about the lyrics, and references hit TV US soap Peyton Place (which I liked), starring Ryan O'Neal, who I had a crush on - basically it's about gossiping judgemental small town America who are above all hypocrites. I know all the words and love every line, but especially the final line. As I browse across X and other social media and media sites generally, I see human nature hasn't improved much in 55+ years and judgemental hypocrites remain a thing, and so it shall ever remain relevant. Maybe a dance version is called for!

While the guitar genius is beyond doubt I do find some of Jimi’s music quite hard to get into, but with the right song here he’s pure magic.

 

9 Jimi Hendrix Experience All Along The Watchtower His most streamed deservedly: a Dylan song which combined with the brilliant guitar work makes an all time great record

8 The Four Tops I'm In A Different World Didn't do that well for some reason, but I think it's a passionately delivered and compelling soul number with lovely lyrics

7 The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band I'm The Urban Spaceman Produced by Paul M and indeed reminds me of "Octopus's Garden", it's great fun and the only hit for this group of students

7 The Turtles Elenore Intended as a parody because they wanted to be more adventurous than the label would allow, but I unironically think it's lovely

6 The Who Magic Bus An interesting psychedelic number using drum sticks called claves and with a call and response style and beat that draw you in

6 Betty Everett It's In His Kiss It's hard to judge this version independently when the 90s cover is so ubiquitous, but a fun and cleverly written song nicely done

5 The Marmalade Wait For Me Mary-Anne A small hit here but they'll be back with a bang: it's a sweet and enjoyable pop song given quite a dramatic feel by the brass

5 Aphrodite's Child Rain And Tears Only hit for this Greek group which included Demis Roussos based around Pachelbel's "Canon"; I enjoy the passionate vocals

4 The Barron Knights An Olympic Record Their last hit for a while: their parodies are always fun with good impressions and satirical lyrics, though this one is rather long

4 Long John Baldry Mexico I am getting into his style of performing and it's a nice tune but the whole theme of sun and cocktails is somewhat chichéd

3 The Scaffold Lily The Pink 262nd #1: adapted from a folk song this is something of a novelty classic but certainly doesn't bear a large number of listens

3 Lulu I'm A Tiger Well she certainly has her style nailed down but it's all getting a bit samey now and this one is really a rather repetitive listen

2 Malcolm Roberts May I Have The Next Dream With You 1st Top 40 for this English singer and actor: why is it that the all round entertainers mostly did incredibly dreary music like this?

2 Val Doonican If I Knew Then What I Know Now Can't even work out whether it's an original, but a very soporific 50s style ballad with lazy piano and singalong backing vocals

 

 

1968 Group 15:

 

#3207 16/11/1968 The Showstoppers Eeny Meeny 33 50-34-{33}-35-38-49-50->7

#3208 23/11/1968 Des O'Connor 1-2-3 O'Leary 4 31-16-6-{4}-4-4-8-13-14-17-22->11

#3209 23/11/1968 Diana Ross And The Supremes Love Child 15 41-24-19-17-19-21-18-{15}-17-16-18-23-43-49->14

#3210 23/11/1968 Gun Race With The Devil 8 43-28-15-13-{8}-10-11-14-19-26-35->11

#3211 23/11/1968 The Kasenetz-Katz Singing Orchestral Circus Quick Joey Small (Run Joey Run) 19 44-37-32-27-22-25-27-32-28-24-{19}-30-25-45-48->15

#3212 23/11/1968 Judy Clay And William Bell Private Number 8 46-29-23-19-14-16-14-12-10-{8}-8-13-22-29->14

#3213 23/11/1968 The Foundations Build Me Up Buttercup 2 49-22-14-5-3-{2}-3-2-3-6-10-36-28-43-43->15

#3214 30/11/1968 Love Sculpture Sabre Dance 5 35-22-11-7-{5}-6-6-8-11-15-41-39-44-50->14

#3215 30/11/1968 Gene Pitney Yours Until Tomorrow 34 41-37-{34}-38-34-47-47->7

#3216 30/11/1968 Tom Jones A Minute Of Your Time 14 42-26-16-16-{14}-17-17-20-18-26-37-35-26-41-35->15

#3217 30/11/1968 Cliff Richard And The Shadows Don't Forget To Catch Me 21 43-34-29-28-26-{21}-26-39-44-48->10

#3218 30/11/1968 The Dave Clark Five Live In The Sky 39 48-{39}-43-39-42-44->6

#3219 07/12/1968 Fleetwood Mac Albatross 1 36-20-13-9-4-4-2-2-{1}-2-2-6-8-19-24-35-42-35-38-46->20

#3220 07/12/1968 The Casuals Toy 30 40-44-35-35-{30}-34-37-49->8

Watchtower far and away Jim's genius moment. Nothing else comes close and many Hendrix enthusiasts have tried to persuade me otherwise :D Different World is a goodie, Urban Spaceman a massive fave of the time from future fave Neil Innes. See Rutles.

 

Elenore is fabulous my fave then and now from this group. Still love the etcetera bit so funny. Flo and Eddie were fab. Magic Bus is ok, Betty Everett passed me by in 1968, it took Linda Lewis disco 1975 hit to make me love that version but bettys is good too.

 

Mary Anne I liked and still do like, Rain and Tears I discovered in 1976 and its quite haunting. Mexico was the Olympics theme tune and all over the telly in 1968 but hasnt worn that well, Lily The Pink a huge fave of 10 year old me and i still enjoy its Scouse charm. Mike Mcartney has just got out of hospital so wishing him well!

 

I'm A Tiger a big fave at the time, it's cute but not classic and not one she did on the last tour I saw. Her recent tour was cancelled from illness so also wishing Lulu well! Malcolm and Val both tweaked my MOR ballad impulses but these days neither of them do much for me.

'Breaking Down The Walls Of Heartache' is one of my favourites since I last commented, a fine bit of northern soul that Dexys Midnight Runners covered. My other faves are a bit more obvious - 'Jumpin' Jack Flash', 'Hey Jude', 'All Along The Watchtower'.

It is hard not to think of M&S now unfortunately when hearing “Albatross”, but it remains a great piece of music and of course still their only chart topper. It’s amazing that it’s the same group who produced the likes of “Go Your Own Way” though!

 

9 Fleetwood Mac Albatross 264th #1: a beautiful and luxurious instrumental that started their proper success, but still so different from their future output

8 Gun Race With The Devil Debut for this UK rock trio; a fabulous whirlwind of a song with slightly hysterical vocals over frenzied guitars and a strong riff

8 Love Sculpture Sabre Dance An 11.5 minute epic here that's a rock guitar version of a movement from Khachaturian's ballet "Gayane" - works very well

7 The Foundations Build Me Up Buttercup This reminds me of uni discos slightly too much to take it seriously, but it is a very well written soulful song with a great beat

7 Judy Clay And William Bell Private Number A US soul duet here: biggest hit for William and only hit for Judy with a very lovely classy ballad and they perform it beautifully

6 The Casuals Toy Their 2nd and final hit and I actually prefer it to their big one "Jesamine": this is a very simple but infectious number well done

5 The Kasenetz-Katz Singing Orchestral Circus Quick Joey Small (Run Joey Run) Only hit for this "supergroup" who were conceived to produce child friendly music: it's a catchy stompy singalong song anyway

4 Gene Pitney Yours Until Tomorrow Gene's ability to have big hits seems to have dried up; this is in his usual high drama high emotion style but the tune isn't great

4 Diana Ross And The Supremes Love Child Please don't force me to sleep with you as we'll make an unhappy baby is the stark message; a decent song in their usual style

3 Des O'Connor 1-2-3 O'Leary He'll have more hits but this is the last of his trio of very big ones: apparently it's an Irish game but quite a forgettable song

3 The Showstoppers Eeny Meeny Their 2nd and final hit: the main theme feels like something from a nursery rhyme and grates somewhat; not very enjoyable

2 Cliff Richard And The Shadows Don't Forget To Catch Me Cliff doesn't really sound too fussed whether you forget to catch him or not on this; a bouncy and inconsequential little ballad

2 Tom Jones A Minute Of Your Time 3 minutes of your time required for this, which is unfortunate as it's a very plodding and forgettable number that goes nowhere

1 The Dave Clark Five Live In The Sky I think this is supposed to be an early football song with the "glory glory hallelujah" tune in it; find it very irritating anyway

 

 

1968 Group 16 (skipping over the Edwin Starr double A as we’ve had both sides, meaning there are only 13 in this group oops):

 

#3221 07/12/1968 Dusty Springfield Son Of A Preacher Man 9 44-24-20-20-{9}-9-11-13-21->9

#3222 07/12/1968 The Marmalade Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da 1 45-22-9-7-{1}-3-1-1-4-10-9-14-23-23-40-28-34-32-47-48->20

#3223 07/12/1968 Donovan Atlantis 23 50-37-26-{23}-28-37-41-43->8

14/12/1968 Edwin Starr Stop Her On Sight (S.O.S.)/Headline News 11 36-25-37-31-22-16-12-{11}-15-18-37->11

#3224 14/12/1968 The Tremeloes I Shall Be Released 29 41-{29}-29-36-41->5

#3225 14/12/1968 Booker T And The MG's Soul Limbo 30 49-42-47-38-38-{30}-34-34-42->9

#3226 21/12/1968 Stevie Wonder For Once In My Life 3 32-27-12-10-5-{3}-3-3-4-10-13-20-46->13

#3227 21/12/1968 Herman's Hermits Something's Happening 6 33-28-10-8-{6}-7-6-14-14-20-24-37-42-32-42->15

#3228 21/12/1968 Bedrocks Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da 20 34-30-{20}-24-26-32-41->7

#3229 21/12/1968 Danny La Rue On Mother Kelly's Doorstep 33 36-41-{33}-36-36-46-49-44-45->9

#3230 21/12/1968 Manfred Mann Fox On The Run 5 44-44-32-23-12-10-{5}-11-13-16-27-49->12

#3231 21/12/1968 Donald Peers Please Don't Go 3 46-36-24-25-25-23-16-8-6-4-4-{3}-10-4-20-23-24-33-39R(2)-42-49->21

#3232 28/12/1968 The Beach Boys Bluebirds Over The Mountain 33 48-41-{33}-34-42->5

#3233 28/12/1968 The Move Blackberry Way 1 49-42-29-13-5-2-{1}-3-5-7-18-41->12

 

Edited January 18, 20241 yr by JulianT

Ah so that's what that advert song is now haha. Great instrumental track anyhow. 'Build Me Up Buttercup' is such a feel good classic too :wub:

3 great songs today, 'Albatross' certainly feels in a different universe to Fleetwood Mac's other biggest hits but I do love it for what it is as well, 'Build Me Up Buttercup' is too wholesome to not love and 'Race With The Devil' was a fairly recent discovery for me after popping up as a PopMaster bonus question, loved the clip so much that I had to look up the full song!

 

'All Along The Watchtower' is great too of course - just a tad better than the Devlin/Ed Sheeran version :P

 

Also belated :heart: for Nina Simone, lots of notable advert songs dropping out in the last few votes!

Albatross still the dreamy instrumental it always was. So good it hit 2 again in 1973 setting up the new line-up. However my brain is seared by the memory of Pythons John cleese in drag as a cinema ice cream seller with an albatross on the tray instead of ice cream. "Albatross! Get your Albatross!"

 

Gun and Love Sculpture are 2 manic rock forgotten classics I've had lined up as bjsc potentials for some years. Esp Dave Edmunds blistering guitar work on sabre dance. The Foundation's was my fave record as I turned 11 years old and topped my chart. I bought a 12 inch single mini hits in 1977 with it on and played it to my room mates who weren't quite as enthusiastic- "sounds a bit dated" opined Pete as indeed it did in 1977, but future party classic regardless.

 

Private number was fab and also another 1977 12 incher I bought. Toy I don't recall hearing but it's not bad. Quick Joey Small is great bubblegum fun. Genre's is decent, and Love Child is my top track of the batch. Loved it then, love it more now, socially minded soul just grabs at my emotions and this remains my fave ever Diana/Supremes moment.

 

123 oleary was a fave then, and a juniors choice radio regular, still charming. The rest though are just ho hum...

A lovely top 3 to round off the year.

 

9 Dusty Springfield Son Of A Preacher Man Her last solo Top 10 and another huge classic brilliantly performed, which feels like it has more of a nod to her folky origins

9 The Move Blackberry Way 265th #1: what a tune this is; also a bleak song with quite harsh vocals, an ominous stompy rhythm and ghostly violin backing

8 Stevie Wonder For Once In My Life An upbeat version of a Motown song from a few years prior that works excellently and really shows him off as a great artist

7 Booker T And The MG's Soul Limbo Debut instrumental hit for this US group, later used for BBC cricket coverage; a stonking foot tapper that still sounds great

7 Manfred Mann Fox On The Run Interesting quite poetic lyrics here and a strong record all round with a good tune and guitar riff, and performed with gusto

6 The Tremeloes I Shall Be Released A Dylan song here with really sweet lyrics and this a nice warm version with harmonies that bring across the wistful feel of it

6 Donovan Atlantis A bit of an epic that takes a while to get going with a long spoken introduction, but once it gets to the chorus it's very effective

5 Danny La Rue On Mother Kelly's Doorstep Only hit for this drag performer and a 20s music hall song: not usually my thing but there's something irresistably charming here

5 The Beach Boys Bluebirds Over The Mountain A 50s song originally and a nice track that works pretty well done in their style, but something about it feels slightly perfunctory

4 Herman's Hermits Something's Happening A translation from Italian and I feel like the English version comes over a little basic, but a nice song and I enjoy the xylophone

3 Bedrocks Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da Only hit for this Leeds based ska group and it's far from an essential Beatles cover but an interesting take on the song at least

2 The Marmalade Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da 263rd #1: I can certainly think of some aspects of this that are worse than the original but not a single thing that's better

2 Donald Peers Please Don't Go Only big hit for this Welshman: tune is from a classical piece, "Barcarolle" by Offenbach, turned into a very old sounding ballad

 

 

Average score for 1968 is 5.44 which is down on the last few years. I think psychedelia really gave music a shot in the arm and now it’s gradually getting slightly staler until the next big thing comes.

 

Gold medal for year: I Close My Eyes And Count To Ten - Dusty Springfield

 

Silver medal: I Say A Little Prayer For You - Aretha Franklin

 

Bronze medal: (Sitting On )The Dock Of The Bay - Otis Redding

 

Also receiving 9s:

 

All Along The Watchtower - Jimi Hendrix Experience

Hey Jude - The Beatles

Hold Me Tight - Johnny Nash

Rainbow Valley - Love Affair

Mrs Robinson - Simon And Garfunkel

Hurdy Gurdy Man - Donovan

Days - The Kinks

Son Of A Preacher Man - Dusty Springfield

If I Only Had Time - John Rowles

Blackberry Way - The Move

Captain Of Your Ship - Reparata And The Delrons

MacArthur Park - Richard Harris

Jumpin’ Jack Flash - The Rolling Stones

Albatross - Fleetwood Mac

 

Worst hit of the year: Tribute To A King - William Bell

 

1969 Group 1:

 

#3234 04/01/1969 Jethro Tull Love Story 29 43-40-32-35-{29}-33-44-47->8

#3235 04/01/1969 Canned Heat Going Up The Country 19 45-30-24-22-25-26-{19}-27-31-46->10

#3236 11/01/1969 Simon And Garfunkel Mrs Robinson EP 9 31-29-30-27-{9}->5

#3237 11/01/1969 Johnny Nash You Got Soul 6 39-23-15-9-{6}-7-8-12-28-28-45-40->12

#3238 11/01/1969 Wilson Pickett Hey Jude 16 46-31-29-23-21-{16}-32-45-37->9

18/01/1969 Martha Reeves And The Vandellas Dancing In The Street 4 35-21-12-{4}-5-7-6-14-17-33-49-46->12

#3239 18/01/1969 Nina Simone To Love Somebody 5 38-25-14-{5}-10-12-16-42-49->9

#3240 18/01/1969 Nina Simone I Put A Spell On You {1969} 28 44-38-40-{28}->4

#3241 18/01/1969 The Isley Brothers I Guess I'll Always Love You {1969} 11 45-27-17-12-{11}-15-14-25-48->9

#3242 18/01/1969 Eric Burdon And The Animals Ring Of Fire 35 46-39-36-{35}-42->5

#3243 18/01/1969 The Tymes People 16 47-31-24-{16}-21-18-29-24-25-40->10

#3244 18/01/1969 Cream White Room 28 48-37-30-31-30-{28}-34-46->8

#3245 25/01/1969 Marv Johnson I'll Pick A Rose For My Rose 10 47-28-17-16-13-{10}-12-16-23-27-40->11

#3246 25/01/1969 Marvin Gaye And Tammi Terrell You Ain't Livin' Till You're Lovin' 21 48-38-22-29-{21}-22-29-32->8

#3247 01/02/1969 Amen Corner (If Paradise Is) Half As Nice 1 33-19-{1}-1-2-2-11-15-28-38-46->11

#3248 01/02/1969 Diana Ross And The Supremes And The Temptations I'm Gonna Make You Love Me 3 37-7-8-{3}-3-6-9-19-31-30-34-49R(2)->12

 

'Son Of A Preacher Man' :wub:

 

I don't think I've heard the actual song 'Atlantis' but I'm vaguely familiar with it via the parody 'Atlanta' from Futurama haha (which they did get him to voice himself!)

Dusty hitting her Memphis peak as the tables turn and Aretha covers Dusty! Classic but still ballad Dusty has my heart. BlackBerry Way a sort of Reverse Penny Lane and showcases the future ELO sound 3 years early. Big fave of mine then and now. Stevie moving into crooner territory and carrying it off, though my first fave Stevie hit is 6 months away.

 

Soul limbo is fun, and very well known, more than it was at the time! Fox On The Run was my top track as I turned 11. Raved about it to my friend Geoffrey who turned up on my birthday for a party that never was due to a misunderstanding so we had him back the next week for tea. We were too poor to afford kiddie birthday parties. A Saturday morning 6pence for the RAF cinema to see The Wizard Of Oz or other old films was our treat :lol: the record is still fun, but Mike Dabo should have kept build me up buttercup for the Manfreds!

 

Atlantis is a dreamy fantasy tune that I also associate more with Futurama :D The Trems is OK, Danny last rue and all the Good Old Days cabaret music hall performers just annoyed me, so dreary and old fashioned. Never liked this song either. Beach Boys had lost the sparkle a bit here, Donald Peers was a 20s star doing a ballad I rather liked at the time - but not these days.

 

Somethings Happening a sing along fave of the time, still charming, the Bedrocks version of Ob La Di was overshadowed by Marmalade's which was the original for me and a fun fave, but once you hear The Fab's original it's all about that one.