“She’s A Rainbow” #25 1/27/1968

The current Rolling Stones single was notable for contributions by two music figures from outside the group. Future Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones arranged the strings, while session man extraordinaire Nicky Hopkins played the absolutely gorgeous piano part. Not your usual Stones 45. A very trippy song, as it came from the LP “Their Satanic Majesties Request,” the band’s response to “Sgt. Pepper.”

“Itchycoo Park” #16 1/27/1968

This song was all about just ditching the day and goofing off. Written by Small Faces members Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane, it became a UK Top 5 even though at first the BBC banned the record due to perceived drug references. So the group concocted a totally fake story about how Itchycoo Park was a dump the band members played in as kids, and fooled the BBC. There’s an interesting audio effect on the record called flanging, which created that swooshing sound.

“Different Drum” #13 1/27/1968

The first hit for Linda Ronstadt, composed by the Monkees’ Mike Nesmith. He’d written the song prior to their TV show and wanted the group to record it, but the Monkees had little control over what appeared on their records and series. Nesmith wasn’t hurting for cash (his mom invented Liquid Paper correction fluid) and he gave the tune to Linda. She later hired a few guys named Don Henley and Glenn Frey, who went on to far bigger and better things with the Eagles.

“Susan” #11 1/27/1968

The last hit record for the Buckinghams, with a very odd psychedelic passage inserted by producer James William Guercio without the knowledge or consent of the band. So they quickly parted ways, and the Bucks only had one more national chart record which missed the Top 50. Guercio found a horn-driven Windy City band named The Big Thing, who turned into Chicago Transit Authority, until the real CTA threatened legal action. Since you can’t copyright a place name, that’s how they became known as Chicago.

“Bend Me, Shape Me” #5 1/27/1968

Several other acts recorded this first (notably the Outsiders), but the Chicago-based American Breed had their biggest hit by far with this version.  Co-written by Scott English, who had a UK hit in 1971 with a tune called “Brandy” that barely charted in the States, though I remember hearing it on WKBW in Buffalo. Barry Manilow redid the song in ‘74 as “Mandy” to avoid confusion with a similarly titled Looking Glass single, and that became his first #1.

“It’s My Party” #1 6/1/1963

It only took four weeks from release for this to become Lesley Gore’s only #1 in June 1963. She and her producer/mentor Quincy Jones sifted through a few hundred demos and this was the only one they agreed upon. Q was attending a Carnegie Hall event when he ran into Phil Spector, who mentioned the Crystals had recorded this great song and he wanted to put it out as a single. Jones didn’t tell Phil he’d recorded the same tune earlier that day with Lesley, so Quincy had it rush-released.

“Everybody Knows” (1968) #43 1/20/1968

It gets confusing when different songs have the same title. It gets REALLY confusing when the same act records different songs with the same title! The last US chart entry for the Dave Clark Five featured Lenny Davidson on lead vocals instead of the usual Mike Smith, who sang the first “Everybody Knows” from late 1964. The DC5 was second only to the Beatles in that initial British Invasion on our shores.

“I Can’t Stand Myself (When You Touch Me)” #28 1/20/1968

In the late 60’s James Brown recorded a few tracks with the Dapps, a Caucasian band from Cincinnati, backing him. JB didn’t care who was making the music, as long as they could make it funky. As usual, it was in a Part I and Part II format, but Part II was only available on the album - it didn’t make it onto this or any single.

“Tell Mama” #23 1/20/1968

Etta James never had a huge pop hit, but was very successful on the R&B side throughout the 60’s. This was a reworking of the first R&B chart entry for Clarence Carter, titled “Tell Daddy.” Etta used many of the same musicians from Clarence’s track, as both were done in Muscle Shoals. Janis Joplin performed this many times in concert.

“If I Could Build My Whole World Around You” #10 1/20/1968

Here’s another great one from Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell. Several months earlier, Tammi collapsed in Gaye’s arms during a show at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia and was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. This was recorded just before that awful event. She would return from surgery and record a few more fine duets with Marvin. Unfortunately, she succumbed to the brain cancer in 1970.

“Chain Of Fools” #2 1/20/1968

Written in 1953 by R&B singer Don Covay, Atlantic Records producer Jerry Wexler ran across this while looking for material that suited Otis Redding. Wexler thought it worked better for Aretha Franklin, and he was right as it became a #1 R&B hit for Lady Soul. The shakey guitar was played by Joe South, along with the legendary Swampers from Muscle Shoals of “Sweet Home Alabama” fame.

“Judy In Disguise (With Glasses)” #1 1/20/1968

A parody of a Beatles song that would knock “Hello, Goodbye” out of the #1 position, and John Lennon actually liked this! John Fred Gourrier had a few regional hits around his native Baton Rouge and south Louisiana while playing frat parties at LSU. “Band” was later added to their name to avoid confusion with the similarly named Gary Lewis group. They were at a Florida gig when Gourrier saw a guy chatting up a girl. Big sunglasses were in fashion, and when the girl took them off John Fred said her face could stop a clock. Ackkk. A true one-hit wonder.

“Foxy Lady” #67 1/13/1968

A staple of album rock radio from the Jimi Hendrix Experience that showed up in the “Wayne’s World” movie, where Garth met his dream woman. The title is sometimes spelled “Foxey Lady.” Jimi got sounds out of a guitar that were just not humanly possible. The B-side of this single in America was “Hey Joe,” already a UK hit. Video is of Hendrix doing the song live at the Miami Pop Festival.

“Love Me Two Times” #25 1/13/1968

One of a handful of Doors songs where Jim Morrison did not write the lyrics. Guitarist Robby Krieger composed the tune, which was supposed to be about a military member being with his girl on the last night before shipping out overseas. Some radio stations thought the subject was too risqué and refused to play the record, otherwise it probably would’ve done better.

“Come See About Me” (Jr. Walker) #24 1/13/1968

A remake of the Supremes’ #1 from late 1964 became a Top 10 R&B hit in early ‘68 for Jr. Walker and the All Stars. Those sax solos by Junior could peel wallpaper off the wall - just smokin’ hot. In 1981 he contributed the blistering solo to “Urgent” by Foreigner. Man, I cranked up the radio to that one, too.

“It’s Wonderful” #20 1/13/1968

The last single before the Young Rascals dropped “Young” from their name. By 1968, everybody had to insert psychedelic passages into their songs. The a-capella vocals were electronically speeded up and raised in pitch, then an ending was tacked on that has absolutely nothing to do with the rest of the song. Far out, man.

“Who Will Answer?” (Aleluya No. 1) #19 1/13/1968

There were a number of pop songs with topical messages in the late 60’s. This one was the biggest solo hit for Ed Ames since “My Cup Runneth Over” a year earlier. He and the Ames Brothers had considerable success recording in the early 1950’s. Ed did some acting, notably in the role of Mingo on TV’s “Daniel Boone.”

“Monterey” #15 1/13/1968

Among the many performers that played the Monterey Pop Festival in June 1967 were Eric Burdon and the Animals. Like those acts, the event mightily shaped their future musical endeavors. Eric and the band wrote this biographical song about the three-day concert. “His Majesty, Prince Jones” was Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones, who was not only an MC but mingled with the crowd in a regal manner. A very early concept video for the song here.

“Woman, Woman” #4 1/13/1968

The initial hit for Gary Puckett and the Union Gap. Gary grew up in Yakima, WA (next to the town of Union Gap, oddly enough) and moved to San Diego where he assembled the Outcasts, an R&B flavored band. They signed with Columbia Records where they were directed to mellow their sound, change the name and wear Civil War-era heavy woolen Union soldier uniforms on stage. Sheesh.

“If You Wanna Be Happy” #1 5/18/1963

From May 1963, a chart-topper that could never be released today, as it’s way too politically incorrect. “I saw your wife the other day and she’s uglyyyyyy!” Jimmy Soul came out of the Norfolk, Virginia music scene that also produced Gary “U.S.” Bonds. This song was based on a Trinidadian calypso tune from the 1930’s, “Ugly Woman” by a guy calling himself Roaring Lion. When the hits dried up, Jimmy developed a drug habit, wound up in jail and died of a heart attack at 45.

“I Will Follow Him” #1 4/27/1963

Back we go to #1 records from the spring of 1963 with one that was originally an instrumental titled “Chariot” with lyrics added later. Petula Clark had a hit all over Europe as she recorded versions in French, German and Italian. Little Peggy March released the song later in the US as “I Will Follow Him” and the 15-year-old succeeded Brenda Lee as the youngest female with a #1 record. Peggy had considerable success in Europe into the 1970’s. It was originally co-written by Paul Mauriat, who had a #1 instrumental in 1968 with “Love Is Blue.”

“Blue Jay Way”

A song written by a jet-lagged George after a London to L.A. flight, and it showed. It was named after the street Harrison and his traveling party stayed on in the Hollywood Hills. Very psychedelic, and cited by the late Charlie Manson as one of the Beatle songs he used to justify his rampage. (So nice to say “the late Charlie Manson.”) it served as the basis for a particularly hallucinogenic sequence in the “Magical Mystery Tour” movie. The video is from a French website - you’ll need to make the picture full size, then manually turn up the sound on the screen. Sorry.

Beatles - Blue Jay Way

“Flying”

Most of what the Beatles did was absolutely brilliant, but a few self-indulgent clunkers like this from “Magical Mystery Tour” were mixed in. But then, the MMT movie was considered a self-indulgent artistic clunker by UK critics. Incidental music was needed for the flick so they wrote an instrumental, the only one released in their working years as a group. A couple others surfaced later on anthology box sets. It had to be severely edited from almost ten minutes to just over two. It was also the first song where all four Beatles got a writing credit. This is an alternate take - I can’t find any other version online.

“I’ll Be Sweeter Tomorrow” #66 1/6/1968

This group took its name from Cleveland DJ Eddie O’Jay. Major success eluded the five-man group, although this record reached the R&B Top 10 for their first and only time in the 60’s. They became a trio, hooked up with Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff, and signed with their Philadelphia International label. The O’Jays thus became one of the most significant and best-selling R&B vocal groups of the 70’s.

“Cover Me” #42 1/6/1968

The latest effort from Percy Sledge, who not only was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005, but the music halls of fame in two states. He achieved that honor in his adopted home of Alabama in 1993 and his native Louisiana in 2007. He was also recognized by the Carolina Beach Music Hall of Fame in 2004. With the rich music traditions of those places, it’s quite an accomplishment.

“Summer Rain” #14 1/6/1968

The 13th Top 40 record from Johnny Rivers, but his last one for almost five years. He wouldn’t chart this highly again until a remake of “Rockin’ Pneumonia And The Boogie Woogie Flu” first done by New Orleans’ own Huey “Piano” Smith and the Clowns. “Summer Rain” made reference to how the jukebox kept on playing “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.” That would’ve been a real trick, since jukeboxes of the era couldn’t play albums, and that song wasn’t on a US 45 until 1978. A total Wrecking Crew effort.

“He’s So Fine” #1 3/30/1963

Unquestionably George Harrison’s favorite song ever *sarcasm.* He spent years and mucho dinero defending himself against unintentional plagiarism charges over his “My Sweet Lord” sounding way too much like “He’s So Fine” - and lost. The Chiffons were NYC teenagers with no luck at all in the business before this tune, an intended B-side written by their manager, Ronnie Mack. He brought in Sylvia Peterson from Philly to join the group and sing lead. Ronnie died from cancer at 23 just after this reached #1 in the spring of 1963, and never fully enjoyed his success.

“The Other Man’s Grass Is Always Greener” #31 12/30/1967

Written by Tony Hatch and Jackie Trent, this would be Petula Clark’s last UK hit, save a 1988 dance remix of “Downtown.” In the States, this was a Top 5 easy listening entry for Pet. It’s actually a very well-written song, but by early ‘68 the American musical landscape was undergoing some serious upheaval and this almost sounded out of touch.

“Wear Your Love Like Heaven” #23 12/30/1967

A very artsy song from Donovan, later featured in a Simpsons episode where Homer partook of some medicinal marijuana and got all psychedelic. Like many other rockers, Donovan dabbled in art and the song describes a number of colors. His Scottish accent becomes quite thick and almost unintelligible here.

“Next Plane To London” #17 12/30/1967

A true 60’s one-hit wonder. The Rose Garden was from L.A. and started out as the Blokes, hoping a British-sounding band name would sell records. It didn’t, so they became the Giant Sunflower. This was the 60’s, after all. The group hired the stunning Diana De Rose (spelled Di Rose on the record) who pretended to be English but was actually from Parkersburg, WV and looked like Cher’s bad-girl sister. There wasn’t a guitar solo for this track written by Kenny O’Dell under his real name of Kenny Gist (see 1967’s “Beautiful People”) so they brought in an FM DJ, Don Elliot, as an airport PA voice. Their sole LP had songs written by Gene Clark, formerly of the Byrds, and Pat Vegas, part of Redbone in the 70’s with his brother Lolly. This band should’ve been way more successful, but qué sera, sera...

“Honey Chile” #11 12/30/1967

We begin 1968 with the first single credited to Martha Reeves and the Vandellas (note the name change), and their last Top 40 pop hit - also the first with Martha’s sister Lois in the group. Ms. Reeves was born in Eufaula, Alabama and the song contains quite a few black Southern expressions. Video starts with a jingle from CKLW, Windsor, Ontario (Detroit), one of the greatest Top 40 stations of them all.