“Eleanor Rigby” (Ray Charles) #35 7/27/1968

By 1968 it seemed as though everyone wanted to include Beatles songs in their repertoire. Even Ray Charles took a turn at covering this one. Look, I’m as much of a fan of Brother Ray as anyone, but this...was kind of wretched. It just didn’t click with me, nor with a lot of folks as it barely reached the Top 40.

“Don’t Take It So Hard” #27 7/27/1968

By now, Mark Lindsay was pretty much calling all the shots as to the direction taken by Paul Revere and the Raiders. Lindsay was singing lead and writing many of the songs plus producing their records. He and Revere were the only constants. Unfortunately, this one was only a moderate hit.

“I’m A Midnight Mover” #24 7/27/1968

Another great Top 10 R&B tune from Wilson Pickett. Written by Bobby Womack, who also played guitar on many of Wilson’s tracks when Pickett recorded out of Memphis during 1967-68. Womack was quite prolific as a songwriter, having composed “It’s All Over Now” by the Rolling Stones, “Lookin’ For A Love” by the J. Geils Band and co-wrote the great instrumental “Breezin’ “ for George Benson.

“Sky Pilot” #14 7/27/1968

A definite anti-war song from Eric Burdon and the Animals. “Sky Pilot” is slang for a military chaplain, who in this case blessed the troops before they went off into battle. The 45 split the song into two parts; Part II has an extended interlude with bagpipes played by the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, surreptitiously recorded by Burdon without permission. That got Eric in hot water with the Crown.

“Stoned Soul Picnic” #3 7/27/1968

The record that put Laura Nyro on the map as a songwriter became the biggest hit to date for the 5th Dimension. The group was quite surprised to discover a song they fell in love with was written by a 20-year-old Caucasian girl. Their producer, Bones Howe, introduced them to Nyro’s music; they would record several more of her songs over the next few years. A Wrecking Crew record all the way.

“I Pretend” #1 UK

British entertainer Des O’Connor topped the UK charts this week in 1968 with this little ditty. In addition to his recording career, Des hosted his own programme in one form or another on the English telly for 45 years, mostly variety and game shows. I suppose his American TV equivalent may have been Bob Barker.

“What’s Made Milwaukee Famous (Has Made A Loser Out Of Me)” #94 7/20/1968

The travails of Jerry Lee Lewis have been well documented, from his meteoric rise to being the first wild man of rock and roll to torpedoing his career by marrying his 13-year-old cousin. (I love that scene with Dennis Quaid at the airport in “Great Balls Of Fire!”) The Killer reinvented himself in the late 60’s by transitioning quite welł into country music, where this Top 5 record was just a good ol’ drinking song.

“D-I-V-O-R-C-E” #63 (#1 Country) 7/20/1968

This one from Tammy Wynette had just finished three weeks at #1 on the country charts and snuck onto the pop charts. The song dealt with a woman’s impending divorce, something Tammy was all too familiar with; she’d already gone through it twice prior to this single. Her standing was cemented as an all-time great country singer, male or female.

“Be Young Be Foolish Be Happy” #61 7/20/1968

A Carolina beach music classic from the Tams, one you can certainly shag to. No, not THAT kind of shagging; it’s a swing dance done at the pavilions from Myrtle Beach to Virginia Beach. The Tams are still performing on that circuit. Stylistically, Carolina beach music has a lot in common with the UK’s Northern Soul scene.

“She’s A Heartbreaker” #16 7/20/1968

The final American hit for Gene Pitney, although he would have success in the UK for several more years. Gene was also a decent songwriter, composing several huge hits in the early 60’s such as “Rubber Ball,” “He’s A Rebel” and “Hello Mary Lou.” He also had several duets with country legend George Jones. Pitney died in 2006.

“Lady Willpower” #2 7/20/1968

The third straight Top 5 record out of the chute for Gary Puckett and the Union Gap. Like their previous hit “Young Girl” this was written by the group’s producer, Jerry Fuller. Jerry also wrote “Travelin’ Man” for Ricky Nelson (originally meant for Sam Cooke - long story) and discovered the Knickerbockers, producing their hit “Lies.” Fuller was a member of the post-“Tequila” Champs that also included Glen Campbell and Seals and Crofts. Video is from the Ed Sullivan show.

“Grazing In The Grass” (Hugh Masakela) #1 7/20/1968

According to the Songfacts website, South African jazz trumpeter Hugh Masakela and his producer discovered they were one track short for an upcoming album. Hugh recalled an African song called “Mr. Bull #5” that began with a cowbell and decided to cover the tune, giving it a new title. “Grazing” became an anthem of summer and his only American #1 record. A version by the Friends of Distinction (with lyrics) made the Top 5 in a few months. Masakela died in January 2018.

“Saturday’s Father” #103 7/13/1968

The Four Seasons (of all people) had one of the strangest albums of the 60’s, and that’s saying something. They made a concept LP, “The Genuine Imitation Life Gazette” to get away from being pigeonholed as a straight-laced act by taking on some serious topical issues. This song dealt with divorced daddies, a touchy subject in those days. However, the single didn’t even crack the Hot 100.

“Hang ‘Em High” (Hugo Montenegro) #82 7/13/1968

Those “spaghetti Westerns” were quite popular, so Clint Eastwood made one again for his next project. Hugo Montenegro did a cover version of this film’s theme (just like his previous single) but with little success. Booker T. and the MG’s did much better with their version in a few months. The original theme was composed by Dominic Frontiere, who would marry and later divorce Georgia Rosenbloom after she inherited a majority stake in the NFL’s Los Angeles Rams.

“Your Time Hasn’t Come Yet, Baby” #72 7/13/1968

Today we give you the flip side of Elvis’s current single, also from his movie “Speedway.” Both tunes were from his last full soundtrack LP; there would be less emphasis placed on those “dramatic movie” songs from here on out. No more going through the motions and no more truly lame songs for the King, or so he hoped.

“Let Yourself Go” #71 7/13/1968

By now Elvis was making strides insofar as distancing himself from those awful movie soundtracks. However, there were still contractual obligations to fulfill. Both sides of his current single were recorded a year earlier for “Speedway” which co-starred Nancy Sinatra and Bill Bixby. Things were changing for the King, though...

“You Send Me” (Aretha Franklin) #56 7/13/1968

Occasionally, accomplished acts like Aretha Franklin would remake legendary songs. She re-did Sam Cooke’s famous 1957 hit (his very first) as the B-side to “Think.” Sam actually wrote it, but gave the credit to his brother L.C. so the music publisher wouldn’t rip him off. That tended to happen quite a bit back then.

“The Story Of Rock And Roll” #48 7/13/1968

Harry Nilsson hadn’t had much success as a recording artist by 1968, but was much more in demand as a songwriter. Harry composed this one by the Turtles, which unfortunately stalled out. He would write several more tunes for them. Nilsson finally broke through as a performer in 1969 with “Everybody’s Talkin’.”

“Indian Lake” #10 7/13/1968

There are lots of bodies of water named Indian Lake. Legend has it the Cowsills frequented one in northern Ohio before they made it big, when the family lived near Cleveland. I’m not sure this record could be made today, given that war whoops, etc. could be considered non-PC. This one got the group back into the Top 10.

“Folsom Prison Blues” #32 (#1 Country) 7/6/1968

“Hello, I’m Johnny Cash.” How iconic is that opening? While with the US Air Force in Germany in the early 1950’s, the Man In Black saw a movie called “Inside The Walls Of Folsom Prison” and wrote this song. The studio version was released in 1955; this take was recorded live at Folsom before...wait for it...a captive audience! BA-DOMP-BOMP! But if he shot a man in Reno (Nevada) how’d he land in a California prison? This soon became Cash’s eighth #1 country hit. The clip has about 90 seconds of silence at the end - sorry. BTW this is the first song yours truly ever learned to play on guitar. Look where it got me.

“Some Things You Never Get Used To” #30 7/6/1968

As we’ve mentioned before, the Supremes were in a state of flux by this point. The hitmaking team of Holland-Dozier-Holland departed Motown and Berry Gordy was scrambling to find a winning formula for his label’s stars. Like the previous single, Diana Ross was the only Supreme on the record, backed this time by the song’s writers, Ashford and Simpson. This single also flamed out. The next one didn’t.

“Never Give You Up (Never Gonna Give You Up)” #20 7/6/1968

Here’s the most successful record for the great Jerry Butler since his 1964 duet with Betty Everett, “Let It Be Me.” From the first few notes you can tell it’s a Kenny Gamble/Leon Huff production. Butler left the Impressions after their first hit in 1958 to go solo. No doubt Jerry has one of the smoothest voices around. He will step down in 2018 after more than 30 years as a Cook County (Illinois) commissioner.

“D.W. Washburn” #19 7/6/1968

The first single released by the Monkees after their TV show was cancelled was also the first to miss the Top 10. Coincidentally, it was also their last single to chart this highly until a 1986 reunion of sorts. It was a pseudo-vaudeville tune about a derelict who turned down a charity’s offer of a meal and a job, preferring his drunken life instead. The more things change...

“Here Comes The Judge” (Shorty Long) #8 7/6/1968

There were at least four variations on this idea floating around on the charts 50 years ago this summer. The top-ranked version was by Detroit’s own Shorty Long, who did the 1964 original of Mitch Ryder’s “Devil With A Blue Dress On.” It was based on a comedy routine by Pigmeat Markham (whose own version would peak at #19 in a few weeks) and had a lot of insult humor. Sammy Davis Jr. popularized the bit on “Laugh-In.” Long drowned as the result of a boating accident in 1969.

“The Look Of Love” (Sérgio Mendes) #4 7/6/1968

Sérgio Mendes had a few modestly successful records in the US while touring with his group, Brasil ‘66, and his label’s boss, Herb Alpert. This remake of a Bacharach/David tune sung by Dusty Springfield in the 1967 movie “Casino Royale” was his American breakthrough. Mendes became the hottest Brazilian music act around. Notice the two female vocalists sing in unison, not harmony.

“Jumpin’ Jack Flash” #3 7/6/1968

One of the most iconic 60’s songs of them all. Just about everybody can name this Rolling Stones classic within the first few chords, played in a non-standard tuning. Mick Jagger and Keith Richards wrote this after the gardener (Jack Dyer) was stomping around in his work boots one rainy morning outside of Keith’s house and woke Mick up. The song became many things to many people, such as a line in Don McLean’s “American Pie” and the subject of a Whoopi Goldberg movie.

“The Easy Part’s Over” #2 Country 6/29/1968

Long before Darius Rucker, there was Charley Pride, the first African-American superstar in country music. This was his biggest hit to date and was in the country Top 5 this week in 1968. Charley had a background in semi-pro baseball and for many years would take part in spring training with MLB’s Texas Rangers.

“Back In Love Again” #57 6/29/1968

The Buckinghams had a falling out with producer James William Guercio after he inserted a psychedelic passage into their previous single “Susan.” They brought in Jimmy Wisner, who had a 1961 Top 10 instrumental, “Asia Minor” under the stage name Kokomo. But this was the Bucks’ last Hot 100 single. Guercio went on to work with horn-based groups Blood, Sweat & Tears and Chicago.

“Choo Choo Train” #26 6/29/1968

After their initial success, the Box Tops underwent some serious personnel changes. Their original drummer and keyboardist went back to college to avoid the draft. This single didn’t do nearly as well as “Cry Like A Baby” and they soon changed producers. After a few more Top 40 entries, the group broke up in 1970.

“Tiptoe Through The Tulips” #17 6/29/1968

Since the advent of recorded music, falsetto singing has been popular. Guys like Frankie Valli made a career out of that style. That still doesn’t explain how Tiny Tim (born Herbert Khaury) became a fleeting phenomenon in the summer of 1968. His version of a tune from an early talking movie, 1929’s “Gold Diggers Of Broadway,” made him an ultimate one-hit wonder. He played the guitar right-handed and the ukulele left-handed, and appeared on “Laugh-In” regularly. Video is from the “Tonight” show, where Tiny was also a favorite guest of Johnny Carson and even got married on Carson’s show in 1969.

“Lickin’ Stick” #14 6/29/1968

You can say that when James Brown found something that worked, he certainly didn’t let up. After the success of “Cold Sweat,” JB kept cranking out the funkiest music around. This one was either about a piece of candy offered to a child, or a stick used to administer a good ol’ butt whippin’ or lickin’.