“Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da” (The Marmalade) #1 UK 1/1/1969

We begin 1969 with this week’s #1 single in the UK, unreleased in America, by The Marmalade (“The” was later dropped). They covered this Beatles’ White Album tune, even leaving in Paul’s transposition of gender. The Marmalade was the first Scottish group to top the British charts. These guys later had a US Top 10 hit with “Reflections Of My Life” in early 1970.

UPDATE: Lead singer Dean Ford passed away on New Years’ Eve. He was 72. https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/marmalade-singer-dean-ford-dead-13804339