“Oh Happy Day” #4 5/31/1969

Occasionally a spiritual becomes a huge pop hit. Edwin Hawkins was pianist and director of the youth choir at his Oakland church. They’d recorded an album as a fundraiser to attend a conference in Washington, DC. While they were out of town a DJ at underground radio station KSAN played the record, and this cut took off. Edwin’s arrangement of the 18th century hymn took the country by storm. The group later backed Melanie on her 1970 hit “Lay Down (Candles In The Rain).”

“Love (Can Make You Happy)” #2 5/31/1969

Here’s a case where a soundalike version of the hit was released under dubious circumstances. Jack Sigler Jr. and his band, Mercy, first recorded this on the small Tampa-based Sundi label. Jack was of draft age, so as an implied condition of getting national distribution he went along with Warner Brothers using a different group with the Mercy name; WB re-cut the song without him in case he got drafted. He didn’t, and it turned out Sigler never signed the agreement. A lawsuit followed since both versions wound up being issued, and the group never had another hit. The organ is far more prominent on the re-recording.

“Good Morning Starshine” (Strawberry Alarm Clock) #87 5/24/1969

Another song from “Hair,” but not the version by Oliver; that one would reach the Top 5 in a few weeks. This comes from Strawberry Alarm Clock (“Incense And Peppermints”). Definitely some of the most nonsensical lyrics of the 60’s - and that’s saying something. Not a list I’d necessarily want to be on.

“Lodi” #52 5/24/1969

Just about every musician has been in a situation where they played to six people who were too drunk to care about any sort of artist’s craft. John Fogerty nailed that broke, lonely feeling perfectly on the B-side of CCR’s current single. He used Lodi as the place name just because it sounded cool. An absolute personal favorite.

“Nothing But A Heartache” #34 5/24/1969

The Flirtations were a trio from South Carolina who moved to England, where they became an opening act for Tom Jones. This was first issued in late 1968 and did nothing. It was reissued a few months later and reached the US Top 40, and also became a staple of the British Northern Soul scene. Shoulda been a way bigger hit. Clip is an actual, well-produced pre-MTV video.

“Pinball Wizard” #19 5/24/1969

Sometimes a songwriter will despise one of their tunes that becomes a hit. John Lennon disparaged his own efforts all the time. Pete Townshend came to loathe this song, added at the last minute to The Who’s rock opera “Tommy” to curry favor with rock music critic Nik Cohn, an avowed pinball addict. Yet this became a fixture of their concerts and album rock radio due to the iconic intro. The LP begat a play, which begat a movie in 1975 in which Elton John played the Pinball Wizard and Tina Turner was the Acid Queen. Some inspired casting for that flick.

“The Chokin’ Kind” #13 5/24/1969

We’ve said numerous times there isn’t a whole lot of difference between R&B and country music - the presentation was changed a little, that’s all. Case in point: this #1 R&B hit from Joe Simon, written by country songwriter extraordinaire Harlan Howard (“I Fall To Pieces” and “Heartaches By The Number” among many) and first recorded by Waylon Jennings in 1967. Told ya!