Which is:
1. Go to the Billboard #1 Hits listings (scroll down and you’ll see them separated by decades on the left in the sidebar)
2. Pick the year you turned 18
3. Get yourself nostalgic over the songs of the year
4. Pick 5 songs and write something about how these songs affected you
5. Pass it on to 5 more friends
So this is really, really, reeee-ally late...and it's here. Thanks BJ, and my heart goes out to you.
Wow...OK. I was a "counter-culture" type in those days...I have not changed much. Oh yeah. And I was really not listening to a lot of "Top 40" by then...but...
Oh CRAP!!!!! I just read the @#$%ing list! HOW AM I GOING TO PICK FIVE?????
Here are the top 75 sellers for 1969:
| 1. | Build Me Up Buttercup - Foundations (Billboard High Chart: #3) |
| 2. | Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond (Billboard High Chart: #4) |
| 3. | Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye - Steam (Billboard High Chart: #1) |
| 4. | More Today Than Yesterday - Spiral Staircase (Billboard High Chart: #12) |
| 5. | Proud Mary - Creedence Clearwater Revival (Billboard High Chart: #2) |
| 6. | Son Of A Preacher Man - Dusty Springfield (Billboard High Chart: #10) |
| 7. | My Way - Frank Sinatra (Billboard High Chart: #27) |
| 8. | Honky Tonk Women - Rolling Stones (Billboard High Chart: #1) |
| 9. | Something - the Beatles (Billboard High Chart: #3) |
| 10. | Sugar Sugar - Archies (Billboard High Chart: #1) |
| 11. | Stand By Your Man - Tammy Wynette (Billboard High Chart: #19) |
| 12. | Touch Me - Doors (Billboard High Chart: #3) |
| 13. | I Can't Get Next To You - Temptations (Billboard High Chart: #1) |
| 14. | Bad Moon Rising - Creedence Clearwater Revival (Billboard High Chart: #2) |
| 15. | Hooked On A Feeling - B.J. Thomas (Billboard High Chart: #5) |
| 16. | It's Your Thing - The Isley Brothers (Billboard High Chart: #2) |
| 17. | Come Together - the Beatles (Billboard High Chart: #1) |
| 18. | Grazing In The Grass - Friends of Distinction (Billboard High Chart: #3) |
| 19. | Traces - Classics IV & Dennis Yost (Billboard High Chart: #2) |
| 20. | Hawaii 5-0 - Ventures (Billboard High Chart: #4) |
| 21. | Everybody's Talkin' - Nilsson (Billboard High Chart: #6) |
| 22. | My Cherie Amour - Stevie Wonder (Billboard High Chart: #4) |
| 23. | Hot Fun In The Summertime - Sly and the Family Stone (Billboard High Chart: #2) |
| 24. | Someday We'll Be Together - Diana Ross and the Supremes (Billboard High Chart: #1) |
| 25. | Down On The Corner - CCR (Billboard High Chart: #3) |
| 26. | Suspicious Minds - Elvis Presley (Billboard High Chart: #1) |
| 27. | Everyday People - Sly & Family Stone (Billboard High Chart: #1) |
| 28. | Crimson and Clover - Tommy James and the Shondells (Billboard High Chart: #1) |
| 29. | Time of the Season - Zombies (Billboard High Chart: #3) |
| 30. | Love's Been Good To Me - Frank Sinatra (Billboard High Chart: #75) |
| 31. | Twenty Five Miles - Edwin Starr (Billboard High Chart: #6) |
| 32. | Worst That Could Happen - Brooklyn Bridge (Billboard High Chart: #3) |
| 33. | Get Back - Beatles (Billboard High Chart: #1) |
| 34. | Ruben James - Kenny Rogers & the First Edition (Billboard High Chart: #26) |
| 35. | A Boy Named Sue - Johnny Cash (Billboard High Chart: #2) |
| 36. | Gimme Gimme Good Lovin - Crazy Elephant (Billboard High Chart: # 12) |
| 37. | You've Made Me So Very Happy - Blood, Sweat and Tears (Billboard High Chart: #2) |
| 38. | Give Peace A Chance - John Lennon (Billboard High Chart: #14) |
| 39. | Isrealites - Desmond Dekker and the Aces (Billboard High Chart: #9) |
| 40. | Wedding Bell Blues - The 5th Dimension (Billboard High Chart: #1) |
| 41. | Alice's Rock and Roll Restuaraunt - Arlo Guthrie (Billboard High Chart: #97) |
| 42. | Stand! - Sly and the Family Stone (Billboard High Chart: #22) |
| 43. | These Eyes - Guess Who (Billboard High Chart: #6) |
| 44. | Green River - Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) (Billboard High Chart: #2) |
| 45. | Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday - Stevie Wonder (Billboard High Chart: #7) |
| 46. | Put A Little Love In Your Heart - Jackie DeShannon (Billboard High Chart: #4) |
| 47. | Eli's Coming - Three Dog Night (Billboard High Chart: #10) |
| 48. | Jingo - Santana (Billboard High Chart: #56) |
| 49. | I Can Hear Music - Beach Boys (Billboard High Chart: #24) |
| 50. | Memphis Underground - Herbie Mann (Billboard High Chart: #44) |
| 51. | Lay Lady Lay - Bob Dylan (Billboard High Chart: #7) |
| 52. | Kick Out The Jams - MC5 (Billboard High Chart: #82) |
| 53. | Leaving On A Jet Plane - Peter Paul and Mary (Billboard High Chart: #1) |
| 54. | The Boxer - Simon and Garfunkle (Billboard High Chart: #7) |
| 55. | I've Gotta Be Me - Sammy Davis, Jr (Billboard High Chart:#11) |
| 56. | I Got a Line On You - Spirit (Billboard High Chart: #25) |
| 57. | I'm Gonna Make You Love Me - Suremes and Temptations (Billboard High Chart: #2) |
| 58. | Kozmic Blues - Janis Joplin (Billboard High Chart: #41) |
| 59. | Crystal Blue Persuasion - Tommy James and the Shondells (Billboard High Chart: #1) |
| 60 | Something In The Air - Thunderclap Newman (Billboard High Chart: #37) |
| 61. | In The Ghetto - Elvis Presley (Billboard High Chart: #3) |
| 62. | Suite: Judy Blue Eyes - Crosby, Stillsand Nash (Billboard High Chart: #21) |
| 63. | Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In - the 5th Dimension (Billboard High Chart: #1) |
| 64. | Listen To The Band - the Monkees (Billboard High Chart: #63) |
| 65. | Spinning Wheel - Blood Sweat and Tears (Billboard High Chart: #2) |
| 66. | Chelsea Morning - Judy Collins (Billboard High Chart: #78) |
| 67. | Commotion - CCR (Billboard High Chart: #30) |
| 68. | Yesterday, When I Was Young - Roy Clark (Billboard High Chart: #19) |
| 69. | And When I Die - Blood, Sweat and Tears (Billboard High Chart: #2) |
| 70. | The Pledge of Allegiance - Red Skelton (Billboard High Chart: #44) |
| 71. | Pinball Wizard - The Who (Billboard High Chart: #19) |
| 72. | Am I The Same Girl - Barbara Acklin (Billboard High Chart: #79) |
| 73. | Hot Smoke and Sassafras - The Bubble Pupply (Billboard High Chart: #14) |
| 74. | Marrakesh Express - Crosby, Stills and Nash (Billboard High Chart: #28) |
| 75. | In The Year 2525 - Zager and Evans (Billboard High Chart: #1 ) |
And HERE are the actual #1 Songs Week by Week in 1969:
Hot 100 number-one hits of 1969 (USA)
These are the Billboard magazine Hot 100 number one hits of 1969.
| Issue Date | Song | Artist |
| January 4 | I Heard It through the Grapevine | Marvin Gaye |
| January 11 | I Heard It through the Grapevine | Marvin Gaye |
| January 18 | I Heard It through the Grapevine | Marvin Gaye |
| January 25 | I Heard It through the Grapevine | Marvin Gaye |
| February 1 | Crimson and Clover | Tommy James & the Shondells |
| February 8 | Crimson and Clover | Tommy James & the Shondells |
| February 15 | Everyday People | Sly & the Family Stone |
| February 22 | Everyday People | Sly & the Family Stone |
| March 1 | Everyday People | Sly & the Family Stone |
| March 8 | Everyday People | Sly & the Family Stone |
| March 15 | Dizzy | Tommy Roe |
| March 22 | Dizzy | Tommy Roe |
| March 29 | Dizzy | Tommy Roe |
| April 5 | Dizzy | Tommy Roe |
| April 12 | Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures) | The Fifth Dimension |
| April 19 | Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures) | The Fifth Dimension |
| April 26 | Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures) | The Fifth Dimension |
| May 5 | Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures) | The Fifth Dimension |
| May 12 | Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures) | The Fifth Dimension |
| May 17 | Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures) | The Fifth Dimension |
| May 24 | Get Back | The Beatles with Billy Preston |
| May 31 | Get Back | The Beatles with Billy Preston |
| June 7 | Get Back | The Beatles with Billy Preston |
| June 14 | Get Back | The Beatles with Billy Preston |
| June 21 | Get Back | The Beatles with Billy Preston |
| June 28 | Love Theme From Romeo and Juliet | Henry Mancini |
| July 5 | Love Theme From Romeo and Juliet | Henry Mancini |
| July 12 | In the Year 2525 (Exordium and Terminus) | Zager and Evans |
| July 19 | In the Year 2525 (Exordium and Terminus) | Zager and Evans |
| July 26 | In the Year 2525 (Exordium and Terminus) | Zager and Evans |
| August 2 | In the Year 2525 (Exordium and Terminus) | Zager and Evans |
| August 9 | In the Year 2525 (Exordium and Terminus) | Zager and Evans |
| August 16 | In the Year 2525 (Exordium and Terminus) | Zager and Evans |
| August 23 | Honky Tonk Women | The Rolling Stones |
| August 30 | Honky Tonk Women | The Rolling Stones |
| September 6 | Honky Tonk Women | The Rolling Stones |
| September 13 | Honky Tonk Women | The Rolling Stones |
| September 20 | Sugar, Sugar | The Archies |
| September 27 | Sugar, Sugar | The Archies |
| October 4 | Sugar, Sugar | The Archies |
| October 11 | Sugar, Sugar | The Archies |
| October 18 | I Can't Get Next to You | The Temptations |
| October 25 | I Can't Get Next to You | The Temptations |
| November 1 | Suspicious Minds | Elvis Presley |
| November 8 | Wedding Bell Blues | The Fifth Dimension |
| November 15 | Wedding Bell Blues | The Fifth Dimension |
| November 22 | Wedding Bell Blues | The Fifth Dimension |
| November 29 | Come Together / Something | The Beatles |
| December 6 | Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye | Steam |
| December 13 | Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye | Steam |
| December 20 | Leaving on a Jet Plane | Peter, Paul and Mary |
| December 27 | Someday We'll Be Together | Diana Ross & The Supremes |
OH...KAY.
Here we go...The one that sticks out for me right away is the "Love Theme From Romeo and Juliet". I was (and still am) such a romantic little sap. I had fallen for this cute gal in our crowd (the "Be-In Crowd"? lol) and she had dumped me. For a stupid "molecular biology" student at the local University! What the Fuck!?!?!? Broke poor little Al's heart. It would NOT be the last time.
How about "Heard it Through the Grapevine" for #2? Marvin Gaye was beginning to cross-over and dominate the Top 40 Radio the way he (and the rest of the Motown Stable) OWNED the Soul Charts. He would release landmark album "What's Goin On" in 1971. THAT album would do much to change the face of music as we know it, ushering in the era of the personal statement albums by singer-songwriters. There still may be no better example of a generously talented artist creating an intensely personal and searingly political masterwork than this.
"In The Year 2525"...what was it PT Barnum said about underestimating the intelligence of the American public? What a piece of crap song. I hope those guys did OK with the royalty checks. Not that I thought they started out trying to deliberately make a dumb record (see Archie's, The..."Sugar, Sugar), but if they did they succeeded brilliantly. I used to cringe when it came on.
"Suspicious Minds" ELVIS!!!! was back. What a great record for him with "Elvis in Memphis" which had "Burnin' Love", "Don't Cry, Daddy", "The Ghetto" and the great "Kentucky Rain". The TV Show in 1968 had set the stage and Elvis was back. It was the beginning of the end.
The Beatles had three Number One's and "Get Back" was the most significant even though it was purely a McCartney song. It was a real raw rock song with minimal production after all the brilliant gorgeous and ground breaking studio albums. Sir Paul was still concerned with Lennon's opinion and after John died the "editor" was gone and his writing quality pretty much went in the crapper.
So there ya' go, I would get my first job as a bar musician in 1970 and spent almost all the next 15 years playing and singing all over for your listening and dancing pleasure (I was ALWAYS there all week and NEVER forgot to remind you to tip your bartender and your lovely cocktail waitress...who I earnestly wanted to fuck and could never go home with). What a great life that was!
OK...TAG, you're it to:
Joe Flirt - A man figuring it out...with attitude!Nightside Jonny - This guy is worth the time. Nice writing on my favorite subjects.
Desperate Husband - A great guy in a tough spot. Hmmm...if I tag him will he write more?
Dive Bar Dancer - She Dances, She Writes (well!!)...I'm in LOVE!!!
Underachieving Mommy - I keep dragging Nanette over here and she keeps being nice to me.
I'd tag Oblivion (my secret sweetie...DON'T TELL HER!!!), but she just started a new job and is probably "roped".
Now back to our regularly scheduled programming...thanks BJ for yanking me out of the gutter for a while.
2 comments:
Hey Al! I didn't realize you were back to the blog!
I will play along when I get a chance. :)
In 69--heehee, I wasn't even a twinkle, but I really dig Suspicious Minds. ;)
Unfortunately, I just did this Meme back at the beginning of June.
It is posted here
Post a Comment