The Music Of July-December 1968

July 1968

Songs in this article will be from the Billboard Top 40 (unmarked) and the Billboard Top 100 denoted by (*). Songs that made neither of the Billboard surveys but made the local KYA surveys would be denoted by (KYA). The KYA disc jockeys, at this time, were Tommy Saunders, Tom Campbell Johnny Holliday, Gary Schaffer, Chris Edwards, Bobby Magic, Bill Holley and Bwana Johnny.

Songs that would debut on the charts this month would include “Lover’s Holiday” by Peggy Scott & Jo Jo Benson, “Some Things You Never Get Used To” by The Supremes, “Dream A Little Dream Of Me” by Mama Cass (this was a remake of a 1931 hit by Wayne King & His Orchestra), “Mr. Bo Jangles” by Jerry Jeff Walker (*), “People Got To Be Free” by The Rascals, “Somebody Cares” by Tommy James & The Shondells (*), “Yesterday’s Dreams” by The Four Tops (*), “Born Too Be Wild” by Steppenwolf, “Stay In My Corner” by The Dells, “Eleanor Rigby” by Ray Charles, “Turn Around Look At Me” by The Vogues, “Mrs. Bluebird” by Eternity’s Children (*), “Amen” by Otis Redding, “Classical Gas” by Mason Williams, “And Suddenly” by Cherry People (*), “Prayer Meeting” by Willie Mitchell (*), “Journey To The Center Of The Mind” by The Amboy Dukes, “Snoopy For President” by The Royal Guardsmen (*), “Sandcastles” by The 31st Of February (KYA), “Storybook Children” by Billy Joe Royal (KYA), “Here Comes The Judge” by Pigmeat Markham, “Sealed With A Kiss” by Gary Lewis & The Playboys, “Hey Joe” by Johnny Rivers (KYA), “Don’t Take It So Hard” by Paul Revere & The Raiders and “Hello I Love You” by The Doors.

August 1968

Songs that would debut on the charts this month would include “I Say A Little Prayer” and “The House That Jack Built” by Aretha Franklin,”Tuesday Afternoon” by The Moody Blues, “Special Occasion” by The Miracles, “Eyes Of A New York Woman” by B.J. Thomas, “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” by Vanilla Fudge, “Mr. Business Man” by Ray Stevens, “Love Is Like A Baseball Game” by The Intruders, “I Can’t Stop Dancing” by Archie Bell & The Drells, “Slip Away” by Clarence Carter, “1-2-3 Red Light” by The 1910 Fruitgum Company, “Harper Valley P.T.A.” by Jeannie C. Riley, “Morning Dew” by Lulu (*), “Love Makes A Woman” by Barbara Acklin, “Working On A Groovy Thing” by Patti Drew, “The Fool On The Hill” by Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66, “With Pen In Hand” by Billy Vera (*), “You Met Your Match” by Stevie Wonder, “Light My Fire” by Jose Feliciano, “Hush” by Deep Purple, “You’re All I Need To Get By” by Marvin Gaye & Tami Terrell, “Don’t Give Up” by Petula Clark, “Magic Bus” by The Who, “Apple Cider” by People (KYA), “Please Return Your Love To Me” by The Temptations, “I Can’t Dance To The Music You’re Playing” by Martha & The Van Dellas (KYA), “Hole In My Pocket” by The Barry Goldberg Reunion (KYA), “Six Man Band” by The Association (*), “Soul Limbo” by Booker T & The MG’s and “Hitch It To The Horse” by The Fantastic Johnny C.

September 1968

Songs that would debut on the charts this month would include “Girl Watcher” by The Okaysions, “Midnight Confessions” by The Grass Roots, “The Snake” by Al Wilson, “Little Green Apples” by O.C. Smith, “(The Lament Of The Cherokee) Indian Reservation” by Don Fardon, “I’ve Gotta Get A Message To You” by The Bee Gees, “The Shape Of Things To Come” by Max Frost & The Troopers, “Poor Baby” by The Cowsills (*), “Susie Q” by The Creedence Clearwater Revicval, “Over You” by Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, “On The Road Again” by Canned Heat, “What Kind Of Fool Do You Think I Am” by Bill Deal & The Rhondells, “(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You’ve Been Gone” by Aretha Franklin, “Time Has Come Today” by The Chambers Brothers, “Fire” by The Crazy World Of Arthur Brown, “Baby Come Back” by The Equals, “My Special Angel” by The Vogues, “Ive Never Found A Girl (To Love Me Like You Do)” by Eddie Floyd, “I Wish It Would Rain” by Gladys Knight & The Pips (KYA), “In A Gada Da Vida” by Iron Butterfly, “Lord Of The Manor” by The Everly Brothers (KYA), “Down On Me” by Big Brother & The Holding Company (KYA), “I Found A True Love” by Wilson Pickett (*), “Piece Of My Heart” by Big Brother & The Holding Company, “All Along The Watchtower” by The Jimi Hendrix Experience and “Hey Jude” and Revolution” by The Beatles.
——————————Below is a photo of The Fifth Dimension—————————-

October 1968

Songs that would debut on the charts this month would include “Sweet Blindness” by The Fifth Dimension, “Hey Western Union Man” by Jerry Butler, “Help Yourself” by Tom Jones, “Chained” by Marvin Gaye, “Those Were The Days” by Mary Hopkin, “Peace Brother Peace” by Bill Medley (*), “Fool For You” by The Impressions, “Lalena” by Donovan, “I’m In A Different World” by The Four Tops (*), “Love Child” by The Supremes, “Magic Carpet Ride” by Steppenwolf, “Elenore” by The Turtles, “Golden Gate Park” by Rejoice(*), “Keep On Lovin’ Me Honey” by Marvin Gaye & Tami Terrell, “On The Way Home ” by Buffalo Springfield (*), “Hi Heel Sneakers” by Jose Feliciano, “Hold Me Tight” by Johnny Nash (Johnny’s first hit would come in February of 1958 with a song called “A Very Special Love”), “White Room” by Cream, “The Court Of Love” by The Unifics, “The Yard Went On Forever” by Richard Harris (KYA), “From Teacher To The Preacher” by Gene Chandler & Barbara Acklin and “Shake” by The Shadows Of Knight (*).

November 1968

Songs that would debut on the charts this month would include “Pickin’ Wild Mountain Berries” by Peggy Scott & Jo Jo Benson, “Stormy” by The Classics IV, “Abraham, Martin & John” by Dion, “Shame Shame” by The Magic Lanterns, “Les Bicyclettes De Belsize” by Engelbert Humperdinck, “Chewy Chewy” by The Ohio Express, “Both Sides Now” by Judy Collins,”Too Weak To Fight” by Clarence Carter, “Wichita Lineman” by Glen Campbell, “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye, “For Once In My Life” by Stevie Wonder, “Cloud Nine” by The Temptations, “Living In The U.S.A.” by The Steve Miller Band (*), “Promises Promises” by Dionne Warwick, “Stoney End” by Laura Nyro (KYA), “I Put A Spell On You” by The Creedence Clearwater Revival (*), “Little Arrows” by Leapy Lee, “Nobody” by Three Dog Night (KYA), “The Funky Judge” by Bull & The Matadors, “Cycles” by Frank Sinatra, “1432 Franklin Pike Circle” by Bobby Russell, “Bang Shang Alang” by The Archies, “California Earthquake” by The Mamas & The Papas (*), “Bring It On Home To Me” by Eddie Floyd, “White Houses” by Eric Burdon & The Animals (KYA), “Put Your Head On My Shoulders” by The Lettermen (*), “Do You Wanna Dance” by The Mamas & The Papas(*), “She’s Some Kind Of Wonderful” by The Fantastic Johnny C (*), “Always Together” by The Dells, “Live A Little, Love A Little” by Elvis Presley (KYA), “Crosstown Traffic” by The Jimi Hendrix Experience (KYA), “See Saw” by Aretha Franklin, “Sunday Sun” by Neil Diamond (KYA) and “Kay” by Jimmy Elledge (KYA).

December 1968

Songs that would debut on the charts this month would include “This Is My Country” by The Impressions, “If I Can Dream” by Elvis Presley (this was the closing song on the Elvis Presley Comeback Special, shown on TV this year), “Stand By Your Man” by Tammy Wynette, “Lo Mucho Que Te Quiero (The More I Love You)” by Rene & Rene, “Hooked On A Feeling” by B.J Thomas, “Going Up The Country” by Canned Heat, “Crimson And Clover” by Tommy James & The Shondells, “Goody Goody Gumdrops” by The 1910 Fruitgum Company, “My Song” by Aretha Franklin, “Hang ‘Em High” by Booker T & The MG’s, “Scarborough Fair” by Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66, “My Favorite Things” by Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass (*), “Yesterday’s Rain” by Spanky & Our Gang (*), “Soulful Strut” by Young Holt Unlimited, “A Ray Of Hope” by The Rascals, “Till” by The Vogues, “Son Of A Preacher Man” by Dusty Springfield, “A Minute Of Your Time” by Tom Jones (*), “Light My Fire” by Rhetta Hughes (KYA) and “Daddy Sang Bass” by Johnny Cash (*). 🙂 🙂 🙂

References: “The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Hits, 9th Edition” and “Pop Memories 1890-1954”, both by Joel Whitburn. Also, the Billboard Top 100 and the music surveys of KYA in the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Area in California, U.S.A.

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