The Music Of July-December 1969

Songs in this article that appeared on the nation’s Top 40 are unmarked, the Top 100 is denoted by (*) and songs that only made the local KYA survey are denoted by (KYA).

July 1969

Songs that would debut on the charts this month would include “Choice Of Colors” by The Impressions, “Laughing” by The Guess Who, “My Pledge Of Love” by The Joe Jeffrey Group, “Yesterday When I Was Young” by Roy Clark, “Put A Little Love In Your Heart” by Jackie DeShannon, “Along Came Jones” by Ray Stevens (a remake of a 1959 hit by The Coasters), “Birds OfA Feather” by Joe South (*), “Polk Salad Annie” by Tony Joe White, “Good Old Rock And Roll” by Cat Mother & The All Night News Boys, “Wake Up” by The Chambers Brothers (*), “Reconsider Me” by Johnny Adams, “Sweet Caroline” by Neil Diamond, “In The Time Of Our Lives” by Iron Butterfly (*), “Jack And Jill” by Tommy Roe, “Doggone Right” by The Miracles, “Abergavenny” by Shannon (*), “Abraham, Martin And John” by Smokey Robinson and “Nitty Gritty” by Gladys Knight & The Pips.

August 1969

Songs that would debut this month would include “Green River” and “Commotion” by Creedence Clearwater Revival, “Change Of Heart” by The Classics IV, “Get Together” by The Youngbloods, “I’d Wait A Million Years” by The Grass Roots, “Hurt So Bad” by The Lettermen, “Sugar Sugar” by The Archies, “True Grit” by Glen Campbell, “A Boy Named Sue” by Johnny Cash, “Working On A Groovy Thing” by The Fifth Dimension, “I’ll Never Fall In Love Again” by Tom Jones, “Oh What A Night ’69” by The Dells (this was a new version of a song that The Dells did originally back in 1956), “Jean” by Oliver, “Easy To Be Hard” by Three Dog Night, “Lodi” by Al Wilson, “Colour Of My Love” by Jefferson (*), “I Can’t Get Next To You” by The Temptations, “Birthday” by Underground Sunshine, “It’s Getting Better” by Mama Cass, “Clean Up Your Own Back Yard” by Elvis Presley, “Soul Deep” by The Box Tops, “Marakesh Express” by Crosby, Stills & Nash, “That’s The Way God Planned It” by Billy Preston (*), “Give Peace A Chance” by The Plastic Ono Band, “Did You See Her Eyes” by Illusion, “Keem O Sabe” by The Electric Indian, “Harlan County” by Jim Ford (KYA), “Share Your Love With Me” by Aretha Franklin ( a remake of an earlier hit by Bobby “Blue” Bland), “I’m Free” by The Who, “Your Good Thing Is About To End” by Lou Rawls, “Don’t It Make You Wanna Go Home” by Joe South (*), “Who Do You Love” by Quicksilver Messenger Service (*) and “Muddy Mississippi” by Bobby Goldsboro (*).

September 1969

As we approach the final months of our tribute to the music of the 50’s and 60’s, we will come upon songs that would hit the local surveys of KYA but not the national charts until early in 1970. These songs will be denoted by []
Songs that would debut on the charts this month would include “Sugar On Sunday” by The Clique, “Little Woman” by Bobby Sherman, “When I Die” by Motherlode, “Armstrong” by John Stewart (*, formerly of The Kingston Trio),

“What Kind Of Fool Do You Think I Am” by Bill Deal & The Rhondells, “This Girl Is A Woman Now” by Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, “Suspicious Minds” by Elvis Presley (after an absence of over seven years without a #1 hit in the country, the King Of Rock And Roll would have another #1 song with this hit), “What’s The Use Of Breaking Up” by Jerry Butler, “Nobody But You Babe” by Clarence Reid, “I’m Gonna Make You Mine” by Lou Christie, “Everybody’s Talkin’ ” by Nilsson, “Sausalito” by The Ohio Express (*), “White Bird” by It’s A Beautiful Day (KYA), “Carry Me Back” by The Rascals, “Son Of A Lovin’ Man” by The Buchanan Brothers (*), “Jingo” by Santana (KYA), “And That Reminds Me” by The Four Seasons (*), “By The Time I Get To Phoenix” by Isaac Hayes, “Move Over” by Steppenwolf, “Time Machine” by The Grand Funk Railroad (*), “You I” by The Rugbys, “Love Of The Common People” by The Winstons (*), “One Tin Soldier” by The Original Caste [] (KYA) and “That’s The Way Love Is” by Marvin Gaye.

October 1969

Songs that would debut on the charts this month would include “Ball Of Fire” by Tommy James & The Shondells, “Going In Circles” by The Friends Of Distinction, “In A Moment” by The Intrigues, “Baby It’s You” by Smith ( a remake of an earlier hit by The Shirelles), “Tracy” by The Cuff Links, “Reuben James” by Kenny Rogers & The First Edition, “Smile A Little Smile For Me” by The Flying Machine, “Walk On By” by Isaac Hayes, “Baby I’m For Real” by The Originals, “Wedding Bell Blues” by The Fifth Dimension, “Come Together” and “Something” by The Beatles, “And When I Die” by Blood. Sweat & Tears, “Make Believe” by Wind (this was a group that featured the lead voice of Tony Orlando, months before he would begin his career with a group called Dawn), “Something In The Air” by Thunderclap Newman, “Suite For Judy Blue Eyes” by Crosby, Stills & Nash, “Take A Letter Maria” by R.B Greaves, “Roosevelt And Ira Lee” by Tony Joe White (*), “Jealous Kind Of Fella” by Garland Green, “Turn On A Dream” by The Box Tops (*), “Love In The City” by The Turtles (*), “You’ve Lost That Lovin’ Feeling” by Dionne Warwick, “Say You, Say Me” by The Impressions (*), “Wasn’t Born To Follow” by The Byrds (KYA), “Is That All There Is” by Peggy Lee, “Cupid” by Johnny Nash [] (KYA)and “I Still Believe In Tomorrow” by John & Anne Ryder (*).

November 1969

Songs that would debut on the charts this month would include “Down On The Corner” and “Fortunate Son” by The Creedence Clearwater Revival, “A Brand New Me” by Dusty Springfield, “Cherry Hill Park” by Billy Joe Royal, “Heaven Knows” by The Grass Roots, “Try A Little Kindness” by Glen Campbell, “Eli’s Coming” by Three Dog Night, “Mind, Body & Soul” by The Flaming Ember, “Backfield In Motion” by Mel & Tim, “Leaving On A Jet Plane” by Peter, Paul & Mary, “I Guess The Lord Must Be In New York City” by Nilsson, “(Na Na Hey Hey) Kiss Him Goodbye” by Steam, “Okie From Muskogee” by Merle Haggard (*), “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head” by B.J. Thomas, “Someday We’ll Be Together” by The Supremes, “Friendship Train” by Gladys Knight & The Pips, “Echo Park” by Keith Barbour, “So Good Together” by Andy Kim, “Yester-Me, Yester-You, Yesterday” by Stevie Wonder, “Evil Woman Don’t Play Your Games With Me” by Crow, “Up On Cripple Creek” by The Band, “Make Your Own Kind Of Music” by Mama Cass, “I’ll Hold Out My Hand” by The Clique (*), “Won’t Find Better Than Me” by New Hope (KYA), Jennifer Tomkins” by Street People [] (KYA), “Turn Turn Turn” by Judy Collins (*), “Arizona” by Mark Lindsay [] (KYA), “Midnight” by Classics IV (*), “Midnight Cowboy” by Ferrante & Teichcer, “You Got To Pay The Price” by Gloria Taylor (*) and “Groovy Grubworm” by Harlow Wilcox.

December 1969

December 1969 will be the final month in our tribute to the 50’s & 60’s. Songs that would debut on the charts this month would include “She” by Tommy James & The Shondells, “Jingle Jangle” by The Archies, “I Want You Back” by The Jackson 5 (the beginning of the career for Michael Jackson and his brothers), “Don’t Cry Daddy” and “Rubberneckin’ ” by Elvis Presley, “I’m Gonna Love You” by The Intrigues (*), “Cold Turkey” by The Plastic Ono Band, “Early In The Morning” by Vanity Fare, “Love Will Find A Way” by Jackie DeShannon, “La La La (If I Had You)” by Bobby Sherman, “Venus” by The Shocking Blue, “Don’t Let Him Take Your Love From Me” by The Four Tops (*), “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” by The Hollies [] (KYA), “Traces/Memories Medley” by The Lettermen (*), “Walkin’ In The Rain” by Jay & The Americans [] (KYA), “When Julie Comes Around” by The Cuff Links (*), “Oh Well” by Fleetwood Mac (KYA), “Wonderful World, Beautiful People” by Jimmy Cliff, “Blowin’ Away” by The Fifth Dimension [] (KYA), “The Thrill Is Gone” by B.B King [] (KYA), “Jam Up And Jelly Tight” by Tommy Roe, “Let’s Work Together” by Wilbert Harrison [] (KYA) and “Baby Take Me In Your Arms” by Jefferson [] (KYA).
This concludes our musical journey through the 50’s and 60’s. Through the magic of you tube, most of the songs mentioned in these articles are online. I hope these articles have brought back memories of the way it used to be. 🙂 🙂 🙂
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References: “The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Hits, 9th Edition” by Joel Whitburn, the Billboard Top 100 and the music surveys of KYA in the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Area in California, U.S.A.