Yesterday was such a busy day for me that I am almost ecstatic that today is a normal day and that I have to go back to work.
The key word there is "almost."
Anyway, I am back to where I should be, and I kind of like that.
So while we are talking about today, how about talking about yesterday, too?
Let's look back at the music we were all listening to 50 years ago, on October 5, 1968.
This particular Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts is filled with out-and-out classics, songs that were perfect for that period in time, and some that you might have forgotten.
Topping the chart was one of those classics I was talking about. The Beatles' "Hey Jude" was a groundbreaker, a single that broke the two or three-minute barrier that all singles had pretty much gone under, with few exceptions, since the beginning of the rock and roll era in the early 1950s. Actually a paean to John Lennon's son Julian, the single became one of the Fab Four's best-selling 45s, and it continues to have the same emotional thrust today as it did 50 years ago. It would spend nine weeks at the top spot, this being the second week it was there.
At number two is a former No. 1 record, one of the most successful novelty records of all time, "Harper Valley P.T.A." by Jeannie C. Riley. It is also one of the biggest country crossover hits of all time, too.
One of the oddest songs ever to grace the top 10 is "Fire" by The Crazy World of Arthur Brown. This song hits you every which way, and it was this cohort of the Who's Peter Townshend's only real hit in the U.S.
A classic on the mellow side was at No. 4 this week. "Little Green Apples" by O.C. Smith became a standard of the time, recorded by many, but it was Smith's spot-on vocals that made his the definitive version of this tune.
Another one-hit wonder was at No. 5, with the O'Kaysions' "Girl Watcher" taking that position. I hate to be political, but heck, would this song fly in 2018 what with what is going on in our society? But this was simply an innocent look at men admitting to looking at women, nothing more.
Clarence Carter's "Slip Away" was at No. 6, one of those perfect soul-tinged songs that crossed over racial barriers and was loved by everyone at the same time.
A former No. 1, the Rascals' classic "People Got To Be Free," placed at No. 7, with one of the Bee Gees' biggest pre-disco hits, "I've Gotta Get a Message To You," moving to No. 8.
Bubblegum music became a legitimate musical form around this time, propelled by acts like Tommy James and the Shondells, Paul Revere and the Raiders and the Monkees throughout at least some of those acts' musical repetoire. Music geared to the younger set peaked with the Buddah Records label's stable of bubblegum acts, including the 1910 Fruitgum Co., whose "1, 2, 3 Red Light," one of the anthems of that genre, coming in at No. 9 for this week.
And rounding out the Top 10 for the week was Aretha Frankin's "I Say a Little Prayer" at No. 10.
The highest debuting single on the Hot 100 for this week was another soon-to-be classic, Cream's "White Room," which came onto the chart at No. 58. It would reach a high position of No. 6 in a few weeks.
The biggest mover on the chart, or the single that picked up the most places on the Hot 100 from last week to this week, was "Peace of Mind" by jazz crooner Nancy Wilson. The song, moving from No. 100 to No. 69 during this week, would eventually lose steam and reach a high point at No. 55 in a few weeks' time.
So that is it, and I would say that that was quite a Top 10 for the week, with classics rubbing shoulders with one-hit wonders and other certifiable great tunes.
It is also a nice way to bow out of this week.
Have a good weekend, and I will speak to you again on Monday.
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