And here we are entering the last year of our second full decade in our journey through pop music history. My how time flies…
Songs of the month
[new] “A Ray Of Hope” – Rascals
“Abraham Martin And John” – Dion
[new] “Bella Linda” – Grass Roots
“Both Sides Now” – Judy Collins
“Bring It On Home To Me” – Eddie Floyd
[new] “Build Me Up Buttercup” – Foundations
[new] “California Soul” – 5Th Dimension
[new] “Can I Change My Mind” – Tyrone Davis
“Cinnamon” – Derek
“Cloud Nine” – Temptations
[new] “Crimson And Clover” – Tommy James & Shondells
[new] “Everyday People” – Sly & Family Stone
“For Once In My Life” – Stevie Wonder
“Going Up The Country” – Canned Heat
[new] “Hang ’em High” – Booker T & Mg’s
“Hey Jude” – Beatles
[new] “Hey Jude” – Wilson Pickett
“Hooked On A Feeling” – B.J. Thomas
“I Heard It Through The Grapevine” – Marvin Gaye
“I Love How You Love Me” – Bobby Vinton
[new] “I Started A Joke” – Bee Gees
“I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” – Diana Ross & Supremes & Temptations
“If I Can Dream” – Elvis Presley
“Lo Mucho Que Te Quiero” – Rene And Rene
[new] “Love Child” – Diana Ross & Supremes
“Magic Carpet Ride” – Steppenwolf
“Papa’s Got A Brand New Bag” – Otis Redding
[new] “Scarborough Fair” – Sergio Mendes & Brasil ’66
“See Saw” – Aretha Franklin
[new] “Showdown” – Archie Bell & Drells
“Son Of A Preacher Man” – Dusty Springfield
“Soulful Strut” – Young-Holt Unlimited
[new] “Stand By Your Man” – Tammy Wynette
“Stormy” – Classics Iv
[new] “This Is My Country” – Impressions
“Too Weak To Fight” – Clarence Carter
[new] “Touch Me” – Doors
“Who’s Making Love” – Johnnie Taylor
“Wichita Lineman” – Glen Campbell
[new] “Worst That Could Happen” – Brooklyn Bridge
[new] = New to the chart this week.
You can listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link.
This month in history
On the 2nd of January, Australian media baron Rupert Murdoch purchased the largest-selling British Sunday newspaper, The News of the World as shareholders of the News voted to accept his bid over that of British book publisher Robert Maxwell. Murdoch would purchase newspapers in the U.S. in the 1970s, notably the New York Post, and enter television in the 1980s with the founding of the Fox Network.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRSjBVqT0NY
On the 18th the U.S. Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit against International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), charging the company with monopolizing the digital computer industry, programming hindering competitors and limiting the development of computer programming by its policy of selling its hardware, software and technical support as an inseparable package. The suit would continue until 1982, when it would be dropped because of changes in the industry (IBM having failed to parley their mainframe monopoly into a microcomputer one).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLI50ZbXeuQ
Then on the 20th The Beatles gave their last ever public performance in what is now called “the rooftop concert”, setting up their instruments on the roof of the London building that served as the corporate headquarters for their recording company, Apple Corps. Lasting for 42 minutes, the impromptu concert atop the five-story building at 3 Saville Row was filmed for their 1970 film Let It Be. The group opened with a few runthroughs of their soon-to-be-released single “Get Back” and its B-side, “Don’t Let Me Down”. After three more songs (and complaints from people in nearby buildings), London police arrived and allowed John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr to perform one final song. The group closed with the song that opened the concert, their last sung phrase being “Get back to where you once belonged.” Their parting words to the assembled crowd were from John Lennon: “I’d like to say thank you on behalf of the group and ourselves. I hope we passed the audition.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=foigd26-Ync
What’d Sadie think?
A four full weeks for Marvin Gaye with “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” at number one, which after 3 weeks in December, makes for 7 weeks atop the charts so far.
Sadie was particularly liking, “Abraham, Martin And John” by Dion this week. I was this many years old myself when I discovered the song is referring to assassinated American political figures…duh! And “Build Me Up Buttercup” by Foundations was another Sadie favourite and a real family ear worm.
Loved ’em
- “A Ray Of Hope” – Rascals
- “Build Me Up Buttercup” – Foundations
- “Can I Change My Mind” – Tyrone Davis
- “Everyday People” – Sly & Family Stone
- “I Started A Joke” – Bee Gees
- “Love Child” – Diana Ross & Supremes
- “Touch Me” – Doors
Liked ’em
- “Bella Linda” – Grass Roots
- “California Soul” – 5Th Dimension
- “Crimson And Clover” – Tommy James & Shondells
- “Hang ’em High” – Booker T & Mg’s
- “Hey Jude” – Wilson Pickett
- “Stand By Your Man” – Tammy Wynette
- “The Worst That Could Happen” – Brooklyn Bridge
- “This Is My Country” – Impressions
Now go listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link.