This week's chart (another from Clark Besch's extensive personal collection) takes us to Maryland where The Monkees have the "Best Bet" with their latest ... but remarkably WPGC is showing "Tapioca Tundra" as the A-Side when clearly "Valleri" (another misspelling) was the hit.
A great, overlooked track by Paul Revere and the Raiders, "Too Much Talk," is on the rise this week, moving from #24 to #19 and you'll also find Madeline Bell's original version of "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" premiering at #34. (Although it didn't do all that well nationally, this was a big hit in Chicago, too, ten months before the pairing of Diana Ross and the Supremes and The Temptations took it all the way to #1 in most cities across the country.)
"There Is" by The Dells is proving to be a big hit on the East Coast, too, moving up nine places from #15 to #6. It was a pick hit on last week's chart from Idaho but is already a Top Ten Hit here in Maryland! (kk)
2-23-68 WPGC Morningside, Maryland
Home to Andrews Air Force Base and the Federal Census Bureau, Morningside is a small town of 2000+, but also is just a little trip across the Potomac River to our nation's capital.
In 1968, it was also home to a very cool top 40 station, WPGC. You'll note quite a different set of music than last week's Idaho chart displayed.
Two of the more obscure but groovy records on this chart blasting the DC area were Nobody's Children's great brassy arrangement of the 1966 Hollies hit "I Can't Let Go" and the psychedelic offerings of Grapefruit and "Dear Delilah."
The Nobody's Children record was actually produced by WPGC's DJ Harv Moore and was eventually picked up nationally by Buddah Records.
Meanwhile, Grapefruit was an unknown British band then and now well known as a band whose name was given to them by John Lennon. Their music was published by Apple Music in 1968 and despite a great and very Beatlish sounding album released in 1968, failed to gain much success. Their use of phasing on this 45 adds interest and helps add to the psychedelic feel of the time.
-- Clark Besch
THIS WEEK IN 1968:
2/18/68: David Gilmour replaces Syd Barrett in Pink Floyd after Barrett, who founded the band, was fired for erratic behavior and out of control drug use.
Also on this date, Paul Mauriat performs his #1 Hit “Love Is Blue” on The Ed Sullivan Show. Also performing this evening is Bobbie Gentry, who sings her new single “Louisiana Man”
2/19/68: Gerry Marsden of Gerry and the Pacemakers begins a 3 ½ year run in the London stage production of “Charlie Girl”
2/20/68: Manfred Mann’s cover of the Bob Dylan tune “The Might Quinn” reaches Number 1 in the UK.
2/21/68: Blood, Sweat and Tears release their debut album, Child Is The Father to the Man
2/23/68: The Jefferson Airplane perform at the very first L.A. Pinnacle Dance Concert, which will continue as twelve monthly events throughout the rest of the year.
