OK, we've reached the summit ...
These were The Top Ten Hits of 1968 ...
#10 - Young Girl - Gary Puckett and the Union Gap
(These guys had all four of their singles make The Top 68 of '68 Countdown ... incredible for a start-up group.
Although they never had a #1 Record in Billboard, they topped the charts in both Cash Box and Record World with their hits "Young Girl" and "Lady Willpower" ... and "Woman Woman," "Over You" and next year's "This Girl Is A Woman Now" all made The Top Five.
# 9 - Tighten Up - Archie Bell and the Drells
Archie was over in Viet Nam when his record went all the way to #1 here in The States. But that didn't prevent a bunch of fake Archie Bell and the Drells groups from springing up and booking shows (and taking credit!) in his absence! Ah yes ... the underbelly of rock and roll.
# 8 - Harper Valley P.T.A. - Jeannie C. Riley
Jeannie scored her only Top 40 Pop Hit with this novelty smash that raced up the chart to #1 and then disappeared nearly as quickly.
# 7 - Mrs. Robinson - Simon and Garfunkel
A huge soundtrack hit for the duo, thanks to the Dustin Hoffman - Anne Bancroft movie hit "The Graduate."
# 6 - This Guy's In Love With You - Herb Alpert
This guy kept pace with The Beatles when it came to hit albums ... all instrumental hits with a hint of South Of The Border flavor ... but he never hit #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart until he SANG a tune ... and this one was an absolute smash, topping the charts for four weeks in all three major trade publications.
# 5 - People Got To Be Free - The Rascals
The Young Rascals were "all growed up" by 1968 ... and much more politically aware. Their hit "A Beautiful Morning" (sort of a 'kissin' cousin to their previous chart-topper "Groovin'" from last year) also made The Top 68 of '68 ... but this is the one that would go on to become the biggest hit of their career.
# 4 - Dock Of The Bay - Otis Redding
One of the more baffling hits on the 1968 charts. Released several months after Otis' death, it became a pop and soul standard immediately upon its release ... yet never hit #1 in either Cash Box or Record World. The baffling part comes from the fact that it held down the #1 position in Billboard for four straight weeks. That one has just never made sense to me.
# 3 - Honey - Bobby Goldsboro
The higher we climb, the bigger they get ... and this one was an absolute MONSTER. And then, nearly just as quickly as it won over the hearts of the kids and parents alike, the public turned on poor "Honey" and it's been considered one of the sappiest songs of all time ever since. (But not before it reached #1 in all three trades ... and stayed there for five weeks.
# 2 - Love Is Blue - Paul Mauriat
We've told you again and again about the "anything goes" '60s ... and here is yet another perfect example.
Looking at a year-end, biggest hits chart that contains the heavy sounds of "Jumpin' Jack Flash" by The Rolling Stones, "Fire" by The Crazy World of Arthur Brown, "Sunshine Of Your Love" and "White Room" by Cream, "Born To Be Wild" and "Magic Carpet Ride" by Steppenwolf, "Hello, I Love You" by The Doors, "Dance To The Music" by Sly and the Family Stone, "Hurdy Gurdy Man" by Donovan and "Hush" by Deep Purple, Frenchman Paul Mauriat and his classical harpsichord becomes the second biggest hit of the entire year!
# 1 - Hey Jude - The Beatles
Was there ever any doubt? Topping Billboard's Hot 100 Pop Singles Chart for nine straight weeks it was, hands down, the biggest hit of The Beatles' entire career ... an especially proud feat since it was also their very first release for their very own record label, Apple Records.
Enjoy tomorrow's final Saturday Survey of 1968 ... and then join us again on Sunday for a complete recap of The Top 68 Hits of 1968. Thanks all ... and Happy Holidays!!! (kk)
