The much talked about syndicated series "The History Of Rock And Roll" began airing on WLS on Sunday Nights this week in 1969. (In fact, you'll find it listed on the next several weekly survey charts.)
Originally 48 hours long, it would take WLS eight weeks to make its way through the whole series (although I seem to remember them also running "recaps" on the weekends, too.) Let's face it ... as ambitious a project as this was, NOBODY could sit thru all 48 hours in a row ... so breaking it down into smaller installments probably made the most sense. Our long-time Forgotten Hits Buddy Gary Theoux got involved in the 1978 rewrite, which expanded the series to 52 hours (and corrected numerous mistakes found in the initial version.)
You'll find a few History Of Rock And Roll worthy artists on this week's list ... Tommy James and the Shondells, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Stevie Wonder, Three Dog Night, Kenny Rogers, Neil Diamond, James Brown, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Paul Revere and the Raiders, The Rolling Stones, Booker T. and the MG's, Johnny Cash, The Fifth Dimension, Crosby, Stills and Nash, The Box Tops, The Beach Boys, The Guess Who, Marvin Gaye and The Lettermen are all represented.
One Hit Wonders Zager and Evans take over the top spot with "In The Year 2525," while "Quentin's Theme," "Put A Little Love In Your Heart," "Sweet Caroline," "Polk Salad Annie" and "Birthday" all make leaps of ten places or more.
New on the charts: The Rolling Stones with "Honky Tonk Women," which will go on to become one of the biggest hits of 1969.
Also debuting this week: the first single release from the brand new "super group" Crosby, Stills and Nash, former members of The Byrds, The Buffalo Springfield and The Hollies, respectively. Neil Young (also of The Buffalo Springfield) would join them occasionally when the mood struck him.
THIS WEEK IN 1969:
July 8th – Keeping his promise as new President, Nixon orchestrates the very first US troop withdrawals in Viet Nam.
Also on this date, Marianne Faithfull takes a near-fatal overdose of barbiturates on the set of the film “Ned Kelly.” It is ruled an attempted suicide and she is dropped from the cast and hospitalized for treatment of heroin addiction.
July 10th – Rolling Stones founding member Brian Jones is laid to rest at the Priory Road Cemetery in Prestbury, England. All of the other Stones, with the exception of Mick Jagger, are present for the ceremony.
Also on this date, Marianne Faithfull takes a near-fatal overdose of barbiturates on the set of the film “Ned Kelly.” It is ruled an attempted suicide and she is dropped from the cast and hospitalized for treatment of heroin addiction.
July 10th – Rolling Stones founding member Brian Jones is laid to rest at the Priory Road Cemetery in Prestbury, England. All of the other Stones, with the exception of Mick Jagger, are present for the ceremony.
July 12th – Blind Faith (billed as “The Ultimate Supergroup”) begins their one and only US Tour with a sold out show at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Also on this date, Elvis Presley appears on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine (beating Dr. Hook to this honor by a few years!)
Also on this date, Elvis Presley appears on the cover of Rolling Stone Magazine (beating Dr. Hook to this honor by a few years!)
And Glen Campbell and Jeannie C. Riley appear on The Johnny Cash Show
July 14th – Show Me The Money: All US $500, $1000, $5000 and $10,000 bills are officially withdrawn from circulation (I can honestly say I’ve never seen ANY of them ... but they did exist!!!)
(If some of you are wondering who the heck Salmon P. Chase is, you'll find a great read over on the Mental Floss website from a few years ago.)
An aspiring politician he never quite made the "Dead Presidents" club ... but odds are a good number of you out there reading this right now have, at one time or another, done business with his bank. (Chase, in fact, currently holds the title on my new car loan ... you know, should anybody out there feel inclined to help pay it off!)
Also on this date, Bob Dylan surprised the audience when he joined The Band to perform three songs during their concert at the Mississippi River Rock Festival.
And the film "Easy Rider" opened in theaters in New York City. A long-time cult classic, it starred Peter Fonda, Dennis Hopper and Jack Nicholson (and even Wall-Of-Sound Record Producer Phil Spector!) The soundtrack boasts tracks by Steppenwolf, The Byrds, The Band and more.
WATCH FOR A MORE IN-DEPTH LOOK AT ZAGER AND EVANS AND THEIR #1 HIT "IN THE YEAR 2525" TOMORROW IN FORGOTTEN HITS!
