Toldja this was a hot one ... "Honky Tonk Women" by The Rolling Stones jumps 20 PLACES from #30 to #10 in its second week on the chart.
The Underground Sunshine's version of The Beatles' tune "Birthday" continues to climb ... this was A VERY big record here in Chicago, going all the way to #2. This weeks it's up nine spots from #27 to #18.
The Lettermen also have another hit on their hands with their remake of the Little Anthony and the Imperials hit "Hurt So Bad" ... this week it climbs from #33 to #20, a move of thirteen places. (This song has been recorded by any number of artists over the years ... but this is by far my favorite version.)
And it looks like Johnny Cash has himself a cross-over hit as the Shel Silverstein-written novelty tune "A Boy Named Sue" climbs from #40 to #30.
This week also gives us our first solo Beatle hit as John Lennon's Plastic Ono Band premier with the peace anthem "Give Peace A Chance." This is the one he recorded in his hotel room in Montreal just a few weeks ago during his honeymoon / Bed-In For Peace campaign.
THIS WEEK IN 1969:
July 16th – Apollo 11 (with astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins aboard) lifts off for what will be the first US moon landing.
Also on this date, The Beatles are working on two brand new George Harrison songs at Abbey Road Studios. BOTH will make their next album … “Something” and “Here Comes The Sun” … two more Beatles classics that certainly hold their own against the Lennon and McCartney songbook.
July 17th - Performing at The Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island, Johnny Cash brings up a member of the audience to sing a song. That audience member is Kris Kristofferson ... and that song is "Me And Bobby McGee" ... and the rest, as they say, is history.
July 18th - Senator Edward (Ted) Kennedy drives his car off a bridge after leaving a party on Chappaquiddick Island in Massachusetts. His companion, Mary Jo Kopechne, will drown in the early hours of the following morning in Kennedy’s submerged car. Kennedy escapes but the Chappaquiddick Incident haunted him for the rest of his life, preventing him from ever running for President of The United States. Some 50 years later, a film is released commemorating the event … but still leaving more questions than answers. (Scroll back to read our coverage of this event if you missed it.)
Also on this date, Elvis Presley begins rehearsals for his return to the Las Vegas stage next month at The International Hotel.
July 19th – With keyboardist and lead vocalist Stevie Winwood already recording and touring with the super group Blind Faith, The Spencer Davis Group announces that they are breaking up. After Blind Faith quickly disbanded after just one short tour, Winwood will re-form Traffic … and then go on to have quite a successful solo career as well.
July 17th - Performing at The Newport Folk Festival in Rhode Island, Johnny Cash brings up a member of the audience to sing a song. That audience member is Kris Kristofferson ... and that song is "Me And Bobby McGee" ... and the rest, as they say, is history.
July 18th - Senator Edward (Ted) Kennedy drives his car off a bridge after leaving a party on Chappaquiddick Island in Massachusetts. His companion, Mary Jo Kopechne, will drown in the early hours of the following morning in Kennedy’s submerged car. Kennedy escapes but the Chappaquiddick Incident haunted him for the rest of his life, preventing him from ever running for President of The United States. Some 50 years later, a film is released commemorating the event … but still leaving more questions than answers. (Scroll back to read our coverage of this event if you missed it.)
Also on this date, Elvis Presley begins rehearsals for his return to the Las Vegas stage next month at The International Hotel.
July 19th – With keyboardist and lead vocalist Stevie Winwood already recording and touring with the super group Blind Faith, The Spencer Davis Group announces that they are breaking up. After Blind Faith quickly disbanded after just one short tour, Winwood will re-form Traffic … and then go on to have quite a successful solo career as well.
Also on this date, The Monkees, Joni Mitchell, Ed Ames and Roy Clark are all guests on tonight's Johnny Cash Show.
And in Mobile, Alabama, Jimmy Buffett marries his first wife, Margie Washichek, at the St. Joseph Chapel at Spring Hill College. (They will divorce a couple of years later.)
July 20th - Neil Armstrong addresses the world from the moon - "One small step for man … one giant leap for mankind". A reported 500 Million viewers worldwide watch the event. (The mass media and public focus of this event greatly reduced the amount of press coverage given to the Chappaquiddick Incident of the day before when Mary Jo Kopechne’s body was found and pulled from the water. I guess if you were going to drive your car off a bridge and leave someone behind, this would have been a good day to do it.) You can read our coverage of the momentous event in yesterday's posting.
Also on July 20th, Actor Josh Holloway (Sawyer on “Lost”) is born … and R&B Singer Roy Hamilton (who had chart hits with his version of “Unchained Melody” [#1, 1955] and “Don’t Let Go” [#11, 1958] dies of a stroke.
Also on July 20th, Actor Josh Holloway (Sawyer on “Lost”) is born … and R&B Singer Roy Hamilton (who had chart hits with his version of “Unchained Melody” [#1, 1955] and “Don’t Let Go” [#11, 1958] dies of a stroke.
July 21st - The Beatles record "Come Together"
