The Beatles didn't release any singles from their White Album when it was released last November ... which paved the way for a number of cover versions to make the charts in their wake.
The most successful one here in Chicago seems to be Underground Sunshine's version of "Birthday," which leaps up six spots from #10 to #4 this week. (It will be a much bigger hit here in Chicago than it will nationally, where it topped out at #19 (and only #26 in Billboard.) The fact that these guys are from Wisconsin probably didn't hurt either.
Other big movers this week include Johnny Cash's "A Boy Named Sue" (#18 to #9), "Get Together" by The Youngbloods (#39 to #30) and "Green River" by Creedence Clearwater Revival, which climbs fifteen places from #35 to #20.
The first Beatles solo single (if you can call it that ... it's essentially John and Yoko in bed in Toronto with a bunch of visitors singing background) "Give Peace A Chance" also moves up an impressive eleven places (from #28 to #17).
Premiers of note include "Lay Lady Lay" by Bob Dylan, a rare Dylan song where you can actually understand the lyrics ... and his voice sounds pretty damn good on this one, honestly ... "Easy To Be Hard" by Three Dog Night, another song from the "Hair" soundtrack, made over for pop radio, "Did You See Her Eyes" by The Illusion (one of the many bands touted over the years as "the next Beatles" ... for the record, this was their one and only hit), "Keem-O-Sabe" by Electric Indian and, coming in at #40, a song that will top several year-end charts as the biggest hit of 1969, "Sugar, Sugar" by The Archies, a "cartoon band" that was the brain child of Don Kirshner (who evidently figured he'd get less back-talk from these animated television stars than he did from The Monkees!) Led by long-time FH Member Ron Dante, the song has proven timeless ... and there hasn't been a day gone by since 1969 when this record hasn't been played on the radio somewhere ... and quite often, several times a day!
Other artists taking advantage of The Beatles not releasing their own single from The White Album include Chubby Checker ("Back In The U.S.S.R."), The Five Stairsteps ("Dear Prudence") and Arthur Conley and Marmalade (who both cut "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da.") Over the years, of course, several other covers would be recorded of songs like "Blackbird," "Mother Nature's Son" and "Helter Skelter."
THIS WEEK IN 1969:
July 30th - The Beatles assemble at Abbey Road Studios to see what they could piece together in the way of a medley to include on Side Two of their new LP. Although several of the songs weren't finished yet (and which segments to use and in what sequence hadn't been determined either), the meeting was more of a "feeling out" session to see what was doable. The plan had been all along to construct some type of medley to fill out side two of the new album. (At the time, they were referring to this as "The Long One" for lack of a better name.) Before they wrapped things up that night, they had come up with the following rough outline plan: You Never Give Me Your Money / Sun King / Mean Mr. Mustard / Her Majesty / Polythene Pam / She Came In Through The Bathroom Window / Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight / The End.
At least now they could clean up and add any little bits necessary to help the continuity flow between each track. "Her Majesty" was ultimately dropped and then added as a "hidden track" on the original LP pressing ... but other than that, it seems that even at this early stage they had a pretty good idea of what the final medley was going to sound like. Once they added "Here Comes The Sun" as Side Two's opening track, followed by John's as yet unrecorded "Because," The Beatles had created perhaps the perfect album side.
July 31st - Elvis Presley opens at The International Hotel in Las Vegas for a four week engagement. Several of these shows are recorded for future release. It is all part of the master plan to relaunch Elvis’ career, that began with his NBC television special that ran last December. It is reported that Elvis was paid one million dollars for this four week stay.
July 30th - The Beatles assemble at Abbey Road Studios to see what they could piece together in the way of a medley to include on Side Two of their new LP. Although several of the songs weren't finished yet (and which segments to use and in what sequence hadn't been determined either), the meeting was more of a "feeling out" session to see what was doable. The plan had been all along to construct some type of medley to fill out side two of the new album. (At the time, they were referring to this as "The Long One" for lack of a better name.) Before they wrapped things up that night, they had come up with the following rough outline plan: You Never Give Me Your Money / Sun King / Mean Mr. Mustard / Her Majesty / Polythene Pam / She Came In Through The Bathroom Window / Golden Slumbers / Carry That Weight / The End.
At least now they could clean up and add any little bits necessary to help the continuity flow between each track. "Her Majesty" was ultimately dropped and then added as a "hidden track" on the original LP pressing ... but other than that, it seems that even at this early stage they had a pretty good idea of what the final medley was going to sound like. Once they added "Here Comes The Sun" as Side Two's opening track, followed by John's as yet unrecorded "Because," The Beatles had created perhaps the perfect album side.
July 31st - Elvis Presley opens at The International Hotel in Las Vegas for a four week engagement. Several of these shows are recorded for future release. It is all part of the master plan to relaunch Elvis’ career, that began with his NBC television special that ran last December. It is reported that Elvis was paid one million dollars for this four week stay.
Elvis' last appearance in Las Vegas was back in 1957 ... and this is his first live show of any kind since 1961. Celebrities are in the audience throughout his stay ... but opening weekend attendees include Johnny Cash, Liberace, Tom Jones, Herb Alpert, Dick Clark, Cary Grant, Fats Domino, Burt Bacharach, Pat Boone, Paul Anka and The Beach Boys.
While in Las Vegas, Elvis will also attend shows by Barbra Streisand, Nancy Sinatra, Ann-Margret and Tom Jones.
And, speaking of The Beach Boys ...
August 1st - Beach Boy Carl Wilson is indicted in Los Angeles for failure to perform his required community service as dictated by his status as a conscientious objector to military service and the War in Viet Nam. As it turns out, Wilson did, in fact, report to The L.A. County Hospital as planned on his appointed date and time. However, instead of acting as an institutional helper as required, he chose instead to conduct music classes for handicapped patients at the hospital.
August 2nd – Bob Dylan attends his Ten Year High School Reunion in Hibbing, Minnesota, but leaves early when a drunk at the party tries to pick a fight with him.
