Elvis jumps from #10 to #1 this week on the WLS Hit Parade as "Suspicious Minds" becomes only his second WLS #1 ... and first since 1960. (The very first WLS Silver Dollar Survey was published on October 14th and Elvis topped the chart seven weeks later with "Are You Lonesome Tonight.") He came close a couple of times in between ... "Good Luck Charm" and "Return To Sender" both peaked at #2 in 1962 ... but with "Suspicious Minds," Elvis proved that the comeback begun in December of 1968 was officially the real deal.
Other big movers this week include "Jean" by Oliver (up from #11 to #3), "Baby It's You" by Smith (#26 to #13), "Something" / "Come Together" by The Beatles (#33 to #18) and "Is That All There Is" by Peggy Lee (#31 to #20).
The top two debuts this week that will make a lasting impression on the charts would have to be "Holly Holy" by Neil Diamond and "Leaving On A Jet Plane" by Peter, Paul and Mary, which will go on to become their biggest hit since 1963's "Blowin' In The Wind."
THIS WEEK IN 1969:
October 8th – Jackie DeShannon and Tom Jones are guests on The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour this evening
October 9th – For the first time in the history of the popular British Music Series “Top Of The Pops,” the #1 Record in the nation was not featured. That’s because that distinction belonged to the French song “Je T’Aime Moi Non Plus,” recorded by Serge Gainsbourg and Jane Birkin, a song that had been banned by the BBC due to its “provocative lyrics” and the sensual way in which they were presented.
Despite the lack of airplay … and the fact that the song’s original record label (Fontana) had dropped the record when it reached #2 … (it was immediately picked up by another small record company, Major Minor, who bought the rights to the recording and then watched it climb to #1 the following week), it became an immediate cult classic. (It pretty much bombed here in The States, eventually climbing to #58 during its ten week chart run. It peaked at #92 in Cash Box and then disappeared after just two weeks.)
Also on this date, Yoko Ono suffers a miscarriage. Ironically, October 9th is her husband John Lennon’s 29th birthday … and their son Sean will be born on this date six years later.
October 10th - Brett Favre is born
October 11th – October 16th - The New York Mets defeat The Baltimore Orioles 4 games to 1 to win The 1969 World Series
Also on this date, Ray Stevens guest stars on The Andy Williams Show. (He will eventually take over this time slot with his own replacement variety series)
October 12th – Oliver performs “Jean” and “Where Is Love” on The Ed Sullivan Show.
October 13th – Olympic Skater Nancy Kerrigan is born
