Songs - 52 Weeks of Personal History & Genealogy, Week 26

No one remembers what happened during the year of their birth. In fact, most people are probably totally unaware of anything that happened in the world that year, including the number one hit on Billboard. Unless, of course, they learn it from another source. In my case, I am more aware of events than the music because I was born in year that is integral to the second half of the US History Survey, which I happen to teach.

Don't remember what happened in 1968? Not in any particular order there was: the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr.; the assassination of Bobbie Kennedy; the Tet Offensive; race riots; student riots, especially at Columbia; riots at the Democratic National Convention; the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia; antiwar protests; Lyndon Johnson did not seek his party's nomination, Richard Nixon staged one of the greatest political come-backs, ever; and the Apollo 8 mission reached the moon in December. This last leads to one of my favorite stories: President Johnson sent a copy of the famous Earthrise photo, taken by crewmember Bill Anders on Christmas Eve 1968, to every world leader, including Ho Chi Minh.

It must have seemed like the total meltdown of American civilization. But what were the people listening to while they watched the world collapse and waited patiently for my arrival?  According to Billboard the top 20 songs were:

1. Hey Jude, The Beatles
2. Love Is Blue , Paul Mauriat
3. Honey , Bobby Goldsboro
4. (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay , Otis Redding
5. People Got to Be Free , Rascals
6. Sunshine of Your Love , Cream
7. This Guy's In Love With You, Herb Alpert
8. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly , Hugo Montenegro
9. Mrs. Robinson , Simon and Garfunkel
10. Tighten Up, Archie Bell and The Drells
11. Harper Valley P.T.A. , Jeannie C. Riley
12. Little Green Apples , O.C. Smith
13. Mony, Mony, Tommy James and The Shondells
14. Hello, I Love You , The Doors
15. Young Girl , Gary Puckett and The Union Gap
16. Cry Like a Baby , Box Tops
17. Stoned Soul Picnic , Fifth Dimension
18. Grazing In the Grass , Hugh Masekela
19. Midnight Confessions , The Grass Roots
20. Dance To The Music, Sly and The Family Stone

I only know a few of these songs; I'm not sure whether any of them go well with meltdowns or babies.


Billboard's Top 100 List for 1968 is at MusicOutfitters.com.