Billboard Number 1 Songs of 1968 Quiz

Answer: John Fred and His Playboy Band

John Fred and The Playboys had been around since the mid-fifties. John Fred heard "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" while in a dressing room and thought the lyrics were "Judy in disguise with diamonds". Though he was incorrect he was inspired to write a song.

The band wanted a more traditional rock arrangement, but in the end John Fred recorded it the way he envisioned it. Gary Lewis and The Playboys had already had a hit with "This Diamond Ring" so he changed the name of the band from The Playboys to His Playboy Band, even though he had been using the name Playboys for years.

The Cowsills did "The Rain, The Park and Other Things" in 1967 and The New Vaudeville Band charted a number one with "Winchester Cathedral" in 1966.

Answer: Green Tambourine

The song was the first number one hit for the new Buddah label. The Lemon Pipers weren't keen on the song, but they were about to be dropped from the label if they didn't record it. After the song was recorded at Cleveland Recording Studios the label felt that the production still needed some enhancing. Strings were added which made a big difference. Lyricist Shelley Pinz was inspired to write the song after reading a British newspaper article about a one-man-band who put a green tambourine out for donations.

The Union Gap had the number four "Woman, Woman" the previous month. "Spooky" was number three the same week for Classics IV and "Bend Me, Shape Me" was number five the same week for American Breed.

Answer: Love is Blue

"Love is Blue" is the only number one single on the US Billboard charts to originate in France. Although the 1963 number one "Dominique" was sung in French, the artist was Belgian. It was the first instrumental since "Telstar" in 1962 to top the charts. Paul began studying music at age ten at The Conservatoire and had his own orchestra by the time he was 17. "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" was number two in June, 1968 for Hugh Montenegro's orchestra. "Grazing in the Grass" hit number one for High Masekela July 20, 1968, and "The Horse" by Cliff Nobles & Co. was number five the same week.

Answer: Tighten Up

"Tighten Up" was originally recorded in 1964 and quickly forgotten. In 1967 they recorded a revised version so they could have material to promote while Archie was in Vietnam. By the time it was number one Archie was recovering from a leg wound and could not tour. Because they could not tour and promote the song numerous copy-cat groups claimed to be the band, and when Archie was discharged in 1969 the momentum of the song had passed.

The band did not have any subsequent chart success. "Simon Says" was number four in March, 1968, and "1,2,3, Red Light" charted at number five in September, 1968, both by 1910 Fruitgum Company. "Hurdy Gurdy Man" was a Donovan top five.

Answer: Honey

"Honey" was written by songwriter Bobby Russell. It was first recorded by Bob Shane of The Kingston Trio. Bobby Goldsboro's label liked the song and it was recorded in just two takes. Bobby had aspirations to be a baseball player, but developed an interest in music.

He formed a band called The Webbs, who ended up backing Roy Orbison on tour for 2 1/2 years as The Candy Men. Bobby Russell also wrote "Little Green Apples" which was a hit for O.C. Smith. "The Joker Went Wild" was a Russell composition that Brian Hyland recorded.

He later wrote a song for his wife, Vicki Lawrence, called "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia".

Answer: Harper Valley P.T.A.

Tom T. Hall had been a songwriter in Nashville for ten years and based the song on an actual confrontation between a young widow and the P.T.A. Jeannie Carolyn Riley was an aspiring singer who worked as a secretary while recording demos. She was offered the song but thought it was more pop than country.

She recorded it with a last minute lyric change to "my momma socked it to the Harper Valley P. T. A." based on the popular "Laugh-In" phrase. "Ode to Billie Joe" was a hit the previous year for Bobbie Gentry. "Those Were The Days" was number 4 in November, 1968, for Mary Hopkin. "Love Child" was number one for Diana Ross and the Supremes in November of 1968.

Answer: Otis Redding

Otis was hot after his appearance at the Monterey Pop Festival and later that year recorded the song he wrote with Steve Cropper. Three days later his plane went down along with his band, his valet and the pilot. The song went on to reach number one and garnered two Grammys.

He had been releasing singles, including a cover of the Rolling Stones' "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" and was reaching a wider audience when "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" was released. Marvin Gaye had chart success in December of 1968 with the number one "I Heard It Through the Grapevine". Arthur Conley co-wrote "Sweet Soul Music" with Otis and took it to number two. Scott McKenzie did the Summer of Love anthem "San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Flowers in Your Hair)".

Answer: Mrs. Robinson

Director Mike Nichols had enjoyed success with "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf" and was directing "The Graduate" starring a young Dustin Hoffman. He specifically wanted a Simon and Garfunkel score for the film. While Paul was writing a score, Mike used previously recorded Simon and Garfunkel songs to fill the score areas.

He eventually liked the songs he had temporarily used in the movie so the only original Paul Simon song ended up being "Mrs. Robinson". "Beautiful Morning" was number three the same week for The Rascals. "MacArthur Park" by Richard Harris was number two June 22, 1968, and "The Look of Love" by Sergio Mendes and Brazil 66 was number five the same week.

Answer: Herb Alpert

Herb Alpert had success with songs such as "The Lonely Bull" and "A Taste of Honey" with The Tijuana Brass. Herb wanted a song to sing to his wife on his upcoming CBS special. After screening over 50 songs, Herb selected the Bacharach/David song. After the show aired requests for the song overwhelmed the studio.

Herb had been an in-demand session trumpet player for several movie scores. In 1962 he formed A&M Records with Jerry Moss. Arthur Brown recorded "Fire" which was a top five in September, 1968. Mason Williams took the instrumental "Classical Gas" to number two in August of 1968 and Jose Feliciano did a cover of the Doors' number one "Light My Fire" that went to number five on August 17, 1968.

Answer: People Got to Be Free

Group members Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigate were so affected by the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy in 1968 that their feelings inspired their last number one, "People Got To Be Free". Atlantic Records executives thought a political song would be damaging to their career.

It went to number one four weeks after being released. By 1970 the band started a succession of member changes that gradually led to their 1972 dissolution. "Hello, I Love You" was number one for The Doors earlier the same month. "For Once In My Life" was charted by Stevie Wonder in December of 1968 and "Hush" was number four the week of September, 1968, for Deep Purple.