Billboard Number One Songs of 1969 Quiz

Answer: Crimson and Clover

"Crimson and Clover" was symbolic of the psychedelic music of the late sixties. Tommy got the title of the song simply from putting two of his favorite words together. After the success of their breakout hit "Hanky Panky" Tommy was searching for a unique sound for the band and related in an interview that he had found the sound with "Crimson and Clover".

After extensive touring Tommy collapsed from exhaustion on stage in Alabama and temporarily retired from the music business in 1970. "Who's Making Love" charted for Johnny Taylor in December of 1968. "People Got to Be Free" was number three for the Rascals in September of 1968 and "1,2,3 Red Light" was a bubble gum song by 1910 Fruitgum Company.

Answer: Dizzy

Tommy wrote the song with one of the members of Paul Revere and the Raiders, Freddy Weller. They connected on Dick Clark's show "Where the Action Is". Producer Steve Barri thought the song wasn't right for Tommy but relented and then added strings. The record was Tommy's biggest hit, selling six million records despite the bubblegum appeal. Tommy would have one more top ten with "Jam Up and Jelly Tight" before leaving Malibu and music and returning to his home state of Georgia. "Traces" was number four the same week for Classics IV. "Heather Honey" was a follow up to "Dizzy" and peaked at number 29. "Hooray for Hazel" was an earlier Roe hit.

Answer: Love Theme From Romeo and Juliet

"Love Theme From Romeo and Juliet" was the chart topper that week. Henry had seen the movie and was impressed with a melody that he heard in the background. He learned that it had been recorded but the tapes were lost. He recorded a version on his album, "A Warm Shade of Ivory" and it began getting airplay.

Although many stations thought it was too soft, they eventually put it in rotation when it gained popularity. "Moon River" only reached number 11 on the charts for Mancini. Mancini did an arrangement of the Legrand/Bergman composition "The Windmills of Your Mind" from Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway's movie "The Thomas Crown Affair". "The Pink Panther Theme" was a later Mancini's recording.

Answer: Get Back

Billy Preston is only the second person to share billing with The Beatles. The other was Tony Sheridan. They had backed Sheridan on recordings before they hit it big. "Get Back" was the 17th number one for the Fab Four. It was, remarkably, their first to enter the charts at number one.

The Beatles had first met Billy when he was in Little Richard's band in 1962. George ran into him again at a Ray Charles concert and invited him to play on some recording projects they were doing. He worked in the studio with the band for two weeks.

There were rumors that he was going to be invited to be a member of the band but the Beatles broke up shortly thereafter.

Answer: Sugar Sugar

The group really never existed. They never toured or appeared on any shows. Ron Dante was hired as a singer when producer Don Kirshner was putting together a band for a television cartoon show based on the "Archie" comic strips. Dante and singer Toni Wine multi-tracked their voices to sound like the ensemble cartoon cast.

The song was written by staff writer Jeff Barry and singer Andy Kim. Andy went on to have success with "Rock Me Gently". "Simon Says" was an earlier hit for the 1910 Fruit Gum Company. "Bang Shang A Lang" was the Archies' first chart entry, peaking at number 22.

Answer: Leaving on a Jet Plane

Their final single was their only number one hit during their ten year tenure together. Mary liked the song and they recorded it on their "Album 1700" album. It wasn't slated for single release until Warner Brothers responded to radio airplay pressure. The group's first gig as a trio was at the Bitter End Club in Greenwich Village in 1961.

They each did a solo performance and ended the show with twelve songs as a trio. Their first single was "Lemon Tree" followed by several hits including "Puff The Magic Dragon", which reached number two. "There is Love" is a later solo effort by Paul and "No Easy Walk To Freedom" is their 1983 independent label album title.

Answer: Wedding Bell Blues

Marilyn McCoo was engaged to band member Billy Davis Jr. so producer Bones Howe suggested she sing the song. It was never intended to be released as a single from their "Age of Aquarius' album. The group had enjoyed success with two of Laura Nyro's songs, "Stoned Soul Picnic" and "Sweet Blindness", so recording another Nyro song seemed to be a good idea. "Working on a Groovy Thing" was issued as a single but stations played "Wedding Bell Blues" from the album prompting release as a single. Two of the original founding members of the band left before they had chart success and formed Friends of Distinction.

They had hits with "Grazing in the Grass" and "Love or Let Me Be Lonely". The Fifth Dimension then reformed with new members and signed with Johnny Rivers' Soul label.

Answer: In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)

Rick Evans composed the song five years earlier when he was in a group called The Eccentrics with Denny Zager. Disappointed with group work, the two eventually formed a duo and began compiling material. They dusted off "In the Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)" and prepared a duet arrangement.

After getting requests for the song at gigs, they invested $500 to record it. After local success, RCA records signed them and the song was released nationally. They never hit the top 100 again as they broke up before the song was even off the charts. Tommy James and the Shondells hit the top ten with "Crystal Blue Persuasion" the following month. "One" was number five for the Three Dog Night the same week. "Take a Letter Maria" was done by R B Greaves and was a top ten song in November 1969.

Answer: Steam

The song was hastily recorded so that deejays would know it was a "B" side. The lyrics were actually dummy lyrics until they could fill it in with better lyrics. When the group came out of the session at 1:00AM there was steam rising from a manhole. They were inspired to call the group Steam.

Their label promoted the song as it was and it propelled up the charts. Steam then had a hit and no other material to follow up with. Various issues within the group led to their disbanding without recording any other hits.

The Edward Hawkins Singers had a number five with "Oh Happy Day" in May of 1969. Smith did a cover of "Baby It's You" which reached number five the previous month. "Vehicle" was a later hit for Ides of March.

Answer: Some Day We'll Be Together

"Some Day We'll Be Together" had been written nine years earlier by military buddies Jackie Beavers, Johnny Bristol and Harvey Fuqua. It was released as a single with the duo calling themselves Johnny and Jackie on Faqua's Tri-Phil label. Motown bought the label and the song was shelved. Berry Gordy eventually revived it and had Diana sing it.

While it was technically a Supremes release, Maxine and Julia Waters actually did the background harmonies. The only time the Supremes appeared together after this recording was at Motown's 25th anniversary celebration. "Love Child" reached number one a year earlier. "The Happening" and "Love is Here and Now You're Gone" were 1967 hits for the Motown group.