1969 Song of the Week #37-68 | The New Retro League

Last updated 12/8/2020

Song 37

Peaked at #3 on 7/12/69 for two weeks.
William Oliver Swofford had two Top 3 hits and a third Top 40 hit in 1969, but only reached the Top 100 one other time.

#37 – “Good Morning Starshine” by Oliver

Song 38

Peaked at #3 on 11/15/69 for two weeks.
Half of what was released as a double-A-side single, along with Song #14.
This is the 2019 remix, transferred from a 24/96 Blu-Ray disc.

#38 – “Something” by The Beatles

Song 39

Peaked at #3 on 1/11/69.
Glen’s first Top 20 record.

#39 – “Wichita Lineman” by Glen Campbell

Song 40

Peaked at #3 on 12/20/69.
Their fourth Top 3 record of the year.
Transferred from a DSD high-res digital file.

#40 – “Down On The Corner” by Creedence Clearwater Revival

Song 41

Peaked at #3 on 2/15/69.
The group’s third and last Top 10 hit.
Transferred from a 24/192 high-res digital file.

#41 – “Touch Me” by The Doors

Song 42

Peaked at #3 on 6/7/69.
The group was discovered by football great Jim Brown.
The last of the six songs on the list that had been hits in prior years.

#42 – “Grazing In The Grass” by The Friends Of Distinction

Song 43

Peaked at #3 on 1/18/69.
Eldee Young (bass) and Red Holt (drums) were former members of the Ramsey Lewis Trio.
This is the backing track of the Barbara Acklin record “Am I The Same Girl” (peaked at #79) with a piano solo replacing the vocal.
It’s believed that neither Young nor Holt actually played on this record.

#43 – “Soulful Strut” by Young-Holt Unlimited

Song 44

Peaked at #3 on 6/14/69.
His first Top 10 record in four years. Written by Mac Davis.
Transferred from a 24/96 high-res digital file.

#44 – “In The Ghetto” by Elvis Presley

Song 45

Peaked at #4 on 9/27/69 for two weeks.
Four songs from “Hair” peaked in the Top 4.

#45 – “Easy To Be Hard” by Three Dog Night

Song 46

Peaked at #4 on 8/16/69 for two weeks.
Neil’s third Top 10 hit, which was really the start of his success.
Transferred from a 24/192 high-res digital file.

#46 – “Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good)” by Neil Diamond

Song 47

Peaked at #4 on 7/26/69 for two weeks.
One of his last records that wasn’t self-produced.

#47 – “My Cherie Amour” by Stevie Wonder

Song 48

Peaked at #4 on 5/31/69 for two weeks.
This group was actually named the Northern California State Youth Choir, from Berkeley, CA.

#48 – “Oh Happy Day” by The Edwin Hawkins Singers

Song 49

Peaked at #4 on 4/19/69.
Sixth of Butler’s seven Top 20 solo hits.
Though Andy Williams is associated with “Moon River,” Butler was the one who had the Top 20 hit. Williams never released it as a single.

#49 – “Only The Strong Survive” by Jerry Butler

Song 50

Peaked at #4 on 8/9/69.
Walker’s second and last Top 10 hit.

#50 – “What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)” by Jr. Walker and the All Stars

Song 51

Peaked at #4 on 8/30/69.
Second of her two Top 30 hits.

#51 – “Put A Little Love In Your Heart” by Jackie DeShannon

Song 52

Peaked at #4 on 4/12/69.
Reached #1 on both the Country and Adult Contemporary charts.

#52 – “Galveston” by Glen Campbell

Song 53

Peaked at #4 on 6/28/69.
Marvin’s second-biggest hit of the Sixties.
First recorded by The Temptations.

#53 – “Too Busy Thinking About My Baby” by Marvin Gaye

Song 54

Peaked at #4 on 5/10/69.
Last of the group’s three Top 10 hits, and the only one that wasn’t a version of “Walk – Don’t Run.”

#54 – “Hawaii Five-O” by The Ventures

Song 55

Peaked at #5 on 6/28/69 for three weeks.
The highest-charting song written by Harry Nilsson.
This is my original mono single. The common stereo mix has louder guitar and a different ending.

#55 – “One” by Three Dog Night

Song 56

Peaked at #5 on 11/1/69 for three weeks.
Peaked at #8 for The Shirelles in 1962.
This is the stereo version, edited down to match the shorter mono single.

#56 – “Baby It’s You” by Smith

Song 57

Peaked at #5 on 9/6/69 for two weeks.
The same record peaked at #62 in 1967.
Originally known as “Let’s Get Together” and first recorded by The Kingston Trio in 1964.
This is the edited version that was commonly played by radio stations. The single is 1:15 longer.

#57 – “Get Together” by The Youngbloods

Song 58

Peaked at #5 on 1/11/69 for two weeks.
Second of his eight Top 20 records.
Written by Mark James, who also wrote Song 16.
This is the mono single version. The common stereo version is a very different mix.

#58 – “Hooked On A Feeling” by B.J. Thomas

Song 59

Peaked at #5 on 11/22/69.
One of many studio projects by British songwriter/producer Tony Macauley, who also co-wrote Song 33.
This is my original mono single. The common stereo version has an extra piano intro and vocal overdubs near the end.

#59 – “Smile A Little Smile For Me” by The Flying Machine

Song 60

Peaked at #5 on 3/22/69.
Their third and last Top 30 hit.
This song would be off limits for most radio stations today.
Its B-Side, “Pow Wow,” is actually a song called “Bring Back Howdy Doody,” deliberately mastered backwards as a way of deterring radio stations from playing that side.

#60 – “Indian Giver” by 1910 Fruitgum Company

Song 61

Peaked at #5 on 2/22/69.
First of only two pop Top 30 hits for Tyrone Fettson, but he had 21 R&B Top 20 hits.

#61 – “Can I Change My Mind” by Tyrone Davis

Song 62

Peaked at #6 on 9/13/69 for two weeks.
The same record peaked at #49 in 1967. Tom was more popular now.
This is the 4:14 stereo version, edited to match the 2:55 mono single.

#62 – “I’ll Never Fall In Love Again” by Tom Jones