September 1968 Wrap Up – A Singularly Singles-Oriented Month

September of 1968 was the quietest month of the year on the 33 1/3 rpm scene, but there were a handful of significant singles releases, some of which continue to maintain a cozy existence on oldies radio stations heard in dentist’s offices across the land.  Let’s give ’em a spin and move on to October, what say ye?

9/7/68  Led Zeppelin perform for the first time as The New Yardbirds:  Jimmy Page and his new recruits played their first gig – a show booked while the Yardbirds were still together for which there was still a contractual obligation to play.  It was held at the Gladsaxe Teen Club of Gladsaxe, Denmark.

9/68  Three Dog Night – Single:  One

One, so they say, is the loneliest number.  It’s also a number that was written by Harry Nilsson.  It was the second single from Three Dog Night’s first album, and it reached #5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

9/68  The Turtles – Single:  Elenore

This track was included on LP The Turtles Present the Battle of the Bands, and was a satire of their own hit record, Happy Together, which their label wanted them to record more songs like.  It reached #6 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Oddly, Elenore, their satire of Happy Together, also sounds kind of like Three Dog Night’s version of Harry Nilsson’s One.  Hmm…

9/68  Steppenwolf – Single:  Magic Carpet Ride

This was the lead single from Steppenwolf’s second album, thoughtfully titled The Second.  Good late-60’s guitar and keyboard driven rock music.

9/68  Gordon Lightfoot – Single:  Bitter Green

While not a major hit – not even in Canada (peaking at #44) – this is one of the earlier tunes of Lightfoot’s that I like.

9/18/68  The Who – Single:  Magic Bus

Magic Bus was written by Pete Townshend in 1965, but not recorded until May 1968.  It wasn’t a particularly successful single, but went on to become one of the Who’s more famous tunes.  I wwaaaaanit, I wwaaaaaanit…(You caaaaaaaan’t have it!)

9/30/68  Diana Ross & the Supremes – Single:  Love Child

No longer known simply as the Supremes, this Motown track is from their LP of the same title, and it reached #1.

-Stephen

http://ultimateclassicrock.com/led-zeppelin-first-concert/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One_(Harry_Nilsson_song)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elenore

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Carpet_Ride_(Steppenwolf_song)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bitter_Green

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magic_Bus_(song)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Love_Child_(song)