1968 in music

List of notable events in music that took place in the year 1968.

List of years in music (table)
In radio
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
In television
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
+...
The Doors in 1968

Specific locations

Specific genres

Events

Bands formed

Bands disbanded

Albums released

In the US, 6,540 pop singles and 4,057 albums were released.[3]

January

Day Album Artist Notes
2 Elvis' Gold Records Volume 4Elvis PresleyCompilation
Sing Me Back HomeMerle Haggard
15 The Notorious Byrd BrothersThe Byrds
From Sea to Shining SeaJohnny Cash
NefertitiMiles Davis
16 Vincebus EruptumBlue Cheer
21 Boogie with Canned HeatCanned Heat
The GraduateSimon & Garfunkel (incidental music by Dave Grusin)Soundtrack
22 Gris-GrisDr. John
HeavyIron Butterfly
Lady SoulAretha Franklin
SpiritSpirit
29 SteppenwolfSteppenwolf
30 White Light/White HeatThe Velvet Underground
A Beacon from MarsKaleidoscope
Did She Mention My Name?Gordon Lightfoot
HorizontalThe Bee Gees
Mass in F MinorThe Electric Prunes
Now and ThemThem
OmJohn Coltrane
Something Else AgainRichie Havens

February

Day Album Artist Notes
19 Once Upon a DreamThe Rascals
21 Child Is Father to the ManBlood, Sweat & Tears
23 The Dock of the BayOtis ReddingCompilation
Doin' Our ThingBooker T and The MG's
24 Fleetwood MacFleetwood Mac
- The Beat Goes OnVanilla Fudge
Hangin' OnWaylon Jennings
The Inner MystiqueThe Chocolate Watch Band
The Mason Williams Phonograph RecordMason Williams
It's Been a Long Long TimeHep Stars

March

Day Album Artist Notes
1 The Thoughts of Emerlist DavjackThe Nice
3 Eli and the Thirteenth ConfessionLaura Nyro
4 We're Only in It for the MoneyThe Mothers of Invention
6 The United States of AmericaThe United States of America
7 BirthdayThe Association
17 There Are But Four Small FacesSmall FacesUS
23 Dionne Warwick in Valley of the DollsDionne Warwick
Song to a SeagullJoni Mitchell
25 Dionne Warwick in Valley of the DollsDionne Warwick
ReflectionsDiana Ross & The Supremes
- The Hangman's Beautiful DaughterThe Incredible String Band
I Can't Stand Myself When You Touch MeJames Brown
A Long Time Comin'Electric Flag
A Portrait of RayRay Charles
Safe at HomeThe International Submarine Band
Scott 2Scott Walker

April

Day Album Artist Notes
3 BookendsSimon & Garfunkel
Wow/Grape JamMoby Grapedouble LP
6 Sher-oo!Cilla Black
8 The Legend of Bonnie & ClydeMerle Haggard
17 The PentanglePentangle
19 Odessey and OracleThe Zombies
22 The Birds, The Bees & The MonkeesThe Monkees
27 Dance to the MusicSly & the Family Stone
29 The Temptations Wish It Would RainThe Temptations
Linda Ronstadt, Stone Poneys and Friends, Vol. IIIStone Poneys
- God Bless Tiny TimTiny Tim
I Love Charley BrownConnie Smith-
Randy NewmanRandy Newman
I Got the Feelin'James Brown
Journey to the Center of the MindAmboy Dukes
Like to Get to Know YouSpanky and Our Gang
MoveThe Move
Simon Says1910 Fruitgum Company
The Twain Shall MeetEric Burdon & The Animals

May

Day Album Artist Notes
1 SpeedwayElvis Presley
4 Just Because I'm a WomanDolly Parton
6 At Folsom PrisonJohnny CashLive
13 Lumpy GravyFrank ZappaReedited version
14 La La Means I Love YouThe Delfonics
17 The PentanglePentangle
24 Ogdens' Nut Gone FlakeSmall Faces
28 Creedence Clearwater RevivalCreedence Clearwater Revival
- Basic Blues MagoosBlues Magoos
The Beat of the BrassHerb Alpert & the Tijuana Brass
The Papas & The MamasThe Mamas & the Papas
Quicksilver Messenger ServiceQuicksilver Messenger Service
The Tom Jones Fever ZoneTom JonesParrot album
A Tramp ShiningRichard Harris
Volume 3: A Child's Guide to Good and Evil The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band

June

Day Album Artist Notes
14 Aretha NowAretha Franklin
In-A-Gadda-Da-VidaIron Butterfly
RenaissanceVanilla Fudge
The Inflated TearRahsaan Roland Kirk
RenaissanceVanilla Fudge
21 Bare WiresJohn Mayall's Bluesbreakers
24 FriendsThe Beach Boys
Time Peace: The Rascals' Greatest HitsThe RascalsCompilation
26 It's All AboutSpooky Tooth
29 A Saucerful of SecretsPink Floyd
- 40 Blue Fingers, Freshly Packed and Ready to ServeChicken Shack
Baptism: A Journey Through Our TimeJoan Baez
Children of the FutureSteve Miller Band
Fairport ConventionFairport Convention
Feliciano!José Feliciano
The Immortal Otis ReddingOtis ReddingCompilation
Old Golden ThroatJohnny Cash
Os MutantesOs Mutantes
Ptooff!The Deviants
Silver ApplesSilver Apples

July

Day Album Artist Notes
1 Music from Big PinkThe Band
3 Waiting for the SunThe Doors
5 My People Were Fair and Had Sky in Their Hair...Tyrannosaurus Rex
12 DelilahTom Jones
17 Shades of Deep PurpleDeep PurpleUS
18 Anthem of the SunGrateful Dead
19 Music in a Doll's HouseFamily
22 Miles in the SkyMiles Davis
Super SessionMike Bloomfield/Al Kooper/Stephen Stills
26 In Search of the Lost ChordThe Moody Blues
29 TruthThe Jeff Beck Group
30 Last Time AroundBuffalo Springfield
BeginThe Millennium[4]
Getting to the PointSavoy Brown
Only the GreatestWaylon Jennings
So Fine Ike & Tina Turner
Tape from CaliforniaPhil Ochs

August

Day Album Artist Notes
9 Wheels of FireCream
10 UndeadTen Years After
12 Cheap ThrillsBig Brother and the Holding Company
19 The Best of The Beach Boys Vol. 3The Beach BoysCompilation
Stack-O-TracksThe Beach BoysCompilation
21 Tell MamaEtta James
23 Mr. WonderfulFleetwood Mac
24 Stoned Soul PicnicThe 5th Dimension
26 Diana Ross & the Supremes Sing and Perform "Funny Girl"Diana Ross & the Supremesperformance of Funny Girl Broadway musical
I Heard It Through the GrapevineMarvin Gaye
Live at London's Talk of the TownThe SupremesLive
Special OccasionThe Miracles
30 Sweetheart of the RodeoThe Byrds
- Behold & SeeUltimate Spinach
Donovan in ConcertDonovanLive
Every One of UsEric Burdon & The Animals
Frank Sinatra's Greatest HitsFrank SinatraCompilation
James Brown Plays Nothing But SoulJames Brown
Live at the Apollo, Volume IIJames BrownLive
Lonely Is the NameSammy Davis Jr.
MemoriesThe Vogues
OutsideinsideBlue Cheer
TogetherCountry Joe and the Fish
Turn Around, Look at MeThe Vogues
You're All I NeedMarvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell

September

Day Album Artist Notes
19 Crown of CreationJefferson Airplane
27 Picturesque Matchstickable Messages from the Status QuoStatus Quo
HairWest End cast
- Bobby Darin Born Walden Robert CassottoBobby Darin
IdeaBee Gees
LifeSly & the Family Stone
Magic Bus: The Who on TourThe WhoCompilation
Shine On BrightlyProcol Harum

October

Day Album Artist Notes
1 In Person at the Whisky a Go GoOtis ReddingLive
3 Mama TriedMerle Haggard
5 Electric MudMuddy Waters
12 Aretha in ParisAretha FranklinLive
14 Prophets, Seers & Sages: The Angels of the AgesTyrannosaurus Rex
16 Electric LadylandThe Jimi Hendrix Experience
Three Dog NightThree Dog Night
19 Dream a Little DreamCass Elliot
25 This WasJethro Tull
- 1, 2, 3, Red Light1910 Fruitgum Company
The Book of TaliesynDeep PurpleUS
Bradley's BarnThe Beau Brummels
The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard & ClarkDillard & Clark
The Hurdy Gurdy ManDonovan
NazzNazz
SailorSteve Miller Band
The SecondSteppenwolf
TrafficTraffic
The TumblerJohn Martyn
The Wonderful World of The Osmond BrothersThe Osmonds

November

Day Album Artist Notes
1 Living the BluesCanned Heatdouble LP; studio + live
Wonderwall MusicGeorge HarrisonSoundtrack
The Turtles Present the Battle of the BandsThe Turtles
8 Diana Ross & the Supremes Join The TemptationsDiana Ross & the Supremes & The TemptationsDuets
13 Love ChildDiana Ross & the Supremes
20 Eivets RednowStevie Wonderreleased under pseudonym Eivets Rednow
22 The BeatlesThe Beatlescommonly referred to as The White Album
Dusty... DefinitelyDusty Springfield
ElvisElvis PresleySoundtrack to 1968 TV special
The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation SocietyThe Kinks
29 Unfinished Music No. 1: Two VirginsJohn Lennon and Yoko Ono
Astral WeeksVan Morrison
30 The Best of Cilla BlackCilla Black
- Ars Longa Vita BrevisThe Nice
Back Here on EarthGordon Lightfoot
Blues from Laurel CanyonJohn Mayall
Born to BeMelanie Safka
The Doughnut in Granny's GreenhouseBonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band
Gentle on My MindDean Martin
Help YourselfTom Jones
I've Gotta Be MeSammy Davis Jr.
The Ice Man ComethJerry Butler
The Marble IndexNico
Promises, PromisesDionne Warwick
Release of an OathThe Electric Prunes
This Is My CountryThe Impressions with Curtis Mayfield
Time Out! Time In For ThemThem
Wee Tam and the Big HugeThe Incredible String Band

December

Day Album Artist Notes
1 HeadThe MonkeesSoundtrack
Sweet ChildPentangle
2 Cruising with Ruben & the JetsThe Mothers of Invention
6 Beggars BanquetThe Rolling Stones
James TaylorJames Taylor
8 For Once in My LifeStevie Wonder
9 Live at the CopaThe TemptationsLive
11 Blood, Sweat & TearsBlood, Sweat & Tears
23 The Natch'l BluesTaj Mahal
- An American Music BandThe Electric Flag
Any Day NowJoan Baez
Brooklyn BridgeThe Brooklyn Bridge
The Circle GameTom Rush
The Family That Plays TogetherSpirit
I Love How You Love MeBobby Vinton
JewelsWaylon Jennings
Love IsEric Burdon & The Animals
The Sinatra Family Wish You a Merry ChristmasFrank Sinatra
The Soft MachineThe Soft Machine

Release date unknown






The 1968 Billboard year-end list is composed of records that entered the Billboard Hot 100 during November-December 1967 (only when the majority of chart weeks were in 1968), January to November-December 1968 (majority of chart weeks in 1968). Records with majority of chart weeks in 1967 or 1969 are included in the year-end charts for those years, respectively, and multiple appearances are not permitted. Each week thirty points were awarded to the number one record, then nineteen points for number two, eighteen points for number three, and so on. The total points a record earned determined its year-end rank. The complete chart life of each record is represented. There are no ties, even when multiple records have the same number of points. The next ranking category is peak chart position, then weeks at peak chart position, weeks in top ten, weeks in top forty, and finally weeks on Hot 100 chart.

The chart can be sorted by Artist, Song title, Recording and Release dates, Cashbox year-end ranking (CB) or units sold (sales) by clicking on the column header. Additional details for each record can be accessed by clicking on the song title, and referring to the Infobox in the right column of the song page. Billboard also has chart summaries on its website. Cashbox rankings were derived by same process as the Billboard rankings. Sales information was derived from the RIAA's Gold and Platinum database, the BRIT Certified database and The Book of Golden Discs,[5] but numbers listed should be regarded as estimates. Grammy Hall of Fame and National Recording Registry information with sources can be found on Wikipedia.

Rank Artist Title Label Recorded Release Date CB Sales Charts, Awards
1The Beatles"Hey Jude"Apple 2276July 31, 1968August 26, 196818.00[6]US Billboard 1968 #1, Hot100 #1 for 9 weeks, 19 total weeks, 323 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 2001
2Marvin Gaye"I Heard It Through the Grapevine"Tamla 54176April 10, 1967October 30, 196833.00US Billboard 1968 #2, Hot100 #1 for 7 weeks, 15 total weeks, US R&B 1968 #1, R&B #1 for 7 weeks, 14 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 1998, 246 points
3Paul Mauriat and His Orchestra"Love Is Blue (L'Amour Est Bleu)"Philips 40495October 21, 1967December 196724.00US Billboard 1968 #3, Hot100 #1 for 5 weeks, 18 total weeks, 225 points, Adult Contemporary 1968 #1, AC #1 for 11 weeks, 24 total weeks
4Otis Redding"(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay"Volt 157November 22, 1967January 8, 1968182.00US Billboard 1968 #4, Hot100 #1 for 4 weeks, 16 total weeks, 216 points, US R&B 1968 #7, R&B #1 for 3 weeks, 15 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 1998
5Bobby Goldsboro"Honey"United Artists 50283January 30, 1968February 17, 196883.00US Billboard 1968 #5, Hot100 #1 for 5 weeks, 15 total weeks, 210 points, US Country 1968 #9, Country #1 for 3 week, 15 total weeks, Adult Contemporary 1968 #9, AC #1 for 2 weeks, 15 total weeks
6Herb Alpert"This Guy's in Love with You"A&M Records 9291968April 10, 196841.50US Billboard 1968 #6, Hot100 #1 for 4 weeks, 14 total weeks, 204 points, Adult Contemporary 1968 #2, AC #1 for 10 weeks, 17 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 1998
7The Rascals"People Got to Be Free"Atlantic 2537May 14, 1968July 1, 196871.50US Billboard 1968 #7, Hot100 #1 for 5 weeks, 14 total weeks, 201 points
8Diana Ross and the Supremes"Love Child"Motown 1135September 1968September 30, 196862.00US Billboard 1968 #8, Hot100 #1 for 2 weeks, 16 total weeks, US R&B 1968 #24, R&B #2 for 3 weeks, 13 total weeks, 200 points
9Simon and Garfunkel"Mrs. Robinson"Columbia 44511February 2, 1968April 5, 196851.50US Billboard 1968 #9, Hot100 #1 for 3 weeks, 13 total weeks, 173 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 1999
10The Union Gap featuring Gary Puckett"Young Girl"Columbia 44450January 9, 1968[7]February 1968131.25US Billboard 1968 #10, Hot100 #2 for 3 weeks, 15 total weeks, 162 points
11Archie Bell & the Drells"Tighten Up"Atlantic 2478August 1967February 1968101.00US Billboard 1968 #11, Hot100 #1 for 2 weeks, 15 total weeks, 160 points, US R&B 1968 #13, R&B #1 for 2 weeks, 15 total weeks
12Jeannie C. Riley"Harper Valley P.T.A."RCA Victor 20-17591968August 1968125.50US Billboard 1968 #12, Hot100 #1 for 1 week, 13 total weeks, 160 points, US Country 1968 #7, Country #1 for 3 week, 14 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame in 2019
13John Fred and His Playboy Band"Judy in Disguise (With Glasses)"Paula 282September 1967October 1967141.00US Billboard 1968 #13, Hot100 #1 for 2 weeks, 16 total weeks, 159 points
14The Doors"Hello, I Love You"Elektra 45635April 1968June 1968171.00US Billboard 1968 #14, Hot100 #1 for 2 weeks, 12 total weeks, 156 points
15The Union Gap featuring Gary Puckett"Woman, Woman"Columbia 37095August 16, 1967[7]September 19, 1967271.00US Billboard 1968 #15, Hot100 #4 for 3 weeks, 17 total weeks, 150 points
16Glen Campbell"Wichita Lineman"Capitol 2302August 4, 1968October 1968213.00US Billboard 1968 #16, Hot100 #3 for 1 weeks, 15 total weeks, 149 points, US Country 1968 #12, Country #1 for 2 weeks, 19 total weeks, Adult Contemporary 1968 #3, AC #1 for 6 weeks, 18 total weeks
17Stevie Wonder"For Once in My Life"Tamla 54174April 10, 1968October 1968321.00US Billboard 1968 #17, Hot100 #2 for 2 weeks, 14 total weeks, 148 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 2009
18Hugo Montenegro, His Orchestra And Chorus"The Good, the Bad and the Ugly"RCA Victor 47-9423November 22, 1967January 1968382.00US Billboard 1968 #18, Hot100 #2 for 1 weeks, 22 total weeks, 148 points, Adult Contemporary 1968 #5, AC #1 for 3 weeks, 26 total weeks
19Mary Hopkin"Those Were The Days"Apple 8526July 1968August 26, 196898.00US Billboard 1968 #19, Hot100 #2 for 3 weeks, 13 total weeks, 146 points, Adult Contemporary 1968 #6, AC #1 for 6 weeks, 13 total weeks
20The Lemon Pipers"Green Tambourine"Buddah 23August 1967November 1967112.00US Billboard 1968 #20, Hot100 #1 for 1 week, 13 total weeks, 139 points
21Dionne Warwick"(Theme from) Valley of the Dolls"Scepter 122031967 (1967)October 1967431.00US Billboard 1968 #21, Hot100 #2 for 4 weeks, 13 total weeks, 139 points, US R&B 1968 #101, R&B #13 for 1 weeks, 10 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 1998
22O. C. Smith"Little Green Apples"Columbia 44616August 1968September 1968371.00US Billboard 1968 #22, Hot100 #2 for 1 weeks, 17 total weeks, 136 points, US R&B 1968 #28, R&B #2 for 2 weeks, 14 total weeks
23Hugh Masekela"Grazing in the Grass"Uni 55066March 12, 1968May 1968401.00US Billboard 1968 #23, Hot100 #1 for 2 weeks, 12 total weeks, 134 points, US R&B 1968 #5, R&B #1 for 4 weeks, 14 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 2018
24The Rolling Stones"Jumpin' Jack Flash"London 908April 20, 1968June 1, 1968161.00US Billboard 1968 #24, Hot100 #3 for 3 weeks, 12 total weeks, 130 points
25Gary Puckett and the Union Gap"Lady Willpower"Columbia 44547April 9, 1968[7]June 1, 1968231.00US Billboard 1968 #25, Hot100 #2 for 2 weeks, 13 total weeks, 129 points
26Steppenwolf"Born To Be Wild"Dunhill 4138April 10, 1967October 1968201.00US Billboard 1968 #26, Hot100 #2 for 3 week, 13 total weeks, 128 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 2002
27The Rascals"A Beautiful Morning"Atlantic 2493March 6, 1968March 22, 1968221.50US Billboard 1968 #27, Hot100 #3 for 2 weeks, 13 total weeks, 127 points, US R&B 1968 #246, R&B #36 for 1 week, 6 total weeks
28Classics IV"Spooky"Imperial 66259August 1967FDecember 1967301.00US Billboard 1968 #28, Hot100 #3 for 3 weeks, 15 total weeks, 126 points
29The Crazy World of Arthur Brown"Fire"Atlantic 2556September 1, 1968September 7, 1968331.00US Billboard 1968 #29, Hot100 #2 for 1 weeks, 13 total weeks, 125 points
30The Box Tops"Cry Like A Baby"Mala 593August 1967February 1968351.00US Billboard 1968 #30, Hot100 #2 for 2 weeks, 15 total weeks, 124 points, US R&B 1968 #13, R&B #1 for 2 weeks, 15 total weeks
31Aretha Franklin"Chain Of Fools"Atlantic 2464August 1967November 1967281.00US Billboard 1968 #33, Hot100 #2 for 2 weeks, 12 total weeks, 122 points, US R&B 1968 #4, R&B #1 for 4 weeks, 14 total weeks

Other hit singles

Classical music

Premieres

ComposerCompositionDateLocationPerformers
Barraqué, JeanLe Temps restitué (1956–68)1968-04-04Royan Festival, FrancePilarczyk – French Radio Choir – Ensemble du Domaine Musical, Amy[8]
Barraqué, JeanConcerto (1968)1968-11-20Royal Festival Hall, LondonRostaing / Fry / BBC Symphony OrchestraAmy[9]
Langgaard, RuedViolin Concerto (1944)1968-01-10Odense, DenmarkLaursen / Odense Municipal OrchestraWellejus[10][11]
Stockhausen, KarlheinzKurzwellen for six players with shortwave receivers and live electronics1968-05-05Bremen, Germany, Radio Bremen TV Studio, Pro Musica NovaAloys Kontarsky, Alings, Gehlhaar, Fritsch, Bojé, Stockhausen[12]
Villa-Lobos, HeitorFantaisie concertante for piano, clarinet and bassoon1968-11-19Rio de Janeiro, Sale Cecilia MeirelesBotelho, Devos, Improta[13]

Compositions

Opera

Jazz

Musical theater

Musical films

Births

Deaths

Awards

Grammy Awards

Eurovision Song Contest

References

  1. Iverach McDonald, "Ninth Win for Piper Brown", The Times, issue 57221 (Monday 8 April 1968): 10.
  2. Bates, Karen Grigsby (November 2, 2017). "A Different National Anthem, Before the Nation Was Ready for It". NPR.
  3. Encyclopedia of recorded sound, Volume 1 | Frank W. Hoffmann, Howard Ferstler
  4. Eden, Dawn (1990). Begin [back cover] (Media notes). The Millennium. Sony Music Special Products. WK 75030.
  5. Murrells, Joseph (1978). The book of golden discs. Internet Archive. London : Barrie & Jenkins. ISBN 978-0-214-20512-5.
  6. Everett, Walter (1999). The Beatles as Musicians: Revolver Through the Anthology. New York, NY: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-509553-7.
  7. Gary Puckett & The Union Gap, Scan of Official Cover (2004). The Best Of Gary Puckett And The Union Gap (booklet). Sony, Columbia. p. 10. CK 90626. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  8. Rose-Marie Janzen, "A Biographical Chronology of Jean Barraqué", translated by Adrian Jack, Perspectives of New Music 27, no. 1 (Winter 1989): 234–245. Citation on 242.
  9. Jean Barraqué, "Concerto (1962–1968)". In his Écrits, edited by Laurent Feneyrou, 205–206. Série Esthétique 3 (Paris: Publications de la Sorbonne, 2001): 205. English translation in Paul Griffiths, The Sea on Fire: Jean Barraqué, Eastman Studies in Music 25 (Rochester: University of Rochester Press, 2003 ): 170.
  10. DaCapo Records
  11. Danacord Records
  12. Karlheinz Stockhausen, "Kurzwellen", in his Texte zur Musik 3, edited by Dieter Schnebel, 112–120. DuMont Dokumente. Cologne: Verlag M. DuMont Schauberg. ISBN 3-7701-0493-5. Citation on 114, 116.
  13. Villa-Lobos, sua obra, second edition ([Rio de Janeiro]: MEC/DAC/Museu Villa-Lobos, 1972): 83.
  14. Randel, Don Michael (1996). The Harvard Biographical Dictionary of Music. Cambridge: Harvard University Press. p. 209. ISBN 978-0-67437-299-3.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.