1969 in music

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1969 in music

List of notable events in music that took place in the year 1969.

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John Lennon rehearses "Give Peace a Chance", 1969.

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Summary

Among the most significant musical events of 1969 were concerts. At a Rolling Stones concert in Altamont, California, a fan was stabbed to death by Hells Angels, a biker gang that had been hired to provide security for the event. In retrospect, some commentators have concluded that the violence signaled the end of the "hippie" movement, which espoused an ethos of free love and peace. Even more significant was the Woodstock festival, where some of the most famous performers in the world at the time played together in an atmosphere of peace with nature and love, with many thousands of concert goers; it is still one of the largest concerts in the history of the world. The presence of Ravi Shankar reflected a growing interest in Indian and other Eastern music; Shankar later said that the 1960s "got India wrong".[1] "Black Woodstock", the Harlem Cultural Festival, took place in New York City.[2] The Beatles' rooftop concert was the last time the band played together in public. The 1967 musical Hair, originally performed off-Broadway, had generated an album and multiple chart hits in successive years, such as "Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In" and "Good Morning Starshine".[3]

The Isle of Wight Festival in the UK saw the return of Bob Dylan to live performance after his motorbike accident in 1966.[4]

US and UK pop music remained popular worldwide, with few European acts making the charts outside their home countries; exceptions included Jane Birkin & Serge Gainsbourg, Shocking Blue, Georges Moustaki, Aphrodite's Child and Christian Anders.[5]

David Bowie's "Space Oddity" was released at the time that American astronauts first landed on the Moon. The song, the story of an astronaut named Major Tom who goes into space and is entranced by the beauty of seeing Earth from such a great distance and consequently lets himself float off into space, never again to return, was chosen by the BBC as background music for the television coverage of the Moon landing. The remainder of the album, Man of Words/Man of Music, was too eccentric for mainstream acceptance, though it established Bowie as a major performer and songwriter.

King Crimson's In the Court of the Crimson Kingn a pioneering album in the development of progressive rock, drew upon contemporary influences to form a sound melding rock and roll with classical influences in long pieces of music. Similar albums by The Moody Blues, Procol Harum and The Nice, as well as Genesis, Yes and Pink Floyd, were also released this year, expanding the range of prog rock and developing it into a full-fledged genre.

The Stooges' eponymous debut album, The Stooges, released in the United States to little critical or popular acceptance, went on to become one of the most important recordings in the early development of punk rock,[6] as did Kick Out The Jams by Detroit protopunkers MC5.

Johnny Cash's At San Quentin included his first Top Ten pop hit, "A Boy Named Sue". The album was a sequel to 1968's At Folsom Prison. Also in country music, Merle Haggard's Same Train, Different Time, a tribute to Jimmie Rodgers, was enormously popular and influenced the development of the Bakersfield sound into outlaw country within a few years.

Creedence Clearwater Revival cemented their success from the previous year. Having had a single US number 11 hit in 1968 with "Suzie Q", they releases their second, third and fourth proper studio albums in 1969, as well as drawing a total of four top 3 hits from these three albums. Starting with Bayou Country, including the US number 2 hit "Proud Mary", and continuing with Green River and finally Willy and the Poor Boys, which, during the year, transformed them from an up-and-coming underground act to bona fide rock stars. During 1969, Creedence Clearwater Revival had number 2 hits in the US with "Proud Mary", "Green River" and "Bad Moon Rising", and also have a number 3 hit with "Down on the Corner"/"Fortunate Son".

Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso released enormously popular albums in Brazil, Gilberto Gil and Caetano Veloso, respectively. The pair's fusion of bossa nova, samba and other native Brazilian folk influences, melded with politically and socially aware lyrics, kickstarted what came to be known as Tropicalia. Both musicians moved to London after a period of imprisonment for anti-government activities in Brazil.

The UK band Family released their second album, Family Entertainment, their first top 10 album in the United Kingdom, hitting number six, with "The Weaver's Answer" becoming their most popular song in their concert performances. By the end of the year, however, their first attempt to break through commercially in the United States had failed miserably.

Elvis Presley returned to live performances at the International Hotel in Las Vegas; breaking all attendance records in his 57-concert run. He also enjoyed great success with his singles "In the Ghetto" and "Suspicious Minds".

The Wendy Carlos album Switched-On Bach was one of the first classical albums to sell 500,000 copies, and helped bring classical music into the popular sphere, as did Mason Williams' "Classical Gas", played on classical guitar, in addition to being accompanied by one of the first successful music videos.[7] The composition won three Grammy Awards: Best Instrumental Composition, Best Contemporary-Pop Performance, Instrumental, and Best Instrumental Arrangement.[8] In the meantime, German trumpeter Manfred Schoof's free jazz album, European Echoes, a recording of his half-hour free improvisation broadcast on German radio in June 1969, featured international musicians and is regarded as a seminal album in the genre.[9]

After the commercial failure of her last two albums, Cher starred in the film "Chastity" which had a soundtrack album produced by Sonny Bono. SHer 6th solo studio album, 3614 Jackson Highway, was also a commercial failure, but was where she first explored blues and soul music, being highly praised by critics for her musical and vocal evolution.[10]

Chutney music was also first recorded in 1969, in Trinidad and Tobago by Sundar Popo.

1969 was the last year in which the United States government gave greater financial support, through the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) "Music Program" to opera than it did to other classical music, and the first year in which it gave any support at all to jazz and folk music.[11]

New York City Ballet celebrated their 25th anniversary with performances at the David H. Koch Theater Lincoln Center.

Major events

Bands formed

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Albums released

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December

Release date unknown

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from Billboard December 27, 1969

TOP RECORDS OF 1969 (Based on Billboard Charts) The information compiled for the Top Records of 1969 was based on the weekly chart positioning and length of time records were on the respective charts from the Billboard issue dates of January 4, 1969, through December 13, 1969. These recaps, as well as the weekly charts, do not reflect actual sales figures. The ratings take into account the number of weeks the disk was on the chart, plus the weekly positions it held during its chart life. Each disk was given points accordingly for its respective chart. These recaps were compiled by the staff of the Billboard Popularity Charts Department, under the direction of Andy Tomko. NOTE: Since the singles charts listed the most popular single sides and not the single record (with both sides) for the first 47 weeks of the year, the recaps list single sides in order of strength. In the case of a two-sided hit single, both sides were listed in the recaps based on the individual strength on the weekly chart.

The 1969 Billboard year-end list is composed of records that entered the Billboard Hot 100 during November–December 1968 (only when the majority of chart weeks were in 1969), January to November–December 1969 (majority of chart weeks in 1969). Records with majority of chart weeks in 1968 or 1970 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,[30] but numbers listed should be regarded as estimates. Grammy Hall of Fame and National Recording Registry information with sources can be found on Wikipedia.

More information Rank, Artist ...
Rank Artist Title Label Recorded Release Date CB Sales Charts, Awards
1The 5th Dimension"Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)"Soul City 772December 1968March 1, 196918.00[30]US Billboard 1969 #1, Hot100 #1 for 6 weeks, 17 total weeks, 284 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 2004
2The Archies"Sugar, Sugar"Calendar 63-1008April 1969May 24, 196926.00US Billboard 1969 #2, Hot100 #1 for 4 weeks, 22 total weeks, 270 points
3The Rolling Stones"Honky Tonk Women"London 910June 12, 1969July 11, 196931.00US Billboard 1969 #3, Hot100 #1 for 4 weeks, 15 total weeks, 242 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 2014
4The Beatles with Billy Preston"Get Back"Apple 2490January 28, 1969May 5, 196948.00[31]Top Rock Tracks 1969 #3, US Billboard 1969 #4, Hot100 #1 for 5 weeks, 12 total weeks, 226 points
5Zager and Evans"In The Year 2525 (Exordium & Terminus)"RCA Victor 74-0174March 1969April 196958.00US Billboard 1969 #5, Hot100 #1 for 6 weeks, 13 total weeks, 224 points
6Sly and the Family Stone"Everyday People"Epic 10407September 1968November 1, 196871.25US Billboard 1969 #6, Hot100 #1 for 4 weeks, 19 total weeks, 218 points
7Tommy James and the Shondells"Crimson And Clover"Roulette 7028November 1968December 1968141.00US Billboard 1969 #7, Hot100 #1 for 2 weeks, 16 total weeks, 216 points
8Tommy Roe"Dizzy"ABC 11164October 1968November 13, 196891.00US Billboard 1969 #8, Hot100 #1 for 4 weeks, 15 total weeks, 204 points
9The Temptations"I Can't Get Next To You"Gordy 7093July 3, 1969July 30, 1969191.25US Billboard 1969 #9, Hot100 #1 for 2 week, 17 total weeks,[32] 204 points, Top Soul Singles 1969 #1, Hot Soul Singles #1 for 5 weeks, 15 total weeks, 288 points
10Peter, Paul and Mary"Leaving on a Jet Plane"Warner Bros. 7340December 1966September 18, 1969131.00US Billboard 1969 #10, Hot100 #1 for 1 week, 17 total weeks, 197 points, Top Easy Listening Singles 1969 #5, Easy Listening Singles #1 for 3 weeks, 16 total weeks, 212 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 1998
11The 5th Dimension"Wedding Bell Blues"Soul City 779December 1968September 196968.00US Billboard 1969 #11, Hot100 #1 for 3 weeks, 15 total weeks, 193 points
12The Beatles"Come Together"Apple 2654July 30, 1969October 6, 1969108.00Top Rock Tracks 1969 #7, US Billboard 1969 #12, Hot100 #1 for 1 week, 16 total weeks, 186 points
13Diana Ross and the Supremes"Someday We'll Be Together"Motown 1156June 13, 1969October 14, 1969122.00US Billboard 1969 #13, Hot100 #1 for 1 week, 16 total weeks, 181 points, Top Soul Singles 1969 #3, Hot Soul Singles #1 for 4 weeks, 15 total weeks, 254 points
14The Beatles"Something"Apple 2654August 1969October 6, 1969268.00US Billboard 1969 #14, Hot100 #1 for 1 week, 16 total weeks, 177 points
15Steam"Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye"Fontana 1667July 1969August 1969311.00US Billboard 1969 #15, Hot100 #1 for 2 weeks, 16 total weeks, 170 points
16Henry Mancini, His Orchestra And Chorus"Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet"Uni 55066February 1969March 1969171.00US Billboard 1969 #16, Hot100 #1 for 2 weeks, 14 total weeks, 168 points
17The Cowsills"Hair"MGM 13810January 1969February 196981.00[30]US Billboard 1969 #17, Hot100 #2 for 2 weeks, 15 total weeks, 158 points
18Tommy James and the Shondells"Crystal Blue Persuasion"Atlantic 2537November 1968May 1969351.00US Billboard 1969 #18, Hot100 #2 for 3 weeks, 15 total weeks, 157 points
19Creedence Clearwater Revival"Proud Mary"Fantasy 619October 1968December 28, 1968361.25Top Rock Tracks 1969 #4, US Billboard 1969 #19, Hot100 #2 for 3 weeks, 14 total weeks, 149 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 1998
20The Foundations"Build Me Up Buttercup"Uni 55101April 1968December 3, 1968111.00US Billboard 1969 #20, Hot100 #3 for 3 weeks, 15 total weeks, 148 points
21Elvis Presley"Suspicious Minds"RCA Victor 47-9764January 22, 1969August 26, 1969151.00US Billboard 1969 #21, Hot100 #1 for 1 week, 15 total weeks, 144 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 1999
22Sly and the Family Stone"Hot Fun in the Summertime"Epic 10555May 1969July 21, 1969681.25US Billboard 1969 #22, Hot100 #2 for 2 weeks, 16 total weeks, 143 points
23Blood, Sweat and Tears"Spinning Wheel"Columbia 44871October 1968May 1969301.00US Billboard 1969 #23, Hot100 #2 for 3 weeks, 13 total weeks, 141 points
24Diana Ross and the Supremes and the Temptations"I'm Gonna Make You Love Me"Motown 1135October 1968November 21, 1968201.00US Billboard 1969 #24, Hot100 #2 for 2 weeks, 13 total weeks, 140 points
25Oliver"Jean"Crewe 334April 1969July 1969271.00US Billboard 1969 #25, Hot100 #2 for 2 weeks, 14 total weeks, 139 points, Top Easy Listening Singles 1969 #4, Easy Listening Singles #1 for 4 weeks, 14 total weeks, 232 points
26Neil Diamond"Sweet Caroline (Good Times Never Seemed So Good)"Uni 55136March 31, 1969May 28, 1969341.00US Billboard 1969 #26, Hot100 #4 for 2 weeks, 14 total weeks, 138 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 2020, National Recording Registry 2018
27Led Zeppelin"Whole Lotta Love"Atlantic 2690August 1969November 7, 1969186.00Top Rock Tracks 1969 #2, US Billboard 1969 #27, Hot100 #4 for 1 week, 15 total weeks, 137 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 2007
28Johnny Cash"A Boy Named Sue"Columbia 44944May 7, 1969July 2, 1969281.25US Billboard 1969 #28, Hot100 #2 for 3 weeks, 12 total weeks, 136 points, Top Country Singles 1969 #4, Country Singles #1 for 5 weeks, 14 total weeks, 220 points, National Recording Registry 2003
29Three Dog Night"One"Dunhill 4191March 1969April 1969241.00US Billboard 1969 #29, Hot100 #5 for 3 weeks, 16 total weeks, 136 points
30Creedence Clearwater Revival"Bad Moon Rising"Fantasy 622March 1969April 1969331.25US Billboard 1969 #30, Hot100 #2 for 1 weeks, 14 total weeks, 135 points
31The Doors"Touch Me"T-Neck 901November 1968December 1968161.00US Billboard 1969 #31, Hot100 #3 for 1 week, 13 total weeks, 135 points
32The Isley Brothers"It's Your Thing"T-Neck 901March 1969March 1969251.00US Billboard 1969 #32, Hot100 #2 for 1 week, 14 total weeks, 133 points, Top Soul Singles 1969 #6, Hot Soul Singles #1 for 4 weeks, 14 total weeks, 240 points
33Creedence Clearwater Revival"Green River"Fantasy 625June 1969July 1969411.25US Billboard 1969 #33, Hot100 #2 for 1 weeks, 13 total weeks, 132 points
34Blood, Sweat and Tears"You've Made Me So Very Happy"Columbia 44776October 16, 1968February 1969291.00US Billboard 1969 #34, Hot100 #2 for 3 weeks, 13 total weeks, 131 points
35Blood, Sweat and Tears"And When I Die"Columbia 45000October 16, 1968September 30, 1969221.00US Billboard 1969 #35, Hot100 #2 for 1 week, 13 total weeks, 128 points
36Marvin Gaye"Too Busy Thinking About My Baby"Tamla 54181March 1969April 2, 1969606.00US Billboard 1969 #36, Hot100 #4 for 1 week, 15 total weeks, 126 points, Top Soul Singles 1969 #2, Hot Soul Singles #1 for 6 weeks, 15 total weeks, 279 points
37Creedence Clearwater Revival"Down on the Corner"Fantasy 634August 1969October 19691001.25US Billboard 1969 #37, Hot100 #3 for 1 week, 15 total weeks, 125 points
Close

Billboard Top Soul Singles 1969

1The Temptations"I Can't Get Next To You"see number 9.
2Marvin Gaye"Too Busy Thinking 'Bout My Baby"see number 36.
3Diana Ross and the Supremes"Someday We'll Be Together"see number 13.
4Jr. Walker & The All Stars"What Does It Take (To Win Your Love)"Soul 35062August 1968October 1968521.00US Billboard 1969 #43, Hot100 #5 for 2 weeks, 14 total weeks, 113 points, Top Soul Singles 1969 #4, Hot Soul Singles #1 for 2 weeks, 16 total weeks, 244 points
5The Originals"Baby, I'm For Real"Soul 35066August 7, 1968August 19681601.00US Billboard 1969 #84, Hot100 #10 for 1 week, 11 total weeks, 59 points, Top Soul Singles 1969 #5, Hot Soul Singles #1 for 5 weeks, 17 total weeks, 243 points
6The Isley Brothers"It's Your Thing"see number 32.

Billboard Top Country Singles 1969

1Johnny Cash"Daddy Sang Bass"Columbia 44689September 1968November 6, 19681871.00US Billboard 1969 #286, Hot100 #42 for 2 weeks, 12 total weeks, Top Country Singles 1969 #1, Country Singles #1 for 6 weeks, 20 total weeks, 269 points
2Charley Pride"(I'm So) Afraid of Losing You Again"RCA Victor 0265August 28, 1968October 19691791.00US Billboard 1969 #479, Hot100 #74 for 1 week, 16 total weeks, 4 points, Top Country Singles 1969 #2, Country Singles #1 for 3 weeks, 16 total weeks, 238 points, Grammy Hall of Fame 1999, National Recording Registry 2010
3Merle Haggard and The Strangers"Okie From Muskogee"Capitol 2626August 17, 1969September 29, 19691791.00US Billboard 1969 #427, Hot100 #63 for 1 week, 6 total weeks, Top Country Singles 1969 #3, Country Singles #1 for 4 weeks, 16 total weeks, 227 points
4Johnny Cash"A Boy Named Sue"see number 28.
5Sonny James"Only the Lonely"Capitol 2370December 1968January 19691871.00US Billboard 1969 #580, Hot100 #92 for 2 weeks, 4 total weeks, Top Country Singles 1969 #5, Country Singles #1 for 3 weeks, 16 total weeks, 206 points

| Top Easy Listening Singles 1969

1Sammy Davis Jr."I've Gotta Be Me"Reprise 0779October 26, 1968December 14, 1968441.00US Billboard 1969 #98, Hot100 #11 for 1 week, 16 total weeks, 47 points, Top Easy Listening Singles 1969 #1, Easy Listening Singles #1 for 7 weeks, 20 total weeks, 320 points
2Glen Campbell"Galveston"Capitol 2428March 18, 1969May 2, 1969441.00US Billboard 1969 #46, Hot100 #4 for 1 week, 12 total weeks, 107 points, Top Easy Listening Singles 1969 #2, Easy Listening Singles #1 for 6 weeks, 13 total weeks, 245 points
3Frankie Laine"You Gave Me a Mountain"ABC 11174Nov 25, 1968Jan 4, 1969441.00US Billboard 1969 #171, Hot100 #24 for 2 weeks, 11 total weeks, Top Easy Listening Singles 1969 #3, Easy Listening Singles #1 for 2 weeks, 16 total weeks, 242 points
4Oliver"Jean"see number 25
5Peter, Paul & Mary"Leavin' On A Jet Plane"see number 10

Top Rock Tracks 1969 (unofficial)

1The Allman Brothers Band"Whipping Post"Atco 308August 7, 1969November 4, 196944Top Rock Tracks 1969 #1, from The Allman Brothers Band - Atco 308
2Led Zeppelin"Whole Lotta Love"see number 27, from Led Zeppelin II - Atlantic 8236.
3The Beatles"Get Back"see number 4, from Apple single 2490.
4Creedence Clearwater Revival"Proud Mary"see number 19, from Bayou Country - Fantasy 8387.
5Blind Faith"Can't Find My Way Home"Atco 304March 1969August 1969Top Rock Tracks 1969 #5, from Blind Faith - Atco 304
6The Who"We're Not Gonna Take It"Decca 732519February 7, 1969July 5, 1969422Top Rock Tracks 1969 #6, US Billboard 1969 #250b, from Tommy - Decca 7205
7The Beatles"Come Together"see number 12, from Abbey Road - Apple 383.
8Neil Young with Crazy Horse"Down by the River"Reprise 0836January 17, 1969May 14, 19691.00Top Rock Tracks 1969 #8, from Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere - Reprise 6349
9The Rolling Stones"Gimme Shelter"London 4October 26, 1969December 5, 1969Top Rock Tracks 1969 #9, from Let It Bleed - London 4.
10Jethro Tull"Living in the Past"Island 6056March 18, 1969May 2, 1969Top Rock Tracks 1969 #10, from Island single 6056.
11The Rolling Stones"Midnight Rambler"London 4March 11, 1969December 5, 1969Top Rock Tracks 1969 #11, from Let It Bleed - London 4.

Other hit singles

Classical music

Opera

Jazz

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Musical films

Publications

  • Nik CohnPop – From The Beginning (later editions as Awopbopaloobop Alopbamboom)

Births

Deaths

Awards

Grammy Awards

Eurovision Song Contest

Leeds International Piano Competition

References

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