1968 Pop Music Hits

A look at the top 1968 pop music hits, including songs by The Beatles, The Beach Boys, and Simon & Garfunkel.

The Year in Music

1968 was a big year in music. The Beatles released their iconic album, “The Beatles,” Bob Dylan released “John Wesley Harding,” and Led Zeppelin released their self-titled debut album. These are just a few of the many great albums that were released in 1968.

The Beatles

The Beatles were an English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. They became the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed act in the history of popular music. Their best-known lineup consisted of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. The Beatles built their reputation playing clubs in Liverpool and Hamburg over a three-year period from 1960, with Stuart Sutcliffe initially serving as bass player. The core trio of Lennon, McCartney, and Harrison, together since 1958, went through a succession of drummers, including Pete Best, before asking Starr to join them in 1962. Manager Brian Epstein moulded them into a professional act and producer George Martin assisted in developing their recordings into a mainstream pop sound. By early 1964, the Beatles were international stars, leading the “British Invasion” of the United States pop market. From 1965 onwards their touring activity was curtailed by the demands of studio work andfamilial commitments; seen as concert manufacturers rather than authentically performing musicians by some music critics at home such as Tony Palmer and Nik Cohn,[48] they nevertheless achieved iconic status thanks to revolutionary developments such as the incorporation of classical elements (such as Lennon’s incorporation of Bach’s “Fugue” subject from The Well-Tempered Clavier into “Lady Madonna”), innovative songwriting (for example Harrison’s use of sitar on “Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)”),[50] groundbreaking studio techniques (such as Martin’s use of vari-speed on “I Am the Walrus”),[51] ambitious double albums such as Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Abbey Road,[52][53] groundbreaking artwork,[54] pioneering concept albums such as 1967’s Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band,[55] influential film soundtracks such as Yellow Submarine (1966),[56][57] promotional films such as A Hard Day’s Night(1964) and Help! (1965), freeform radio stations playing their records exclusively (“Beatlemania”),[58][59][60][61] commercial jingles (“Things Go Better with Coke”),[62] outlets for Lennon’s satire (“Nowhere Man”)and social commentary(“Power to the People”),[63][64][65][66] or cartoon series such as The Simpsons.[67] In 1968 they released two influential rock albums: The Beatles (commonly known as The White Album), which incorporated elements of country music, New Orleans R&Band Western classical music; and Abbey Road continue to be regarded by many fansand critics alikeas among their finest works.[68][69][70]” -Wikipedia

The Rolling Stones

The Rolling Stones are an English rock band formed in London in 1962. The first stable line-up consisted of Brian Jones (guitar, harmonica), Mick Jagger (lead vocals, harmonica), Keith Richards (guitar, vocals), Bill Wyman (bass), Charlie Watts (drums), and Ian Stewart (piano). Stewart was removed from the official line-up in 1963 but continued to work with the band as a contracted musician until his death in 1985. The band’s primary songwriters, Jagger and Richards, assumed leadership after Andrew Loog Oldham became the group’s manager. Jones left the band less than a month before his death in 1969, having already been replaced by Mick Taylor, who remained until 1974. After Taylor left the band, Ronnie Wood took his place in 1975 and continues on guitar in tandem with Richards. Since Wyman’s departure in 1993, Darryl Jones has served as bassist.

The Stones have released 30 studio albums, 23 live albums and numerous compilations. Let It Bleed (1969) was their first of five consecutive number one studio albums in the UK. Sticky Fingers (1971) was the first of eight number one studio albums in the US. In 2008, the band ranked 10th on the Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists chart and second on the magazine’s 2012 list of 100 Greatest Artists of All Time; they were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1989 and ranked number 4 in Rolling Stone magazine’s 100 Greatest Artists of All Time 100th Anniversary Issue. After 45 years of recording and performing, they continue to tour worldwide and released Blue & Lonesome—their first album of new material since 2005—on 2 December 2016.

Bob Dylan

In 1968, Bob Dylan released his album John Wesley Harding, which featured the single “All Along the Watchtower.” The song became one of Dylan’s most popular works, and was covered by many artists, including Jimi Hendrix. Other popular Dylan songs from 1968 include “The Ballad of Frankie Lee and Judas Priest” and “I’ll Be Your Baby Tonight.”

The Songs of 1968

1968 was a turbulent year, but the pop music of the time was catchy and optimistic. The top hits of 1968 include “Hey Jude” by The Beatles, “Born to be Wild” by Steppenwolf, and “I Heard it Through the Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye. These songs and many more reflect the hope and possibilities of the time.

“Hey Jude”

“Hey Jude” is a song by the English rock band the Beatles, written by Paul McCartney and credited to Lennon–McCartney. The ballad evolved from “Hey Jules”, a song written by McCartney to comfort John Lennon’s son, Julian, during his parents’ divorce. “Hey Jude” begins with a verse-bridge structure incorporating McCartney’s vocal performance and piano arrangement, before transitioning to the refrains whose primacy in the song was inspired by songs of Chuck Berry and the Isley Brothers. After the fourth verse, the song shifts to a coda that lasts for more than four minutes.

Released on 26 August 1968 as the first single from The Beatles (also known as “the White Album”), “Hey Jude” topped both the UK Singles Chart for nine weeks and the US Billboard Hot 100 for two weeks, marking returns to number one in each territory for The Beatles following their double-sided hit single “Day Tripper” / “We Can Work It Out”. With nine weeks atop the UK chart, “Hey Jude” tied with Elvis Presley’s 1956 recording of “(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear” as Britain’s longest domestic chart-topper at that point. In 2013, Billboard magazine ranked it as the 10th biggest song of all time.

“Sympathy for the Devil”

Written by Mick Jagger, “Sympathy for the Devil” was released as a single by the Rolling Stones in 1968. The song is included on the band’s album Beggars Banquet (1968). The lyrics are a first-person narrative from the point of view of Satan.

The song was recorded in early 1968 at Olympic Studios in London, during sessions for Beggars Banquet. Jagger came up with the title and opening line “Please allow me to introduce myself” while on a train, according to his later recollection. He has stated that he wrote most of the lyrics spontaneously while the band was recording the basic tracks for the song. The composition is credited to Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, reflecting their collaborative writing process.

The song was initially met with mixed reactions from Stones fans, many of whom were put off by its apparent pro-Satan message. It was only later that it became one of the band’s most popular and signature tunes, frequently performed in concert. In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked “Sympathy for the Devil” number 32 on its list of “The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.

“All Along the Watchtower”

“All Along the Watchtower” is a song written and recorded by American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan. The song initially appeared on his 1967 album John Wesley Harding, and it has been included on most of Dylan’s subsequent greatest hits compilations. Since the late 1970s, he has performed it in concert more than any of his other songs. Different versions appear on live albums by Jimi Hendrix and the Grateful Dead.

The song has been described as “one of Dylan’s most enigmatic creations”, with its lyrics interpreted as either a straightforward narrative or an allegory about the apocalypse. Scholars have also noted that the lyrics make references to Bible stories, particularly the Book of Isaiah, Chapter 21.

The Legacy of 1968

1968 was a year of massive political and social turmoil. In the midst of it all, popular music continued to be a source of joy and comfort. The songs of 1968 have gone on to become classics, and they continue to resonate with listeners today. Here are some of the greatest hits of that year.

The Beatles’ breakup

On April 10, 1970, Paul McCartney issued a press release announcing that he was leaving the Beatles. The news came as a shock to both the band’s fans and the music world at large. The Beatles were not just a pop group, they were a cultural phenomenon. The foursome from Liverpool, England had captured the hearts of young people around the world with their music, their style and their message of peace and love.

For fans of the band, the breakup was nothing short of devastating. But it was also the end of an era. The Beatles were more than just a band; they were a symbol of hope and change for a generation. They showed us that anything is possible if we work together and that love is always stronger than hate.

The legacy of the Beatles lives on in their music and in the hearts of their fans. We continue to be inspired by their courage to follow their dreams and to stand up for what they believe in. We are reminded that even when things seem impossible, we should never give up hope. And we are reminded that love always wins in the end.

The Stones’ return to form

In early 1968, The Rolling Stones began work on their next album, Beggars Banquet. It would be their first LP in over a year, and their first with new keyboard player Ian McLagan. Recorded throughout the spring and summer, the album was a return to form for the Stones, with a focus on blues and R&B. It also marked the return of producer Jimmy Miller, who had helmed their previous two albums.

Beggars Banquet was released in December 1968 to critical acclaim. It would go on to be one of the Stones’ most beloved albums, with songs like “Sympathy for the Devil” and “Street Fighting Man” becoming classics.

While 1968 was a tumultuous year for many, it was also a great one for music. Along with Beggars Banquet, other classic albums were released, including The Beatles’ The White Album and Jimi Hendrix’s Electric Ladyland. It was truly a golden age for rock and roll.

Dylan’s continued influence

Dylan’s continued influence
The release of “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan” in 1963 marked a turning point in popular music. Not only did Dylan signal a new direction for folk music, he also inspired a new generation of songwriters who would change the course of pop music. The legacy of 1968 can be traced back to Dylan’s influence on the pop chart.

In 1968, Dylan released “John Wesley Harding,” an album that featured some of his most personal and introspective songwriting to date. The album signaled a departure from the more theatrical style of Dylan’s previous work, and it found him embracing country and folk influences. The album’s impact was immediate, with both critics and fans lauding its simple beauty.

Dylan’s influence can be heard in the work of pop artists like Paul Simon, who released his debut solo album “Paul Simon” in 1972. Simon had been a member of the folk duo Simon & Garfunkel, but his debut showcased a more personal and introspective side to his songwriting. Like Dylan, Simon was influenced by country music, and his debut album featured versions of two country standards: “The Boxer” and “The Wanderer.”

Another artist who was influenced by Dylan was Bruce Springsteen. Springsteen’s early work contained elements of Dylan’s style, but he would later come into his own as a songwriter with albums like “Born to Run” and “Darkness on the Edge of Town.” Springsteen would go on to become one of the most successful pop artists of all time, selling millions of records and winning multiple Grammy Awards.

The legacy of 1968 can also be seen in the work of David Bowie. Bowie began his career as a folk singer before embarking on a successful run as a glam rock star in the 1970s. However, it was Bowie’s experimental album “Low,” which was released in 1977, that truly signaled his debt to Dylan. Like “John Wesley Harding,” “Low” found Bowie stripping away the excesses of his previous work in favor of something more personal and introspective. The album featured many elements that would later become hallmarks of Bowie’s sound, including electronic music and avant-garde experimentation.

The legacy of 1968 has been felt in popular music for nearly half a century. From Bob Dylan to David Bowie, many of the most influential artists have been inspired by the events of that year.