After the rather large amount of high-quality #1's from 1967, 1968 feels like a splash of cold water to the face in comparison. In terms of songs that managed to reach #1, you had an uneven mix of solid classics and easy listening schmaltzfests.
Of course, if you followed rock music and especially FM radio during this time period, you could argue that '68 was better than '67. I've already gone over some of the artists and styles that positively shaped 1968 in music in my year overview. Needless to say, there was certainly a whole lot more to this year than bubblegum pop.
Picking the worst #1 song of the year proved to be easy, but picking the best was an even harder decision than the previous year's was. Once again, it boiled down to equally good songs of totally different genres. Which one got the lucky pick? Find out...right now -
Best #1 Hit Song Of 1968 - "Sittin' On The Dock Of The Bay" - Otis Redding.
It was between "Dock" and "Hey Jude". Honorable mentions go to "I Heard It Through The Grapevine" and "People Got To Be Free". All four are fantastic songs, and all were hot contenders for best song to reach #1 from '68.
"Hey Jude" and "Dock" have several things in common: Both were written as heartfelt statements by their singers, both feature emotionally strong vocals, and both are musically thrilling to listen to. I love "Hey Jude's" musical progression, from piano ballad to singalong rocker. It's practically a tie vote, as it really is a fantastic classic.
What made me, just barely, chose "Dock" as the best is Otis' vocal performance. It's hard to sing in a laid back style and at the same time add so much emotion to the performance. Also, Steve Cropper's guitar playing in the song is untouchable. So it's a case of "Less is more" that made "Dock Of The Bay" rank on top for me.
Worst #1 Hit Song Of 1968 - "Honey" - Bobby Goldsboro.
This category is no contest. "Judy In Disguise" may be a saccharine slice of bubblegum pap but at least it's a mildly amusing listen. Some of the more easy-listening numbers like "This Guy's In Love With You", may not be my taste, but at least they're the right amount of sugar and softness.
"Honey", on the other hand, features an extremely sugary and boring melody, awkward lyrics, phoned in emotion, and a lethargic music track. It's infamy as one of the worst hits of the '60's lives on, at least in my eye.
Next stop on Dr. Rock's Hit Or Miss is 1969. A year that brought us some of the finest rock music ever created. It will also be the first time when both sides of a single could reach #1. There will be great songs, bad songs, and perhaps a few hidden gems. So join me, as we trek on down to Woodstock, this, is 1969! Until next time - Dr. Rock
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