Don’s Top 10 From February 17, 1968

(#6 last week) A whole generation of young guys fell in love with the lovely Linda, starting with this folk-rock gem written by Mike Nesmith of The Monkees. Ronstadt would soon leave the group for a solo career, but it took her another 7+ years to establish herself as a star.

(#11 last week) I did not remember that this was originally an instrumental, with Classics IV member James Cobb & producer Buddy Buie added lyrics. Several members of this group later joined the Atlanta Rhythm Section & remade their own hit, in 1979.

(#9 last week) One-hit wonders from Ohio remaking an Isley Brothers single from 1963 (their original never made any national chart). The Human Beinz version uses only the closing refrain of the original song and is famous for repeating the word "no" many times.

(#8 last week) Motown at it's spine-tingling best! It was the final release from the group's "Classic-5" era, during which David Ruffin, Eddie Kendricks, Paul Williams, Melvin Franklin & Otis Williams constituted the Temptations' lineup. It was co-written by Motown writer Roger Penzabene, who committed suicide on New Years Eve1967 because of the breakup described in this song.

(#3 last week) This hit was a spoof of The Beatles "Lucy In The Sky with Diamonds". Fred mistakenly believed the lyrics were "Lucy in disguise with diamonds," and was disappointed when he read the liner notes. The song was certainly one of the most complex musically,  featuring strings, brass, a sitar, piano, bass, guitar, drums, breathing sounds, & unusual string sounds.

(#7 last week) Written by Paul Leka, who later wrote an even more famous #1 hit, "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye". Certainly an unusual combination of psychedalia & bubblegum. Would you believe this song was remade by Lawrence Welk, who actually charted with it on the "Easy Listening" survey? Yikes.

(#10 last week) One of the all-time classics, recorded just days before Redding's death (along with most of The Bar-Kays) in a plane crash over a Wisconsin lake. In 1999, BMI named the song as the sixth-most performed song of the 20th century, with about six million performances. The most-asked question is always, who whistled at the end? It wasn't Redding, it was his bandleader, Sam Taylor.

(#1 last week) First hit for the San Diego band who dressed in Civil War outfits onstage, similar to Paul Revere & The Raiders, who dressed in Revolutionary War clothing. Bigger here than nationally, where it peaked at #4.

(#2 last week) The "correct" version of this British soul hit is the original mono single, not the rerecorded stereo album version. Of course, most know the Foundations for their later hit, "Build Me Up, Buttercup".

(#4 last week; 1st week at #1) The only Frenchman to ever hit #1 in America, Mauriat had actually already done so as a songwriter. He wrote the original French lyrics to Little Peggy March's 1963 hit "I Will Follow Him".