1968 was another strong year for female recording artists and while this seven-song medley starts out with a hit from one of America’s treasured icons, not all of those singers were from the U.S.
Aretha Franklin and Dionne Warwick made strong chart showings while Jeannie C. Riley climbed all the way to #1 with her country music/pop crossover smash.
Merrilee Rush and The Turnabouts hit the Top 10 and Janis Joplin, fronting Big Brother & The Holding Company, blasted her way into rock immortality.
The two non-American artists included a South African group consisting of 4 men and a “Jill” (her actual name was Glenys Lynne) and Mary Hopkin, a Welsh singer who made her recording debut with a song produced by Paul McCartney.
I have added the highest Billboard chart position in parentheses beside their names below.
Play button is on the left … Volume slider is on the right
Vintage 1968 Medley / Ladies’ Day
Aretha Franklin (#7) – Dionne Warwick (#10)
Four Jacks & A Jill (#18) – Jeannie C. Riley (#1)
Mary Hopkin (#2) – Merrilee Rush & The Turnabouts (#7)
Big Brother & The Holding Company (#12)
Another great set of songs that each carried its own message. I’ve always liked Jeannie C. Riley’s hit as it exposed some of the hypocrisies of the day …. women were beginning to take a stand and show their strength … Janis Joplin was another victim of success and the dangers it carried …. Mary Hopkin’s song said it all so well. Those were the days my friend … for sure. Thanks for another trip down memory lane. Rock the Day!
Thank you, Barbara.
Indeed those really WERE the days!
You always find a way to nail it!
ROCK THIS GLORIOUS DAY!
Quite Franklin Ray I think you better think about not going to San Jose there is no peice of mind there and you know it!! Ray when you have four Jacks and a Jill you know it’s a strange world we live in. So let me tell ya a story about growing up in Harper Valley. Oh Ray those were the days!! We would Merrilee Rush around the turnabouts and we sure would hold on!! Yes Ray those were the days!!
Fred … You. Amaze. Me!
You are killin’ me Fred! LOL
🙂 Marty 🙂
Oh boy, I sure did enjoy these ladies! This lady is tired tonight but these tunes were a soothing end of the day for me! Fred is on a roll and I’m proud of him! (And always proud and amazed by all the creations you put together for us to enjoy!) XOXOXOXO
Thanks, Wendyl. 🙂
With your “back to school” workload, I NEVER expect you to connect any songs. You’ve got more than enough on your plate. I suppose the good news is I will be returning to history lessons soon and the medleys will probably disappear (at least for a while) after one final year (I’m not saying which one yet) of memories next week, so you won’t feel compelled to get “creative” at the end of the day.
Love Ya, Teach!
XOXOXOXO
It’s a fun thing to do and I enjoy it! Today my brain needs a little WD-40 to get the wheels turning! The kids aren’t even back until Sept. 8th…It’s just a lot of planning for new ways for things to be done for all to be safe. I work with a great team and I’m thankful. Your tunes put a smile on my tired mug. 🙂
Your beautiful face will never be confused with a “tired mug.”
I understand the tired brain part. I have been awake since 1:00 this morning and I am running on empty. There is no way I can, at the age of 70, continue to create medleys and write history lessons each day. The medleys are in some ways a lot easier to do (except for re-mixing each song) but then there are people who prefer the history lessons.
Aargh! 🙂
You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time. (Except for me because I love anything you do, or don’t do,as long as you’re content. Now go to sleep, Dear Daddy XOXOXOXO
<3 <3 <3
Ahhh…I could have stayed here alll day! Some of the very best of 1968…we thought they’d never end.
Thanks, Donna. 🙂
There was certainly no lack of talent in that group of singers!