1969 in music

Contents

1 Events

2 Albums released

3 Top hits on record

4 Published popular music

11.1 Grammy Awards
11.2 Eurovision Song Contest

Events

Perhaps the most famous musical events of 1969 are two legendary concerts. At a Rolling Stones concert in Altamont, California, a fan was stabbed to death by Hell's Angels, a biker gang that had been hired to provide security for the event. In retrospect, many commentators have concluded that the violence signalled the failure of the so-called "hippies", who espoused an ethos of free love and peace. Even more famous than the Altamont concert is Woodstock, which consisted of dozens of the most famous performers in the world at the time, playing together in an atmosphere of peace with nature and love, with many thousands of concertgoers; it is still one of the largest concerts in the history of the world.

Soul Shakedown was the debut album by Bob Marley & the Wailers, who would go on to become one of the most popular groups around the world. The album achieved very little popularity outside of the group's native country, Jamaica, but began establishing themselves as superstars there. Musically, Soul Shakedown is more ska than reggae, the style of music the Wailers would eventually make world-famous; the pioneering style of the music helped move ska and rocksteady towards reggae.

David Bowie's debut single, "Space Oddity", became a huge hit in this year, partially due to the remarkable coincidence that it was released in the same year as 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 the theme song for the television coverage of the moon landing. The remainder of the album, Man of Words/Man of Music, was too avant-garde for mainstream acceptance, though it established a devoted fanbase for Bowie, who would go on to become one of the most popular musicians in the world.

King Crimson's In the Court of the Crimson King is a pioneering album in the development of prog rock. The album drew upon influences like Procol Harum, The Moody Blues and The Nice to form an original sound melding rock and roll with classical influences in long, avant-garde 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.

Miles Davis' Bitches Brew is widely considered the first successful full-fledged fusion of rock and roll and jazz, as well as being one of the most famous and well-remembered albums by Davis.

The Stooges' eponymous debut, The Stooges, was also released this year to little critical or popular acceptance. The album, however, went on to become one of the most important recordings in the early development of punk rock.

Johnny Cash's At San Quentin included his only Top Ten pop hit, "A Boy Named Sue". The album was a sequel to last year's At Folsolm 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.

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.

January 4 - Guitarist Jimi Hendrix causes complaints of arrogance from television producers after playing an impromptu version of "Sunshine of your Love" past his allotted timeslot on the BBC1 show Happening for Lulu.
January 18 - Pete Best wins his defamation lawsuit against the Beatles. Best had originally sought $8 million, but ended up being awarded much less.
January 30 - The Beatles perform for the last time in public, on the roof of Apple Studios at 3 Saville Row, in London. The performance, which was filmed for the Let It Be movie, is stopped early by police after neighbors complain about the noise.
February 3 - John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr hire Allen Klein as the Beatles' new business manager, against the wishes of Paul McCartney.
February 4 - Paul McCartney hires the law firm of Eastman & Eastman, Linda Eastman's father's law firm, as general legal counsel for Apple.
February 7 - George Harrison is admitted to London's University College Hospital with an infected back molar that has infected his tonsils.
February 8 - George Harrison's tonsils are removed at London's University College Hospital.
February 15 - Vickie Jones is arrested for impersonating Aretha Franklin in a concert performance. Jones' impersonation was so convincing that nobody in the audience asked for a refund.
February 17 - Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan record together in Nashville, Tennessee. Only one song, "Girl from the North Country", would be released from these sessions.
February 18 - Lulu and Bee Gee Maurice Gibb are married in England
March 1 - During a performance at Miami's Dinner Key Auditorium, Jim Morrison of the Doors is arrested for exposing himself during the show. Morrison is officially charged with lewd and lascivious behavior, indecent behavior, open profanity and public drunkenness.
May 3 - Sly & the Family Stone release their breakthrough album, Stand!, which became one of the top-selling albums of the decade and made the band one of the most popular acts in rock and soul music.
March 9 - The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour is canceled by CBS
March 12 - The 11th Grammy Awards are presented
March 12 - Paul McCartney marries Linda Eastman
March 12 - George Harrison and his wife Patti are arrested in England on charges of cannabis possession after authorities found 120 joints in their home
March 20 - John Lennon marries Yoko Ono in Gibraltar
March 25-31 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono host a "bed-in" for peace in their room at the Amsterdam Hilton.
April 1 - The Beach Boys file a lawsuit against their record label, Capitol Records, for $2,041,446.64 in royalties and producer's fees for Brian Wilson. The band also announces it's starting its own label, Brothers Records.
April 20 - The L.A. Free Festival in Venice, California ends early following a riot of audience members, 117 of which were arrested.
April 22 - The first complete performance of The Who's rock opera Tommy during a performance in Dolton, England
April 22 - John Lennon officially changes his name from John Winston Lennon to John Ono Lennon.
April - The Beatles' make a $5.1 million counter offer to the Northern Songs stockholders in an attempt to keep Associated TV from controlling the band's music.
May 3 - Jimi Hendrix is arrested by Canadian Mounties at Toronto's International Airport for possession of narcotics. Hendrix is released on $10,000 bail.
May 6 - In London, representatives of Warner Brothers-Seven Arts discuss the purchase of fifteen percent of The Beatles' Northern Songs.
May 10 - The Turtles perform at the White House. Mark Volman falls off the stage 5 times.
June 2 - John Lennon and Yoko Ono host a "bed-in" at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal, Canada. The couple records the song "Give Peace a Chance" live in the room with Tommy Smothers, Timothy Leary and a several others.
June 29 - Bass player Noel Redding formally announces to the media that he has quit the Jimi Hendrix Experience, although he effectively ceased to be with Hendrix during most of the recording of Electric Ladyland.
August 9 - Sharon Tate & the LaBiancas are found murdered by Charles Manson & "family"
August 15-17 - The Woodstock Music and Art Festival was held at Max Yasgur's dairy farm in Bethel, New York, near Woodstock, New York. Performers included Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix, The Who, Joan Baez, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Jefferson Airplane, Santana, Country Joe and the Fish, Ten Years After, and Sly & the Family Stone.
October - Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band release Trout Mask Replica.
October 14 - The final single by Diana Ross & The Supremes, "Someday We'll Be Together," is released. The single becomes the final #1 hit of 1969 (and of the 1960s). After a farewell concert in January 1970, Diana Ross leaves the Supremes for a solo career.
November 1 - After seven years off the top of the charts, Elvis Presley's song "Suspicious Minds," hits No. 1 on the Billboard Music charts (this was the last time any song by Presley hit no. 1 while he was still alive).
November 8 - Simon and Garfunkel, on tour for the first time with a band, give live concert in Carbondale, Illinois, presumably at Southern Illinois University. The concert is not released until 1999 as part of a recording compiled by Head Records, called Village Vanguard.
November 11 - Simon and Garfunkel give live concert at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. The recording is later released in the 1990s as Back To College on Yellow Dog Records and A Time Of Innocence on Bell Bottom Records.
November 30 - Simon and Garfunkel air TV special Songs Of America, ostensibly an hour-long show that is anti-war and anti-poverty featuring live footage from their 1969 tour.
November - Simon and Garfunkel give live concert in Ames, Iowa, presumably at Iowa State University, where they record track "Bye, Bye Love" for their upcoming album, Bridge Over Troubled Water.
December - The Jackson 5 release their debut album, Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5.

Bob Dylan and Johnny Cash perform together on The Johnny Cash Show.
A Rolling Stones fan is killed at the group's Altamont, California, concert by members of the Hell's Angels.
Cream breaks up, and Blind Faith is formed
David Bowie's musical career begins with the single "Space Oddity", the unofficial anthem for the moon landing in August of this year
Brian Eno's musical career begins as a member of Cardew's Scratch Orchestra
Black Sabbath forms in Birmingham, England
Jim Croce's musical career begins
Roberta Flack's musical career begins
Mott the Hoople's musical career begins
King Crimson's musical career begins
Bonnie Raitt's musical career begins
Judas Priest forms in Birmingham, England
John Denver's musical career begins
Alice Cooper's musical career begins
Rod Stewart's leaves The Faces for a solo career
The Doobie Brothers form
Melanie's musical career begins

Albums released

I Say a Little Prayer - Aretha Franklin
20/20 - The Beach Boys
Abbey Road - The Beatles
Yellow Submarine - The Beatles
Odessa - The Bee Gees
Blind Faith - Blind Faith
Blood Sweat & Tears - Blood, Sweat & Tears
Canta In Italiano - Dalida
Ma Mère me disait - Dalida
Nashville Skyline - Bob Dylan
Soul Shakedown - Bob Marley & the Wailers (debut)
Dr. Byrds & Mr. Hyde - The Byrds
Ballad of Easy Rider - The Byrds
Caetano Veloso - Caetano Veloso
Monster Movie - Can
Three in the Attic - Chad & Jeremy
Chicago Transit Authority - Chicago (debut)
Surround Yourself with Cilla - Cilla Black
Goodbye - Cream
Green River - Creedence Clearwater Revival
Crosby, Stills & Nash - Crosby, Stills & Nash
Man of Words/Man of Music - David Bowie (later re-released as Space Oddity)
This Is - Desmond Dekker
Donovan's Greatest Hits - Donovan
Barabajagal - Donovan
The Soft Parade - The Doors
Empty Sky - Elton John
From Elvis In Memphis - Elvis Presley
Dizzy - Tommy Roe
What We Did on Our Holidays - Fairport Convention
Unhalfbricking - Fairport Convention
English Rose - Fleetwood Mac
And Then Play On - Fleetwood Mac
From Genesis to Revelation - Genesis
Gilberto Gil - Gilberto Gil
Aoxomoxoa - Grateful Dead
Live/Dead - Grateful Dead
Hollies Sing Dylan - The Hollies
Hollies Sing Hollies - The Hollies
He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother - The Hollies
Words and Music by Bob Dylan - The Hollies
The Young Mods' Forgotten Story - The Impressions
Ball - Iron Butterfly
It's Our Thing - The Isley Brothers
Live at Yankee Stadium - The Isley Brothers
The Brothers: Isley - The Isley Brothers
Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5 - Jackson 5
Get Down to It - James Brown
Say It Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud - James Brown
It's a Mother - James Brown
The Popcorn - James Brown
I Got Dem Ol' Kozmic Blues Again Mama! - Janis Joplin (solo debut)
Bless Its Pointed Little Head - Jefferson Airplane
Volunteers (album) - Jefferson Airplane
Stand Up - Jethro Tull
David's Album - Joan Baez
Joe South's Greatest Hits Vol.1 - Joe South
Rhymes and Reason - John Denver (debut)
Johnny Cash - Johnny Cash
The Holy Land - Johnny Cash
More Old Golden Throat - Johnny Cash
Jackson - Johnny Cash
At San Quentin - Johnny Cash
Hello, I'm Johnny Cash - Johnny Cash
Grand Canyon Suite - Johnny Cash
Clouds - Joni Mitchell
In the Court of the Crimson King - King Crimson (debut)
Arthur or the Decline and Fall of the British Empire - The Kinks
New York Tendaberry - Laura Nyro
Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin (debut)
Led Zeppelin II - Led Zeppelin
M.P.G. - Marvin Gaye
Easy - Marvin Gaye
Same Train, Different Time - Merle Haggard & the Strangers
Pride in What I Am - Merle Haggard & the Strangers
Okie from Muskogee - Merle Haggard & the Strangers
The Instrumental Sounds of Merle Haggard's Strangers - Merle Haggard & the Strangers
Bitches Brew - Miles Davis
Moby Grape '69 - Moby Grape
Truly Fine Citizen - Moby Grape
Instant Replay - The Monkees
The Monkees Present - The Monkees
To Our Children's Children's Children - The Moody Blues
On the Threshold of a Dream - The Moody Blues
Mott the Hoople - Mott the Hoople (debut)
Brother Red's Travelling Salvation Show - Neil Diamond
Touching You, Touching Me - Neil Diamond
Neil Young - Neil Young
Everybody Knows This is Nowhere - Neil Young
The Nice - The Nice
Rehearsals for Retirement - Phil Ochs
The Open Mind - The Open Mind
Hair (West End) - Original Cast
Ornette at 12 - Ornette Coleman
Love Man - Otis Redding
Ummagumma - Pink Floyd
More - Pink Floyd
Three Week Hero - P.J. Proby
A Salty Dog - Procol Harum
I'm All Yours-Baby! - Ray Charles
Doing His Thing - Ray Charles
Let It Bleed - The Rolling Stones
Santana - Santana
Scott 3 - Scott Walker
Four in Blue - Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
My Cherie Amour - Stevie Wonder
The Stooges - The Stooges (debut)
My Brother the Wind, Vol. 1 - Sun Ra
My Brother the Wind, Vol. 2 - Sun Ra
As I Am - The Troggs
Trogglomania - The Troggs
Turtle Soup - The Turtles
Astral Weeks - Van Morrison
The Velvet Underground - The Velvet Underground
Country Folk - Waylon Jennings
Just to Satisfy You - Waylon Jennings
Waylon Jennings - Waylon Jennings
Tommy - The Who
My Own Peculiar Way - Willie Nelson
Yes - Yes (debut)
Elephant Mountain - The Youngbloods
Hot Rats - Frank Zappa

Top hits on record

"Aquarius"/"Let The Sunshine In" - Fifth Dimension
"Aquele Abraco" - Gilberto Gil
"Badge" - Cream
"The Ballad of John and Yoko" - The Beatles
"Blackberry Way" - The Move
"But You Know I Love You" - Kenny Rogers and The First Edition
"The Boxer" - Simon and Garfunkel
"In The Ghetto" - Elvis Presley
"Cissy Strut" - The Meters
"Cloud Nine" - The Temptations
"Get Back" - The Beatles
"Get Ready" - The Temptations
"Get Together" - Youngbloods
"Give Peace A Chance" - John Lennon
"Good Times Bad Times" - Led Zeppelin
"Higher And Higher" - Jackie Wilson
"Honky Tonk Women" - Rolling Stones
"I Can Hear Music" - The Beach Boys
"I Don't Know Why" - Stevie Wonder
"I Heard It Through The Grapevine" - Marvin Gaye
"I'd Wait A Million Years" - The Grass Roots
"In the Year 2525" - Zager and Evans
"The Israelites" - Desmond Dekker and the Aces
"It Miek" - Desmond Dekker and the Aces
"L'An 2005" - Dalida
"Lay Lady Lay" - Bob Dylan
"Le Clan des Siciliens" - Dalida (soundtrak)
"The Liquidator" - Harry J.'s All Stars
"Listen to the Band" - The Monkees
"Living In The Past" - Jethro Tull
"Love Child" - Diana Ross & the Supremes
"My Cherie Amour" - Stevie Wonder
"Pinball Wizard" - The Who
"Proud Mary" - Creedence Clearwater Revival
"Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" - B.J. Thomas
"Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town" - Kenny Rogers and The First Edition
"Someday We'll Be Together" - Diana Ross & the Supremes
"Something/Come Together" - The Beatles
"Sophisticated Cissy" - The Meters
"Suite: Judy Blue Eyes" - Crosby, Stills & Nash
"Suspicious Minds" - Elvis Presley
"Touch Me" - The Doors
"Whole Lotta Love" - Led Zeppelin
"Winter World of Love" - Engelbert Humperdinck

Published popular music

"The April Fools" w. Hal David m. Burt Bacharach from the film April Fools
"Bad Moon Rising" w.m. John C. Fogerty
"Bridge Over Troubled Water" w.m. Paul Simon
"But, Mister Adams" w.m. Sherman Edwards
"Come Together" w.m. John Lennon & Paul McCartney
"Cool, Cool Considerate Men" w.m. Sherman Edwards
"Didn't We?" w.m. Jimmy Webb
"Down On The Corner" w.m. John C. Fogerty
"The Egg" w.m. Sherman Edwards
"Everybody's Talkin'" w.m. Fred Neil
"Hawaii Five-O" m. Mort Stevens
"He Plays The Violin" w.m. Sherman Edwards
If You Could Read My Mind" w.m. Gordon Lightfoot
"In The Ghetto" w.m.Mac Davis
"Is Anybody There?" w.m. Sherman Edwards
"Is That All There Is?" w.m. Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller
"Israelites" w.m. Desmond Dekker & Leslie Kong
"Keem-O-Sabe" m. Bernard Binnick & Bernice Borisoff
"Jean" w.m. Rod McKuen from the film The Prime Of Miss Jean Brodie
"Leaving On A Jet Plane" w.m. John Denver
"The Lees Of Old Virginia" w.m. Sherman Edwards
"Marrakesh Express" w.m. Graham Nash
"Molasses To Rum" w.m. Sherman Edwards
"Momma, Look Sharp" w.m. Sherman Edwards
"Odds And Ends (Of A Beautiful Love Affair)" w. Hal David m. Burt Bacharach
"Piddle, Twiddle And Resolve" w.m. Sherman Edwards
"Proud Mary" w.m. John C. Fogerty
"Put A Little Love In Your Heart" w.m. Jimmy Holiday, Randy Myers & Jackie DeShannon
"Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" w.Hal David m.Burt Bacharach
"Something" w.m. George Harrison
"Sweet Caroline" w.m. Neil Diamond
"Till Then" w.m. Sherman Edwards
"What Are You Doing The Rest Of Your Life?" w. Alan Bergman & Marilyn Bergman m. Michel LeGrand
"Yellow River" w.m. Jeff Christie
"You Don't Love Me When I Cry" w.m. Laura Nyro
"Yours, Yours, Yours" w.m. Sherman Edwards