This week 48 years ago, President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act of 1968; the London Bridge was sold to a U.S. oil company, and was later erected in Arizona; "2001: A Space Odyssey" topped the box office; and the following songs were the most popular in the U.S., according to Billboard's Hot 100 chart archive.
10. "Mighty Quinn (Quinn the Eskimo)," Manfred Mann
The Bob Dylan-penned folk song remains my favorite tune about an Eskimo who makes people and animals happy.
9. "I Got the Feelin'," James Brown and the Famous Flames
James Brown had a big 1968. Along with this song (which hit No. 1 on the R&B chart), Brown released "Say it Loud — I'm Black and I'm Proud," another top-10 hit.
8. "Dance to the Music," Sly and the Family Stone
Ain't no party like a Sly and the Family Stone psychedelic soul party.
7. "The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde," Georgie Fame
This sounds like the theme song to a slapstick sitcom. With gun battles.
6. "(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay," Otis Redding
Redding's definitive track was released in January 1968, less than a month after his death in a plane crash.
5. "(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You've Been Gone," Aretha Franklin
If James Brown had a great 1968, Aretha Franklin had a spectacular one. This track was released between her cover of "Satisfaction" and the landmark "Think."
4. "Lady Madonna," the Beatles
Really tired moms, this is your 1968 anthem.
3. "Cry Like a Baby," the Box Tops
Random 1960s music connection: Co-writer Spooner Oldham was also one of the studio musicians on Percy Sledge's "When a Man Loves a Woman."
2. "Young Girl," Gary Puckett and the Union Gap
File under: Songs that Would Not Go Over Well in 2016. Songwriter Jerry Fuller also wrote another big hit for Gary Puckett and the Union Gap: "Lady Willpower."
1. "Honey," Bobby Goldsboro
No. 1 for five weeks (and apparently not the inspiration for the Jessica Alba dance movie of the same name), "Honey" would become Goldsboro's biggest hit, despite the downer subject matter. And for those who are into really obscure pop-culture nuggets that could only be useful at trivia nights, songwriter Bobby Russell was married to actress Vicki Lawrence for a few years in the 1970s.