1968 in music

1 Events
2 Albums released
3 Top hits on record
4 Other singles
5 Published popular music
6 Classical music
7 Opera
8 Musical theater
9 Musical films
10 Births
11 Deaths
12 Awards
- 12.1 Grammy Awards
- 12.2 Eurovision Song Contest
13 External Charts
14 Categories

Events

January 4 - Guitarist Jimi Hendrix is jailed by Stockholm police, after trashing a hotel room during a drunken fist fight with bassist Noel Redding.
January 6 - Gibson Guitar Corporation patents its Gibson Flying V electric guitar design.
January 21 - Simon and Garfunkel release album The Graduate Original Soundtrack.
January - The Beatles launch Apple Corps, Ltd., a disastrously mismanaged entertainment company that included a recording studio, a record label, and clothing store.
February 1
- Priscilla Presley gives birth to Elvis' only child, Lisa Marie at the Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.
- Universal Studios offers the Doors $500,000 to star in a feature film. The film is never made.
February 10 - The Beatles shut down "Beatles U.S.A.", their fan club and business office in the United States. The band also fires their US press agents and withdraw from Brian Epstein's NEMS Enterprises. The band then turns all business affairs over to the newly formed record company, Apple.
February 12 - Jimi Hendrix is given an honorary high school diploma from Garfield High School in Seattle, Washington. Hendrix is also given the key to the city.
February 16 - The Beatles, Mike Love, Mia Farrow, Donovan and others travel to India to visit the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi at Rishikesh.
February 18 - David Gilmour joins Pink Floyd, replacing founder Syd Barrett, who checked himself into a psychiatric hospital
February 21 - McGraw-Hill, Inc. outbids eight other publishers and pays $150,000 for the U.S. rights to Hunter Davies' authorized biography of the Beatles.
February 28 - Frankie Lymon dies.
March 8 - Bill Graham opens the Fillmore East in an abandoned movie theater in New York City.
March 25 - The 58th and final episode of The Monkees airs on television.
March 26 - Blues artist Little Willie John dies in prison after being convicted of manslaughter.
March 30 - The Yardbirds record their live album Live Yardbirds at the Anderson Theater.
April 3 - Simon and Garfunkel release the critically acclaimed album Bookends.
April 4 - James Brown appears on national television, in an attempt to calm feelings of anger in the United States following the assassination of Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.
April 6 - The Beatles' new record company, and management and publishing firm, Apple Corps, Ltd., opens offices in London
April 6 - Eurovision Song Contest held in the Royal Albert Hall, London. The wining song, Spain's "La La La" was sung by Massiel.
April 7 - Singer/pianist/songwriter Nina Simone's performance at Westbury Music Fair is dedicated to the murder of Dr. Martin Luther King. The song "Why? (the king of love is dead)" by Gene Taylor is performed for the first time. the show was partially released on the emmy nominated album Nuff Said (1968).
April 29 - The rock musical Hair opened on Broadway at the Biltmore Theatre.
May 4 - Mary Hopkin performs on the British TV show Opportunity Knocks. Hopkin catches the attention of model Twiggy, who recommends her to Beatle Paul McCartney. McCartney would soon sign Hopkin to Apple Records.
May 5 - Buffalo Springfield performs together for the last time in Long Beach, California.
May 30 - The Beatles begin recording what would become their double-LP The White Album. Sessions would span over 4 months, ending on October 14.
July 7 - The Yardbirds perform for the last time before disbanding.
August 4 - Yes performs for the first time, at a summer camp.
August 23 - Simon and Garfunkel give live concert at the Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood, California. Recording is later released on CD in 1994 by Australian company Vigotone Records as Voices Of Intelligent Dissent.
August - Blind Faith is formed, which includes Eric Clapton, and Ginger Baker from Cream and Steve Winwood from Traffic.
Summer - Simon and Garfunkel, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Janis Joplin and John Sebastian give live concert at Shea Stadium in New York City as campaign benefit for Democratic presidential candidate Eugene McCarthy.
September 7 - Led Zeppelin performs for the first time; at their first show, they are billed as The Yardbirds (the Yardbirds had disbanded two months earlier, and guitarist Jimmy Page subsequently formed this new group).
September 14 – The two small sons of singer Roy Orbison, Roy DeWayne Orbison age 10, and Anthony King Orbison age 6, die in a house fire in Hendersonville, Tennessee.
November 8 - John Lennon and his wife Cynthia divorce.
November 15 - 500,000 people march in Washington DC for peace, which becomes the largest anti-war rally in U.S. history. In attendance: Arlo Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul and Mary, John Denver, Mitch Miller, touring cast of Hair
November 26 - Cream plays their farewell concert at the Royal Albert Hall. It will be the last time Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, and Ginger Baker play together until their 1993 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
December 1 - Jimi Hendrix's manager Chas Chandler quits over differences with Hendrix during the recording of Electric Ladyland
New Jersey Police confiscate 30,000 copies of John Lennon and Yoko Ono's Two Virgins album at Newark Airport, saying that the cover, which features a nude photo of the two artists, is "pornographic." In Chicago, Illinois, police officers shut down a record shop for displaying the album cover.
Elvis Presley's 1968 Comeback Special airs on NBC.
Rush is formed in Toronto.
The Band's musical career begins.
James Taylor's musical career begins.
Joni Mitchell's musical career begins.
Carpenters' musical career begins.
Warren Zevon's musical career begins.
Deep Purple/Roundabout's musical career begins.
Nazareth's musical career begins.

Albums released

Any Day Now - Joan Baez
Astral Weeks - Van Morrison
A Banda Tropicalista - Rogério Duprat
The Beatles (The White Album) - The Beatles
Beggars Banquet - The Rolling Stones
Bill Evans at the Montreux Jazz Festival - Bill Evans
Bill Haley's Biggest Hits - Bill Haley & His Comets
The Birds, The Bees and The Monkees - The Monkees
Bookends - Simon and Garfunkel
Child is Father to the Man - Blood, Sweat & Tears
Cycles - Frank Sinatra
Dion - Dion DiMucci
Diversions - Barry Booth
Dusty in Memphis - Dusty Springfield
Electric Ladyland - The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Fall Out - Terry Smith
Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash
For Little Ones; Donovan in Concert; The Hurdy Gurdy Man - Donovan
Francis A. & Edward K. - Frank Sinatra and Duke Ellington
Gal Costa - Gal Costa
God Bless Tiny Tim - Tiny Tim
The Graduate Original Soundtrack - Simon and Garfunkel (incidental music by Dave Grusin)
HEAD (Motion Picture Soundtrack) - The Monkees
Karyobin - Spontaneous Music Ensemble
Lady Soul - Aretha Franklin
Last Time Around - Buffalo Springfield
Look to Your Heart - Perry Como
Love Is Blue - The Lawrence Welk Orchestra
Magic Bus: The Who On Tour - The Who
Misty Blue - Ella Fitzgerald
Music from Big Pink - The Band
Music In a Doll's House - Family
Nuff Said - Nina Simone
On Stage - Bill Haley & His Comets
The Perry Como Christmas Album - Perry Como
Recital na Boite Barroco - Maria Bethânia
The Resurrection of Pigboy Crabshaw - Paul Butterfield Blues Band
A Saucerful of Secrets - Pink Floyd
Scratching the Surface - The Groundhogs
The Sinatra Family Wish You A Merry Christmas - Frank Sinatra
Switched On Bach - Walter Carlos
Le Temps des Fleurs - Dalida
This Was - Jethro Tull
Traffic - Traffic
The Transformed Man - William Shatner
Waiting For The Sun - The Doors
We're Only In It For The Money - Mothers of Invention
Wheels of Fire - Cream
White Light/White Heat - The Velvet Underground
30 by Ella - Ella Fitzgerald

Top hits on record

"Albatross" - Fleetwood Mac
"Azadeh" - HayedehLandon
"Bend Me, Shape Me" - The American Breed
"Bend Me, Shape Me" - Amen Corner
"Born To Be Wild" - Steppenwolf
"Build Me Up Buttercup" - The Foundations
"Chain of Fools" - Aretha Franklin
"Cloud Nine" - The Temptations
"Dance To The Music" - Sly & The Family Stone
"Do You Know the Way to San Jose?" - Dionne Warwick
"Fire Brigade" - The Move
"Grazing in the Grass" - Hugh Masekela
"Green Tambourine" - Lemon Pipers
"Harper Valley P.T.A" - Jeannie C. Riley
"Hello, Goodbye" - The Beatles
"Hello, I Love You" - The Doors
"Hey Jude"/"Revolution" - The Beatles
"High In The Sky - Amen Corner
"Honey" - Bobby Goldsboro
"Ice In The Sun" - Status Quo
"I Wish It Would Rain" - The Temptations
"I'm Gonna Make You Love Me" - Diana Ross & the Supremes and The Temptations
"Judy In Disguise (With Glasses)" - John Fred & his Playboy Band
"Jumpin' Jack Flash" - Rolling Stones
"Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)" - Kenny Rogers and The First Edition
"Lady Madonna" - The Beatles
"Lady Willpower" - Gary Puckett & The Union Gap
"Love Child" - Diana Ross & The Supremes
"Love Is Blue" - Paul Mauriat
"Lovin' Things" - The Marmalade
"Midnight Confessions" - The Grass Roots
"Mony Mony" - Tommy James & the Shondells
"Mrs. Robinson" - Simon and Garfunkel
"My Little Lady" - The Tremeloes
"Need Your Love So Bad" - Fleetwood Mac
"Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da" - The Marmalade
"Over You" - Gary Puckett & The Union Gap
"Pictures Of Matchstick Men" - Status Quo
"(Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay" - Otis Redding
"Suddenly You Love Me" - The Tremeloes
"Sunshine Of Your Love" - Cream
"Suzie Q" - Creedence Clearwater Revival
"This Guy's in Love With You" - Herb Alpert
"Tighten Up" - Archie Bell & the Drells
"Valleri" - The Monkees
"Young Girl" - Gary Puckett & The Union Gap

See also: Hot 100 No. 1 Hits of 1968 (USA)

Other singles

"The Weight" - The Band
"I Am the Walrus" - The Beatles
"Going Up The Country" - Canned Heat
"White Room" - Cream
"Le Temps des Fleurs" - Dalida
"Je m'endors dans tes bras" - Dalida
"Si j'avais des millions" - Dalida
"Dona Dona" - Patty Duke
"Since You've Been Gone" - Aretha Franklin
"All Along The Watchtower" - Jimi Hendrix
"In-a-Gadda-Da-Vida" - Iron Butterfly
"Delilah" - Tom Jones
"Ride My See Saw" - The Moody Blues
"Where Will You Be?" - Sue Nicholls
"Old Friends/Bookends" - Simon and Garfunkel
"Feeelin' Alright" - Traffic
"Magic Bus" - The Who
"Goodnight Sweet Josephine" - The Yardbirds

Published popular music

"1,2,3, Red Light" w.m. Sal Trimachi and Bobbi Trimachi
"1432 Franklin Pike Circle Hero" w.m. Bobby Russell
"Abraham, Martin and John" w.m. Dick Holler
"Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" w.m. Richard M. Sherman & Robert B. Sherman from the film of the same name
"Classical Gas" m. Mason Williams
"Dear World" w.m. Jerry Herman from the musical Dear World
"Eli's Coming" w.m. Laura Nyro
"The Fool On The Hill" w.m. John Lennon & Paul McCartney
"For The Good Times" w.m. Kris Kristofferson
"Galveston" w.m. Jim Webb
"Heffalumps and Woozles" w.m. Richard M. Sherman & Robert B. Sherman from the film Winnie The Pooh and the Blustery Day
"Honey Pie" w.m. John Lennon and Paul McCartney
"I'll Never Fall In Love Again" w. Hal David m. Burt Bacharach from the musical Promises, Promises
"Indian Lake" w.m. Tony Romeo
"Indian Reservation" w.m. John D. Loudermilk, first recorded by Don Fardon
"Little Green Apples" w.m. Bobby Russell
"MacArthur Park" w.m. Jim Webb
"Mister Bojangles" w.m. Jerry Jeff Walker
"My Way" (French: "Comme d'habitude") w.m. Claude François & Jacques Revaux, Eng.: Paul Anka
"The Night They Raided Minsky's" w. Lee Adams m. Charles Strouse from the film The Night They Raided Minsky's
"A Perfect Gentleman" w. Lee Adams m. Charles Strouse Introduced by Jason Robards and Norman Wisdom in the film The Night They Raided Minsky's
"Promises, Promises" w. Hal David m. Burt Bacharach from the musical Promises, Promises
"Save The Country" w.m. Laura Nyro
"Stand By Your Man" w.m. Billy Sherrill & Tammy Wynette
"Stoned Soul Picnic" w.m. Laura Nyro
"Sweet Blindness" w.m. Laura Nyro
"Take Ten Terrific Girls' w. Lee Adams m. Charles Strouse from the film The Night They Raided Minsky's
Ten Feet off the Ground w.m. Richard M. Sherman & Robert B. Sherman from the film The One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band
"This Guy's In Love With You" w. Hal David m. Burt Bacharach
"Wichita Lineman" w.m. Jim Webb
"The Windmills Of Your Mind" w. Alan Bergman & Marilyn Bergman m. Michel LeGrand from the film The Thomas Crown Affair
"The Wonderful Thing About Tiggers" w.m. Richard M. Sherman & Robert B. Sherman from the film Winnie The Pooh and the Blustery Day
"You Rat, You" w. Lee Adams m. Charles Strouse from the film The Night They Raided Minsky's

Classical music

Luciano Berio - O King
John Corigliano - Piano Concerto
George Crumb - Songs, Drones, and Refrains of Death for baritone, electric guitar, electric double bass, amplified piano/electric harpsichord, and two percussionists
Mario Davidovsky - Music for Solo Violin
Ladislav Kupkovic - Souvenir (one of his few recorded works)
Per Nørgård - Rejse ind i den gyldne skærm (Journey into the Golden Screen)
John Tavener - The Whale (cantata)
David Tudor & Lowell Cross - Reunion

Opera

Ástor Piazzolla - María de Buenos Aires

Musical theater

Cabaret (Kander and Ebb) - London production
Canterbury Tales London production
Dames at Sea Off-Broadway production opened at the Bouwerie Lane Theatre on December 20 and transferred to the Theatre de Lys on April 22, 1969 for a total run of 575 performances.
The Dancing Years (Ivor Novello) - London revival
Darling of the Day (w. E. Y. Harburg m. Jule Styne) Broadway production opened at the George Abbott Theatre on January 27 and ran for 31 performances. Starred Patricia Routledge and Vincent Price
George M! Broadway production
Golden Boy London production
Hair - Broadway and London productions
House of Flowers off-Broadway revival
Lady, Be Good! London revival
Man Of La Mancha London production
Promises, Promises Broadway production
The Happy Time - musical/comedy - 286 performances at the Broadway Theatre featuring Robert Goulet 1968 Tony Award winner for Best Actor in a Musical. Winner 1968 Tony Award Best Musical.