#1 at KRUX/Phoenix: “Yellow Submarine” backed with “Eleanor Rigby” by the Beatles, rocketing up from #17 last week. The two-sided hit is culled from the Revolver LP, often cited as the best album of all time. Critics have said each of Revolver’s songs expanded the boundaries of what popular music could be. In this case, “Submarine” was a playful children’s song (or a psychedelic fantasy) sung by Ringo and loaded with sound effects, while “Rigby” had a classical music vibe with sad mysterious lyrics — all very experimental for top 40 radio at the time. Both videos are from the Yellow Submarine animated movie that was released two years later.
The Beach Boys climb three to #4 with “God Only Know,” a song Paul McCartney often says is one of the best pop songs ever written. It’s been recorded by dozens of artists over the years and has been featured in many films and TV shows, most recently 2019’s Toy Story 4. The song is one of many classics from Pet Sounds — frequently a rival to Revolver on all-time best rock album lists.
Holding at #3 is “What Am I Doing Here With You” by P-Nut Butter, a local group that included KRUX part-timer Phil Motta, who soon would become the legendary night-time personality at rival KRIZ. Another Phoenix act, Floyd & Jerry, edges up to #5 with “Summer Kisses.” Imagine . . . locally owned radio stations that play local hits by local artists. How things have changed.
So many great records on this chart. Among them:
- Donovan’s “Sunshine Superman” drops from #5 to #8. Musicians on this track include future Led Zeppers Jimmy Page (guitar) and John Paul Jones (bass).
- The Rolling Stones’ commentary about prescription tranquilizers, “Mother’s Little Helper,” moves up from #12 to #6 and features a Beatles-inspired sitar-sounding guitar.
- Paul Revere & The Raiders’ “Hungry” tumbles to #14 — their third hit in a row following the quasi-gritty “Just Like Me” and the anti-drug song “Kicks.”
- The Kinks’ whimsical summertime anthem “Sunny Afternoon” jumps from #23 to #16.
- The Lovin’ Spoonful fall to #18 with another seasonal classic, “Summer In The City.”
- Simon & Garfunkel climb to #20 with one of their early poetic works, the ever-so-earnest “The Dangling Conversation.”
- “The Kids Are Alright” from the Who’s first U.S. album, The Who Sings My Generation, debuts at #26.
And among the Hitbounds is “Guantanamera” by the Sandpipers. Non-Spanish-speaking kids used to sing the chorus as “One-ton tomato, I eat a one-ton tomato…”