#1 at KRIZ/Phoenix: “Words” and “Pleasant Valley Sunday,” another two-sided hit by the Monkees. The Pre-Fab Four again hold off the Fab Four, as the Beatles’ double-sided single “All You Need Is Love” and “Baby You’re A Rich Man” remains at #2.
Leaping from #14 to #4 on its way to #1 is Bobbie Gentry’s enigmatic “Ode To Billie Joe.” Also taking a big jump is Eric Burdon & The Animals’ “San Franciscan Nights” (#17 to #5).
Moby Grape’s first and biggest hit “Omaha” (“listen my friends”) moves up to #6. At #9 is “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison, later to become one of the most (over)played songs on oldies radio.
Vanilla Fudge jumps from #21 to #13 with “You Keep Me Hangin’ On,” a psychedelic cover of the Supremes’ 1966 hit, while the Supremes themselves zoom from #39 to #27 with “Reflections,” their own attempt at being psychedelic. Aretha Franklin, who died last week, climbs to #19 with “Baby, I Love You.”
The Beach Boys are at #12, up from #20, with “Heroes And Villains,” a track originally recorded for their “lost” album Smile, which didn’t get released until 2011. The Bee Gees climb 10 spots to #23 with their second hit, “To Love Somebody.” Also up 10 is “Fakin’ It” by Simon & Garfunkel (#24) — “Good morning Mr. Leach, have you had a busy day?”
Three duos with local ties are on this week’s chart:
- Ex-Phoenix DJ and producer Lee Hazlewood teams with Nancy Sinatra for “Jackson,” the B-side of her James Bond theme song “You Only Live Twice” (#25);
- Phoenix Christian High School grad Bobby Hart and his singing-songwriting partner Tommy Boyce are at #32 with “Out And About” – they also wrote this week’s #1 song “Words”;
- Local stars Floyd & Jerry drop to # 37 with “Love Me Girl.” [Unfortunately, the song is not posted on the web.]