# Best #1 single of the year retrospective: 1968 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 14, 2014, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1968/698478 "2014-09-14T16:08:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1968/698478/1 "2014-09-14T16:08:49Z")
Our survey now brings us to 1968, which in comparison to previous years is downright sleepy - only 16 songs made it to the top of the charts this year. Considering what a boom period rock & roll was going through at the time, there are surprisingly few rock songs at #1 - but we do have an interesting mix of R&B, country, and early funk mixed in with the pop and rock hits of the day. I have a feeling this poll is going to be a slam dunk - but truth be told, I didn’t vote for the song I expect most people to. So, as usual, which song stands out the most for you? Previous polls: [1955-56](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=731649) [1957](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=731871) [1958](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732021) [1959](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732199)[1960](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732526) [1961](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732691) [1962](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732872) [1963](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733112) [1964](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733297) [1965](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733526) [1966](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733750) [1967](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733958)[2012](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=675664) [2013](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=710843) ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1968/698478/2 "2014-09-14T16:28:44Z")
“Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay” was an easy choice for me, with “Mrs. Robinson” coming in second. “Honey” finishes dead-ass last. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1968/698478/3 "2014-09-14T16:49:33Z")
Grapevine and Dock of the Bay are the standouts to me. I suspect Otis will win, but Marvin Gaye’s Grapevine is one of those songs and performances I judge most other music against. On my short list of all-time greats and still gives me chills. ---
**Author:** ![dba\_Fred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c37758/32.png) [@dba\_Fred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dba_Fred)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1968/698478/4 "2014-09-14T16:56:18Z")
Isn’t it _This **Guy’s** In Love With You_ by Herb Alpert? Cuz that’s the way I (badly) sing it. A quick Google show Aretha Franklin did _This **Girl’s** In Love With You_. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1968/698478/5 "2014-09-14T16:57:52Z")
> [@dba\_Fred](#): > > Isn’t it _This **Guy’s** In Love With You_ by Herb Alpert? Cuz that’s the way I (badly) sing it. It is. My bad. In the event that it doesn’t win solely because I mistyped it and everyone got confused, I owe you a Coke. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1968/698478/6 "2014-09-14T16:59:49Z")
> [@WordMan](#): > > Grapevine and Dock of the Bay are the standouts to me. I suspect Otis will win, but Marvin Gaye’s Grapevine is one of those songs and performances I judge most other music against. On my short list of all-time greats and still gives me chills. This, except reversed. 🙂 WTF? I haven’t picked a Beatles song in two years. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1968/698478/7 "2014-09-14T17:04:10Z")
“Heard It Through The Grapevine” in a walk. Yet another outstanding musical arrangement by The Funk Brothers. Unfortunately, “Fire”, by Arthur Brown only made it to #2 in the US (#1 in the UK), or it would have gotten my vote. It was my favorite song and album in Vietnam, with one side of the LP dedicated entirely to the descent into Hell. A very unusual treatment for the time, and the predecessor to groups like Ozzie and Kiss. Brown would do the number wearing a flaming helmet that burned his skull. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1968/698478/8 "2014-09-14T17:06:34Z")
Redding, relatively easily for me, with Grapevine and Mrs. Robinson behind. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1968/698478/9 "2014-09-14T17:11:51Z")
There ought to be a way to give _negative_ votes to the likes of Bobby Goldsbro and Jeanne C. Riley. 😛 I am not, generally, that huge of a Motown fan, but I went for Marvin this time, and Otis would have been my second choice. (By '68, though, most of the really good stuff was on albums, or lower down the singles chart.) ---
**Author:** ![dba\_Fred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c37758/32.png) [@dba\_Fred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dba_Fred)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1968/698478/10 "2014-09-14T17:22:30Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > It is. My bad. In the event that it doesn’t win solely because I mistyped it and everyone got confused, I owe you a Coke. A Coke you say? You think you can bribe me with a Coke? Well I guess you can, since _This Guy’s In Love With You_ got my vote. And with that Coke in hand, [_I’d Like to Teach the World to Sing_](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ib-Qiyklq-Q) (_In Perfect Harmony_). ---
**Author:** ![G0sp3l](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c68b51/32.png) [@G0sp3l](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/G0sp3l)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 7:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1968/698478/11 "2014-09-14T19:19:01Z")
As much as I hate voting against Marvin Gaye, Otis wins this one going away. _Sitting on the Dock of the Bay_ wastining time 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Peanuthead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peanuthead/32/360_2.png) [@Peanuthead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peanuthead)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1968/698478/12 "2014-09-14T19:23:00Z")
There is no way I could vote for anything but Grapevine. Probably the best song since this poll started. But I will admit to a fondness for Green Tambourine. It just makes me feel good. ---
**Author:** ![Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/angel_of_the_lord/32/2949_2.png) [@Angel\_of\_the\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Angel_of_the_Lord)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1968/698478/13 "2014-09-14T19:25:05Z")
Marvin Gaye. All the way. One of the best performances ever. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1968/698478/14 "2014-09-14T19:28:46Z")
Marvin Gaye. No doubt, no hesitation. The #1 jukebox song of all time. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1968/698478/15 "2014-09-14T19:29:59Z")
And here I thought this one was gonna be a slam dunk for Hey Jude, and instead it’s got a measly three votes so far. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1968/698478/16 "2014-09-14T19:41:58Z")
For such an amazing year in Pop/Rock Music, I’m surprised by how lackluster the #1’s seem to me. Even the Beatle tracks were kind of weak (for the Fabs), and I’m going to vote for **Dock Of The Bay**. eta: I’ll be damned. I’m not the only one. ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1968/698478/17 "2014-09-14T19:48:38Z")
_Heard it Through the Grapevine_ with _Sittiin’ on the Dock of the Bay_ following so closely behind that’s it’s really too close to call. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1968/698478/18 "2014-09-14T20:00:40Z")
I have to vote for “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” but “Mrs. Robinson” is a helluva song. 1968 is the first year, I think, when we’re beginning to see that the best music is not wholly represented on the Billboard #1 ranks. This starts becoming apparent in the 1970s - it’s not universally true, but you begin to notice names missing, like Led Zeppelin and CCR - and gets worse. By the 1990s there is about a 75% disconnect between the Billboard #1 hits and the music you actually remember from that year; there are years in the 1990s when there are only eight or nine #1 hits the whole year and you barely remember five of them. ---
**Author:** ![Zeldar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/b77776/32.png) [@Zeldar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeldar)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1968/698478/19 "2014-09-14T20:04:57Z")
Another year for decent music. I liked: Otis Redding - “Sittin’ On the Dock of the Bay” (my vote) The Beatles - “Hey Jude” Hugh Masekela - “Grazing in the Grass” Simon & Garfunkel - “Mrs. Robinson” Archie Bell and the Drells - “Tighten Up” Marvin Gaye - “Heard It Through the Grapevine” ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2014, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1968/698478/20 "2014-09-14T20:42:56Z")
I went with Otis. Not that it means anything, but I guess I’m the only person ever who prefered Gladys Knight and Pips’ version of _Grapevine_ to Marvin’s. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-1-single-of-the-year-retrospective-1968/698478.md?page=2)