Presented for the first time in stereo sound

If you had AM easy listening radio inflicted on you in the 1980s, this song would be familiar to you. John Rowles, born in 1947, must surely be one of New Zealand's most significant musical exports. If I Only Had Time, released in 1968, has poignant and powerful lyrics.

I thought it was daggy when I was a kid. Listening to it again as an adult, I appreciate it more. 

Not so happy anniversary

Today is the 50th anniversary of the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, brutally crushing the Prague Spring. That's what socialism looks like. As if a reminder was needed.

https://www.americanthinker.com/articles/2018/08/eyewitness_to_the_soviet_invasion_of_czechoslovakia.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/20/world/europe/prague-spring-communism.html

Thank you very much

The other day I randomly came across a lifestyle and entertainment website aimed at retired people. One of the articles was about Elvis Presley's 1968 comeback special, which was filmed just over 50 years ago. It relaunched his singing career, after years without chart hits, and appearing in low quality movies. 

I noticed an error in one paragraph. Presley's first single was That's All Right, released in 1954. In this article, it is erroneously titled I'm Alright Mama. 

https://startsat60.com/opinion/blogs/relvis-presley-music-comeback-1968-1969

No room on the ark

The Unicorn by folk group the Irish Rovers was an international top ten hit, and a number 1 hit on Brisbane radio station 4IP's chart in May 1968. A song like this could never be a hit today. Novelty songs are out of fashion, and the combined Biblical and ecological subtext would be too offensive to modern cultural sensibilities. 

https://rateyourmusic.com/list/Badgerdarkness/4ip_official_top_40___31_may_1968___brisbane_qld_australia/

Spectacle

Today is the birthday of Mike Hugg, best known as the drummer in Manfred Mann. Here he is in action on their 1968 hit, My Name is Jack. The song is actually about a dodgy hotel in San Francisco.

Emotional depth

Cast your minds back to 1968. This was the year that Engelbert Humperdinck released his hit, A Man Without Love. The song is about a man expressing heartbreak over an ended romance.

It's a mystery to me where Engelbert found the passion and emotion for his performance. He wasn't drawing on personal experience. He has been married for over fifty years. As well as that, he has also remorsefully admitted to having a string of extramarital relationships.

It can safely be said that unlike the protagonist of the song, he has never been without love.