1968 was a year of flux in the pop music scene. Soul music failed to extend its influence on the music as a whole, country music contributed some new ideas, but did not achieve acceptance as a form in itself, and English blues bands were again very popular. As the year closed, no one style dominated the scene.“Sitting On the Dock of the Bay” was probably the best selling soul record of the year, and, in my view, the best artistically as well.Aretha Franklin began the year with her best album to date,'' Lady Soul''. Marvin Gaye’s “Heard It Through the Grapevine” is superb.Soul music will continue to exert a major influence on all music in 1969.The big news from England for most of the year was Hendrix and the Cream.British rock and roll this year was dominated by blues bands. On record, the Stones and Beatles again proved their power in the rock hierarchy. The Stones have now released 12 albums, the Beatles considerably more.See Comments for tracklist
