Every Entry Into The Billboard Hot 100 Singles Chart- 1969- Part 69. The three singles featured today all entered the chart on April 26, 1969- “Heather Honey”-Tommy Roe, “I Shall Be Released”- The Box Tops, “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long”-Ike and Tina Turner.

206. “Heather Honey”- Tommy Roe. ABC. Rock-Pop. Written by Tommy Roe. B-Side:”Money Is My Pay.” Tommy Roe from Atlanta, Georgia- had 22 Hot 100 singles from 1962-73- with 11 making the Top 40. He had 2 #1’s 1962’s “Shelia” and later in 1969 “Dizzy.”  “Heather Honey” peaked at #29 and spent 8 weeks on the chart. Grade: B-

207. “I Shall Be Released”- The Box Tops. Mala. Pop. Rock. Written by Bob Dylan. B-Side “I Must Be The Devil.” In their short history The Box Tops had 10 Hot 100 singles with 7 making the Top 40. In 1967 they had a #1 hit with “The Letter.” The band was formed in Memphis in 1966- singer Alex Chilton was only sixteen at the time of “The Letter.” The band disbanded in 1970 and Chilton formed the mighty Big Star. “I Shall Be Released” a Dylan cover peaked at #67 and spent 5 weeks on the chart. A good version but a notch or two below the original or The Band’s version.  Grade: B

208. “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long”- Ike and Tina Turner. Blue Thumb. Soul. Written by Jerry Butler and Otis Redding. B-side:” Grumbling.” Ike and Tina Turner’s turbulent marriage is more famous than the great music they made over the years before they split up. They had 20 Hot 100 hits- with 6 making the Top 40. Their biggest hit was the dynamite remake of Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Proud Mary” #4 1971. Their most brilliant failure on the charts the great great single they made with Phil Spector- “River Deep-Mountain High” which peaked at a disappointing #88. “I’ve Been Loving You Too Long” is a remake of an Otis Redding tune- for Ike and Tina it peaked at #68 and spent 7 weeks on the chart. Grade: B