After topping the charts with The Easybeats written ‘Step Back’, Johnny Young came back to Australia with song-writing ambitions of his own.
He offered a song to Russell Morris who had just split with the band Somebody’s Image and was starting on a solo career.
Although Russell Morris was not taken by the song, ‘The Real Thing’ then became a creation by his then manager Ian ‘Molly’ Meldrum who spent hours and money to turn the song into a 7-minute production extravaganza.
Although Australian DJ’s had never been asked to play such a long record, with Russell Morris’ personality, singing and performing talents it roared to number one nationally in June, and without any promotional support it charted in the United States.
The follow up was another Johnny Young song ‘The Girl That I Love’, which also went to number one in Australia, making Russell Morris the first Australian artist to have his first two singles reach number one.
On March 1, Jim Morrison — lead singer with The Doors — was arrested in Miami, US, after allegedly exposing himself on stage during a concert at The Dinner Key Auditorium.
After two years of legal proceedings Morrison was sentenced to eight months hard labour. The sentence was still on appeal when he died in Paris, France, in 1971.
From Los Angeles, California, The Doors were signed to Electra Records in 1966 with a line-up of Jim Morrison; Ray Manzarek (keyboards); John Densmore (drums) and Robby Kreiger (guitar).
They had seven top 10 albums in the US: The Doors and Strange Days in 1967; Waiting For The Sun in 1968; The Soft Parade in 1969; Morrison Hotel and Absolutely Live in 1970; and L.A. Woman in 1971.
They had two US single number ones: ‘Light My Fire’ in 1967 and ‘Hello I Love You’ in 1968.
The Doors’ other big hits were ‘Touch Me’ in 1968; and ‘Love Her Madly’ and ‘Riders On The Storm’ in 1971.
They were inducted into the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of fame in 1993.
On March 7, the single ‘Pinball Wizard’ by The Who is released in the United Kingdom. This was taken from the rock opera album Tommy, and it made the top 10 in the US, the UK and Australia.
The New Seekers also had a hit version in the UK and later Elton John took a version into the charts from the Ken Russell movie Tommy. Rod Stewart also made an interesting version with an operatic style chorus.
On March 12, the same day Paul McCartney married Linda Eastman in London, George Harrison and wife Patti had their home in Surrey raided by the drug squad and were charged with possession of cannabis.
In Gibraltar on March 20, John Lennon marries Yoko Ono.
Best Male Singer Australia: Russell Morris
Best Male Singer World: Tom Jones
Best Female Singer Australia: Allison Durban
Best Female Singer World: Lulu
Best Group in Australia: Zoot
Best Group World: The Beatles
1st to 31st: ‘Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da’ / ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’, The Beatles
1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd: ‘Where Do You Go To My Lovely?’, Peter Sarstedt
29th: ‘I Heard It Through The Grapevine’, Marvin Gaye
1st, 8th: ‘Everyday People’, Sly & The Family Stone
15th, 8th, 29th: ‘Dizzy’, Tommy Roe
1. ‘Ob-La-Di Ob-La-Da’ / ‘While My Guitar Gently Weeps’, The Beatles
2. ‘If I Can Dream’ / ‘The Edge of Reality’, Elvis Presley
3. ‘Build Me Up Buttercup’, The Foundations
4. ‘I Started A Joke’, The Bee Gees
5. ‘Star Crossed Lovers’, Neil Sedaka
6. ‘Fox On The Run’, Manfred Mann
7. ‘Crimson And Clover’, Tommy James & The Shondells
8. ‘Adios Amor’, Jose Feliciano
9. ‘Lily The Pink’, The Scaffold
10. ‘Eloise’, Barry Ryan