1968: November

5:29 PM GMT 21/02/2008

1 – George Harrison’s Wonderwall Music, the soundtrack to Joe Massot’s movie, is released. On the same day, Van Morrison reveals his masterpiece, Astral Weeks.

5 - Election day in the US. Republican candidate Richard Nixon wins the final race, taking 43.4 percent of the total vote.

6 – The Monkees’ first motion picture Head, premieres in New York. The 86-minute film is a commercial flop and won’t be shown in the UK until March 1977.

8 - John and Cynthia Lennon’s decree nisi is granted. Having wanted to avoid lengthy court proceedings, Cynthia walks away with a fairly meagre £100,000. She is also awarded £2,400 a year, custody of their son Julian and Kenwood – the pair's Weybridge home.

9 – NME reports that The Beatles are to play a three-night residency at the Roundhouse in December. The story turns out to be false. However, later that night Led Zeppelin play their first London show at the venue.

10 – At the end of Jefferson Airplane’s performance on The Smothers Brothers TV show, the band’s outspoken singer, Grace Slick, raises her fist in support of the Black Power movement.

15 - 500,000 march through Washington D.C in what will become the largest anti-war rally in American history. In attendance: Arlo Guthrie, Pete Seeger, Peter, Paul and Mary, John Denver, Mitch Miller and the touring cast of Hair.

18 - Diana Ross pleads for an end to racial tensions at the Royal Command Performance in London.

18 – Cream play their final gig at London’s Royal Albert Hall. It is filmed and later released as Farewell Concert. Support comes from Taste and Yes. Jack Bruce, Ginger Baker and Eric Clapton will not play together again for another 25 years.

22 - The Beatles is released. It is the Fabs’ ninth studio album and their first double LP. The plain white cover is “designed” by UK artist Richard Hamilton. Meanwhile, in the hills above Los Angeles, a 34-year old Beatles obsessive named Charles Milles Manson, is played the album for the first time. He will soon begin to hear apocalyptic messages hidden within the music.

22 - The Kinks Are The Village Green Preservation Society is released. What a week.

27 – John Lennon pleads guilty to possessing cannabis at Ringo Starr’s flat in Montagu Square. He is fined £150.

29 – Two Virgins is released on the Apple label. The cover, depicting John and Yoko standing naked in one of the rooms a 34 Montagu Square, causes immediate controversy, with shipments being confiscated in both the UK and US. On seeing the sleeve for the first time, fellow Beatle, Ringo Starr remarks: “I see you’ve got The Times in there”. The record is mauled by the press and fails to chart in the UK.

30 – Jean Luc Godard releases his latest film, One Plus One. The movie features scenes of The Rolling Stones in the studio working on the opening track of Beggars Banquet.

...DECEMBER

Posted by Ross_Bennett at 5:29 PM GMT 21/02/2008

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