May, 1969

This was my last full month of high school. In mid-June, I would graduate. I don't remember much specifically of what I was doing that month - most likely I was goofing off and counting the days. I do know that I was looking forward to simply being done with it all. I am sure that I had that typical exuberant youthful mix of cockiness and fear of change.

May was the month of the senior prom, and as was expected of us, Mindy and I dutifully attended. These annual events provided us with the opportunity to stay out extremely late, way beyond our normal curfew, so on that score they were welcome. Following the prom, a bunch us us ended up at a restaurant, and the rest of the evening is a blur, but I'm certain that we stayed out all night - following tradition and ritual. Frankly, deep in my heart I had no interest whatsoever in going, but did as was expected of me. I'd rather have gone bowling.

May likely was the month our high school yearbook was released to us, so I was following the ritual of going around to friends and having them write something clever. My friend Bob wrote "Don't forget our little party after the senior play, you ole boozer." I must admit, I've forgotten. Mindy wrote "I truly agree that this has been my favorite year and you are the reason, truly, honestly, and frankly." Aw, shucks. Dan wrote "Always remember the good times we've had and the times that are yet to come." Yes, indeed. Another Bob: "Anytime you want to drag just look me up." I'll try that in my Honda Civic Hybrid, Bob - should be a race for the ages. Dave wrote "Golf, Speech this year, Saigon next year. I'll meet you there." Luckily, we did not...

George W. Bush is in the midst of flight training at Moody Air Force Base in Valdosta, Georgia as part of his Texas Air National Guard service. If only he had remained there. George never made it to Saigon, either.



Crosby, Stills, & Nash release their first album on May 29. The album quickly established the super group, made up of former members of Buffalo Springfield, The Byrds, and The Hollies, as one of the top bands in the country. Later that year Neil Young joined the band, and CSN became CSNY. A copy of this album was in the 8 Track (I recall it was an Oldsmobile convertible) as my friend Dave and I drove south towards Woodstock in August that year. I have a vivid memory of driving, with the top down on that warm August day, listening to Marrakesh Express.

Neil Young releases his second solo album Everybody Knows This is Nowhere.

Get Back by The Beatles begins a five-week stint at number one on the charts.

British rockers The Who release their landmark rock opera Tommy on May 23. The two-record set features classic Who songs - Pinball Wizard, The Acid Queen, I'm Free, and We're Not Gonna Take It (see me, Feel Me). The album was later ranked #96 on Rolling Stones 500 Best Albums of All-Time, but for me it has always ranked much, much higher. A few years later, my friend Craig and I, in a total pot haze, "filmed" the album in our heads,and over time expanded the idea to unique videos of each song. Our idea at the time was that these films would be shown as movie shorts, but without realizing it, we'd actually invented MTV! Little did we know.

That month produced enough great music to fill a modest library at a classic rock station - this back in the time when there were actually DJs picking music instead of marketing execs.

"We got to get together sooner or later
Because the revolution's here....."

One of the best one hit wonder songs of all time (in my humble opinion) was released in May, 1969 - Something in the Air by Thunderclap Newman.



Of course, there was quite a lot of bad music floating around as well. This period was the peak for the bubblegum music fad. Enough said.



On May 3, Creedence Clearwater Revival releases the single Bad Moon Rising; the B side of the single Lodi. The band was as hot as a band can be in 1969, releasing three albums and scoring hits with Proud Mary, Born on the Bayou, Green River, Down on the Corner, and Fortunate Son.

In South Vietnam, the Battle of Hamburger Hill rages for ten days, resulting in heavy casualties on both sides. The hill, located near the border with Laos, was of little strategic value, but U.S. command ordered it to be assaulted anyway. Infantry soldiers who fought the battle gave it its name, because they "were chewed up like hamburger." The event stirred up great negative public opinion in the U.S., particularly as the hill was quietly abandoned by U.S. forces the next month.

The war produced one of the deadliest months ever for American servicemen - a total of 1,450 die in May, 1969.

The "dirty tricks" and illegal activities of the Nixon administration begin when The New York Times breaks the news of the secret bombing of Cambodia. As a result, Nixon orders FBI wiretaps on the telephones of four journalists, along with 13 government officials to determine the source of news leak.

The film Midnight Cowboy, starring Dustin Hoffman and Jon Voight, is released. It went on to win an Oscar for Best Picture of 1969.

The Boston Celtics defeat the heavily favored Los Angeles Lakers in game 7 of the NBA finals 108-106 to win the 1969 championship.

Born on May 14 - Australian actress Cate Blanchette.

In Rochester, there was one hot band - The Rustix. The band was big at this time and had recently made news as one of the first white bands, along with Rare Earth, to be signed by Motown records. I saw them perform many times around this time and later. I always thought they were great. Sadly, they never quite hit the big time - according to lore the band recorded one last great album that was never released.

Just a few more weeks to go before graduation. Cue the band.