It was one of those moments in time when people remember where they were when it happened. The Apollo 11 space mission and its historical moon landing were a momentous moment in history for sure. But if people can remember where they were back on July 20, 1969, as Neil Armstrong made those first steps for mankind, do they also recall the music from then too?
Looking at the top three albums and singles in the charts at the time adds a musical perspective to life at that time. There were also a couple of very remarkable links between legendary stars and a soundtrack to the Apollo mission and the landing. Let's take a closer look at the charts first.
Album-wise, between the US and the UK, it’s a little bit dull. There wasn't really anything iconic or significant to mark the moment. Not like the singles charts - more about those songs follows below..
The soundtrack to when man first landed on the Moon
Record turntables were playing a wide range of music in the late 1960s. There was quite a variation in styles too between the US and the UK album charts. The top three albums on the US Billboard Hot 200 at that time were:
- Blood, Sweat & Tears – Blood, Sweat & Tears
- Nashville Skyline – Bob Dylan
- Romeo and Juliet (soundtrack) – Original Soundtrack from the Franco Zeffirelli 1968 movie
Over on the UK album charts, it’s an odd collection which seems out of step with what we tend to think of as 1960s music. It does reflect the very broad tastes of the time, though.
- According to My Heart – Jim Reeves
- Flaming Star – Elvis Presley
- His Orchestra, His Chorus, His Singers, His Sound – Ray Conniff
It’s a different ball game when it comes to the singles charts in both nations. Some quite appropriate songs were featured, and no doubt prolific across the airwaves too. The US Billboard Hot 100 had these three at the top.
- “In the Year 2525” – Zager & Evans
- “Spinning Wheel” – Blood, Sweat & Tears
- “Good Morning Starshine” – Oliver
A futuristic sci-fi song at number one as man reaches the moon. That's quite appropriate indeed. “Good Morning Starshine” from the musical Hair isn’t entirely out of place in space either.
Iconic singles for a moon landing
The UK singles chart had three very iconic tunes to offer listeners as a backdrop to the space race.
- “Something in the Air” – Thunderclap Newman
- “In the Ghetto” – Elvis Presley
- “Honky Tonk Women” – The Rolling Stones
Thunderclap Newman’s number one was a brilliant atmospheric fit while we all watched on. Elvis had made his comeback with a brilliant song, and the Rolling Stones stomped and strutted with another all-time classic to be. They had just pushed the Beatles and “The Ballad of John and Yoko” out of the top three.
It’s not just about the charts, though. They provide a useful snapshot of the time, but music was playing a part in other ways. Two now-legendary artists were very much involved. Music from both was used by the BBC in the UK for broadcasts about Apollo 11 and the landing.
Legends add their music to the historic moments
Firstly, it was the use of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity.” It was rushed out as a single to coincide with the space mission. BBC coverage of the Apollo mission used Bowie’s song in its broadcasts. Although recognising the way he ended it, they held back at one point until the astronauts were safely back on Earth.
Then we have Pink Floyd playing their part. As the astronauts were on their descent to the moon's surface, the BBC had a live set of programming covering events, one of which was nicely titled So What If It’s Just Green Cheese?
Pink Floyd performed a live instrumental jam session of what became known as “Moonhead” on the show. It was five minutes of improvised music later described by David Gilmour as “a nice, atmospheric, spacey, 12-bar blues.” It features on the Floyd’s hefty box set, The Early Years 1965-1972.
That’s quite a diverse range of music around at the time and linked to the mission and landing. Looking back, I started writing this by noting that many people know where they were when the moon landing happened. It’s quite appropriate to end with a variation on that point. David Gilmour knows exactly where he was and what he was playing too!
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