1968 HITS ARCHIVE: Green Tambourine - Lemon Pipers (a #1 record--mono 45 )

The idea for the Buddah label’s first number-one hit occurred when Brill Building lyricist Shelley Pinz spotted a man on the street holding a tambourine and begging for money.
(debuted late '67) 1968 Pop Chart Peaks: Billboard, Cash Box & Record World #1
The original 45rpm single was issued on Buddah 23 - Green Tambourine (Leka-Pinz) by The Lemon Pipers, produced by Paul Leka
. THE 1968 HITS ARCHIVE - Here in one place, a comprehensive collection of ‘pop’ best-sellers and songs which made an impact that were either released or enjoyed a major chunk of their popularity within the calendar year 1968 (some were recorded in 1967)

[@pgo301]

Great collectable 45 right there!!

[@t40onbass]

One of the most unusual and memorable codas/fade outs ever on a hit single.
This definitely has more of a sonic impact from the mono 45 than the stereo LP.
In fact NONE of the Buddah label hits from the late 60s sound good on their albums.
Once again the magic's all preserved on the old original singles.
It also seems they cut the grooves thick and deep on their master pressing plates. Good move coonsidering the mono kiddie record players that were gonna play them.

[@dewaynebeal7227]

The Lemon Pipers’ Green Tambourine hit number one pop for one week on February 3,1968 ending John Fred and his Playboy Band’s two week run at the top with Judy In Disguise With Glasses. Then the following week,the Lemon Pipers were replaced by Paul Mauriat with his smash instrumental Love Is Blue.

[@janreeves5956]

I remember when this first came out - love it - takes me back to 1968 ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@johnsain]

My favorite year......8 years old then....every kid had a small transistor radio instead of cell phone then...and a few dimes in our pockets to use a phone booth....it was good enough.

[@spoonful1018]

Sister can you spare a dime

[@robertorick6383]

When this song was first offered to The Lemon Pipers by Bob Monaco, Neil Bogart, and Paul Leka, they hated the song. They were a psychedelic hard rock band, and they thought "Tambourine" was too bubblegum pop. Bob Monaco had to set the band straight to tell the band that they were going to be dropped from Buddah Records, since their first record ("Turn Around And Take A Look") was a flop. The band succeeded to do it against their will to stay with the label, but a compromise was made. They were allowed some of their established psychedelic rock on the B-side ("No Help From Me") and on some of the songs on their first album (such as the 8-minute "Through With You"), which was what the band really wanted to perform.

[@木倉谷哲也]

Lyrics:
Drop your silver in my tambourine
Help a poor man build a pretty dream
Give me pennies, I’ll take anything
Now listen while I play
My green tambourine
Watch the jingle jangle start to shine
Reflections of the music that is mine
When you toss a coin, you’ll hear it sing
Now listen while I play
My green tambourine
Drop a dime before I walk away
Any song you want, I’ll gladly play
Money feeds my music machine
Now listen while I play
My green tambourine
Listen and I’ll play

[@jasonnstegall]

Play, play, play, play, play, play, play, play, play, play, play, play, play, play, play, play, play...(music machine, indeed!)

[@eddiecharlie77]

The Ohio Express and 1910 Fruitgum Co. were also part of the Buddah Label

[@miguelcolon221]

Izzy loves cool rock music 🎸 🎶 💘 Enjoy 1968.

[@djdavemick]

Listened to a few versions here on YT--this is IMO the best version--the slightly lower pitch as well as the mono effect.

[@senorxrey6429]

The mono single mix has more punch and balls than the thin, wimpy stereo mix. Also the reverb on the "listen while I playayayayayay" on the single is more subtle than on the album mix. AFAIK the hit mono single mix has never appeared on CD, sourced from the original single master.

[@gretschviking]

100% right!
Have you ever heard this version? Same Lemon Pipers backing track but featuring the vocalist from The Peppermint Rainbow. This interesting alternate appears on the 1969 album “Will You Be Staying After Sunday?”.
m.ua-cam.com/video/QdGw5QBFZNw/v-deo.html

[@timothyortiz2222]

Judy in Disguise (With Glasses) - Single by John Fred & His Playboy Band - Rel Oct 1967 - Label Paula Records - Songwriters - John Fred Gourrier, Andrew Bernard 1967!!!

[@janeleekeller]

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Thank You AP,
JaneLee 🕊️
10/2/20

[@wmbrown6]

UK Peaks: 7 (RR, MM), 9 (NME)

[@lordsatanicus1622]

they never liked the bubblegum sound so they would form Ram Jam and record a harder edged sound

[@yolandajohnson8685]

❤❤❤❤

[@yolandajohnson8685]

YES!!!!!❤

[@lenparis6237]

Black Betty

[@jerickzane]

😀

[@DuaneHanlon]

(Doors Lyric, Trade In Your Hours For A Handfull Of Dimes)