Day One: Original Song, 1969

So we begin our journey through the Oscar-nominated films of 1969.

It's not often that one of the biggest wins of the night goes to Best Original Song, but here we are. Like "Moon River" eight years earlier, "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" was an immediate phenomenon, the #4 song of 1970, and apparently, an automatic addition to the American Songbook, with at least thirteen cover versions from all over the world released within a year of the initial B.J. Thomas recording. I even remember the first time I heard it: middle school, listening to South Florida's oldies radio, Majic 102.7, hosted by the Tall Italian himself, Tom Caminiti. You've heard it, your parents have heard it, everyone knows it. It helps that it came from the number one film of the year.

The rest of the field were all future standards. My sister used to play "Jean" on the piano; Lea Salonga performs "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?" as part of a Legrand-Bergman medley in her recent concert album The Story of My Life: Live from Manila; "True Grit" was as tied to Glen Campbell's legacy as "Wichita Lineman". It's a lineup of genuine hits and legends - let's take a listen.

"Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" from Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

music by Burt Bacharach

lyrics by Hal David

****

This song really is quite terrific, even if it is jarring when it comes up in the film.

"What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?" from The Happy Ending

music by Michel Legrand

lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman

*

Composed for ultimate haunting effect. Weirdly dull.

"Jean" from The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie

music and lyrics by Rod McKuen

***** / disqualified by me

A great song, a favorite of mine; I've never actually heard it within the movie. The tune yes, the lyrics no. Does that count? How'd it qualify?

"Come Saturday Morning" from The Sterile Cuckoo

music by Fred Karlin

lyrics by Dory Previn

****

A beautiful song complementing the bittersweet dreaminess of first love depicted in its film.

"True Grit" from True Grit

music by Elmer Bernstein

lyrics by Don Black

***

A fitting title tune, exactly what it needs to be.

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The catchy "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" won the Oscar:

A huge hit at the time, even a Grammy nominee for Song of the Year (it lost to "Games People Play"). I can't get over how jarring it is in context, though, so my vote goes to:

KARLIN / PREVIN

for

"COME SATURDAY MORNING"

from

THE STERILE CUCKOO

Tomorrow - the Best Actor race, starring Richard Burton (Anne of the Thousand Days), Dustin Hoffman (Midnight Cowboy), Peter O'Toole (Goodbye, Mr. Chips), Jon Voight (Midnight Cowboy) and

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