1967: The Year In Music

1967 – The first human heart transplant was performed in South Africa. The first global satellite TV program, “Our World”, featured 19 acts representing 19 nations – including The Beatles singing “All You Need Is Love”. Speaking of the fab four, the “Summer of Love” saw one of their albums reach number one for 22 weeks in the UK. All in all, it was a year of innovation!

I’ll be looking at the popular and highest-rated songs / albums of the year, giving my opinions on their musicality and longevity as well as an overall verdict for the year as a whole.

Before we begin, you can check out some of my related blog posts below:

Billboard Top 10 (Popular) Singles

Source: Wikipedia

10 – Can’t Take My Eyes Off You (Frankie Valli)

I’ve always loved Valli’s soft vocals in “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You”, and that chorus is hella catchy.

9 – Groovin’ (The Young Rascals)

I hadn’t heard of “Groovin'” before making this list, but I love how laid-back and chill it is!

8 – Happy Together (The Turtles)

“Happy Together”, on the other hand, is a song I’ve heard a hundred times by this point.

It might be a little overplayed, but I really like its bounciness and fanciful chorus.

7 – Somethin’ Stupid (Frank & Nancy Sinatra)

I know “Somethin’ Stupid” more for its multiple uses in Better Call Saul these days, but even before that show this was a song I liked a lot.

Both Frank and Nancy Sinatra give lovely performances, and I love the romantic instrumentation.

6 – Light My Fire (The Doors)

We’ve finally reached one of my favourite artists of the 60’s – The Doors!

Morrison’s vocal delivery is always amazing, and “Light My Fire” introduced the world to The Doors’ signature electric keyboard.

5 – I’m a Believer (The Monkees)

It took a little while, but we’ve finally reached The Monkees’ best song.

“I’m a Believer” is pure, unadulterated fun in music form, with a chorus that people still recognise decades later.

4 – Windy (The Association)

The Association are quickly becoming the unsung heroes of the 60’s.

“Windy” has some really fun guitar, drum and vocal parts, and the bridge is great too.

3 – Ode to Billie Joe (Bobbie Gentry)

“Ode to Billie Joe” is more stripped-back than the other hits in this list, but I love Gentry’s lyrics and vocal delivery.

2 – The Letter (The Box Tops)

The raspy vocals are what make “The Letter” so unique in this top ten.

I love how the song builds with more instruments as it goes on, with a solid chorus to tie it all together.

1 – To Sir With Love (Lulu)

The main theme for the movie of the same name, “To Sir With Love” is a bit too cheesy for my liking.

In fact, it might be the first time the biggest hit of the year has ended up as my least favourite – but that’s mainly due to the quality of the other nine tracks.

FAVOURITE – “Light My Fire” (The Doors)

LEAST FAVOURITE – “To Sir With Love” (Lulu)

Top-Rated Songs

Source: http://www.besteveralbums.com

10 – Good Vibrations (The Beach Boys)

When you have a song as awesome as “Good Vibrations” at only tenth place, you know the list must be incredible.

The production is stellar, and I really like the low vocal hook on the choruses. The slow bridge may seem off-putting at first, but it works for reasons I can’t explain.

9 – The End (The Doors)

The Doors had one of the best debut albums in music history, and they also had one of the best album closers too.

“The End” is a twelve-minute epic that plods along nicely and devolves into absolute chaos.

8 – Light My Fire (The Doors)

It was my favourite hit song, so you can be damn sure I have high praise for “Light My Fire”.

That electric keyboard sound is so iconic, and it’s the catchiest chorus on the album.

7 – Alone Again Or (Love)

One of the most underrated 60’s songs, “Alone Again Or” keeps wowing me the more I listen to it.

The song structure is unusual but masterful, and the instrumental breaks are so much fun.

6 – Waterloo Sunset (The Kinks)

It might not necessarily be the most famous Kinks track, but “Waterloo Sunset” could very well be my favourite.

The central riff is superb, and some of the vocal harmonies are divine. We’re only halfway through this top ten and we’ve already put all the previous years in music to shame!

5 – Little Wing (The Jimi Hendrix Experience)

Jimi Hendrix’s second album wasn’t quite as explosive as his debut, but the song “Little Wing” could rival some of his best singles up until that point.

I love the ethereal vocals and production, and the guitar solo is fantastic. I only wish the song was longer.

4 – Sunday Morning (The Velvet Underground & Nico)

“Sunday Morning” is one of the most popular Velvet Underground songs for a reason – it’s a much calmer, dare I say “nicer” sounding track than a lot of their others, and the xylophone is a lovely addition.

3 – Heroin (The Velvet Underground & Nico)

The Velvet Underground & Nico really pushed boundaries with their 1967 album of the same name, and “Heroin” is definitely one of the highlights.

It’s never been a personal favourite per se, but the sudden rushes into the choruses are a brilliant bit of musical storytelling.

2 – Strawberry Fields Forever (The Beatles)

“Strawberry Fields Forever” will always have a special place in my heart for how it reintroduced me to the Beatles – I’d heard old hits on the radio as a kid, of course, but it was only after my teenage ears listened to this track that I finally understood the hype.

It has one of Lennon’s great lyrics that stitches together memories of his youth, and the production across the whole track is absolutely outstanding.

1 – A Day In The Life (The Beatles)

I always have a tough time picking my favourite Beatles song from either “Something”, “Strawberry Fields Forever” or “A Day In The Life”, so the fact two of those three were in the same year is quite something.

For now I’ll give the edge to “A Day In The Life”, one of the most awe-inspiring tracks I’ve ever heard. Both Lennon’s verses and McCartney’s bridge are fantastic, the avant-garde instrumentation is breath-taking, and it’s one of the most definitive album closers you’ll ever experience.

BEST SONG OF 1967 – “A Day In The Life” (The Beatles)

My god, what a selection of tracks! Every song here is an all-timer, so picking a “Best Song” was almost impossible.

Top-Rated Albums

Source: http://www.besteveralbums.com

5 – Magical Mystery Tour (The Beatles)

It’s nowhere near the best album The Beatles released in 1967, but “Magical Mystery Tour” would still be 95% of artists’ best work.

It contains some of the greatest songs of all time, like “Strawberry Fields Forever” and “Penny Lane”, but the whole package is a little random for it to be a true all-timer.

4 – The Doors (The Doors)

As debut albums go, you’re not going to hear much better than “The Doors”.

“Break on Through (To the Other Side)”, “Soul Kitchen”, “The Crystal Ship”, “Light My Fire”, “The End” … That’s an unbelievable tracklist for a first attempt, and The Doors only went from strength to strength across their brief career.

3 – Are You Experienced (The Jimi Hendrix Experience)

I said you’re not going to hear much better than “The Doors”, but that’s only because “Are You Experienced” slightly edges it as a debut album in my mind.

Jimi Hendrix has already mastered the guitar by this point, and tracks like “Purple Haze” and “Hey Joe” are remembered as early rock bangers.

2 – The Velvet Underground & Nico (The Velvet Underground & Nico)

Yet another incredible debut album – 1967 was when people finally realised the true potential of commercialised music!

The Velvet Underground might be a bit rough-around-the-edges for my personal tastes, but their experimentation and sonic risks are commendable.

1 – Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (The Beatles)

Despite the musical innovation happening around them, The Beatles still managed to put other artists to shame with “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”.

It’s one of the first concept albums ever, with a tracklist that grows stronger the more you listen to it. Any album with “Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds”, “With A Little Help From My Friends” and “A Day In The Life” was going to be an all-timer regardless of the other tracks!

BEST ALBUM OF 1967 – “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” (The Beatles)

The Beatles have won the “Best Album” award for three years in a row – all three competitions have been close, but it just goes to show The Beatles’ dominance in the era.

Final Thoughts

1967’s popular hits were great, but the highest-rated songs and albums were incredible. This was the best year yet by a wide margin – I’m excited to see where music goes from here!

Overall Grade: A

Aaaaand that’s my list! You can check out some of my latest blog posts below: