Tarter Source

Okay, it’s the year I graduated from high school and came to the Midwest to attend Bradley and it was the year the Beatles launched Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.

But, whatever your perspective, when you look back at what poured out of those JBL speakers in 1967, it may have to go down as the greatest year for music ever.

The Beatles dominated because of Sgt. Pepper alone but, incredibly, they added more: “All You Need is Love,” “Penny Lane,” “Hello Goodbye,” “Magical Mystery Tour” and “I Am the Walrus.”

The Beatles weren’t the only ones delivering hits that year, however. Chicago’s Buckinghams had an amazing year with “Don’t You Care,” “Mercy, Mercy, Mercy” and “Kind of a Drag” all hitting the charts. Did I forget “Susan?”

Classics released that year include “Respect” by Aretha Franklin, “Heroes and Villains” by the Beach Boys, “For What It’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield, “A Whiter Shade of Pale” by Procol Harum, “Daydream Believer” by the Monkees, “I Can See For Miles” by the Who, “Brown Eyed Girl” by Van Morrison, “White Rabbit” by Jefferson Airplane, “Light My Fire” by the Doors, “Ruby Tuesday” by the Rolling Stones and “Happy Together” by the Turtles.

Since it was the summer of love, Scott McKenzie reminded us to wear flowers in our hair in “San Francisco” with Eric Burdon and the Animals singing about “Monterey,” the big outdoor music festival held in ‘67, while Johnny Rivers referenced the popularity of Sgt. Pepper in “Summer Rain.” The Rascals, meanwhile, brought us “Groovin’.”

It was also a huge year for soul. The Supremes had hits with “Reflections,” “Love is Here” and “The Happening” while Smokey Robinson and the Miracles offered “Second That Emotion.” Sam and Dave gave us “Soul Man” plus there was “Funky Broadway” by Wilson Pickett, “Bernadette” by the Four Tops, “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” by Gladys Knight and the Pips, and let’s not forget “Boogaloo Down Broadway” by the Fantastic Johnny C.

Easy-listening hits that year included “To Sir with Love” by Lulu, “By the Time I Get to Phoenix” by Glen Campbell, “Ode to Billie Joe” by Bobbi Gentry, “Something Stupid” by Frank and Nancy Sinatra, “Kentucky Woman” by Neil Diamond, “Georgy Girl” by the Seekers, “Green, Green Grass of Home” by Tom Jones, “The 59^th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy) by Harpers Bizarre, “Bowling Green” by the Everly Brothers and “California Nights” by Leslie Gore. Sen. Everett Dirksen, Pekin’s own, released “Gallant Men” that year, as well.

There were instrumental hits that year, too: “Blue’s Theme” by Davie Allan & the Arrows, “Casino Royale” by Herb Alpert and Tijuana Brass, “Groovin’” by Booker T and the MGs, and “Soul Man” by Ramsey Lewis.

All told, it was an amazing time. It was the year I was introduced to the Big 89, Chicago’s WLS radio at the very height of Top 40. I can hear the station ID followed by “Everlasting Love” by Robert Knight now.