Blog Archives
FlinterFile: The Lemon Pipers- Green Tambourine
The Lemon Pipers had their biggest hit in 1967. Read the rest of this entry
Song of the day: Procol Harum- A Whiter Shade Of Pale
Gary Brooker and Keith Reid formed the group Procol Harum in 1967, the year they released their biggest hit – and instant classic. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Armand- Blommenkinders
Armand had two big hits in 1967, of which this was the second. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: The Four Seasons- Beggin’
Madcon had a hit with this song in 2008, but the original is about 50 years younger. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood- Jackson
Nancy Sinatra and Lee Hazlewood released their duet Jackson in 1967. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: The Flower Pot Men- Let’s Go To San Francisco
This was the first single the Flower Pot Men released. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: The Who- I Can See For Miles
This song was written by Pete Townshend, shortly after he met Karen Astley in 1967. A year later they would get married. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: The Rolling Stones- We Love You
Mick Jagger, Keith Richards and Brian Jones were arrested on 12 February 1967 on drugs charges. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: The Young Rascals- A Girl Like You
The Young Rascals released their last album in 1967, as they went on as the Rascals after this album. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Johnny Rivers- Baby I Need Your Lovin’
This song was written in 1964 by the Motown songwriters Holland-Dozier-Holland. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: The Byrds- So You Want To Be A Rock ‘N’ Roll Star
The Byrds wrote a humerous song about the music industry of 1967. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Paul Revere & The Raiders- I Had A Dream
The Raiders originally started as an instrumental rock band, with Paul Revere as leader. Read the rest of this entry
FlinterFile: Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell- Ain’t No Mountain High Enough
In 1967, Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell hit the charts. Read the rest of this entry
Song of the day: The Small Faces- Itchycoo Park
In 1967, the Small Faces had a hit with their song about skipping school to go to a park. The park really exists, and the story was real: Steve Marriott and Ronnie Lane, the writers of the song, skipped school and got a good feeling of going to Little Ilford Park (which was full of nettles, and in slang, that’s Itchycoo). The good feeling (getting high) was misinterpreted in the sixties, when drugs were quite popular, and therefore, the BBC posed a boycot on the song. However, it was a number 3 hit in the UK, and in the US number 16, which would be the highest position for the Small Faces there. Enjoy
The Small Faces- Itchycoo Park
Song of the day: Five Americans- Western Union
In 1967, the Five Americans had their biggest hit. They started as a band on the university, playing songs of Bo Diddley, and later songs from the Beatles. When playing in a venue, they were heard by the president from a record label, who offered them a deal. They recorded several songs, of which some charted. When the guitarist, Mike Rabon, was playing with his guitar, he invented a new kind of sound, sounding like a telegraph. This inspired them for their biggest hit, which charted on number 5 in the US. Enjoy
The Five Americans- Western Union
Song of the day: The Turtles- Happy Together
In 1967, the Turtles deceived their listeners with the title of their new song. The song is not about two people who are deeply in love, but about two people shortly meeting each other… Alan Gordon, one of the writers, had the text when he was in another group. However, he couldn’t come up with a melody. After a sleepless night, he found the text would fit on some sort of melody the guitar player played to tune his guitar. The result was given to several groups, who all refused. When he recorded a demo with co-writer Gary Bonner and some session musicians, the Turtles were formed. Not without result: it was a number 1 hit in the US and number 12 in the UK. Enjoy
The Turtles- Happy Together
Song of the day: Buffalo Springfield- For What It’s Worth
In 1967, Stephen Stills wrote For What It’s Worth. It was inspired by the time Buffalo Springfield played in Whiskey A Go Go. Situated at the Sunset Strip, the public caused congestions, and therefore people living there wanted a strict time (10 p.m.) as time to close. A lot of people went on the streets, and caused riots there. The song was written about this. It was number 7 in the US. Enjoy
Buffalo Springfield- For What It’s Worth
Song of the day: Arthur Conley- Sweet Soul Music
In 1967, Otis Redding and Arthur Conley wrote a song. They took the intro from the soundtrack of The Magnificent Seven. Furthermore, the song was based on Yeah Man from Sam Cooke. They did not get away with using the melody: the business partner of Sam Cooke got them to put the name of Sam Cooke in the credits and Otis Redding recorded several songs on his label. However, the melodies put together with some mentions of soul legends like Sam & Dave and Wilson Pickett made a song which hit the chart on number 2 in the US. Enjoy
Arthur Conley- Sweet Soul Music
Song of the day: Glen Campbell- By The Time I Get To Phoenix
In 1965, Johnny Rivers released a song that was written by Jimmy Webb. The song was inspired by the breakup of Jimmy Webb with Susan Horton. Earlier, MacArthur Park was written about their happy times together. Two years later, in 1967, Glen Campbell decided to cover it for his album (which has the same name). However, if you wish to follow the song literally, don’t do that! It’s impossible, and as Webb explained: it is some sort of dream. The song would be a hit in the US country chart (number 2) and number 26 in the general chart. Enjoy
Glen Campbell- By The Time I Get To Phoenix
Song of the day: Sam & Dave- Soul Man
In 1967, Isaac Hayes and David Porter wrote the song Soul Man. The song was inspired by the African American Civil Rights Movement, which caused a lot of commotion in the sixties. After a riot in Detroit, the buildings that were not destroyed were marked with the word soul. Hayes and Porter thought of a song in which the struggle to overcome the present situation was the main theme. Sam & Dave recorded it on the Stax label and got a number 2 hit in the US. As usual, Booker T & The MG’s played the music. Enjoy
Sam & Dave- Soul Man
Song of the day: Bee Gees- New York Mining Disaster 1941
In 1967, the Bee Gees released the first single that would chart in the US. The song was written in the Polydor Studio’s, where a power cut took place. When they heard the elevator passing by, they thought of a text where something happens in a mine. It is also said to be inspired by a mining disaster in Wales. England thought it was a new song by the Beatles, but then undercover, and they played it a lot on the radio. This resulted in a number 12 position in the UK. In the US, it was number 14. Enjoy
The Bee Gees- New York Mining Disaster 1941
Song of the day: Jefferson Airplane- White Rabbit
In 1967, Grace Slick wrote a song for the album Surrealistic Pillow. She already wrote the song when she was not yet a member of Jefferson Airplane, but of The Great Society. This band broke up in 1966, Grace Slick joined Jefferson Airplane and brought in two songs: White Rabbit and Somebody To Love. White Rabbit is said to be written whilst hearing the Bolero from Ravell, and there could be something in that statement… Enjoy
Jefferson Airplane- White Rabbit
Song of the day: Canned Heat- On The Road Again
In 1967, Canned Heat recorded the song On The Road Again. It fitted in their style of blues rock, though they put in some psychedelic elements too. They borrowed some things from other blues songs, sung it in falsetto and made it one of their first hits. At first the song was over 7 minutes long, but they shortened it. The song made it to number 8 in the UK and number 16 in the US. Enjoy
Canned Heat- On The Road Again
Song of the day: Rolling Stones- She’s A Rainbow
John Lennon said it in 1971, I thought it when I saw the cover of the single again: this could be an imitation of Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. Lennon went further and said the song She’s A Rainbow was an imitation of All You Need Is Love. Fact is that the song is quite strange. It starts with a piano, which becomes a motif, the Stones sing like children, and it stops with a strange guitar chord. The strings of the song are arranged by John Paul Jones, a later member of Led Zeppelin. It would be a number 25 hit in the US. Enjoy
The Rolling Stones- She’s A Rainbow
Song of the day: The Doors- People Are Strange
I think it’s one of the best bands that existed: the Doors. In 1967 they released their album People Are Strange, and the title song reached number 12 in the US. The song shows how the Doors were fascinated by the European cabaret, and the content of the song is about drug users, the hippie culture or outsiders in general. A great song, enjoy
The Doors- People Are Strange
Song of the day: The Moody Blues- Nights In White Satin
One of the all time sixties classics today, written by Justin Hayward in 1967. He wrote it after he got some satin bedsheets from his girlfriend. The song was recorded by the Moody Blues, and it was featured in three different lengths: the album version of 7 and a half minutes, and two different single edits, one of 3 minutes and one of 4 and a half minutes. That means the song was released twice, and that’s true: the first time, in 1967, it charted number 19 in the UK. The second time, in 1972, made it to number one in the UK and number two in the US. Today we enjoy the album version:
The Moody Blues- Nights In White Satin
Song of the day: Louis Armstrong- What A Wonderful World
Bob Thiele and George David Weiss wrote a song in the sixties which would be very famous, and even better: in the original version! In 1967, Louis Armstrong recorded the song, which would be number 1 in the UK and number 12 in the US. The optimistic song was first given to Tony Benett, who did not want it. He would later record a cover of the song. Louis Armstrong would be the oldest male artist in the charts hitting number one, until Tom Jones did the same with a cover of Islands in the Stream. The song would be a hit again in 1988, when it was used in the movie Good morning, Vietnam. The only mistake is that it is played on the radio here in the year 1965, when the song was not yet recorded! Enjoy
Louis Armstrong- What A Wonderful World
Song of the day: The Monkees- Daydream Believer
Sometimes the names of bands do ring a bell, but you can’t put your finger on which hit they had. That was the case for me with the Monkees. A sixties band, which had some hits, but are mostly forgotten because the Beatles and the Stones were bigger. However, it’s a great band. And to find out from which hit I knew them, I went on the digital speedway. I’m A Believer was not familiar, but this song was. The song was composed by John Stewart, then still a member of the Kingston Trio. On a party he met the producer of the Monkees, who was looking for songs. The song was already turned down twice, but Chip Douglas, the producer, saw a hit in it. The Monkees then took it and recorded it as the first, and went up to the highest position in the Billboard chart: number one! Enjoy
The Monkees- Daydream Believer
Song of the day: Manfred Mann- Ha! Ha! Said The Clown
Today in the History of Music: 1967! And it was only last year or so that I heard this song. Before that, I knew Manfred Mann. He made the great song Blinded By The Light, together with his Earth Band. However, this is much better! Not only is it a strange song (the music), it’s a very good song because of that! Actually, I’ve got no words to describe the song (that’s why I’m writing such junk). Listen for yourself and enjoy:
Manfred Mann- Ha! Ha! Said The Clown
Song of the day: Herman’s Hermits- No Milk Today
In 1967, Herman’s Hermits released their biggest hit. The song was written by the (later) 10CC member Graham Gouldman. He got the idea from his father, who visited a friend and saw a note in the milkbottle: No Milk Today. Explaining why this was the perfect idea for a song (the house is empty, so your love has gone away), Gouldman wrote it. The song was recorded with an orchestra, and became a number 35 hit in the US and number 7 in the UK. Enjoy
Herman’s Hermits with No Milk Today
The FlinterFiles 