The Year in Rock 1967
The Year in Rock 1967
1967 was a pivotal year for rock music. The Beatles released their groundbreaking album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, which revolutionized the possibilities of studio recording. The album was a commercial and critical success, with its psychedelic sound and ambitious concept of a fictional band. The year also saw the rise of psychedelic rock bands like The Doors, Cream, and Pink Floyd. Jimi Hendrix captivated audiences with his electrifying guitar playing at the Monterey Pop Festival, where he famously set his guitar on fire. Folk-rock continued to grow in popularity with artists like Bob Dylan and Simon & Garfunkel, while soul and R&B music continued to influence rock with James Brown and Aretha Franklin.
The year 1967 saw the emergence of a diverse range of rock music genres, including psychedelic rock, progressive rock, hard rock, and blues rock. Psychedelic rock, characterized by its use of experimental sounds and drug-inspired lyrics, had gained popularity with several notable releases during the year, including The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and The Doors’ self-titled debut. Progressive rock, often featuring intricate musical arrangements and complex song structures, was also gaining popularity with releases such as Pink Floyd’s The Piper at the Gates of Dawn and The Moody Blues’ Days of Future Passed. Hard rock, a heavier and more aggressive style of rock, began to emerge with bands such as Cream and The Jimi Hendrix Experience. Meanwhile, blues rock, combining elements of blues and rock music, continued to be popular with bands such as The Rolling Stones and the formation of Led Zeppelin.
The Beatles reached their creative peak with the release of their album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band”. The album is considered a masterpiece and a turning point in the history of popular music. It was a departure from their previous records, featuring a range of genres and experimental sounds, with lyrics dealing with themes of love, life, and spirituality. The album influenced the music industry, marking the beginning of the psychedelic era and inspiring many other artists. In addition to their album release, The Beatles also made history with their worldwide television broadcast of “All You Need is Love” which was broadcast live to over 400 million viewers as a message of peace and love during the height of the Vietnam War.
Jimi Hendrix’s debut album, “Are You Experienced,” had just been released and he had become one of the most talked-about musicians in the world. Known for his electrifying guitar playing and innovative sound, Hendrix was a trailblazer in the rock music industry. At the Monterey Pop Festival that same year, Hendrix solidified his status as a music icon with his now legendary performance of “Wild Thing,” which culminated in him setting his guitar on fire. He continued to tour extensively, playing to sold-out crowds and pushing the boundaries of music with each performance.
The Doors released their self-titled debut album which would become a landmark in rock history. Led by the hypnotic vocal stylings of Jim Morrison, The Doors defied the pop sounds of the time with their blend of blues, psychedelic rock, and poetry. It included hits like “Light My Fire” and “Break on Through (To the Other Side),” which quickly became anthems for the counterculture movement. The album also included darker tracks like “The End,” which proved to be controversial due to its explicit lyrics. The Doors’ music was also known for its improvisational elements, making each performance unique and unpredictable.
The Moody Blues enjoyed a breakthrough in 1967 with the release of their seminal album “Days of Future Passed”. This album showcased their unique blend of progressive rock and orchestral music. The album featured the London Festival Orchestra and included the hit single “Nights in White Satin” which became a classic of the era. With its use of mellotron and haunting vocals, the album set the tone for the band’s signature sound that was to endure for decades.
Cream was a British rock band formed in 1966 that became one of the most influential and innovative groups of the late 1960s. The members of the band were Eric Clapton, Jack Bruce, and Ginger Baker. Their music was a mixture of rock, blues, and psychedelic sounds. Their live performances were legendary, often featuring extended improvisation and virtuosic soloing. In 1967, Cream released their second album, “Disraeli Gears,” which featured the hit singles “Sunshine of Your Love” and “Strange Brew.” The album showcased the band’s trademark sound, combining Clapton’s electrifying guitar riffs with Bruce’s melodic bass lines and Baker’s explosive drumming.
Simon and Garfunkel contributed to the soundtrack of the 1967 film “The Graduate,” with their iconic song “Mrs. Robinson.” Released on “The Graduate” soundtrack album and their album “Bookends” in 1968, the song became a number one hit in the United States and won a Grammy Award for Record of the Year in 1969, the first rock song to win that award.
The Rolling Stones released their album “Their Satanic Majesties Request”, which was a departure from their usual sound and drew mixed reviews from critics and fans alike.
The band members were also involved in personal endeavors during this time. Mick Jagger starred in the film “Performance”, and Keith Richards was arrested for drug possession, which caused a media frenzy. However, despite these distractions, the band continued to tour and innovate with their music, even incorporating elements of psychedelia into their sound.
Notable albums of 1967 in no particular order or preference!
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band – The Beatles
Are You Experienced – Jimi Hendrix Experience
The Doors – The Doors
Velvet Underground And Nico – The Velvet Underground
Axis: Bold As Love – Jimi Hendrix Experience
Disraeli Gears – Cream
Surrealistic Pillow – Jefferson Airplane
Days Of Future Passed – The Moody Blues
Magical Mystery Tour – The Beatles
Grateful Dead – Grateful Dead
Forever Changes – Love
Piper At The Gates Of Dawn – Pink Floyd
Buffalo Springfield Again – Buffalo Springfield
Strange Days – The Doors
Younger Than Yesterday – The Byrds
The Who Sell Out – The Who
Something Else – The Kinks
Walk Away Renée/Pretty Ballerina – The Left Banke
Moby Grape – Moby Grape
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band – The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
Flowers – Rolling Stones
Mr. Fantasy – Traffic
John Wesley Harding – Bob Dylan
Electric Music For The Mind And Body – Country Joe & The Fish
Bee Gees 1st – Bee Gees
Between The Buttons – Rolling Stones
Procol Harum/A Whiter Shade Of Pale – Procol Harum
After Bathing At Baxter’s – Jefferson Airplane
Safe As Milk – Captain Beefheart and His Magic Band
Absolutely Free – The Mothers of Invention
Smiley Smile – The Beach Boys
Easter Everywhere – 13th Floor Elevators
The Time Has Come – Chambers Brothers
I Feel Like I’m Fixin’ To Die – Country Joe & The Fish
Small Faces/There Are But Four Small Faces – The Small Faces
Goodbye And Hello – Tim Buckley
The Amboy Dukes – The Amboy Dukes
Tangerine Dream – Kaleidoscope
Their Satanic Majesties Request – The Rolling Stones
Headquarters – The Monkees
More Of The Monkees – The Monkees
A Gift from a Flower to a Garden – Donovan
Pisces, Aquarius, Capricorn & Jones Ltd. – The Monkees
No Way Out – The Chocolate Watchband
Underground – The Electric Prunes
Part One – The West Coast Pop Art Experimental Band
A Hard Road – John Mayall and The Bluesbreakers
Butterfly – The Hollies
Evolution – The Hollies
The Electric Prunes/I Had Too Much to Dream (Last Night) – The Electric Prunes
Ten Years After – Ten Years After
We Are Paintermen – The Creation
Canned Heat – Canned Heat
Big Brother & The Holding Company – Big Brother & the Holding Company
Wild Honey – The Beach Boys
Gimme Some Lovin’ – The Spencer Davis Group
Friday On My Mind – The Easybeats
Future – The Seeds
Mellow Yellow – Donovan
Groovin’ – The Rascals
Pandemonium Shadow Show – Nilsson
Winds Of Change – Eric Burdon & the Animals
Vanilla Fudge – Vanilla Fudge
The Great Conspiracy – The Peanut Butter Conspiracy
Incense And Peppermints – Strawberry Alarm Clock
Happy Together – The Turtles
Sock It To Me! – Mitch Ryder & the Detroit Wheels
I Think We’re Alone Now – Tommy James & The Shondells
The Merry-Go-Round – The Merry-Go-Round
