Songs from the Summer of Love: My Top 67 from the summer of ’67

by JAY LUSTIG

Dead Dog’s Eye will play songs from the Summer of Love at Tierney’s Tavern, June 16, in a benefit for NJArts.net.

I was 6 years old in 1967, so I don’t really remember the music of that time first-hand. But over the years, as I’ve listened to music from all eras, I’ve come to the conclusion — and I’m sure I’m not alone here — that 1967 was the greatest year for rock and pop, ever.

That’s why I’m particularly pleased that the band Dead Dog’s Eye chose — without me even suggesting it — “Songs From the Summer of Love” as the theme for the benefit for NJArts.net they will present at Tierney’s Tavern in Montclair, June 16. For information, visit the event’s Facebook page.

The band, which is affiliated with the charitable 100th Monkey Foundation, will play The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (released on June 1, 1967) in its entirety, as well as other songs. They will also play some of the Summer of Love material at the fourth annual Tierney’s Tavern Music Festival, taking place June 3.

I don’t know what they are planning to play, beyond the Sgt. Pepper material. But just to give you an idea of how phenomenal popular music was in the Summer of ’67, below is a list for my own personal Top 67 for that summer. Below the embedded YouTube video is an embedded Spotify playlist (minus two songs that weren’t available on Spotify).

(Note: I only considered songs that were in the Top 100 at some point from June 24 to Sept. 23, 1967, using the lists on billboard.com as a reference. And, just in case you were wondering … there are no songs from Sgt. Pepper on the list because no songs from the album were released as singles.)

I can honestly say, I never had such a good time putting a post together as I did with this one. Such great music, and all on the charts in the same three-month span!

1. “Purple Haze,” The Jimi Hendrix Experience

2. “Light My Fire,” The Doors

3. “(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher,” Jackie Wilson

4. “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” Frankie Valli

5. “Ain’t No Mountain High Enough,” Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell

6. “Brown Eyed Girl,” Van Morrison

7. “All You Need Is Love,” The Beatles

8. “Respect,” Aretha Franklin

9. “All I Need,” The Temptations

10. “The Letter,” The Box Tops

11. “Somebody to Love,” Jefferson Airplane

12. “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” Procol Harum

13. “Heroes and Villains,” The Beach Boys

14. “To Sir With Love,” Lulu

15. “Groovin’,” The Young Rascals

16. “White Rabbit,” Jefferson Airplane

17. “I Was Made to Love Her,” Stevie Wonder

18. “Ode to Billie Joe,” Bobbie Gentry

19. “How Can I Be Sure,” The Young Rascals

20. “Let’s Live for Today,” The Grass Roots

21. “Little Bit o’ Soul,” The Music Explosion

22. “Cold Sweat,” James Brown

23. “Expressway to Your Heart,” The Soul Survivors

24. “Bluebird,” Buffalo Springfield

25. “Here Comes My Baby,” The Tremeloes

26. “Get Together,” The Youngbloods

27. “Soul Man,” Sam and Dave

28. “Have You Seen Her Face,” The Byrds

29. “She’d Rather Be With Me,” The Turtles

30. “Shake” (live), Otis Redding

31. “Gentle on My Mind,” Glen Campbell

32. “Thank the Lord for the Night Time,” Neil Diamond

33. “Pleasant Valley Sunday,” The Monkees

34. “Omaha,” Moby Grape

35. “Knock on Wood,” Otis Redding and Carla Thomas

36. “You Keep Me Hangin’ On,” Vanilla Fudge

37. “Sunday Will Never Be the Same,” Spanky and Our Gang

38. “There Is a Mountain,” Donovan

39. “Society’s Child,” Janis Ian

40. “To Love Somebody,” The Bee Gees

41. “Fakin’ It,” Simon and Garfunkel

42. “Funky Broadway,” Wilson Pickett

43. “The Look of Love,” Dusty Springfield

44. “Creeque Alley,” The Mamas and the Papas

45. “Baby I Love You,” Aretha Franklin

46. “Soul Finger,” Bar-Kays

47. “Lady Friend,” The Byrds

48. “Pictures of Lily,” The Who

49. “Soothe Me,” Sam and Dave

50. “San Francisco (Be Sure to Wear Colors in Your Hair),” Scott McKenzie

51. “People Are Strange,” The Doors

52. “Dandelion,” The Rolling Stones

53. “Never My Love,” The Association

54. “Here We Go Again,” Ray Charles

55. “Windy,” The Association

56. “(I Wanna) Testify,” The Parliaments

57. “More Love,” Smokey Robinson and the Miracles

58. “New York Mining Disaster 1941,” The Bee Gees

59. “Reflections,” Diana Ross and the Supremes

60. “Sixteen Tons,” Tom Jones

61. “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy,” Brenda Holloway

62. “Alfie,” Dionne Warwick

63. “Carrie Anne,” The Hollies

64. “I’ll Turn to Stone,” The Four Tops

65. “Mr. Pleasant,” The Kinks

66. “Gettin’ Together,” Tommy James and the Shondells

67. “Love Bug Leave My Heart Alone,” Martha and the Vandellas

We need your help!

CONTRIBUTE TO NJARTS.NET

Since launching in September 2014, NJArts.net, a 501(c)(3) organization, has become one of the most important media outlets for the Garden State arts scene. And it has always offered its content without a subscription fee, or a paywall. Its continued existence depends on support from members of that scene, and the state’s arts lovers. Please consider making a contribution of any amount to NJArts.net via PayPal, or by sending a check made out to NJArts.net to 11 Skytop Terrace, Montclair, NJ 07043.

$

Custom Amount

Personal Info

Donation Total: $20.00

Explore more articles:

1 comment

David May 24, 2017 - 10:18 pm

I remember that summer well! It should be a great performance–so sorry we will be away and miss it!

Reply

Leave a Comment

Sign up for our Newsletter