1967
spun Rock & Roll music on its ear, as the new FM radio stations spun us on our ears. Far out, man.
Sonny and Cher assured us
“The Beat Goes On”
(up to #13 on the KFRC/San Francisco
survey, January 18, 1967), but this year spearheaded the second phase of 1960’s
Rock music battle between love and war, with epic, intricate beats.
Not
just a little influenced by psychedelia, Rock music rose to new
heights—literally and figuratively.
By
the end of the month, West Coast counterculture bands had donated their time
and music to the first San Francisco Hare Krishna fundraising
concert. Historic, not only because of its mind-expanding highs but the
incredible, mind-blowing music.
Headlining
the Avalon Ballroom for the Mantra-Rock Dance
(January 29th) were Psychedelic Rock innovators,
Janis Joplin, Grateful Dead, Moby Grape, and Big Brother and the Holding Company. The event also
featured LSD advocate, Timothy Leary.
Go figure.
Live
music and AM radio’s tunes weren’t much in sync, though, as January radio
surveys still reflected soft love songs, albeit tinged with an edgier
electronic guitar. The Airplane’s
“My Best Friend” hit
#10 on KFRC’s Big 30 (January 28, 1967), but it was just a hint of their more
surrealistic sounds coming up.
Climbing
the chart to truly kick off the Psychedelic Rock year, we find The Electric Prunes at #26,
admitting, “I Had too much to Dream Last Night.” Yeah, baby.
Thanks
to upstart FM stations like KMPX/San
Francisco and KPPX/Los Angeles
(think Tom and Raechel Donahue) along with live performances, the month, ended turning
guitar solos and love ballads into mind-twisting musical experiences.
*And
into the night you'll fade, knowing you lost the game | And just how she got her name of | The Snow Queen … ♪
Welcome
to January 1967! Happy New Year 50 Years Ago this Month!
Featured Radio Survey: This
month I have to go outside the BFYP
vintage survey collection. Darn. Can’t believe I don’t have any January 1967 radio charts. However, one
of my fave research sites is the Airheads Radio Survey Archives ... what I don’t have, they do … and then some! Enjoy
the KFRC/San Francisco Big 30 chart
list for January 28, 1967 here; but
if you love retro Rock & Roll, you must visit their searchable site.
It’s awesome!
Celebrate JANUARY 1967: 50 Years Ago
… Rock On!
* “The Snow Queen” by Roger Nichols
& The Small Circle of Friends, #14,January 28, 1967, KFRC/San
Francisco Big 30.