Coming of Age with the Age of
Aquarius
Raise your hand—how many of you
Boomers came of voting age in November
1966? 50 Years Ago this Month we
found it tough to apply politics to the late 1960s’ New Age philosophies and ethereal
Age of Aquarius.
So we turned to music …
In November 1966 we voted The Beach Boys to the top of
the charts with “Good Vibrations,” and spent our evenings exploring pop psychology rather than
politics, to Donovan’s
“Mellow Yellow.”
Radio charts reflected our chaotic minds.
Logging a short stint at KBLA/Los Angeles, pioneering Rock DJ, “Humble Harve” Miller, waxed our ears with
vinyl tunes that ran the gamut from “Winchester Cathedral” (at
#3, New Vaudeville Band) to the anything-but-weepy “96 Tears” (at #7, ?
& the Mysterians).
So, what was your fave November ’66 song?
“Don’t Keep Me Hangin’ On” (at #2, The Supremes)—take a hike down Memory Lane and
let me know the path you took! Post ‘em at Blast From Your Past – Let’s Rock!
Beneath the surface in 1966,
however, the vibrations were anything but mellow. In two short years we would vote in another contentious election. “The presidential election of 1968 was one of the
most chaotic in American history, reflecting a time that was in many ways
equally chaotic,” says John Gardner of PBS.org.
Two assassinations (Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy) and the Vietnam war, colored the field and left us with few
palatable choices. Sigh—is “change” a myth?
Featured Radio Survey: KBLA was a vibrant force for the Los
Angeles Rock scene, November 1966.
Apparently rich and successful, they were even giving away a Rolls Royce! At
least, that’s what their November 14, 1966 “Super 30”survey said ...
Celebrate NOVEMBER 50 Years Ago
… and Rock On!
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