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