Rewind 1967: The Albums

Looking back forty years ago to the year 1967, I expect there to be some anniversaries celebrated as we move forward into the new year. I'm going to acknowledge these milestones, because they're more than just rock and roll history; these are pivotial points in time that shaped the direction of music.

We've mentioned the Monterey Pop Festival already. So what else happened in '67? Well, it was the "Summer of Love," where thousands flocked to the Haight-Ashbury district of San Francisco. The hippie counterculture movement became mainstream news, along with the anti-war protests over Vietnam.

The Beatles took us down Penny Lane on a Magical Mystery Tour, and introduced Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.

The album Smiley Smile by the Beach Boys was also released in 1967, and featured the hit single "Good Vibrations."

John, Paul, George and Ringo sang "All You Need Is Love" live to a worldwide audience via satellite. This live broadcast also featured George Martin on piano, Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Marianne Faithful, Keith Moon, Eric Clapton, Pattie Harrison, Jane Asher, Mike McCartney, and Graham Nash.

Cream released their second album, the psychedelic Disraeli Gears, produced by Felix Pappalardi with engineer Tom Dowd.
Eric Clapton introduced the wah-wah pedal on "Tales Of Brave Ulysses." His screaming fuzz tone guitar solos on "SWLABR" made it one of my favorites that year in 1967. The title stood for "She Walks Like A Bearded Rainbow. Pappalardi even contributed to the writing, as on "Strange Brew," and "Sunshine of Your Love" became an anthem for a rock and roll generation, as well as a signature song for Cream.

Other significant events that year:
-Elvis married Priscilla in Las Vegas
-Linda Ronstadt's first single "Different Drum," with the band The Stone Poneys
-The Doors defy CBS censors on The Ed Sullivan Show when Jim Morrison included the word "higher" during their song "Light My Fire"
-Fairport Convention played their first gig in London
-The musical Hair premieres off Broadway
-Beatles manager Brian Epstein, Otis Redding and Woody Guthrie died

Are You Experienced is released by The Jimi Hendrix Experience, and becomes one of the biggest debut albums in rock history. The band became a huge hit in the UK and Europe that year, but it was their show-stopping performance at Monterey that forced their American label to release the album, although months later. "Manic Depression, Red House, Fire, Third Stone From the Sun, Stone Free, and The Wind Cries Mary" are among my favorites.

Surrealistic Pillow by Jefferson Airplane was my first psychedelic rock album, with the hit songs "White Rabbit" and "Somebody to Love." But every song on this album is great. The Airplane was another band whose career was kick started at Monterey.

Another huge debut album was released by Englishmen Pink Floyd, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn. Mostly written by guitarist Syd Barrett, it was unprecedented in it's sonic diversity.

Posted by Mike