#1 at KRUX/Phoenix: “I’m A Believer” and the flip side, “(I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone” by the mighty Monkees. It will be the #1 record of 1967 on KRUX’s year-end survey.
Lots of great records in this week’s chart. Among the biggest climbers:
- the Rolling Stones’ tender “Ruby Tuesday” (#10 to #3), and next week’s #1;
- the Left Banke’s haunting “Pretty Ballerina” (#18 to #11), a prime example of “baroque rock”;
- Buffalo Springfield’s future classic “For What It’s Worth” (#22 to #12), featuring Stephen Stills and Neil Young;
- the Supremes’ lovesick “Love Is Here And Now You’re Gone” (#25 to #14).
Other cool songs, just within the top 10, include:
- “98.6” (#4) by a Philadelphian known simply as Keith;
- “Tell It Like It Is” (#5), Aaron Neville’s soulful classic, later a hit for Heart;
- “Full Measure” (#6) by the Lovin’ Spoonful featuring a rare lead vocal by drummer Joe Butler, and the flip side, “Nashville Cats”;
- “But It’s Alright” (#8), a great one-hit wonder by J.J. Jackson.
The Byrds climb to #27 with “So You Want To Be A Rock ‘n’ Roll Star,” a relatively minor hit in 1967 that would have a long life in later years on classic rock radio. The sarcastic lyrics are said to have been inspired by the successful manufacture of the “pre-fab four” (aka the Monkees). The song features David Crosby on guitar and a trumpet solo by Hugh Masekela, who would appear alongside rock acts at the legendary Monterrey Pop Festival a few months later.
This week’s debuts are:
- Sonny & Cher’s timeless “The Beat Goes On” (#23);
- Donovan’s trippy “Epistle To Dippy” (#24) with future Led Zepper Jimmy Page on electric guitar;
- “Kind of A Drag” (#25), first hit by the Buckinghams and a future #1 song;
- “I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night” (#26) by the psychedelic Electric Prunes;
- “Gimme Some Lovin’” (#28) by the Spencer Davis Group, featuring amazing vocals by 16-year-old Steve Winwood;
- Johnny Rivers’ cover of the Four Tops’ 1964 hit “Baby I Need Your Lovin’” (#29);
- “Go Where You Want To Go” (#30), the first of many hits for the Fifth Dimension. This one was written by John Phillips and originally released by his group, The Mamas & The Papas, who themselves are at #10 with “Words Of Love.”