Saturday, July 1, 2017

50 Years Ago this Month – July 1967


BFYP Breaking News! Notes and quotes on the June 29 Jay & The Americans show! They're Keepin’ the Music A-live.

Always news: BFYP Rock and Roll Radio DJs: Books 1 (1950s) and 2 (1960s) ready at Amazon to walk you down Memory Lane, to the Golden Age of Rock & Roll Radio! Enjoy the moment ... again.

Emulated, but Never Duplicated

July—every year since 1776 we’ve begun the month with a bang! In radio, the big bang also pays tribute to the death of Wolfman Jack, July 1, 1995. He was the self-proclaimed “Original Rock & Roll Animal.”

I prefer celebrating births rather than deaths, and though we certainly honor the Wolfman, to this day oft-imitated, and July is of course, a celebration of the US Declaration of Independence’s final approval, let’s light the fireworks for a couple other reasons. We're here to celebrate 50 Years Ago this Month - July 1967 ...

In music and radio, July ’67 was the middle month in the Summer of Love. The radio charts were scattered with love songs amongst grooves of Psychedelic Rock, which gained ground in part, through popularity with returning Vietnam soldiers.  

Music was essential to many soldiers, and Psychedelic Rock embodied their extreme mix of swirling emotions.

Still in the clutches of the war, 50 years ago we endured the most devastating single-day loss this month, by the Marines, in Operation Buffalo.

And The Beatles’ song, “All We Need is Love,” became even more poignant at the top of the radio charts. A “love song” for sure, but considered one of their most political tunes. (The boys even wore flowers in their hair for the Our World global premiere of the song, June 25, 1967.)

Listeners at KACY/Santa Barbara applauded their local DJ, Steve Sands (Sandoval) on the cover of the July 28th survey, as he soon enlisted in the US Army. At the same time, KACY fans boosted “All You Need is Love” to #10 (up from #14 previous week), stabilizing it at #3 in the next couple of weeks.
Where did the iconic Beatles song land on the charts in your neck of the woods? Don’t recall? Bop on over to The Airheads Radio Survey Archive, enter a radio station or city, and enjoy a leisurely stroll down Memory Lane!

Would you rather listen to than view memories of the ‘60s? Strap on your headphones and head over to YouTube to download my audio interview with DJ David “Ghosty” Wills, reminiscing about pioneering DJs, and Book 2 in the Blast from Your Past! series – Rock & Roll Radio DJs: The Swinging Sixties.

Wolfman Jack and The Beatles … emulated, imitated, but never duplicated.

Featured Radio Survey: DJ Steve Sands at KACY/Santa Barbara was one of (I’m sure) many jocks who entered service 50 Years Ago this Month. Check out KACY’s music survey for July 28, 1967. The top fifteen gave us love with “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” to following your fantasy in “White Rabbit,” at #1.

Celebrate JULY 1967: 50 Years Ago and … Rock On!


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