1966 was a year of innovation. Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention‘s debut album, Freak Out!, is released to lukewarm response. It will become a cult favorite. Grace Slick joined the Jefferson Airplane. The The Sound of Music wins Best Picture at the 38th Academy Awards. Marcel DeRudder receives an artificial heart in a Houston, Texas, hospital. The Detroit Tigers finish 88–74, good enough for third place in the league, ten full games behind the eventual world champion Baltimore Orioles. The Beatles were ensconced at Abbey Road Studios in London recording Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. The Washington Redskins beat the New York Giants 72–41 in the highest scoring game in the history of the National Football League. Walt Disney dies during production of The Jungle Book. We saw a Toyota Corolla for the first time. And in the UK, The Thunderbirds airs its final episode on ITV with a Christmas special.
In Detroit, radio station WKNR was at the height of its powers. And the Keener 13 playlist for the week of December 27, 1967 reflected the eclecticism of the radio audience.
Here’s the WKNR Music Guide for this date in 1967.
I’M A BELIEVER/STEPPING STONE — MONKEES
SNOOPY VS. RED BARON — ROYAL GUARDSMEN
WORDS OF LOVE — MAMAS & PAPAS
GEORGY GIRL — SEEKERS
SUGAR TOWN — NANCY SINATRA
STANDING IN SHADOWS OF LOVE-4
TOPS WE AIN’T GOT NOTHIN` YET—BLUES MAGOOS
STAND BY ME — SPYDER TURNER GOOD THING — PAUL REVERE & RAIDERS
THAT’S LIFE — FRANK SINATRA
LADY GODIVA — PETER & GORDON
GOOD VIBRATIONS — BEACH BOYS
TELL IT TO THE RAIN — FOUR SEASONS.
I’VE PASSED THIS WAY BEFORE — JIMMY RUFFIN
COMING HOME SOLDIER — BOBBY VINTON
NASHVILLE CATS — LOVIN’ SPOONFUL
SINGLE GIRL — SANDY POSEY
SWEETEST ONE — METROS
TELL IT LIKE IT IS — AARON NEVILLE
LOVE’S GONE BAD — UNDERDOGS COLOR
MY WORLD — PETULA CLARK
KARATE — EMPEROR’S
98.6 — KEITH
SHERYL’S GOING HOME — HONDELLS
SHAPES IN MY MIND — KEITH REIF
WHERE WILL THE WORDS — GARY LEWIS & PLAYBOYS
BLUE AUTUMN — BOBBY GOLDSBORO
I GOT TO GO BACK — MCCOYS
KIND OF A DRAG — BUCKINGHAMS
LOOK WHAT YOU’VE DONE — POZO SECO SINGERS
MUSIC TO WATCH GIRLS — BOB CREWE GENERATION
Here’s our YouTube Playlist.
At number one this week in 1966, a Neil Diamond tune that became the biggest selling record of 1967. The Monkees’ I’m a Believer.
