The '60's were an interesting decade but If I had to pick one year from that era it would be 1967 where flower power and psychedelia ruled. The summer of love found generation gap divided by those over 30 and the hippie movement. The year also found social and cultural disruption.

The music was a great definition of that year, songs that covered everything from drug experiments to the Vietnam War even the civil rights movement.

The music was busy in 1967. The West coast flower power movement was huge especially in Haight - Ashbury, San Francisco and Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles. A very unique group of people in those enclaves. Both L.A. and San Fran had their own bands that defined the two rock scenes respectively, In L.A. you had the Byrds, The Turtles,and Frank Zappa. In San Fran you had the Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin and Jefferson Airplane.

The Doors made an impact with their debut album (self-titled), The Who emerged, and The Beatles made a shift change with their music from pop to a more album oriented sound.

The big major festival that year was The Monterrey Internatiional Pop Festival, first major concert/gig for both Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix.  Our first look at The Who.

Music of the Summer of 1067:

  • The Byrds - Byrds Greatest Hits
  • Moby Grape - Moby Grape
  • Mothers of Invention - Absolutely Free
  • Yardbirds - Little Games
  • Jimi Hendrix Experience - Are You Experienced?

The Byrds Greatest Hits (Full album):


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