The majority of “top 40” hits or “top 100” annual hits in 1967 were melodic and similar to the last 5 years of music. But a subset of 50 less popular songs pointed towards a very different future.

Most of these songs could not be created 5 years earlier or played on the radio in 1962. It’s very hard to explain the break from traditional music and views that began in 1967. Here goes …

“Folk music” was clearly becoming countercultural in 1967, questioning societal norms.

Classic R&B was adopting a sharper edge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYh-LwbUwoQ

R&B/Soul/Jazz was starting to become much more funky.

The Beatles continued to crank out singles. Less pop, more questions.

The “rockers” were becoming much more “edgy”.

The Stones were adapting …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rX-4eluL-HM

Jimi Hendrix offered a once in a lifetime music lesson.

Summary

50 edgy new singles in 1967. 1967. 1967. The British invasion continued, with the Beatles, Stones and others making their music and lyrics more current, dynamic and experimental. Core US R&B/Motown/Soul groups adopted a more experimental and critical tone. Folk music poked at societal norms. Rock ‘n Roll leveraged the sharper, electronic riffs. The San Francisco sound wailed. The Doors “broke on through” to the other side. Jimi Hendrix emerged.

The world would never be the same. Music belonged to the young. The sound would be somewhat discordant. The message would be challenging. Musical standards would forever be so much higher.