UK Singles Chart: 1967

In terms of music, when it comes to the year 1967 one thing springs to mind, the Summer of Love. There was plenty of music in the charts that suggested psychedelia had truly arrived, but there was plenty of other music too.

Continuing the trend from the last couple of years, the first number one of the year came from a chart debutant, The Monkees with "I'm A Believer". This was very much the year for The Monkees chart wise, having a further five top 40 hits with "Last Train To Clarksville", "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You", "Alternate Title", "Pleasant Valley Sunday" and "Daydream Believer". They would have a couple of minor hits in early 68 and that would spell the end of their brief chart career. Surprisingly "(Theme From)  The Monkees" was never a single in the UK.

The second number one came from a very experienced chart act, 1954 debutant Petula Clark with the Charlie Chaplin penned "This Is My Song". Another version of this song by 1955 debutant Harry Secombe also charted reaching number two, which would be the last time we would see Harry Secombe in the charts. Another 50s act bidding farewell to the charts this year was 1959 debutant Clinton Ford who's final hit was "Run To the Door".

The third number on came from a debutant, Engelbert Humperdinck with "Release Me". Such was the impact of this song, it would only leave the top 40 for 5 weeks collectively the rest of the year and would still be in the top 40 at the start of 1968. It also ended the run of the Beatles getting to number one with every official release since "Please Please Me" in 1963 with "Penny Lane/Strawberry Fields Fovever" stalling at number 2.

This wasn't the only Beatles song which failed to reach number one this year, also stalling at number two was "Magical Mystery Tour (EP)" which was held off the top spot by none other than the Beatles with "Hello Goodbye". Also reaching number one this year for the Beatles was "All You Need Is Love". By the end of the year, the number ones count for the Beatles was 13, just 2 behind Elvis's 15.

Elvis managed to add two songs to his total number of hits this year bringing his total to 62. Cliff Richard remained in second place adding four more hits bringing his total to 43. There were no further hits for Lonnie Donegan or Nat 'King' Cole but they remained in 3rd and 4th with 30 and 29 hits. They Everly Brothers had no hits this year and were now tied in fifth place with Frankie Vaughan who returned to the charts this year with "There Must Be A Way" and "So Tired", bringing his total to 28. Then leapfrogging his way into seventh place with 27 was Frank Sinatra adding two more to his total including a number one "Something Stupid" with his daughter Nancy.

We had four more debutants from Motown this year. First up was Marvin Gaye in January with "It Takes Two" alongside Kim Weston. Then in June we have Gladys Knight & the Pips debuting with "Take Me In Your Arms And Love Me" which was actually their only top 40 hit of the 60s. Also in June we had the Marvelettes  debuting with "When You're Young And In Love" which would be their only top 40 hit. Then in December we had Smokey Robinson & the Miracles debut with "I Second That Emotion". Along with the Supremes, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, Four Tops, Temptations and Stevie Wonder all having hits this year, the presence of Motown was very much there in the charts.

From the world of soul music we also saw the debut of Aretha Franklin with "Respect". We also saw Sam & Dave debut with "Soothe Me". From the UK we had the Foundations reach number one with their debut "Baby Now That I've Found You".

Jimi Hendrix made his debut at the start of the year with "Hey Joe" reaching number 3. This was also his most active year in the charts having a further three hits with "Purple Haze", "The Wind Cries Mary" and "Burning Of the Midnight Lamp". He would never have more than one hit in a year after this.

After leaving the Yardbirds we see the start of the Jeff Beck Group which made their debut with "Hi-Ho Silver Lining" and followed up with "Tallyman". Their chart career would be very brief having just two further singles, one in 68 and another in 73.

Steve Winwood left the Spencer Davis Group this year and formed Traffic and they would have 3 of their 4 top 40 hits this year with "Paper Sun", "Hole In My Shoe" and "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush".

Although known to be an album band, Pink Floyd began their chart career this year with a couple of singles, "Arnold Layne" and "See Emily Play". It would however be another 12 years until we would see Pink Floyd back in the charts again.

Another band making their chart debut this year is the Bee Gees, whose three hits of the year had a bit of a geographical theme in the title. First up was "New York Mining Disaster 1941", then came the number one record "Massachusetts" and then came "World".

With the Summer of Love being centred around San Francisco, we have three record this year with the city mentioned in the title. They were "Let's Go To San Francisco" by the Flowepot Men, "San Franciscan Nights" by Eric Burdon & the Animals and the number one single "San Francisco (Wear Some Flowers In Your Hair)" by Scott Mckenzie.

We see Ska music in the charts for the first time this year. First up was Prince Buster in February with "Al Capone". Next came the Skatalites in April with "Guns of Navarone". Then in July came Desmond Dekker with "007" and in September we had The Ethiopians with "Train to Skaville".

We saw the first act from Israel this year in the charts, this was Topol with "If I Were A Rich Man".

So plenty going on in the charts this year, a variety of genres and although the psychedelic music is what is remembered, it is no more dominant in the charts than other styles of music, particularly as the biggest selling record of the year is "Release Me" which sounded dated even for 1967.