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Signature Song -- Remembering The Summer of 1967

By
Home Inspector with King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. Home Inspector Lic #207

There is one song, more so than any other one I can think of, that takes me back to the summer of 1967. Those of us who did not live in California were hearing about the summer of love and the hippies. Even on the outskirts of the real action -- we were not having love-ins up here -- we saw tie-dyed shirts and psychedelic hippie art.

The center of the universe, for pop culture, was Haight-Ashbury in San Francisco.

Many of the top acts of the psychedelic-rock era hailed from, or formed in, the bay area -- Jefferson Airplane, Mamas and the Papas, Country Joe and the Fish, Grateful Dead, Big Brother and the Holding Company.

But, up here in Washington, on what I remember to be a warm and glorious summer in 1967, one song told the hippie story better than all others. It was written, in about 20 minutes, by John Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas and it was recorded by one of Phillip's friends who was a true believer in the movement.

A lesser known fact is that Phillips wrote it, at the friend's request or suggestion, to promote the Monterey Pop Festival. This is a record that got airplay in America and overseas. It made it all the way to #4 in the USA. Over in England, get this, the record was a #1 hit. They liked this very American song better than we did!

To be transported back to the summer of 1967, to see the original artist perform his original hit, I am afraid that you are going to have to change channels by clicking on the TV. But don't sweat it, you can catch up with Ben Cartwright and the trials and tribulations taking place at the Bonanza ranch next time around. 

 

 

 

 

 

Posted by

Steven L. Smith

If you enjoy nostalgia and music of yesteryear, click on Elvis' gold record to visit This Day In History. To explore The Stories Behind The Music blog posts click on the electric guitar. 

 

        

 

 

 

 

Kristin Johnston - REALTOR®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

Oh what a fun, nostalgic post!  I enjoyed it and I am sure my parents would too :=)

Jul 08, 2011 02:56 AM
Keith Gilkey
Re/Max Chesapeake - Elkton, MD
410-920-7214, Re/Max Chesapeake

Steven, What memories! Scott's mustache almost looks fake. Thanks for sharing and well done.

Jul 08, 2011 03:08 AM
Jack Gilleland
Home Inspection and Investor Services, Clayton - Clayton, OH

Not one of my favorites, but definitely one of the classics from the era.  Thanks Steve.

Jul 08, 2011 06:31 AM
Robert Butler
Aspect Inspection - Montreal West Island, QC
Montreal Home Inspector | Aspect Inspection

That was exactly the one that I thought it would be. i remember that time like it was yesterday. You didn't have to be there. It was universal. The music and the lyrics were the social media of the day. Radio 2.0 .

Jul 08, 2011 07:22 AM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Gee,

Comment notification is out again I guess. Had not known this had comments.

Jul 08, 2011 04:25 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

I didn't know Phllips wrote that, but have a question.  Why is MacKenzie in black and white?

Jul 09, 2011 12:11 AM
James Quarello
JRV Home Inspection Services, LLC - Wallingford, CT
Connecticut Home Inspector

I have heard that song many times. Never knew John Phillips wrote it.

Jul 09, 2011 01:01 AM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Jay,

As old as you are, you should not perfectly well that black and white TV was very common in 1966. I used to, every Friday night, walk to town with a friend. That was 1966-1970. And we would look at the color TV's in the window of Mooses appliance -- they looked like hell but they were color. Few people had them. So I think this film is from that era. Who knows where it came from, some guy shooting it off his own set for all I know.

Jul 09, 2011 04:55 PM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

You think?  When I was 14 and very rich from all my entrepreneurship I was given permission by my mother to buy a portable B&W TV.  I couldn't believe she let me!  We used that as our TV probably the first 4 or 5 years of our marriage.  That took it up to about 1981 or so...

One of my friends at work after college was a Houston Oiler fan and I didn't know their team colors.

Jul 09, 2011 10:53 PM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

I like that song.  Little did I realize my daughter would live in San Francisco for awhile and I'd visit that great city.

Jul 16, 2011 09:32 AM