# Best of the Rest of the Top 40: 1967 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 19, 2015, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1967/710300 "2015-01-19T18:31:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1967/710300/1 "2015-01-19T18:31:43Z")
Our survey brings us now to 1967. In contrast to the previous year, we only have to go to #41 to fill out this year’s poll, and we’ve definitely got some interesting choices here. What’s your favorite? Previous polls: [1956](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744629) [1957](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744819) [1958](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744978) [1959](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745151) [1960](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745331) [1961](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745525) [1962](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745733) [1963](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745956) [1964](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=746118) [1965](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=746342) [1966](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=746498) Best #1 single polls: [1955-56](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=731649) [1957](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=731871) [1958](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732021) [1959](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732199)[1960](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732526) [1961](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732691) [1962](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732872) [1963](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733112) [1964](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733297) [1965](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733526) [1966](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733750) [1967](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733958) [1968](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734168) [1969](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734331) [1970](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734535) [1971](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734741) [1972](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735107) [1973](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735304) [1974](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735502) [1975](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735659) [1976](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735871) [1977](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736076) [1978](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736316) [1979](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736501) [1980](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736705) [1981](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736957) [1982](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737099) [1983](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737315) [1984](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737488) [1985](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737732) [1986](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737957) [1987](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738178) [1988](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738403) [1989](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738639) [1990](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738829) [1991](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739067) [1992](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739360) [1993](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739525) [1994](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739880) [1995](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740122) [1996](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740302) [1997](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740497) [1998](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740709) [1999](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740859) [2000](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741047) [2001](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741267) [2002](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741450) [2003](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741604) [2004](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741730) [2005](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741915) [2006](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742069) [2007](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742147) [2008](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742282) [2009](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742467) [2010](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742676) [2011](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742846) [2012](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=675664) [2013](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=710843) [2014](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743899) [1950s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743046) [1960s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743240) [1970s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743399) [1980s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743597) [1990s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743803) [2000s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743981) [2010s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744176) [All-time](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744358) ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1967/710300/2 "2015-01-19T19:16:32Z")
Hmm, I have it narrowed down to “For What It’s Worth” or “Somebody To Love.” Gotta go with “For What it’s Worth.” ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1967/710300/3 "2015-01-19T19:35:30Z")
… “Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You” “I Think We’re Alone Now” “I Was Made To Love Her” “Expressway To Your Heart” “Come On Down To My Boat” “Your Precious Love” “Somebody To Love” “Don’t You Care” “Then You Can Tell Me Goodbye” The Year the Stalkers came out… ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1967/710300/4 "2015-01-19T19:37:00Z")
I find it impossible to pick one, for a change. This was the year I went to Vietnam, and many of the songs resonate with me. I guess if I had to pick one, it would be _For What It’s Worth_, for its social commentary on the war. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1967/710300/5 "2015-01-19T19:49:03Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I find it impossible to pick one, for a change. This was the year I went to Vietnam, and many of the songs resonate with me. I guess if I had to pick one, it would be _For What It’s Worth_, for its social commentary on the war. It may surprise you to know that “For What It’s Worth” isn’t about the war at all; it’s about [anti-curfew protests on the Sunset Strip.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/For_What_It%27s_Worth_(Buffalo_Springfield_song)#Origin) ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1967/710300/6 "2015-01-19T19:53:36Z")
Christ, I totally missed Buffalo Springfield on this list. Sorry, folks. I never thought _For What It’s Worth_ was about the war, specifically. I always just heard it as commentary on how contentious things were during that time period. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1967/710300/7 "2015-01-19T20:31:51Z")
As someone who was not around, looking at this list I see plenty of songs I like and recognize. Good year and much better than the previous polls. Some songs such as Buffalo Springfield and Van Morrison are classics. I voted for “Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie”, but also like ones by Frankie Valli, Stevie Wonder, Brenton Wood, Buffalo Springfield, Supremes(that intro). I think Procol Harum and Buffalo Springfield will win this, especially the latter. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2015, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1967/710300/8 "2015-01-19T23:01:48Z")
1967 . . . The Summer of Love . . . I remember it well, especially considering the crappy year to follow. I’m gonna buck the trend here, and go with a song many of you don’t remember at all . . . The Association’s “Never My Love.” ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1967/710300/9 "2015-01-20T00:24:58Z")
[The Esquires - “Get On Up”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-7beHS-UXo) Heard it over the weekend and Wife remarked that it lacked intellectual content. I countered that it sucked all of the intellectual content out of the universe, which is why I love it. [The Soul Survivors - “Expressway To Your Heart”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ub0vxUdV0uo&spfreload=10) was a close second. Not The Buckinghams 'cuz she used to know those guys. I knew their dentist. Familiarity breeds contempt. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1967/710300/10 "2015-01-20T00:38:03Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Christ, I totally missed Buffalo Springfield on this list. Sorry, folks. > I never thought _For What It’s Worth_ was about the war, specifically. I always just heard it as commentary on how contentious things were during that time period. The contentiousness of the period was the war protests in the streets, along with the civil rights protests. Interesting about the curfew protests; the song dovetailed nicely into anti-war sentiments, however. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 12:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1967/710300/11 "2015-01-20T00:44:48Z")
Specifically, it was about the riots on the Sunset Strip. I still voted for Jefferson Airplane. Sorry, Steve. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Prize](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d2c977/32.png) [@Sir\_Prize](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Prize)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1967/710300/12 "2015-01-20T01:11:08Z")
I voted for “Somebody To Love” Glad to see most of the others I wanted to vote for are doing well but no votes for Reflections? ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1967/710300/13 "2015-01-20T01:18:46Z")
> [@Sir\_Prize](#): > > I voted for “Somebody To Love” > > Glad to see most of the others I wanted to vote for are doing well but no votes for Reflections? I think more folks know (and like) the song than know its title. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1967/710300/14 "2015-01-20T01:20:53Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > 1967 . . . The Summer of Love . . . I remember it well, especially considering the crappy year to follow. I’m gonna buck the trend here, and go with a song many of you don’t remember at all . . . The Association’s “Never My Love.” I’m sure many know the song well (it was my second choice). Great chord sequence, great melody, great lyrics. My favorite love song. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 1:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1967/710300/15 "2015-01-20T01:25:24Z")
It was a choice between Marvin Gaye and Bach… and I chose Bach (Whiter Shade of Pale.) Hopefully I can vote for Gaye in '70/'71. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1967/710300/16 "2015-01-20T02:05:06Z")
An awful lot of songs on this list that really belonged in ‘the rest.’ Until I got to “Somebody to Love” I was wondering if I was going to find anything to vote for. My problem with “For What It’s Worth” is that I heard the up-tempo version of it on **Four-Way Street** first (it finishes up the “49 Bye-Byes” track), and next to that, the original sounded _way_ too over-serious. Compared to “Somebody to Love,” “Brown-Eyed Girl” is just a nice song. And maybe I’ve just heard “Whiter Shade of Pale” too many times, and still no idea of what it means. Where is the Cowsills’ big hit, “The Rain, the Park, and Other Things”? I wasn’t going to vote for it (my tastes have improved _that_ much since age 13, thank goodness), but I expected to \*see \*it. It was #1 for two weeks on the DC area’s biggest top-40 station, WPGC. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1967/710300/17 "2015-01-20T03:17:37Z")
I picked “Don’t You Care,” finishing just ahead of “Reflections,” “For What It’s Worth,” “A Whiter Shade of Pale,” and “I Was Made to Love Her.” That’s a lot of contenders for best song in the world-famous **Ponch8 Music Rating System**! In dead-ass last place, “Apples, Peaches, Pumpkin Pie” gets the dishonor over “Come On Down to My Boat,” mostly by virtue (or vice?) of its ridiculous title. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1967/710300/18 "2015-01-20T11:47:22Z")
Another reason I love “Never My Love” is its effective use of harmonic rhythm. The verse/chorus has one chord change per measure. Then the bridge starts out by speeding up to two per measure (echoing the rushed panic of “how can you say love will end…”), then abruptly slooows down to one change every TWO measures, to echo how long a “whole life” is (“depeeeeends…on you…”). ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1967/710300/19 "2015-01-20T16:48:12Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > The contentiousness of the period was the war protests in the streets, along with the civil rights protests. I know. Writing a song about the many protests and the general contentiousness in the US is not the same thing as a song about war. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2015, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1967/710300/20 "2015-01-20T17:19:14Z")
I went with Procol Harum on this one, for what it’s worth (ha ha ha). The lyrics are clever and work well even if it’s near-impossible to figure out what the song’s even about, the organ hook is classic, and it’s the only chance I’ll have to vote for them since their only other hit in the US, “Conquistador”, didn’t make the year-end chart. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1967/710300.md?page=2)