TOP 100 SONGS OF 1967 ― NUMBER 98

50 years ago this year these songs were released. I took the top 100 from Rolling Stone for 1967 and put them in the order in which I think they should have listed, since this was the decade of the music I grew up on. Enough of the formalities, here we go. Enjoy.

(YOUR LOVE KEEPS LIFTING ME (HIGHER AND HIGHER ― JACKIE WILSON

GENRE ― Rock/pop rock/garage rock



YouTube (on Steve Allen)

Five Americans was a 1960s American rock band, most famous for their song, "Western Union", which reached number five in the U.S. Billboard chart and was their only single to chart in the Top 20.

Career ―

The Mutineers, formed in Durant, Oklahoma (Southeastern State College) in 1962. The band members crossed paths at the university, and began performing a repertoire of Bo Diddley and Duane Eddy standards within the campus. In 1963, the band recorded their debut single, "Jackin' Around", in Dallas, Texas, an instrumental which received extensive airplay in their college. The British Invasion influenced The Mutineers to include Beatles numbers to their repertoire, a change in outfitting, and a slight emphasis to vocals. However, their most impactful acquisition was their utilization of the Vox Continental electric organ, a later highlight of the group's sound. While in Dallas, the band achieved notoriety playing as a frequent attraction in a venue called The Pirate's Nook. There they came to the attention of Abnak Records whose president John Abdnor took the group under his wing. Shortly thereafter, the band identified themselves as the Five Americans.

For a short while after their five top 55 singles "I See The Light", "Western Union", "Sound of Love", "Evol Not Love" and "Zipcode" were released, they toured. However, their manager, Jon Abdnor Sr., president and owner of Abnak Records and Bankers Management and Services Insurance Co., was allowed control of their finances.

After Abdnor's death in 1996, all rights to their songs should have reverted to the original group, but Sundazed Records bought the original tapes. The Five Americans are now receiving their share of the sales and publishing royalties.

"Western Union" ― 

In a March 1967 interview that appeared in Michael Oberman's "Top Tunes" column in the Evening Star newspaper (Washington, D.C.), Norman Ezell, guitarist for the group, explained how they came up with "Western Union". "Mike Rabon, our lead guitar player, was just fooling around with his guitar when he came up with a unique sound," Norman said. It sort of reminded us of a telegraph key. "That's when we decided to write 'Western Union.'"

From Wikipedia and Goolge (image).