Various Artists - Billboard Top Pop Hits: 1967

solid hits taking me back into time...

Billboard Top Pop Hits: 1967 gives us ten great pop hits that made the airwaves sizzle in 1967. We get a good diversity of artists for the relatively low price that you pay and the sound quality is quite good.

Procol Harum kicks things off with their classic pop hit entitled "A Whiter Shade Of Pale." The organ sounds so good; and they sing and play this to perfection! The drums, percussion and more carry the bulk of the melody; and this is also a type of psychedelic hit that you just never forget once you've heard it.

Scott McKenzie sings "San Francisco (Be Sure To Wear Flowers In Your Hair)" which was a huge hit during the summer of love. Scott sings this so well with a great deal of passion and this impresses me very much. The Monkees also score big with their number called "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You." "A Little Bit Me, A Little Bit You" has a great pop flavor to it and The Monkees never sounded better! They sing, play and harmonize flawlessly; and the percussion enhances this number very well.

"To Sir With Love" showcases Lulu's ability to deliver a ballad with great sensitivity and style. Lulu's excellent diction bolsters her performance; and the strings work very well for the musical arrangement. I also like how "To Sir With Love" has tempo and key changes. Great!

The Association scores a huge goal with "Never My Love." "Never My Love" is a stunning love ballad that features the men expressing their undying love for their women. "Never My Love" is a hauntingly beautiful ballad that sounds just as fantastic and special as the very first time I ever heard it. Listen also for Bobbie Gentry's "Ode To Billie Joe;" "Ode To Billie Joe" has the rare quality of telling a story that will stick in your memory because of the very fine lyrics and the sophistication with which Bobbie delivers this song.

The CD ends strong with The Mamas & The Papas doing their massive hit, "Dedicated To The One I Love." They sing this beautifully and this is yet another number that will stay in your mind once you've heard it.

This CD is a particularly strong entry in this multi CD series of fine hits from the past. I highly recommend it; and, once you get this, expect to play it over and over again.
February 8, 2008

Good addition to any 60's collection!

The stereo quality of the tracks is very good. "A Whiter Shade of Pale" and "To Sir With Love" are my personal favorites. This CD is very reasonably priced with all of these great songs! June 12, 2000

Decent Assortment of Big Pop Hits

Even though some of these songs are available on better collections (Monkees, Association, Mamas & Papas), the rarer tracks make the CD worth investigating. All original versions. June 30, 1998

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