After the florid exceptional excess of the Summer of Love, it felt like rock and roll and pop music was starting to grow up a bit.

By the Autumn of 1967, it was surprising to notice how so many great songs had developed serious themes, as though maturity started to play a role in what the radio played. I’m sure it was coincidence, but it was pleasant to hear artists getting thoughtful in their pop songs.

Featured tracks include: 

(You Make Me Feel Like a) Natural Woman – Aretha Franklin 

I Can See for Miles – The Who 

Daydream Believer – The Monkees 

I Heard It Through the Grapevine – Gladys Knight and the Pips 

I Second That Emotion – Smokey Robinson and the Miracles 

An Open Letter to My Teenage Son – Victor Lundberg 

(The Lights Went Out in) Massachusetts – The Bee Gees 

By the Time I Get to Phoenix – Glen Campbell 

Hello Goodbye – The Beatles 

Chain of Fools – Aretha Franklin 

If I Could Build My Whole World Around You – Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell 

Different Drum – The Stone Poneys