Sunday in the Sixties - December 1966
1966 was a year of innovation. Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention's debut album, Freak Out!, is released to lukewarm response. It will become a cult favorite. Grace Slick joined the Jefferson Airplane. The The Sound of Music wins Best Picture at the 38th Academy Awards. Marcel DeRudder receives an artificial heart in a Houston, Texas, hospital. The Detroit Tigers finish 88–74, good enough for third place in the league, ten full games behind the eventual world champion Baltimore Orioles. The Beatles were ensconced at Abbey Road Studios in London recording Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. The Washington Redskins beat the New York Giants 72–41 in the highest scoring game in the history of the National Football League. Walt Disney dies during production of The Jungle Book. We saw a Toyota Corolla for the first time. And in the UK, The Thunderbirds airs its final episode on ITV with a Christmas special.In Detroit, radio station WKNR was at the height of its powers. And the Keener 13 playlist for the week of December 27, 1967 reflected the eclecticism of the radio audience.Here's the WKNR Music Guide for this date in 1967.I'M A BELIEVER/STEPPING STONE — MONKEESSNOOPY VS. RED BARON — ROYAL GUARDSMENWORDS OF LOVE — MAMAS & PAPASGEORGY GIRL — SEEKERSSUGAR TOWN — NANCY SINATRASTANDING IN SHADOWS OF LOVE-4TOPS WE AIN'T GOT NOTHIN` YET—BLUES MAGOOSSTAND BY ME — SPYDER TURNER GOOD THING — PAUL REVERE & RAIDERSTHAT'S LIFE — FRANK SINATRALADY GODIVA — PETER & GORDONGOOD VIBRATIONS — BEACH BOYSTELL IT TO THE RAIN — FOUR SEASONS.I'VE PASSED THIS WAY BEFORE — JIMMY RUFFINCOMING HOME SOLDIER — BOBBY VINTONNASHVILLE CATS — LOVIN' SPOONFULSINGLE GIRL — SANDY POSEYSWEETEST ONE — METROSTELL IT LIKE IT IS — AARON NEVILLELOVE'S GONE BAD — UNDERDOGS COLORMY WORLD — PETULA CLARKKARATE — EMPEROR'S98.6 — KEITHSHERYL'S GOING HOME — HONDELLSSHAPES IN MY MIND — KEITH REIFWHERE WILL THE WORDS — GARY LEWIS & PLAYBOYSBLUE AUTUMN — BOBBY GOLDSBOROI GOT TO GO BACK — MCCOYSKIND OF A DRAG — BUCKINGHAMSLOOK WHAT YOU'VE DONE — POZO SECO SINGERSMUSIC TO WATCH GIRLS — BOB CREWE GENERATIONHere's our YouTube Playlist.At number one this week in 1966, a Neil Diamond tune that became the biggest selling record of 1967. The Monkees' I'm a Believer.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PQAqprjOuA