In 1967, country artist Margie Singleton recorded a Top 40 country hit with her cover version of Bobbie Gentry’s “Ode to Billie Joe.” A year later, Singleton asked songwriter Tom T. Hall, who had a knack for narrative and a keen eye for detail, to write her a similar tune.

Bill Haley and His Comets recorded the first rock ’n’ roll hit: “Crazy, Man, Crazy,” a now-forgotten piece of swing-based fluff that employed teen-oriented catchphrases of the day (“solid,” “crazy,” “gone”).

By 1967 songwriter Chip Taylor had one hit tune to his credit: the Troggs’ “Wild Thing” from the previous year.

In 1946 a Massachusetts DuPont chemist-inventor named Earl Tupper introduced “Poly-T Wonder Bowls.” They were polyethelene food-storage containers that varied in size and came in unusual pastel hues.

Many music fans think “Honey” is a true story. It isn’t.

Barbara Handler Segal has recalled strangers saying to her, “So you’re the Barbie doll!”

Sittin’ in the morning sun/I’ll be sittin’ when the evening comes

While numerous historians have portrayed Davy Crockett as a brave folk figure, many others have blasted him as being a self-serving con artist.

While numerous historians have portrayed Davy Crockett as a brave folk figure, many others have blasted him as being a self-serving con artist.

When John Fred misheard the Beatles’ Sergeant Pepper album track of “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” — he thought Paul McCartney was singing “Lucy in disguise with diamonds” — he decided to create a send-up of the Fab Four’s work.

On Nov. 22, 1963, when a Milwaukee cabbie picked up his passenger, the driver recognized 27-year-old Vaughn Meader of the wildly successful comedy album The First Family.

In their shows, Sam Moore and Dave Prater became a freewheeling bundle of collective energy, joyfully bobbing, weaving, and gyrating, and all the while singing at full throttle.

The Great Depression strangled the economies of many of American cities, including Manchester, New Hampshire, the hometown of the McDonald brothers.

“Ode to Billie Joe”

Bobbie Gentry

August 1967

“I Got Rhythm”
The Happenings, June 1967

“Strawberry Fields Forever”

The Beatles

April 1967

“Ruby Tuesday”

The Rolling Stones

February 1967

“Last Train to Clarksville” The Monkees, December 1966

Was there ever a real Renée from “Walk Away Renée,” and was the sad story true about her devastated lover sending her home? Renée did exist, but the rest of the tale? Sadly, it was simply the figment of a forlorn 16-year-old’s imagination.