6 of the 60s: 9/23/14 (1967)

It's time to go back to the 60s again, and this week I've got a half-dozen nuggets from 1967, the year the residents of Gibraltar had a vote somewhat like Scotland's, whether to remain with Britain or join with Spain. less than 50 sided with the Spaniards.

Aretha Franklin - "Respect"
from the album I Never Loved A Man The Way I Loved You (1967)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1 (two weeks)
Songwriter: Otis Redding

The musical version of Devin Hester scoring a touchdown on a kickoff return in the Super Bowl. From her first words Aretha told you how things are gonna be. One of those absolute perfect records that you can listen to eight times in a row focusing on different aspects of the production.

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Arthur Conley - "Sweet Soul Music"
from the album Sweet Soul Music (1967)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #2
Songwriters: Arthur Conley, Sam Cooke, Otis Redding

The art of interpolating other people's work didn't start in the hip-hop 80s. Cooke's estate had to sue to get a credit on this one.

Wilson Pickett - "Funky Broadway"
from the album The Sound Of Wilson Pickett (1967)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #8
Songwriter: Arlester Christian

"Funky" was introduced to mainstream America with this remake of songwriter's band Dyke & The Blazers jam.

Miriam Makeba - "Pata Pata"
from the album Pata Pata (1967)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #14 
Songwriters: Miriam Makeba, Jerry Ragovoy

The South African singer and civil rights activist brought a bit of the continent to the pop charts in America with this Xhosa-language booty-shaker that translates to "Touch Touch".

The Parliaments - "(I Wanna) Testify"
from the album Testify - The Best Of The Early Years (2000)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #20
Songwriters: George Clinton, Deron Taylor

Before George Clinton became king of the space-funk, he recorded this rather mainstream though equally groovy Motown-like single.

Jimmy Castor - "Hey Leroy, Your Mama's Calling You"
from the album Hey Leroy (1968)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #31
Songwriters: Jimmy Castor, Johnny Pruitt

One of the first funk musicians to hit the pop charts, this saxophonist struck first with this fun single before being tagged as a novelty with his string of "cave man" tracks..