Billboard Hot 100 | Top 5 – Week of February 18, 1967
The Billboard Hot 100 for February 18, 1967 marked a major shift at the top of the chart. After weeks of domination by The Monkees, “I’m A Believer” finally gave way to a new No. 1 song. The Buckinghams reached the summit with “Kind Of A Drag,” a crisp, horn-powered pop-rock record that helped announce one of the first major American breakout groups of 1967.
The change at No. 1 gave the chart a fresh feel. The Monkees were still extremely strong at No. 2, but their long reign had been interrupted by a record that sounded very different from the bright television pop that had ruled the winter. “Kind Of A Drag” brought a tighter, more band-driven sound into the spotlight.
The Rolling Stones also continued their climb, as “Ruby Tuesday” moved to No. 3. Its reflective mood added depth to the Top 5, while The Seekers’ “Georgy Girl” slipped to No. 4 after reaching No. 2 earlier in the month. Blues Magoos held at No. 5 with “(We Ain’t Got) Nothin’ Yet,” keeping a garage-rock edge in the upper chart.
Below the Top 5, The Supremes were rising fast with “Love Is Here And Now You’re Gone,” Sonny & Cher continued their stylish run with “The Beat Goes On,” and The Spencer Davis Group entered the Top 10 with the driving “Gimme Some Lovin’.” The sound of 1967 was getting stronger, broader, and more adventurous with each passing week.
Top 5 Songs
1. Kind Of A Drag – The Buckinghams
“Kind Of A Drag” jumped from No. 3 to No. 1 this week, giving The Buckinghams their biggest national breakthrough. The record’s rise ended the long run of “I’m A Believer” at the top and brought a fresh American pop-rock sound to the No. 1 position.
The song stood out because of its strong horn arrangement, tight rhythm, and confident vocal performance. At a time when British groups, Motown acts, and television-created pop stars were all competing for attention, The Buckinghams gave American radio something sharp, direct, and full of energy.
Its move to No. 1 showed that 1967 was beginning to open up to new sounds and new groups. “Kind Of A Drag” was polished enough for mainstream pop audiences but still carried the punch of a working rock band. That combination made it one of the key early-year hits of 1967.
2. I’m A Believer – The Monkees
“I’m A Believer” slipped from No. 1 to No. 2 after one of the most impressive chart runs of the decade. The Monkees had dominated the winter with a record that seemed built for endless radio play, and even after losing the top spot, the song remained one of the biggest hits in America.
The single’s success showed the full power of The Monkees’ television-and-music formula. Their weekly presence on television helped turn the group into a household name, while the song itself had the kind of melody and chorus that listeners could remember after one play.
By this week, “I’m A Believer” had already secured its place as one of the defining pop singles of the 1960s. Its fall to No. 2 did not signal weakness as much as it showed that the chart was finally ready for a new leader.
3. Ruby Tuesday – The Rolling Stones
“Ruby Tuesday” climbed from No. 4 to No. 3, continuing The Rolling Stones’ strong move up the chart. The song brought a more reflective and melodic side of the band into the Top 5, showing how far they had grown from their early blues-rock image.
The record’s graceful arrangement and thoughtful mood gave it a different kind of power. It was not built on the same swagger as some earlier Stones hits. Instead, it offered a more mature sound that fit the changing musical atmosphere of 1967.
Its rise this week helped show that rock music was becoming more flexible and expressive. The Rolling Stones were not just chasing hit singles. They were helping expand what a major rock band could sound like on the radio.
4. Georgy Girl – The Seekers
“Georgy Girl” slipped from No. 2 to No. 4, but The Seekers still held a strong position in the Top 5. The song had become one of early 1967’s most recognizable pop records, helped by its film connection, bright melody, and polished folk-pop sound.
Its appeal came from its lightness and charm. While other songs on the chart leaned toward rock, soul, or garage-band energy, “Georgy Girl” offered a clean and optimistic sound that reached a wide audience.
Even as it began to move down from its peak, the record remained an important part of the early-year chart story. It showed that polished international pop could still compete strongly during a period when American and British rock were both gaining force.
5. (We Ain’t Got) Nothin’ Yet – Blues Magoos
“(We Ain’t Got) Nothin’ Yet” held at No. 5, keeping Blues Magoos firmly in the Top 5. The song gave the chart one of its rougher and more garage-driven sounds, standing apart from the smoother pop records surrounding it.
The record’s raw energy helped point toward the more psychedelic and experimental rock sounds that would become increasingly visible during 1967. It was not as polished as some of the week’s other hits, but that was part of its appeal.
By remaining in the Top 5, Blues Magoos showed that mainstream listeners were responding to something harder-edged. The song helped widen the sound of the Hot 100 and made the chart feel more connected to the underground currents beginning to rise.
More Weeks at #1 for “Kind of a Drag”
This song spent multiple weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Explore each chart week below:
🎂 What Was the #1 Song on Your Birthday?
If you were born during the week ending February 18, 1967, this was your birthday song:
🎵 Kind of a Drag by The Buckinghams
▶ Watch and experience this song →
🎂 Born in the 60s? Try your own birthday:
Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 This Week
- Kind Of A Drag – The Buckinghams
- I’m A Believer – The Monkees
- Ruby Tuesday – The Rolling Stones
- Georgy Girl – The Seekers
- (We Ain’t Got) Nothin’ Yet – Blues Magoos
- Love Is Here And Now You’re Gone – The Supremes
- 98.6 – Keith
- Tell It Like It Is – Aaron Neville
- The Beat Goes On – Sonny & Cher
- Gimme Some Lovin’ – The Spencer Davis Group
Chart Movers This Week
Why This Chart Week Mattered
The Billboard Hot 100 for February 18, 1967 mattered because it marked the end of The Monkees’ long hold on No. 1 and the arrival of The Buckinghams as a major chart force. “Kind Of A Drag” brought a fresh American pop-rock sound to the top spot and helped set the tone for a more varied year.
This chart also showed how quickly the musical landscape was changing. The Top 5 included television pop, Chicago pop-rock, British rock, international folk-pop, and garage-rock energy. That range made the chart feel like a turning point between the lighter pop of late 1966 and the more adventurous sounds that would define 1967.
With The Supremes, Sonny & Cher, and The Spencer Davis Group rising below, this week captured a moment when almost every part of popular music seemed to be moving at once. It was a clear sign that 1967 was becoming one of the decade’s most exciting chart years.
