Billboard Hot 100 Chart – Week of September 9, 1967

1. Ode To Billie Joe – Bobbie Gentry

“Ode To Billie Joe” held the No. 1 position for another week, proving that Bobbie Gentry’s mysterious story song had become one of the defining records of late summer 1967. Its quiet arrangement and conversational storytelling made it stand apart from nearly everything else on the Hot 100.

The song’s power came from what it left unsaid. Listeners were drawn into the mystery of Billie Joe, the Tallahatchie Bridge, and the family conversation that revealed so much without explaining everything.

As a multi-week No. 1, “Ode To Billie Joe” became one of the most unusual chart-toppers of the decade. It showed that atmosphere, character, and mystery could be just as powerful as a big chorus or driving beat.

▶ Watch and experience this song →

2. Reflections – Diana Ross & The Supremes

“Reflections” climbed from No. 3 to No. 2, giving Diana Ross & The Supremes another major hit. The record marked a new phase for the group, with a sound that felt more dramatic and contemporary than many of their earlier classics.

The production gave the song a modern edge, while Diana Ross’ vocal carried the familiar elegance that had made The Supremes one of Motown’s most successful acts. It was polished, emotional, and forward-looking.

Its rise to No. 2 showed that The Supremes were still adapting successfully in a rapidly changing musical landscape. Motown remained near the center of American pop music.

3. Come Back When You Grow Up – Bobby Vee and The Strangers

“Come Back When You Grow Up” climbed from No. 6 to No. 3, giving Bobby Vee And The Strangers one of the week’s biggest Top 5 moves. The song brought a more traditional pop-rock sound into a chart filled with soul, Motown, and psychedelic holdovers.

Vee had been a familiar chart presence earlier in the decade, and this record showed he could still connect with radio audiences in 1967. Its clean melody and direct emotional theme helped it stand apart from some of the more experimental records around it.

Its climb to No. 3 made it one of Bobby Vee’s strongest later-career hits and gave the Top 5 another example of how many different styles could still succeed during this remarkable year.

4. Baby I Love You – Aretha Franklin

“Baby I Love You” climbed from No. 5 to No. 4, continuing Aretha Franklin’s extraordinary 1967 run. After the impact of “Respect,” Franklin remained one of the most important and powerful voices on the Hot 100.

The record carried the confidence, warmth, and emotional authority that made her Atlantic recordings so influential. Her vocal performance gave the song drive and feeling, keeping soul music firmly represented in the upper chart.

Its rise showed that Aretha’s breakthrough was becoming a sustained chart force. She was no longer just having a moment; she was shaping the sound of the era.

5. The Letter – The Box Tops

“The Letter” made a major jump from No. 15 to No. 5, introducing The Box Tops as one of the most exciting new acts on the chart. The song’s raw vocal, tight arrangement, and urgent feel made it sound immediately different from the polished pop around it.

At less than two minutes, the record wasted no time. Its compact structure, soulful edge, and memorable airplane-ticket theme gave it instant radio appeal.

Its arrival in the Top 5 signaled that “The Letter” was moving fast toward even bigger success. The record would soon become one of the defining hits of the fall of 1967.

▶ Watch and experience this song →

More Weeks at #1 for “Ode to Billie Joe”

This song spent multiple weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Explore each chart week below: