something of a darker year for many of the flower power bands, even the bigger ones.

I mean, compare 'After Bathing At Baxter's' to 'Surrealistic Pillow.'

As for Summertime Blues, I still find a sense of fun in the verse/chorusm, but when they go off the road map - I agree that it wasn't much like anything else around.

The Who was already bashing Summertime Blues out pre-1968, but it'd be interesting to compare their versions pre- and post-BC's.