OldiesButGoodies

Oldies Music

The Buckinghams – Kind Of A Drag

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Introduction:

“Kind of a Drag,” performed by The Buckinghams, became a defining hit in 1967, showcasing the band’s Chicago roots and cementing its place in the pop and rock scene. Written by Chicago musician Jim Holvay, the song captures the tension between heartbreak and resilience with a catchy, upbeat melody contrasting its melancholic lyrics. It reflects a storyline of unrequited love, where the protagonist feels the emotional weight of betrayal yet holds onto lingering affection. Holvay, who performed with the band The Mob, provided the Buckinghams with a track that would eventually become their first chart-topping hit.

Released in December 1966, “Kind of a Drag” reached the number-one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in February 1967, and it was a major milestone for the band. This success was partly due to the distinctive arrangement by Frank Tesinsky, which featured brass instrumentation—a rarity for rock bands at the time. The song’s production, led by Carl Bonafede and Dan Belloc, helped amplify its polished, horn-infused sound, which later influenced the “Chicago horn sound” that became popular in rock music.

The Buckinghams’ sound aligned with the style of British Invasion bands, yet their American twist brought a unique flavor to 1960s pop-rock. The success of “Kind of a Drag” marked the beginning of a prosperous year for the band, as they achieved additional Top 10 hits and became a staple in 1960s pop music. Their success with this song underscored the era’s growing appetite for blending rock with other genres, foreshadowing the direction of American rock music in the late 1960s and early 1970s. “Kind of a Drag” remains a classic, celebrated for both its timeless appeal and its role in defining the sound of the period.

Video:

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