Last month, I started reading about the Beach Boys album “Pet Sounds” on the 60th anniversary of that legendary vinyl record’s release. (May 16, 1966). It is one of my favorite albums from the 20th century.
After exploring information on the Brian Wilson/Beach Boys musical masterpiece, I did a deep drive into the Beatles’ “Revolver” album that was released almost 3 months after “Pet Sounds.” (August 5, 1966).
The 1966 groundbreaking recording project by the Beatles is among my favorite Fab Four studio albums by the British band. As I listened to both “Pet Sounds” and Revolver” on that Mid-May day last month, I wanted to find out more about the biggest Top 40 hits of 60 years ago.
My inquiry on the topic of outstanding 1966 singles has resulted in this month’s musical musings article: I will be counting down what I consider to be the 20 best Top 40 radio hits from 1966.
In preparation for writing this article, I needed to educate myself on the biggest radio hit singles from 60 years ago. I had a limited knowledge of music from that year as I was only 10 at the beginning of 1966 and turned 11 in May.
However, I wasn’t totally devoid of musical trends in 1966 when I was a student in the fourth and fifth grades at Oakland Elementary School in Roanoke. I remember multiple conversations with some of my classmates on individual songs that we liked during recess times and on school bus rides.
While I didn’t fully embrace listening to Top 40 radio until 1967, I do remember listening to WROV 1240 AM Roanoke, Virginia which was in my hometown. My parents bought a large RCA stereo console cabinet sometime during 1966, and I fondly remember hearing WROV that year.
The two WROV DJs that I remember from 60 years ago are Jack Fisher and Fred Frelantz.
Above is an audio recording of the Fisher/Frelantz show on WROV, March 25, 1966. This aircheck provided by the WROV History online website/Pat Garrett.
I do have some other random memories of songs that I liked during 1966.
- “Eleanor Rigby” and “Yellow Submarine” by the Beatles. The group from Liverpool, England became my favorite band when I first discovered Top 40 radio.
- “Secret Agent Man” by Johnny Rivers. During the summer of ‘66, my dad regularly watched a replacement TV show called “Secret Agent” starring Patrick McGoohan. I watched this program with my father, and it featured Rivers’ tune as the theme song.
- “(Theme Song) The Monkees.” Starting in September ‘66, I would watch the musical sitcom TV show called “The Monkees” every Monday evening. As soon as the program ended each week, my mother would send me directly to bed.
- In August ‘66, my family went camping near Charlottesville, Virginia, and this facility had a swimming pool. We went swimming for 3 consecutive days and I heard the following songs below multiple times on the jukebox each day while we were on vacation:
- Hanky Panky—Tommy James & the Shondells
- Lil’ Red Riding Hood—Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs
- Working in a Coal Mine—Lee Dorsey
- Wild Thing—The Troggs
- “Monday Monday” by the Mamas and the Papas. When this was a hit in the fall of ‘66, I would sing this song to myself on Monday mornings before I had to catch a bus for school. And I would change the lyrics by singing, “Monday, Monday, can’t stand that day.”
- “Gary Lewis & the Playboys Greatest Hits.” I received this album as a gift for Christmas from my next-door neighbor Sandy and discovered all the top 40 hits by Lewis and his band. “Sure Gonna Miss Her”, “Green Grass” and “She’s Just My Style” were all top 10 hits for this band in 1966.
- “These Boots Are Made for Walking” album by Nancy Sinatra. My parents gave me this LP as a Christmas gift as the blonde singer with her walking boots was my first musical artist crush. The title track on Sinatra’s album was my #1 favorite song of 1966.
For the remaining portion of this message, I will be focusing on what I consider to be the 20 best singles from 1966.
My countdown of songs is purely based upon Billboard’s Year-End Hot 100 Singles chart of 1966. Any song not listed on the Billboard survey was excluded for consideration on my countdown.
All documentation of the chart positions that I share below comes from “The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits” by Joel Whitburn. I proudly own a hard copy of this excellent reference manual, which I consider to be the “bible” handbook for music history with Top 40 radio.
As I put together the listing of best 1966 singles, please note that the countdown is entirely based on my opinions. My selections are songs that I deem to be culturally, historically, aesthetically significant, meaningful, or relevant.
Before starting the countdown of best 1966 singles, I am sharing other outstanding hits from 1966 that didn’t make the cut.
First off are ten singles that failed to make the Billboard Year-end top 100 Songs of 1966 list, but every song reached #20 or higher on the Billboard Hot 100 chart 60 years ago.
- Opus 17 (Don’t You Worry ‘bout Me)–The Four Seasons
- I Saw Her Again—The Mamas and the Papas
- Hold On I’m Coming—Sam and Dave
- Mr. Dieingly Sad—The Critters
- A Taste of Honey—Herb Alpert & the Tiuana Brass
- The Sun Ain’t Gonna Shine (Anymore)–The Walker Brothers
- Stop Stop Stop—The Hollies
- A Hazy Shade of Winter—Simon & Garfunkel
- Eight Miles High—The Byrds
- Sunny Afternoon—The Kinks
Songs that I considered for the countdown but fell outside the top 20. These selections are random and not ranked:
- Shapes of Things—The Yardbirds
- Just Like Me—Paul Revere & the Raiders
- My World is Empty Without You—The Supremes
- Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind—The Lovin’ Spoonful
- Ain’t Too Proud to Beg—The Temptations
- Sloop John B—The Beach Boys
- Nowhere Man—The Beatles
- Daydream—The Lovin’ Spoonful
- You Can’t Hurry Love—The Supremes
- Paint It Black—The Rolling Stones
- Beauty is Only Skin Deep—The Temptations
- Hungry—Paul Revere & the Raiders
- See You in September—The Happenings
- My Love—Petula Clark
- Time Won’t Let Me—The Outsiders
- Day Tripper—The Beatles
- Green Grass—Gary Lewis & the Playboys
- Psychotic Reaction—Count Five
- A Well Respected Man—The Kinks
- Five O’ Clock World—The Vogues
Without further ado, my 1966 best singles countdown begins:
20. Bus Stop—The Hollies
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #5 Hot 100, 45th Biggest Song of 1966
First top 10 hit for the British band in the U.S. Alan Clarke had lead vocals while Graham Nash and Tony Hicks performed backup harmonies on tune.
19. Last Train to Clarksville—The Monkees
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #1 Hot 100, 6th Biggest Songs of 1966
Debut single by the Monkees. Song co-written by Tommy Boyce and Bobby Hart. It was the first of three #1 hits for the pop rock group on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart.
18. I Am a Rock—Simon & Garfunkel
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #3 Hot 100, 42nd Biggest Song of 1966
Originally, this song was an acoustic recording on “The Words and Music of Paul Simon” solo album in 1965. The single version added electric instruments and vocals by Art Garfunkel.
17. When a Man Loves a Woman—Percy Sledge
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #1 Hot 100, 31st Biggest Song of 1966
Percy Sledge was born in Alabama. Between 1966 and 1968, the R&B/Soul singer had five Top 40 hits. He was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2005.
16. Reach Out I’ll Be There—The Four Tops
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #1 Hot 100, 4th Biggest Song of 1966
The Four Tops lead singer Levi Stubbs had a powerful vocal delivery on this Motown classic tune. It is the signature song by the Detroit, Michigan quartet.
15. (You’re My) Soul and Inspiration—The Righteous Brothers
Positions of Billboard Charts: #1 Hot 100, 12th Biggest Song of 1966
This blue-eyed soul ballad has outstanding instrumentation. It became the pop duo’s third top 5 smash after “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” and “Unchained Melody” were hits in the mid 60s.
14. What Becomes of the Brokenhearted—Jimmy Ruffin
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #7 Hot 100, 12th Biggest Songs of 1966
This soul ballad about the misery of heartbreak was one of Motown’s most beloved hits during the 60s. It is Jimmy Ruffin’s signature song.
13. We Can Work It Out—The Beatles
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #1 Hot 100, 16th Biggest Song of 1966
Co-written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney. From the “Rubber Soul” album. Song was issued as a Double-A-Sided 45-rpm single with “Day Tripper.”
12. Cherish—The Association
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #1 Hot 100, 7th Biggest Songs of 1966
Superb harmonies on this smooth sunshine pop ballad. Terry Kirkman of the Association wrote and sang lead vocals on the song about unrequited love.
11. Walk Away Renee—The Left Banke
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #5 Hot 100, 40th Biggest Song of 1966
Baroque rock band formed in New York City. The tune employs a harpsichord, a flute, and multiple string instruments. Strong vocal harmonies throughout the melodic song.
10. The Sounds of Silence—Simon & Garfunkel
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #1 Hot 100, 54th Biggest Song 1966
The folk-rock duo’s first #1 hit was written by Paul Simon. It was first recorded as an acoustic tune in 1964. A year later a new version of the song added electric instruments for the single.
9. Good Vibrations—The Beach Boys
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #1 Hot 100, 33rd Biggest Single of 1966
This 45-rpm single was produced and composed by Brian Wilson with lyrics from Mike Love. Considered among the most influential recordings of the 20th century blending pop, rock and psychedelia.
8. Poor Side of Town—Johnny Rivers
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #1 Hot 100, 18th Biggest Song of 1966
Co-written by Johnny Rivers and Lou Adler. This pop ballad had a strong orchestral sound with string and brass instruments. It is the signature song for the singer-songwriter and musician.
7. This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You)—The Isley Brothers
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #12 Hot 100, 98th Biggest Song of 1966
The Isley Brothers song was their only major hit on the Motown record label. Ronald Isley delivered an emotional vocal performance on the up-tempo groove.
6. Homeward Bound—Simon & Garfunkel
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #5 Hot 100, 56th Biggest Songs of 1966
The third Simon & Garfunkel song on the countdown. From the “Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme” album. Paul Simon wrote this ode at a railway station in England during 1964.
5. Paperback Writer—The Beatles
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #1 Hot 100, 28th Biggest Song of 1966
This psychedelic pop-rock song was originally released as a standalone non-album 45-rpm single.” Paperback Writer” became a record bridge between “Nowhere Man” and the Double-A-Sided “Yellow Submarine/Eleanor Rigby” hits.
4. Kicks—Paul Revere & the Raiders
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #4 Hot 100, 9th Biggest Song of 1966
Mark Lindsay was the lead singer on the biggest hit by this American rock band. With a catchy melody and superb guitar riff, “Kicks” is considered the first U.S. top 40 hit that featured an anti-drug message.
3. Wouldn’t It Be Nice—The Beach Boys
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #8 Hot 100, 97th Biggest Song of 1966
From the legendary “Pet Sounds” album by the Beach Boys. Band member Brian Wilson produced this progressive pop-rock masterpiece, as he hired session musicians to play 18 different instruments on the track. I rate “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” as the #1 best sunshine pop single from the 60s.
2. Summer in the City—The Lovin’ Spoonful
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #1 Hot 100, 35th Biggest Single of 1966
The only number 1 hit single for John Sebastian and the Lovin’ Spoonful in the U.S. The hard driving, up-tempo tune utilized many sound-effects such as car horns and a jackhammer tool to mimic city noises. I rank “Summer in the City” as my second favorite summer song of all time.
1. California Dreamin’—The Mamas & the Papas
Peak Positions on Billboard Charts: #4 Hot 100, #1 Biggest Song of 1966
My number 1 single of 1966 was written by John and Michelle Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas (M&P). It became a popular song among many counterculture young folks and a prime example of folk-rock music that originated in Southern California during the mid 60s.
It is interesting that this (M&P) single peaked only at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 but is ranked by the magazine as the #1 biggest hit of 1966. Harmonies on this sunshine pop gem are superb. Without a doubt, I rate “California Dreamin’” as the #1 best single of 1966.
That wraps up what I consider to be my favorite and best singles for 1966. I completely understand that my listing of songs in this category was written from my own point of view and is subjective.
If you were creating a similar register of outstanding 1966 Top 40 hits, your tabulation may be totally different. What do you consider to be the best-preeminent singles from 60 years ago? I hope you will comment below.
Mick Jagger opened the Rolling Stones 1966 hit “Mother’s Little Helper” with these lyrics: “What a drag it is getting old.” Well, Jagger is still living 60 years later at age 82 and can still enjoy music as an elderly man.
While I don’t share Jagger’s sentiments on aging, I am grateful to God for being alive and still having the opportunity to enjoy listening to my favorite 1966 singles here in 2026. Rock on!
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