The 40 Best Songs of 1966

Numbers 40 to 36

40. My Little Red Book – Love

Arthur Lee & Love did a tremendous version of this Bacharach/David song. The insistent driving beat of their arrangement contrasts nicely with the obsessive love story recounted in the lyrics.

39. Wouldn’t It Be Nice – The Beach Boys

The opening track of the Beach Boys’ classic album Pet Sounds, this song beautifully portrays the impatient desires of youth. It made it up to number eight on the Billboard charts and is one of Brian Wilson’s most-beloved compositions.

38. You Keep Me Hangin’ On – The Supremes

The Supremes spent two weeks in November 1966 at the top of the charts with this song. The Funk Brothers really outdid themselves on this one. The feel of the song is a sort of early funk. It inspired several good remakes over the years.

37. Spoonful – Cream

Cream recorded Willie Dixon’s blues classic “Spoonful” for their debut album, Fresh Cream. It was a perfect example of the type of blues jam that was so in vogue with British bands at the time.

36. Dead End Street

– The Kinks

Ray Davies’ vivid story of British working class existence was a much bigger hit in the UK than it was in the States. I like the Kinks and I think this song deserves a place on this list.

Comments and opinions are welcome and encouraged.

I'd love to hear what my readers think.

Thank you for your interest.

The Ten Best Albums of 1966

Number 10

If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears – The Mamas and the Papas

Released in March of 1966

Side One:

1. Monday, Monday

2. Straight Shooter

3. Got a Feelin’

4. I Call Your Name

5. Do You Wanna Dance?

6. Go Where You Wanna Go

Side Two:

1. California Dreamin’

2. Spanish Harlem

3. Somebody Groovy

4. Hey Girl

5. You Baby

6. The ‘In’ Crowd

I had really only known this album from "Monday, Monday" & "California Dreamin'", and it did fairly well in my estimation just from that. I recently started listening to the whole thing and I find that several of the songs that I hadn't been familiar with are quite good. The harmonies are wonderful and I had never realized just how great of a singer Cass Elliott was. I especially like "Straight Shooter" and their cover of the Beatles' "I Call Your Name."

   

Before we get to the music of 1966 and then the movies of 1967, I’m going to finish things off with a combination of the cerebral and the physical, Books and Sports.

The Great Books of 1966

In Cold Blood – Truman Capote

Tai-Pan – James Clavell

Octopussy and The Living Daylights – Ian Fleming

The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress – Robert A. Heinlein

Human Sexual Response – William Masters & Virginia E. Johnson

The Last Picture Show – Larry McMurtry

The Crying of Lot 49 – Thomas Pynchon

Wide Sargasso Sea – Jean Rhys

In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash – Jean Shepherd

Valley of the Dolls – Jacqueline Susann

Hell’s Angels: The Strange and Terrible Saga of the Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs – Hunter S. Thompson

Sports of 1966

*World Series – The Baltimore Orioles win 4 games to 0 over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

*NBA Finals – The Boston Celtics win 4 games to 3 over the Los Angeles Lakers.

*Super Bowl I – The Green Bay Packers win 35-10 over the Kansas City Chiefs.

*College Football champions – The Notre Dame Fighting Irish & the Michigan State Spartans (shared).

*Stanley Cup – The Montreal Canadiens win 4 games to 2 over the Detroit Red Wings.

*World Cup Soccer – England wins 4-2 over West Germany.

Coming up next, the 40 Best Songs and the 10 Best Albums of 1966.

As always, let me know what you think.

Comments and opinions are encouraged and appreciated.

Thank you for your interest.