The 40 Best Songs of 1966

Numbers 25 to 21

25. Reach Out, I’ll Be There – The Four Tops

The Tops spent two weeks at number one with this Motown classic. Levi Stubbs really tears it up with growls and shouts. The bunch at American Idol have played this song to death, but it still holds its power despite the overuse and deserves its place on this list.

24. Let’s Go Get Stoned – Ray Charles

Here’s another video that I made. Ray Charles and Betty Boop do make an interesting combo. While you would think the song was about drugs, it’s actually a drinking song. It went to number one on the R&B charts and was one of Ray’s best songs of the late 60’s.

23. Break Down and Let It All Out – Nina Simone

This may be a surprising choice that you might be unfamiliar with, but I adore Nina Simone. This was never a single. It was a track off her album “Wild is the Wind.” It is also a tremendous song and Nina sings with such passion and feeling that you get completely drawn in. Check it out. I hope you like it.

22. You’re Gonna Miss Me – The 13^th Floor Elevators

The boys from Austin are back with their only real hit single. It only went to number 55, but has grown to be a true classic and found new fans when it was used in a commercial for Dell computers back in ’06.

21. And Your Bird Can Sing – The Beatles

One of the best guitar hooks in the Fab Four’s repertoire. Just a great song.

Comments and opinions are welcome and encouraged.

Thank you for your interest.

The Ten Best Albums of 1966

Number 7

Face to Face – The Kinks

Released on October 28, 1966

Side One:

1. Party Line

2. Rosie Won’t You Please Come Home

3. Dandy

4. Too Much on My Mind

5. Session Man

6. Rainy Day in June

7. A House in the Country

Side Two:

1. Holiday in Waikiki

2. Most Exclusive Residence for Sale

3. Fancy

4. Little Miss Queen of Darkness

5. You’re Lookin’ Fine

6. Sunny Afternoon

7. I’ll Remember

Ray Davies wrote all the songs on this album and it marks the beginnings of an incredibly fertile creative period for him. He told vivid stories of British life and the Kinks embodied the spirit of Britain more deeply than any of the other British invasion bands. My personal favorites from the album would be A House In The Country, Party Line, Holiday In Waikiki, and Sunny Afternoon.

Comments and opinions are encouraged and appreciated.

Thank you for your interest.

The 40 Best Songs of 1966

Numbers 30 to 26

30. Psychotic Reaction – Count Five

A number five hit for one-hit wonders Count Five, this is one of the most well-remembered of any of the big garage band songs to come out of the mid-60’s. Love that fuzzy guitar sound.

29. Sometimes I Think About – The Blues Magoos

I hope you like this video, because I made it. The Blues Magoos hit the scene in ‘66 with their debut album, the magnificent “Psychedelic Lollipop”, which should have been a massive hit, but unfortunately wasn’t. They stepped back a bit from the psychedelia here and produced one of the finest blues-rock songs of the decade.

28. Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat – Bob Dylan

Another great Dylan lyric. I think it’s about consumerism in our society, but I’ve seen a couple of other interpretations. It’s a great song any way you look at it.

27. Sunshine Superman – Donovan

Donovan had a number one hit with this one. The Superman and Green Lantern references really make the song for me, but that’s just my natural comic book geek coming out.

26. Mustang Sally – Wilson Pickett

Wicked Pickett, the man from Prattville. I was born and raised in Alabama, so I tend to take a little pride in some of the great artists that came out of that state and Wilson Pickett was one of the best.

Comments and opinions are welcome and encouraged.

Thank you for your interest.