Songs in this article are from the Billboard Top40 (unmarked), the Billboard Top 100, denoted by (*) and the music surveys of KYA, denoted by (KYA)
July 1966
As we move into July of 1966, some of the songs that would enter the charts this month were “Warm And Tender Love” by Percy Sledge, “Hungry” by Paul Revere & The Raiders, “Billy And Sue” by B.J Thomas, “Where Were You When I Needed You” by The Grassroots, “Somewhere My Love” by Ray Coniff (“Lara’s Theme” from the movie “Dr. Zhivago”), “Searchin’ For My Love” by Bobby Moore & The Rhythm Aces,
“The Pied Piper” by Crispian St. Peters, “Sunny” by Bobby Hebb, “Sweet Dreams” by Tommy McLain (a remake of an earlier Patsy Cline hit), “Lil’ Red Riding Hood” by Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs, “Sweet Pea” by Tommy Roe, “The Impossible Dream” by Jack Jones, “You Can’t Roller Skate In A Buffalo Herd” by Roger Miller, “I Put A Spell On You” by The Alan Price Set (*), “See You In September” by The Happenings, “Summer In The City” by The Lovin’ Spoonful, “I Saw Her Again” by The Mamas & The Papas, “They’re Coming To Take Me Away, Ha Ha” by Napoleon XIV (alias Jerry Samuels), “Wild Thing” by The Troggs, “This Door Swings Both Ways” by Herman’s Hermits and “Blowin’ In The Wind” by Stevie Wonder.
August 1966
Songs that would debut on the charts this month would include “Respectable” by The Outsiders, “Go Ahead And Cry” by The Righteous Brothers, “Distant Shores” by Chad & Jeremy, “Summertime” by Billy Stewart, “Guantanamera” by The Sandpipers, “Land Of 1,000 Dances” by Wilson Pickett, “Sunshine Superman” by Donovan, “Bus Stop” by The Hollies, “Make Me Belong To You” by Barbara Lewis, “You Can’t Hurry Love” by The Supremes, “Just Yesterday” by Al Martino (*), “Turn Down Day” by The Cyrkle, “Yellow Submarine” by The Beatles, “Petticoat White (Summer Sky Blue)” by Bobby Vinton (*), “Wouldn’t It Be Nice” by The Beach Boys, “Wade In The Water” by The Ramsey Lewis Trio, “Say I Am (What I Am)” by Tommy James & The Shondells, “Born A Woman” by Sandy Posey, “Get Away” by Georgie Fame & The Blue Flames (*), “Cast Your Fate To The Wind” by Shelby Flint (*), “Little Darlin’ (I Need You)” by Marvin Gaye (*) and “Almost Persuaded” by David Houston (this was a country crossover hit that had gone to #1 on the country charts).
September 1966
Songs that would debut on the charts this month would include “Cherish” by The Association, “Beauty Is Only Skin Deep” by The Temptations, “What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted” by Jimmy Ruffin, “Black Is Black” by Los Bravos, “Cherry Cherry” by Neil Diamond, “Eleanor Rigby” by The Beatles, “Reach Out, I’ll Be There” by The Four Tops, “It Hurts Me” by Bobby Goldsboro, “Poverty” by Bobby “Blue” Bland, “How Sweet It Is” by Jr. Walker & The All Stars, “Function At The Junction” by Shorty Long, “Summer Wind” by Frank Sinatra, “I’ve Got You Under My Skin” by The Four Seasons, “God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys, “Last Train To Clarksville” by The Monkees, “Walk Away Renee” by The Left Banke, “96 Tears” by Question Mark & The Mysterians, “Open The Door To Your Heart” by Darrell Banks, “Psychotic Reaction” by The Count Five, “7 And 7 Is” by Love by Love, “Mr Dieingly Sad” by The Critters, “There Will Never Be Another You” by Chris Montez and “I Really Don’t Want To Know” by Ronnie Dove.
October 1966
Songs that would debut on the charts this month would include “I Can Make It With You” by The Pozo Seco Singers (featuring Don Williams), “Heaven Must Have Sent You” by The Elgins (*), “It Tears Me Up” by Percy Sledge, “I’m Your Puppet” by James & Bobby Purify, “Girl On A Swing” by Gerry & The Pacemakers, “Hooray For Hazel” by Tommy Roe, “Mr. Spaceman” by The Byrds, “Poor Side Of Town” by Johnny Rivers, “All That I Am” by Elvis Presley (*), “Who Am I” by Petula Clark, “Rain On The Roof” by The Lovin’ Spoonful, “Go Away Little Girl” by The Happenings, “The Great Airplane Strike” by Paul Revere & The Raiders, “Just Like A Woman” by Bob Dylan, “Devil With A Blue Dress”/ “Good Golly Miss Molly” by Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels, “Baby Do The Philly Dog” by the Olympics, “Good Vibrations” by The Beach Boys, “Lady Godiva” by Peter & Gordon, “You Are She” by Chad & Jeremy, “I Just Don’t Know What To Do With Myself” by Dionne Warwick, “If I Were A Carpenter” by Bobby Darin and “Comin’ On Strong” by Brenda Lee.
November 1966
Songs that would hit the charts this month would include “Winchester Cathedral” by The New Vaudville Band, “But It’s Alright” by J.J Jackson (his real name was Jerome Louis Jackson), “Look Through My Window” by The Mamas & The Papas, “You Keep Me Hangin’ On” by The Supremes, “Stop, Stop, Stop” by The Hollies (The Hollies were from Manchester, England), “Tiny Bubbles” by Don Ho (*), “(Come Round Here) I’m The One You Need” by The Miracles, “Whispers (Getting Louder)” by Jackie Wilson (this song would debut on the nation’s Top 40 on the week of November 19, 1966), “I’m Ready For Love” by Martha & The Van Dellas, “Lady Godiva” by Peter & Gordon, “I Got The Feeling (Oh No No )” by Neil Diamond, “A Place In The Sun” by Stevie Wonder, “The Wheel Of Hurt” by Margaret Whiting (Margaret had been one of the top female vocalists in the decade of the 1940’s and now, in November of 1966, she would reach #26 on the nation’s Top 40 with this song), “A Satisfied Mind” by Bobby Hebb, “Knock On Wood” by Eddie Floyd, “I Fooled You This Time” by Gene Chandler (*) and “A Hazy Shade Of Winter” by Simon & Garfunkel.
December 1966
Songs that would debut on the charts this month would include “Standing In The Shadows Of Love” by The Four Tops, “Good Thing” by Paul Revere & The Raiders, “It’s Only Love” by Tommy James & The Shondells (Tommy’s real name was Thomas Jackson and he was born in Dayton. Ohio in 1947), “Sugar Town” by Nancy Sinatra (the daughter of legendary singer Frank Sinatra), “Cry” by Ronnie Dove, “I’m A Believer” and “I’m not Your Steppin’ Stone” by The Monkees, “Tell It Like It Is” by Aaron Neville (this song would peak at #2 on the nation’s Top 40), “Georgy Girl” by The Seekers, “Color My World” by Petula Clark, “Snoopy vs The Red Baron” by The Royal Guardsmen (this group came from Ocala, Florida), “Words Of Love” and “Dancing In The Streets” (*) by The Mamas & The Papas, “Tell It To The Rain” by The Four Seasons, “That’s Life” by Frank Sinatra, “I Know I’m Losing You” by The Temptations, “Nashville Cats” by The Lovin’ Spoonful, “Mustang Sally” by Wilson Pickett and “I’ve Passed This Way Before” by Jimmy Ruffin. 🙂 🙂 🙂
References: “The Billboard Book Of Top 40 hits, 9th Edition” by Joel Whitburn, The Billboard Top 100 and the music surveys of KYA in the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Area.
