Jan '66
Originally recorded with just acoustic guitar, producer Tom Wilson adds electric guitar, drums and bass and the song "Sounds of Silence" goes to #1. (video)  (more)
Jan '66
Small Faces have the first of four Top Ten hits in the UK with "Sha La La La Lee", but fail to break through in the US. (video)   (more)
Feb '66
Frank Sinatra's daughter Nancy has a #1 hit with "These Boots Are Made For Walking".
(video)  (more)
Mar '66
Sergeant Barry Sadler goes to #1 with "The Ballad of The Green Beret". (video)  (more)
Apr '66
"Good Lovin" is a #1 smash hit for the Young Rascals. (video)   (more)
May '66
The Mama's and the Papa's go to #1 with "Monday, Monday" their second top ten hit from their debut album. (video)  (more)
May '66
The Beach Boys release their 11th album "Pet Sounds" and score two more top ten hits with "Sloop John B" and "Wouldn't It Be Nice".
(video)  (more)
Soul singer Percy Sledge is #1 with "When a Man Loves a Woman" on Atlantic Records. (video)   (more)
Jun '66
Jun '66
Although not from Massachusetts, The Standells take their song about Boston, "Dirty Water", to #11. (video)  (more)
Jun '66
The Rolling Stones are back on top with the single "Paint It Black" with Brian Jones playing the sitar. (video)  (more)
Jul '66
The Mothers of Invention, with Frank Zappa release their double album debut.    (more)
Jul '66
Frank Sinatra is #1 with the single "Strangers In The Night" featuring the scat outro doo-be-doo-be-doo.  (more)
Jul '66
"Wild Thing" tops the charts by the UK band The Troggs. (video)  (more)
Jul '66
The Byrds move from the folk sound towards psychedelic rock with their third album Fifth Dimension. Featuring the reported drug song "Eight Miles High".   (more)
Aug '66
The Beatles release the album Revolver which goes to #1 in the US and UK. On Aug. 29 they play their last concert at Candlestick Park in San Francisco. after being hounded by the press for the Lennon "Jesus" comment.  (video)  (more)
Aug '66
The Lovin' Spoonful go to #1 with "Summer In The City". (video)  (more)
Sep '66
Following the relase of their first album in Aug. The Monkees TV show debuts on NBC. Driving the song "Last Train to Clarksville" to #1. (video)  (more)
Sep '66
UK folkie gone psychedelic, Donovan, has a #1 hit in the US with "Sunshine Superman". In Nov. he goes to #2 with "Mellow Yellow".  (video) (more)
Oct '66
WOR in New York City becomes the first FM radio station with a rock format. (more)
Oct '66
"Reach Out I'll Be There" goes to #1 for Motown artists The Four Tops.
(more)
Oct '66
? and the Mysterians have their only hit with "96 Tears" which goes to #1.
(video)  (more)
Nov '66
The Supremes chalk up two more #1 hits in '66 with "You Can't Hurry Love" and "You Keep Me Hangin' On". (video)  (more)
Dec '66
Cher has a #2 solo hit with "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" written by Sonny Bono. (more)
Dec '66
The Beach Boys hit #1 with the psychedelic influenced "Good Vibrations". (video)  (more)
May '66
Los Angeles band, Love release their debut album and chart #33 with the single "My Little Red Book".   (more)
May '66
Paul Revere & The Raiders have the first of four top ten hits with "Kicks". They would go on to have 14 top 40 singles in the US, but never chart in the UK.
(video)   (more)
-  R o c k  M u s i c  T i m e l i n e  -
1966
1966
-  R o c k  M u s i c  T i m e l i n e  -
1966
1966
On This Page In
Rock and Roll History
1966:

Simon & Garfunkel
Small Faces
Nancy Sinatra
Ballad of the Green Berets
Young Rascals - Good Lovin'
The Mama's & The Papa's
Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
Love
Paul Revere & The Raiders
Percy Sledge
The Standells - Dirty Water
Rolling Stones -
Paint It Black
The Mothers of Invention
The Troggs - Wild Thing
Frank Sinatra -
Strangers In The Night
The Byrds - Eight Miles High
Psychedelic Rock
The Beatles - Revolver
The Lovin' Spoonful
The Monkees
Donovan
WOR - FM Radio
The Four Tops
? and The Mysterians
Neil Diamond
Count Five
The McCoys
The Who - My Generation
The Byrds - Turn, Turn, Turn

US #1 Hits of 1966
UK #1 Hits of 1966
US #1 Albums of 1966
UK #1 Albums of 1966
"Most rock journalism is people who can't write, interviewing people who can't talk, for people who can't read."   - Frank Zappa
Listen to the Music
From 1966
Press Play To Hear It !
Wolfgang's Vault - Posters
Oct '66
After writing hits for the Monkees and Jay & The Americans, Brooklyn, NY singer, songwriter Neil Diamond breaks into the top ten with his second single "Cherry, Cherry". (more)
Oct '66
San Jose high school combo, Count Five go to #5 with the garage rock classic "Psychotic Reaction".  (more)
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