1966: 20 songs released in 1966 you must hear

The Year 1966 summary

• France withdraws its forces from NATO. President De Gaulle visits the USSR (June 20).
• Sukarno leaves office in Indonesia; Suharto assumes power.
• Botswana, Lesotho, and Guyana become independent states within the British Commonwealth.
• India suffers the worst famine in 20 years; Lyndon Johnson asks for $1 billion in aid to the country.
• US: Medicare begins (July 1).
• US: Supreme Court decides Miranda v. Arizona, protecting rights of the accused.
• –
• Movies: A Man for All Seasons, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Alfie

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My rules:

• Only one song per artist/group
• The song must be released that specific year
• Songs from live albums not allowed
• Restricted to only 20 songs

–

Again a LOT of wonderful music was released in 1966 (actually 1966 might be my fav year in music), hard to pick only 20.

 

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• Visions of Johanna – Bob Dylan

  Written by Dylan & released on his album “Blonde On Blonde” ~May 16, 1966 (possibly as late as July 1966).
  –
  Ain’t it just like the night to play tricks when you’re tryin’ to be so quiet?
  We sit here stranded, though we’re all doin’ our best to deny it
  And Louise holds a handful of rain, temptin’ you to defy it
  Lights flicker from the opposite loft
  In this room the heat pipes just cough
  The country music station plays soft
  But there’s nothing, really nothing to turn off
  Just Louise and her lover so entwined
  And these visions of Johanna that conquer my mind
  –
  
  –
  

• Paint It Black – The Rolling Stone

  
  Written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, and first released as a single on 6 May 1966. It was later included as the opening track to the U.S. version of their 1966 album, Aftermath.
  –
  I see a red door and I want it painted black
  No colors anymore, I want them to turn black
  I see the girls walk by dressed in their summer clothes
  I have to turn my head until my darkness goes
  –
  
  –

• Eleanor Rigby – The Beatles

  Released on the 1966 album Revolver and as a 45 rpm single (5 August 1966). It was written by Paul McCartney, and credited to Lennon–McCartney.
  –
  Ah look at all the lonely people
  Ah look at all the lonely people

  Eleanor Rigby, picks up the rice
  In the church where a wedding has been
  Lives in a dream
  Waits at the window, wearing the face
  That she keeps in a jar by the door
  Who is it for
  –
  
  –

• Substitude – The Who

  
  Written by Pete Townshend. It was released as a single in March 1966, when it reached number 5 in the UK, and was later included on the compilation album Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy in 1971
  –
  You think we look pretty good together
  You think my shoes are made of leatherBut I’m a substitute for another guy
  I look pretty tall but my heels are high
  The simple things you see are all complicated
  I look pretty young, but I’m just back-dated, yeah
  –
  

• Tomorrow Is a Long Time – Elvis Presley

  
  Written by Bob Dylan & released by Elvis Presley on the soundtrack album Spinout in October 1966.
  –
  If today was not an endless highway
  If tonight was not a crooked trail
  If tomorrow wasn’t such a long time
  Then lonesome would mean nothing to you at all
  Yes, and only if my own true love was waitin’
  Yes, and if I could hear her heart a-softly poundin’
  Only if she was lyin’ by me
  Then I’d lie in my bed once again
  –
  

• Hold On, I’m Comin’ – Sam & Dave

  A 1966 single recorded by soul duo Sam & Dave, issued on the Atlantic-distributed Staxin 1966.
  The song was written by the songwriting team of Isaac Hayes and David Porter, who came up with the title of the song spontaneously when Hayes was trying to get Porter to hurry out of the Stax Studios restroom and get back to songwriting
  –
  Don’t you ever feel sad
  Lean on me when times are bad
  When the day comes and you’re down
  In a river of trouble and about to drownJust hold on, I’m comin’
  Hold on, I’m comin’
  –
  

• River Deep, Mountain High – Ike & Tina Turner

  
  1966 single by Ike & Tina Turner. Considered by producer Phil Spector to be his best work.Written by Spector, Jeff Barry, and Ellie Greenwich.
  –
  When I was a little girl
  I had a rag doll
  Only doll I’ve ever owned
  Now I love you just the way I loved that rag doll
  But only now my love has grown
  –
  

  
  
  

• Sunny Afternoon – The Kinks

  
  Written by Ray Davies. Released as a single in June 1966 & later on the album “Face to Face”.
  –
  The tax man’s taken all my dough
  And left me in this stately home
  Lazing on a sunny afternoon
  And I can’t sail my yacht
  He’s taken everything I got
  All I’ve got’s this sunny afternoon
  –
  

• When a Man Loves a Woman – Percy Sledge

  Written by Calvin Lewis and Andrew Wright which was recorded by Percy Sledge in 1966 at Norala Sound Studio in Sheffield, Alabama.
  Released as a single April 1966.
  –
  When a man loves a woman
  Can’t keep his mind on nothing else
  He’ll trade the world
  For the good thing he’s found
  If she’s bad he can’t see it
  She can do no wrong
  Turn his back on his best friend
  If he put her down
  –
  

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• Try a Little Tenderness – Otis Redding

  
  Written by Jimmy Campbell, Reg Connelly and Harry M. Woods, and recorded initially on December 8, 1932 by the Ray Noble Orchestra.
  Otis Redding released his version as a single November 14, 1966.
  –
  Oh, she may be weary
  And young girls they do get weary
  Wearing, that same old, shaggy dress, yeah yeah
  But when she gets weary
  Try, a little tenderness, yeah yeah
  Oh man that……….Uh
  –
  

• The Fugitive – Merle Haggard

  
  “The Fugitive’ (later titled “I’m a Lonesome Fugitive” on the album) is a song recorded by American country music artist Merle Haggard, written by Liz Anderson and Casey Anderson (parents of country music singer Lynn Anderson). It was released in December 1966 as the first single and title track from the album I’m a Lonesome Fugitive. The song was Haggard’s first number one hit on the U.S. country singles chart.
  –
  Down every road there’s always one more city
  I’m on the run the highway is my homeI raised a lot a cane back in my younger days
  While mama used to pray my crops would fail
  Now I’m a hunted fugitive with just two ways
  Outrun the law or spend my life in jail
  –
  

• Good Vibrations – The Beach Boys

  
  Released as a single in October 1966. The song was composed and produced by Brian Wilson with lyrics by Mike Love. Initiated during the sessions for the Pet Sounds album, it was not taken from or issued as a lead single for an album, but rather as a stand-alone single.
  –
  I-I love the colorful clothes she wears
  And the way the sunlight plays upon her hair
  I hear the sound of a gentle word
  On the wind that lifts her perfume through the air
  –
  

• Reach Out I’ll Be There – Four Tops

  
  A 1966 song recorded by the Four Tops for the Motown label. Written and produced by Motown’s main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland, the song is one of the most well-known Motown tunes of the 1960s and is today considered The Tops’ signature song.
  –
  Now, if you feel that you can’t go on
  All your hope is gone
  Life is filled with much confusion
  Happiness is just an illusion
  And your world is tumblin’ downDarling, reach out
  Reach out
  –
  

• Don’t Come Home A Drinkin (With Lovin on Your Mind) – Loretta Lynn

  
  Written by Loretta Lynn & released as a single in November 1966. It is one her best known songs.
  –
  Well you thought I’d be waitin’ up when you came home last night
  You’d been out with all the boys and you ended up half tight
  But liquor and love they just don’t mix leave the bottle or me behind
  And don’t come home a drinkin’ with lovin’ on your mind
  –
  

• Gimme Some Lovin’ – The Spencer Davis Group

  
  Written by Steve Winwood, Spencer Davis and Muff Winwood, although solely credited to “Steve Winwood” on the UK single label, and originally performed by The Spencer Davis Group. Released as a single October 1966.
  –
  Well, my temperature is rising, got my feet on the floor
  Crazy people rocking ’cause they want to some more
  Let me in baby, I don’t know what you got
  But you better take it easy ’cause this place is hot
  –
  

• Eight Miles High – The Byrds

  
  Written by Gene Clark, Jim McGuinn (a.k.a. Roger McGuinn), and David Crosby and first released as a single on March 14, 1966.
  –
  Eight miles high
  And when you touch down
  You’ll find that it’s
  Stranger than known
  –
  

• Friday On My Mind – The Easybeats

  
  Written by band members George Young and Harry Vanda, the track became a worldwide hit. Released as a single in November 1966.
  –
  Monday morning feels so bad
  Everybody seems to nag me
  Comin’ Tuesday I’ll feel better
  Even my old man looks good
  Wednesday just won’t go
  Thursday goes too slow
  I’ve got Friday on my mind
  –
  

• Land of 1000 Dances – Wilson Pickett

  
  “Land of a Thousand Dances” (or “Land of 1000 Dances”) is a song written and first recorded by Chris Kenner in 1963.
  Wilson Pickett recorded the song during his first set of sessions at FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.(He had previously recorded in Memphis.) His recording was released as a single and appeared on his album, The Exciting Wilson Pickett. The single was released in 1966.
  –
  One, two, three
  One, two, three
  Ow! Uh! Alright! Uh!Got to know how to Pony
  Like Bony Moronie
  Mash Potato
  Do The Alligator
  Put your hand on your hips, yeah
  Let your backbone slip
  Do the Watusi
  Like my little Lucy
  –
  

• Knock on wood – Eddie Floyd

  “Knock on Wood” is a 1966 hit song written by Eddie Floyd and Steve Cropper and originally performed by Eddie Floyd. The Eddie Floyd version peaked at #28 on the Hot 100 and spent one week at #1 on the Soul Singles chart. Released in 1966.
  –
  I don’t want to lose you, this good thing
  that I got ’cause if I do
  I will surely,
  surely lose a lot.
  ‘Cause your love is better
  than any love I know.
  It’s like thunder, lightning,
  the way you love me is frightening.
  I’d better knock, on wood, baby.
  –
  

• Happenings Ten Years Time Ago – The Yardbirds

  “Happenings Ten Years Time Ago” was the first single by the British rock band The Yardbirds to feature future Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page in the band.
  Written by Relf, Dreja, McCarty, Beck, Page & released as a single October 1966.
  –
  Meeting people along my way
  Seemingly alone one day
  But in reality of things
  That my dreaming always brings
  –
  

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Spotify playlist:

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-Egil