1966 Year-End Hot 100 Rankdown (#1 Revealed)

[Optical Apex]

Hello guys. I have actually not been active on Pulse but I have viewed other rankdowns. My favorite sub-section is Alternative and Rock rankdowns. However, I have also taken interest in music from the 1960s. Here, I thought it might be interesting to start some rankdowns based on this decade. Even though most of us were not alive at the time (My parents were born in the 1960s), I do find a lot of the music highly memorable and unique and definitely lays so much of the foundation for the hit music of the future, such as R&B, disco, alternative/rock, pop, new wave, and funk. I chose 1966 because this year sticks out as having so many memorable hits that still have stood the test of time, even while some may have not. Here, we can find out which ones truly have.

Anyway, 1966 was a year that some of the best folk, early hard rock, and Motown truly hit the airwaves. So let's dig in.

Note: [as of 5/26/22] Was set to be due on 5/21 but an extension was set to 5/29 for others to get extra time. Reveals will be on 5/29 at 8 PM

Participants: (Already sent lists)
singingrulebritannia
DJDaveMick69
gonecountry

Tags:

@gabingston craziaskowboi Doc Indie Party Rock campbellssoup Red BB🌕 wyckyd Human Clay annoymous1 gonecountry Butterflies & Hurricanes Sambalada Leaf samo🦕 razorshark Gonza'90 wrip rowellfarm490 Fire DadJokes @crapkuki23 Mayman American Idiot Daryl the Beryl Geometrical wheatsquares33 aerodynamite willapted33 Golden Bluebird peacebone matteeeb HolidayGuy  DJDaveMick69  Clode  tanooki  madison  tuna  spicymapping  𝓲𝓽'𝓼.𝓰𝓿  Zach  mikerivera  phieaglesfan712  SHOOTER  Shadows in the Dark  YotamTS  🌺CountryLineDancer  LBTrocks

[Optical Apex]

Well, you cant have a rankdown without the songs, can you?

Anyway, here is the list of songs that made the Year End in 1966, a whole 55 years ago! Many of these are probably artists most of us have never heard of, but some are probably familiar to most of us. And some are forgotten for a reason. But that's ok, we have time to listen to these songs. I'm giving a lot of time so that we have enough participants, and may even extend the deadline by a month or so. I'm in college right now so I may not process or respond to lists until the middle of May, but anyway, here are the songs.

1. Sgt. Barry Sadler - The Ballad Of The Green Berets
2. The Association - Cherish
3. Righteous Brothers - (You’re My) Soul And Inspiration
4. Four Tops - Reach Out I’ll Be There
5. Question Mark and The Mysterians - 96 Tears
6. The Monkees - Last Train To Clarksville
7. The Mamas and The Papas - Monday, Monday
8. The Supremes - You Can’t Hurry Love
9. Johnny Rivers - Poor Side Of Town
10. The Mamas and The Papas - California Dreamin’
11. The Lovin’ Spoonful - Summer In The City
12. Roger Williams - Born Free
13. Nancy Sinatra - These Boots Are Made For Walkin’
14. Jimmy Ruffin - What Becomes of The Brokenhearted
15. Frank Sinatra - Strangers In The Night
16. The Beatles - We Can Work It Out
17. The Young Rascals - Good Lovin’
18. New Vaudeville Band - Winchester Cathedral
19. Tommy James and The Shondells - Hanky Panky
20. Percy Sledge - When a Man Loves a Woman
21. The Rolling Stones - Paint It, Black
22. Petula Clark - My Love
23. Lou Christie - Lightin’ Strikes
24. The Troggs - Wild Thing
25. Paul Revere and The Raiders - Kicks
26. Donovan - Sunshine Superman
27. Bobby Hebb - Sunny
28. The Beatles - Paperback Writer
29. The Happenings - See You In September
30. The Supremes - You Keep Me Hangin’ On
31. Sam The Sham and The Pharaohs - Lil’ Red Riding Hood
32. Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels - Devil With a Blue Dress On/ Good Golly Miss Molly
33. The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations
34. The Mindbenders - A Groovy Kind Of Love
35. Dusty Springfield - You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me
36. The Capitols - Cool Jerk
37. Sandy Posey - Born a Woman
38. The Cyrkle - Red Rubber Ball
39. Carla Thomas - B-A-B-Y
40. The Left Banke - Walk Away Renee
41. The Lovin’ Spoonful - Daydream
42. The Outsiders - Time Won’t Let Me
43. Tommy Roe - Hooray For Hazel
44. Tommy Roe - Sweet Pea
45. The Hollies - Bus Stop
46. James and Bobby Purify - I’m Your Puppet
47. B.J. Thomas and the Triumphs - I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry
48. The Temptations - Ain’t Too Proud To Beg
49. The Standells - Dirty Water
50. Bob Lind - Elusive Butterfly
51. Simon and Garfunkel - I Am A Rock
52. Ray Charles - Crying Time
53. Johnny Rivers - Secret Agent Man
54. Simon and Garfunkel - The Sound of Silence
55. Peter and Gordon - Lady Godiva
56. Simon and Garfunkel - Homeward Bound
57. The Lovin’ Spoonful - Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?
58. Robert Parker - Barefootin’
59. Stevie Wonder - Uptight (Everything’s Alright)
60. Cher - Bang Bang
61. The Beach Boys - Sloop John B
62. The Rolling Stones - 19th Nervous Breakdown
63. The Surfaris - Wipe Out
64. Count Five - Psychotic Reaction
65. The Temptations - Beauty Is Only Skin Deep
66. The T-Bones - No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach Is In)
67. Paul Revere and The Raiders - Just Like Me
68. Deon Jackson - Love Makes the World Go Round
69. Crispian St. Peters - The Pied Piper
70. Brenda Lee - Coming On Strong
71. The Ray Conniff Singers - Somewhere, My Love
72. David Houston - Almost Persuaded
73. Bobby Darin - If I Were a Carpenter
74. The Marvelettes - Don’t Mess With Bill
75. Neil Diamond - Cherry, Cherry
76. Lee Dorsey - Working in the Coal Mine
77. Dionne Warwick - Message To Michael
78. Lou Rawls - Love is A Hurtin’ Thing
79. The Beach Boys - Barbara Ann
80. Shadows of Knight - Gloria
81. The Supremes - My World Is Empty Without You
82. Bob Dylan - Rainy Day Women #12 and 35
83. The Sandpipers - Guantanamera
84. Wilson Pickett - Land of 1,000 Dances
85. Shades of Blue - Oh, How Happy
86. Peter and Gordon - Woman
87. The Turtles - You Baby
88. The Vogues - Five O’clock World
89. Los Bravos - Black is Black
90. The Beatles - Nowhere Man
91. Herman’s Hermits - Dandy
92. Slim Harpo - Baby Scratch My Back
93. Gary Lewis and the Playboys - She’s Just My Style
94. Chris Montez - The More I See You
95. Bobby Fuller Four - I Fought the Law
96. The Beatles - Yellow Submarine
97. Paul Revere and the Raiders - Hungry
98. Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass - Zorba the Greek
99. The Yardbirds - Shapes of Things
100. Wilson Pickett - Soulsville USA (634-5789)

Edit (5/16/22): I just added a version without the numbers:

SPOILER: Click to show

{Un-Numbered Songs}
Sgt. Barry Sadler - The Ballad Of The Green Berets
The Association - Cherish
Righteous Brothers - (You’re My) Soul And Inspiration
Four Tops - Reach Out I’ll Be There
Question Mark and The Mysterians - 96 Tears
The Monkees - Last Train To Clarksville
The Mamas and The Papas - Monday, Monday
The Supremes - You Can’t Hurry Love
Johnny Rivers - Poor Side Of Town
The Mamas and The Papas - California Dreamin’
The Lovin’ Spoonful - Summer In The City
Roger Williams - Born Free
Nancy Sinatra - These Boots Are Made For Walkin’
Jimmy Ruffin - What Becomes of The Brokenhearted
Frank Sinatra - Strangers In The Night
The Beatles - We Can Work It Out
The Young Rascals - Good Lovin’
New Vaudeville Band - Winchester Cathedral
Tommy James and The Shondells - Hanky Panky
Percy Sledge - When a Man Loves a Woman
The Rolling Stones - Paint It, Black
Petula Clark - My Love
Lou Christie - Lightin’ Strikes
The Troggs - Wild Thing
Paul Revere and The Raiders - Kicks
Donovan - Sunshine Superman
Bobby Hebb - Sunny
The Beatles - Paperback Writer
The Happenings - See You In September
The Supremes - You Keep Me Hangin’ On
Sam The Sham and The Pharaohs - Lil’ Red Riding Hood
Mitch Ryder and The Detroit Wheels - Devil With a Blue Dress On/ Good Golly Miss Molly
The Beach Boys - Good Vibrations
The Mindbenders - A Groovy Kind Of Love
Dusty Springfield - You Don’t Have to Say You Love Me
The Capitols - Cool Jerk
Sandy Posey - Born a Woman
The Cyrkle - Red Rubber Ball
Carla Thomas - B-A-B-Y
The Left Banke - Walk Away Renee
The Lovin’ Spoonful - Daydream
The Outsiders - Time Won’t Let Me
Tommy Roe - Hooray For Hazel
Tommy Roe - Sweet Pea
The Hollies - Bus Stop
James and Bobby Purify - I’m Your Puppet
B.J. Thomas and the Triumphs - I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry
The Temptations - Ain’t Too Proud To Beg
The Standells - Dirty Water
Bob Lind - Elusive Butterfly
Simon and Garfunkel - I Am A Rock
Ray Charles - Crying Time
Johnny Rivers - Secret Agent Man
Simon and Garfunkel - The Sound of Silence
Peter and Gordon - Lady Godiva
Simon and Garfunkel - Homeward Bound
The Lovin’ Spoonful - Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?
Robert Parker - Barefootin’
Stevie Wonder - Uptight (Everything’s Alright)
Cher - Bang Bang
The Beach Boys - Sloop John B
The Rolling Stones - 19th Nervous Breakdown
The Surfaris - Wipe Out
Count Five - Psychotic Reaction
The Temptations - Beauty Is Only Skin Deep
The T-Bones - No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach Is In)
Paul Revere and The Raiders - Just Like Me
Deon Jackson - Love Makes the World Go Round
Crispian St. Peters - The Pied Piper
Brenda Lee - Coming On Strong
The Ray Conniff Singers - Somewhere, My Love
David Houston - Almost Persuaded
Bobby Darin - If I Were a Carpenter
The Marvelettes - Don’t Mess With Bill
Neil Diamond - Cherry, Cherry
Lee Dorsey - Working in the Coal Mine
Dionne Warwick - Message To Michael
Lou Rawls - Love is A Hurtin’ Thing
The Beach Boys - Barbara Ann
Shadows of Knight - Gloria
The Supremes - My World Is Empty Without You
Bob Dylan - Rainy Day Women #12 and 35
The Sandpipers - Guantanamera
Wilson Pickett - Land of 1,000 Dances
Shades of Blue - Oh, How Happy
Peter and Gordon - Woman
The Turtles - You Baby
The Vogues - Five O’clock World
Los Bravos - Black is Black
The Beatles - Nowhere Man
Herman’s Hermits - Dandy
Slim Harpo - Baby Scratch My Back
Gary Lewis and the Playboys - She’s Just My Style
Chris Montez - The More I See You
Bobby Fuller Four - I Fought the Law
The Beatles - Yellow Submarine
Paul Revere and the Raiders - Hungry
Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass - Zorba the Greek
The Yardbirds - Shapes of Things
Wilson Pickett - Soulsville USA (634-5789)

[Optical Apex]

Here is the spotify playlist. Its listed backwards but it's the best I could find.

[Optical Apex]

Surprisingly, only one song was missing, which was "If I Were A Carpenter" by Bobby Darin, who had a much larger hit almost a decade earlier called "Mack the Knife". However, I knew this song best from a Johnny Cash cover version, and the Four Tops, who have another hit on this list, also covered this song.

[Sambalada]

I'm interested in sending but like... are you sure?

[Optical Apex]

Apr 17, 2021 21:04:42 GMT -5 Sambalada said:

I'm interested in sending but like... are you sure?

What do you mean?

[Butterflies & Hurricanes]

so many of these have had cover versions that were also hits...this could be a fun rankdown

[Deleted]

Apr 17, 2021 21:32:06 GMT -5 Optical Apex said:

Apr 17, 2021 21:04:42 GMT -5 Sambalada said:

I'm interested in sending but like... are you sure?

What do you mean?

I'm not sure how many people will participate in a rankdown for a year this far back.

[Optical Apex]

Apr 18, 2021 17:29:09 GMT -5 @gabingston said:

Apr 17, 2021 21:32:06 GMT -5 Optical Apex said:

What do you mean?

I'm not sure how many people will participate in a rankdown for a year this far back.

That's part of the reason I'm trying to leave it open for awhile, maybe I can at least get about 15-20 participants. But yeah, not expecting nearly as many for this as for a modern year rankdown.

[Deleted]

Apr 18, 2021 17:52:17 GMT -5 Optical Apex said:

Apr 18, 2021 17:29:09 GMT -5 @gabingston said:

I'm not sure how many people will participate in a rankdown for a year this far back.

That's part of the reason I'm trying to leave it open for awhile, maybe I can at least get about 15-20 participants. But yeah, not expecting nearly as many for this as for a modern year rankdown.

I'll be honest, music from the 60s doesn't really interest me a whole lot. I barely know anything from that era aside from the songs that have cemented themselves in popular culture, and the antiquated production technology makes listening to a lot of songs from back then difficult.
However, I would participate in a 1969 Rankdown for the simple reason that my mom was born that year (same with 1970 for my dad).

[Optical Apex]

Apr 18, 2021 19:28:32 GMT -5 @gabingston said:

Apr 18, 2021 17:52:17 GMT -5 Optical Apex said:

That's part of the reason I'm trying to leave it open for awhile, maybe I can at least get about 15-20 participants. But yeah, not expecting nearly as many for this as for a modern year rankdown.

I'll be honest, music from the 60s doesn't really interest me a whole lot. I barely know anything from that era aside from the songs that have cemented themselves in popular culture, and the antiquated production technology makes listening to a lot of songs from back then difficult.
However, I would participate in a 1969 Rankdown for the simple reason that my mom was born that year (same with 1970 for my dad).

Mine were born in 67 and 62, though I dont think too many people would participate in a 1962 rankdown - Now that's REALLY antiquated music

[Doc Indie Party Rock]

Great idea for retro rankdowns. I know some of these jams from my dad's old 45's collection. I might give this one a shot.

[singingrulebritannia]

The "Cryin' Time" in the playlist seems to be a duet version with Barbra Streisand from 1973. The original isn't on Spotify so I understand why it's there, but I believe this is the version that was actually popular in 1966:

[Optical Apex]

Apr 20, 2021 3:16:44 GMT -5 singingrulebritannia said:

The "Cryin' Time" in the playlist seems to be a duet version with Barbra Streisand from 1973. The original isn't on Spotify so I understand why it's there, but I believe this is the version that was actually popular in 1966:

Thanks for noticing that. Two other songs also have different versions then the "main" version, I'll post those next.

[Optical Apex]

"Born Free" (#12 on here) is on the playlist but that version is instrumental, so we're gonna rank the version with vocals instead. Fun fact: This song spent 21 weeks on the chart, making it the longest-running song in 1966. It's a bit on the outdated side even compared to others on here, though.

[Optical Apex]

The alternative version of "Winchester Cathedral" by The New Vaudeville Band. This version probably sounds a little better than the Spotify version. Winchester Cathedral starts around the 2:45 mark in the video. (As of 12/11, the original was replaced with a new one, since the original video was removed)

[singingrulebritannia]

Continuing to work through the songs and ranking them--I noticed another odd quirk of the playlist. The creator seems to have put in some weird bad re-recording of "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep". The original is on Spotify, and it's even the first result when you search the song. Maybe this wasn't the case in 2017 when this person made the playlist, IDK.

[Sambalada]

Apr 18, 2021 17:29:09 GMT -5 @gabingston said:

Apr 17, 2021 21:32:06 GMT -5 Optical Apex said:

What do you mean?

I'm not sure how many people will participate in a rankdown for a year this far back.

Nah it's fine I'm gonna send for this

[Optical Apex]

Apr 20, 2021 4:32:00 GMT -5 singingrulebritannia said:

Continuing to work through the songs and ranking them--I noticed another odd quirk of the playlist. The creator seems to have put in some weird bad re-recording of "Beauty Is Only Skin Deep". The original is on Spotify, and it's even the first result when you search the song. Maybe this wasn't the case in 2017 when this person made the playlist, IDK.

Thanks for the help

[razorshark]

I've been interested in digging deeper into this year end list lately. Tag me in results if I don't get around to this please.

[Optical Apex]

Apr 20, 2021 10:59:27 GMT -5 razorshark said:

I've been interested in digging deeper into this year end list lately. Tag me in results if I don't get around to this please.

Alright

[Optical Apex]

Remember guys, no need to rush. It's good to take your time. Sometimes you might enjoy certain songs after a 2nd or 3rd listen. This isnt due for a while since I know many people wont be participating, which is all good. I'm going to add 1 or 2 extras each week too, not for the rankdown lists but just for fun. Hope you guys enjoy the music.

[Red]

I think you're going to be surprised by the amount of people that wind up submitting for this (or maybe I'm hoping that's the case). There's a case to be made for 1966 being the single best year-end list in Hot 100 history, and people will be interested just based on that alone. Maybe if you did pick 1962, I could see there being less interest, but this is the kind of year that has a reputation for being insanely good. There's just so many classic songs in 1966 that it's hard to avoid. There's great/well-known songs in the last twenty songs of this list, let alone higher up.

[Deleted]

Apr 20, 2021 20:13:57 GMT -5 Red said:

I think you're going to be surprised by the amount of people that wind up submitting for this (or maybe I'm hoping that's the case). There's a case to be made for 1966 being the single best year-end list in Hot 100 history, and people will be interested just based on that alone. Maybe if you did pick 1962, I could see there being less interest, but this is the kind of year that has a reputation for being insanely good. There's just so many classic songs in 1966 that it's hard to avoid. There's great/well-known songs in the last twenty songs of this list, let alone higher up.

I think a good barometer would be to see if 1983 (another year with a reputation as a great year for music, and for good reason) got more participants than other years from the 80s.

[Optical Apex]

Apr 20, 2021 21:08:06 GMT -5 @gabingston said:

Apr 20, 2021 20:13:57 GMT -5 Red said:

I think you're going to be surprised by the amount of people that wind up submitting for this (or maybe I'm hoping that's the case). There's a case to be made for 1966 being the single best year-end list in Hot 100 history, and people will be interested just based on that alone. Maybe if you did pick 1962, I could see there being less interest, but this is the kind of year that has a reputation for being insanely good. There's just so many classic songs in 1966 that it's hard to avoid. There's great/well-known songs in the last twenty songs of this list, let alone higher up.

I think a good barometer would be to see if 1983 (another year with a reputation as a great year for music, and for good reason) got more participants than other years from the 80s.

1983 had 28 participants, and most of the 80s rankdowns seem to have around 20-25 participants.

[wyckyd]

I was hoping we’d get to doing ‘60s/‘70s rankdowns sometime! I’m totally down for this!

[Gonza'90]

I'm in

[Human Clay]

Won't be participating in this but here's what my Top 10 of the year would be:
1. Paint It Black
2. California Dreamin'
3. Secret Agent Man
4. The Sound of Silence
5. Uptight (Everything's Alright)
6. Homeward Bound
7. Wild Thing
8. 19th Nervous Breakdown
9. We Can Work It Out
10. Summer in the City

[Optical Apex]

Apr 26, 2021 13:14:23 GMT -5 Human Clay said:

Won't be participating in this but here's what my Top 10 of the year would be:
1. Paint It Black
2. California Dreamin'
3. Secret Agent Man
4. The Sound of Silence
5. Uptight (Everything's Alright)
6. Homeward Bound
7. Wild Thing
8. 19th Nervous Breakdown
9. We Can Work It Out
10. Summer in the City

I can imagine that like half of those will end up in the top 10, all will probably make top 50

[annoymous1]

I'm in (if there's still a spot open)! My favorite YE from the 60s.