We wrapped up the countdown of the #1 hits in 1966 on Thursday and as promised, today we’re playing a long medley of songs from that year that didn’t reach #1 but were still all classics.
I would humbly suggest that most of these songs were better than the songs that did top the charts in 1966, but maybe that’s just me.
I have listed the peak chart position of each song indicated in parentheses next to the artists’ name β¦ with one exception. The final song in the medley was never released as a single but it’s included in the medley because it was one hell of a cover song!
I hope you have enjoyed the weeklong look back at an epic year in music. There’s another one coming up, beginning on Sunday!
Play button is on the left … Volume slider is on the right
Vintage 1966 Medley / Part 6
Paul Revere & The Raiders (#4) – Johnny Rivers (#3)
Shadows of Knight (#10) – Bob Dylan (#20) – Count Five (#5)
Standells (#11) – Hollies (#5) – Beatles (#3)
Mamas & Papas (#5) – Cyrkle (#2) – Bobby Fuller Four (#9)
Byrds (#14) – Young Rascals (album cut)
The Birdies said to tell you YEAH YEAH YEAH….they loved it and so did I. Thanks <3
Thanks, Nancy π
I always love getting those birds up and moving! β₯οΈ
You are right, Ray. Some of these should have been #1’s. Waiting patiently for next week, maybe 1964??
Thanks, Pat. π
Between you and me … you can count on it. π
More great hits from ’66 … now I’m looking forward to ’64 too …. and will check back to see what Fred’s comments are … I find that as I read these now I think of how and where he will incorporate words from the songs. It’s crazy how good he is at it! Rock the Day Ray Have a great week end ….
Thanks, Barbara.
Fred does seem to have a gift for it. π
Ray last knight I thought before it was to late I’d take a magic carpet ride, it was about midnight. I was walkin down the street (I was in the shadow of the knight) I’ll be darned if I didn’t run into Gloria!! She was drinking from a broken cup!! She asked me to count to five and Ray I swear she was looking like a drunken politician. She said she was down by the river talking with Barbara Brill and Pat Conat. Ray they loved that dirty water! They said they were on their way to the bus stop to find the famous Nowhere Man! Silly he has no point of view, I just Cyrkled and thought to myself that’s for the Byrds but I think it’s going to be alright!! Ray Mama and Papa were right, I should have know!! I should not have fought the law cause the law wins!! Oh well Ray I was just a young rascal!!
Fantastic, Fred. Made me laugh out loud, but I’m not really crazy about that dirty water. HA,ha.
Thank you, Fred. π
I have simply run out of superlatives (Wendy will understand) to describe your storytelling. It is astounding!
ROCK ON!
So look forward to your music and history posts. Walks down memory lane and brain sharpeners and learning moments Thank you
Thank you, Mary Helen π
I will be continuing the Entertainment History column and the music medleys, but after Sunday I will drastically be reducing the size of the Daily History columns.
I do appreciate (very much) your support. π
We are always looking for Kicks! But they rarely bring us peace of mind. So why keep leading a life of danger? The odds are against you when you keep secrets. G L O R I A echoes thru the dark streets, it is no secret how he feels. In the morning he is still proclaiming his desires…I want You! But it is unrequited and he is feeling so bad he is having a Psychotic Reaction. He found himself down by the river…in Boston and he was home. At a Bus-top he found new love just because of an umbrella. Finally he was no longer a Nowhere Man. He learns that Words of Love are never enough to keep her. Actions speak so much louder. He knows that the worst is over and the sun is shining so bright and red. He is over his lost love. He has found HIS star fish. The Law of attraction won again!
Ok I have never heard the Young Rascal song before! Another first.
Another year of awesome music! Looking forward to what is next!
Thanks, Donna π
It is a lot of fun watching all of you string these songs into a story. β₯οΈ
Wow Ray, what a group of βalso ransβ! Just goes to show you donβt have to hit #1 to bring joy and have an impact.
Thanks for Secret Agent Man. Love Johnny and that song. I guess I better be careful what I wish for.
I think Bob Dylan came closest to Pop with that song. You could almost just enjoy it without working to decipher it.
The Beatles singing about nothing, they were way ahead of Jerry Sienfeld with that one.
I always felt that the Hollies & the Rascals never got the love or appreciation that they deserved. Hard working bands that delivered a good product every time.
Eight Miles High. I like it as a good song. Is it a drug song? I guess if you want it to be it can be but I like it as a literal statement. Mr Gavin felt otherwise though. Never being a drug user I reserve the right to enjoy the song my way. The guitar work blows me away every time.
Thank you Ray for another fine group of both songs and memories.
Thanks, Don π
Once again we are in agreement on all things musical.
I Want You was indeed a very “poppy” song, one of my favorite Dylan tunes.
The Rascals were so very overlooked. I personally believe Felix Cavaliere taking the Rascals down a more jazz-influenced direction hurt their overall popularity but in the beginning, they were such a great soul band. The Hollies never received the praise they deserved. Some people say the departure of Graham Nash was a big blow because of his songwriting ability but as long as Allan Clarke was still on vocals, the band was still okay with me.
If the Byrds say it was about a trip to London, then that’s good enough for me. Sadly, it was the last gasp of the Gene Clark era, but McGuinn’s John Coltrane influenced guitar remains a high point.
I guess I was fortunate to select your favorite Johnny Rivers song before I knew it was your favorite Johnny Rivers song … or maybe we ARE related! π
Amen Ray, brothers for sure, at least musically. Good fun discussing the best music ever! Nice to find someone who shares my passion.