In 1966 the Stones and the Beatles continued to dominate, and Bob Dylan and Simon & Garfunkel were in their heyday.
Just 50 songs made the list this year (after 52 in ’65).
Unlike most rankings, I won’t be simply tossing these up in a numerical order. Because I know better than anybody that on some days, some songs kick more ass than other songs. A song that is ranked 14th today could very well rank 1st tomorrow, if it suddenly comes on the radio during the perfect moment. So I’ll group them:
Awesome
Great
Solid
Not Bad
Here are videos clips of my favorites from that year, the cream of the crop. At the bottom is the full, expanded list in chart form.
9 Great Songs from 1966
Sunshine Superman – Donovan
Love Is All Around Me – The Troggs
Homeward Bound – Simon & Garfunkel
Yellow Submarine – The Beatles
19th Nervous Breakdown – The Rolling Stones
Guantanamera – The Sandpipers
I’m a Boy – The Who
The Kids Are Alright – The Who
Substitute – The Who
13 Truly Awesome Songs from 1966
I Want You – Bob Dylan
Just Like a Woman – Bob Dylan
Eleanor Rigby – The Beatles
I’m a Believer – The Monkees
Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 – Bob Dylan
I Am a Rock – Simon & Garfunkel
This song was played a million times after breaking up with a girl. Got me through a lot!
Sloop John B – The Beach Boys
Hey Joe – The Jimi Hendrix Experience
Monday, Monday – The Mamas & the Papas
Paint It, Black – The Rolling Stones
Under My Thumb – The Rolling Stones
Wild Thing – The Troggs
Happy Jack – The Who
The above great songs are on a YouTube playlist right here.
Here is the full, expanded list:
| Awesome – 1 | Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 | – | Bob Dylan |
| Awesome – 1 | I Am a Rock | – | Simon & Garfunkel |
| Awesome – 1 | Sloop John B | – | The Beach Boys |
| Awesome – 1 | Hey Joe | – | The Jimi Hendrix Experience |
| Awesome – 1 | Monday, Monday | – | The Mamas & the Papas |
| Awesome – 1 | Paint It, Black | – | The Rolling Stones |
| Awesome – 1 | Under My Thumb | – | The Rolling Stones |
| Awesome – 1 | Wild Thing | – | The Troggs |
| Awesome – 1 | Happy Jack | – | The Who |
| Awesome – 10 | I Want You | – | Bob Dylan |
| Awesome – 10 | Just Like a Woman | – | Bob Dylan |
| Awesome – 10 | Eleanor Rigby | – | The Beatles |
| Awesome – 10 | I’m a Believer | – | The Monkees |
| Great – 14 | Homeward Bound | – | Simon & Garfunkel |
| Great – 14 | Yellow Submarine | – | The Beatles |
| Great – 14 | 19th Nervous Breakdown | – | The Rolling Stones |
| Great – 14 | Guantanamera | – | The Sandpipers |
| Great – 14 | I’m a Boy | – | The Who |
| Great – 14 | The Kids Are Alright | – | The Who |
| Great – 14 | Substitute | – | The Who |
| Great – 14 | Love Is All Around | – | The Troggs |
| Great – 14 | Sunshine Superman | – | Donovan |
| Solid – 23 | Kathy’s Song | – | Simon & Garfunkel |
| Solid – 23 | Stone Free | – | The Jimi Hendrix Experience |
| Solid – 23 | I Fought the Law | – | Bobby Fuller Four |
| Solid – 23 | Mellow Yellow | – | Donovan |
| Solid – 23 | Lil’ Red Riding Hood | – | Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs |
| Solid – 23 | Scarborough Fair | – | Simon & Garfunkel |
| Solid – 23 | Barbara Ann | – | The Beach Boys |
| Solid – 23 | Wouldn’t It Be Nice | – | The Beach Boys |
| Solid – 23 | Good Vibrations | – | The Beach Boys |
| Solid – 23 | Paperback Writer | – | The Beatles |
| Solid – 23 | Eight Miles High | – | The Byrds |
| Solid – 23 | Mother’s Little Helper | – | The Rolling Stones |
| Solid – 23 | Release Me | – | Engelbert Humperdinck |
| Not Bad – 36 | Nowhere Man | – | The Beatles |
| Not Bad – 36 | Good Day Sunshine | – | The Beatles |
| Not Bad – 36 | Summer in the City | – | The Lovin’ Spoonful |
| Not Bad – 36 | Last Train to Clarksville | – | The Monkees |
| Not Bad – 36 | (I’m Not Your) Steppin’ Stone | – | The Monkees |
| Not Bad – 36 | You Can’t Hurry Love | – | The Supremes |
| Not Bad – 36 | For Emily, Whenever I May Find Her | – | Simon & Garfunkel |
| Not Bad – 43 | Secret Agent Man | – | Johnny Rivers |
| Not Bad – 43 | These Boots Are Made for Walkin’ | – | Nancy Sinatra |
| Not Bad – 43 | They’re Coming to Take Me Away Ha Haaa! | – | Napoleon XIV |
| Not Bad – 43 | When a Man Loves a Woman | – | Percy Sledge |
| Not Bad – 43 | You Keep Me Hangin’ On | – | The Supremes |
| Not Bad – 43 | Good Lovin’ | – | The Young Rascals |
| Not Bad – 43 | The Land of 1000 Dances | – | Wilson Pickett |
| Not Bad – 43 | Sunny Afternoon | – | The Kinks |
Dobber's Take 