← 1965 | ![]() |
1967 → |
Album Chart of 1966 |



A PROGRESSIVE YEAR FOR MUSIC - AND THE FIRST DOUBLE ALBUMS IN “ROCK”
“We're more popular than Jesus now; I don't know which will go first - rock 'n' roll or Christianity” ~ John Lennon, London Evening Standard, 4 March 1966.
I love John. You’ve just got to laugh with him. Despite his cocky boasting, Bob Dylan prevails as the Planet’s Supreme musical Being, according to Rebel sensibilities, for the FOURTH consecutive year.
As if to underline his majestic credentials, his “Blonde on Blonde” masterpiece stands as the first set of “Rock” songs to be issued on the double long play format, clocking in just shy of the 72 minute mark. The Jazz and Classical markets had been producing such sets since 1950, and even Johnny Cash had got involved in 1965, but Dylan's ambitious release was regarded as an influential landmark in the story of the album.
Hot on Dylan's heels with a 4-sided set (just 7 days later) were Frank Zappa’s MOV crusaders with their 66 minute “Freak Out!”, openly disdainful of authority and disgusted with religion, paving the way for the counter-culture revolutionaries.
Dylan, Zappa, Love and The Stones all thought it'd be a good idea to include extended 10+ minute “epics” within their vinyl grooves this year – only Sir Bob had the nous to pull it off. This development does not bode well for Rock n Roll animals.
Musically, following close behind Dylan for sheer song power, were keen disciples Paul and Art, with two mighty long players to their credit.
Albums from The Beatles, The Kinks and The Beach Boys demonstrated phenomenal song writing growth, whilst The Rolling Stones displayed tantalising glimpses of comparable innovation.
Pushing it one step beyond all pretenders were the Monks, with überbeats from Köln, hitherto unplayed on this wondrous little globe of ours.
Amongst the higher quality LPs introducing the genre tag “psychedelia” onto albums for the first time, were offerings from The Beatles, The Seeds, Blues Magoos, Donovan, Love, The Mothers Of Invention and 13th Floor Elevators.
The entire Top 20 has a rating of 7 or higher – the strength in depth, to my ears, becomes greater with each passing year.
The Jukebox Rebel
06-Jan-2016
revised 17-Feb-2016

Bob Dylan
Columbia C2L-41


Jukebox picks: “One Of Us Must Know (Sooner Or Later)” (10) • “Visions Of Johanna” (10) • “Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat” (10)


Monks
International Polydor Production 249 900


Jukebox picks: “I Hate You” (10) • “Blast Off!” (9.6) • “Monk Time” (9.5)


Simon and Garfunkel
Columbia CL-2563


Jukebox picks: “Homeward Bound” (10) • “The Big Bright Green Pleasure Machine” (9.1) • “The 59th Street Bridge Song (Feelin’ Groovy)” (8.7)


Simon and Garfunkel
Columbia CL-2469


Jukebox picks: “The Sounds Of Silence [’65 single version]” (10) • “Blessed” (9.7) • “I Am A Rock” (9.4)


The Beatles
Parlophone PMC-7009


Jukebox picks: “Eleanor Rigby” (10) • “Tomorrow Never Knows” (10) • “Taxman” (9.8)


Them
Decca LK-4751


Jukebox picks: “Turn On Your Love Light” (10) • “Call My Name” (9.4) • “I Can Only Give You Everything” (9.3)


The Kinks
Pye Records NPL-18149


Jukebox picks: “Rainy Day In June” (9.6) • “Most Exclusive Residence For Sale” (9.5) • “Session Man” (9.4)


The Seeds
GNP Crescendo GNP-2033


Jukebox picks: “Up In Her Room” (10) • “Mr. Farmer” (9.2) • “A Faded Picture” (8.3)


The Beach Boys
Capitol Records T-2458


Jukebox picks: “Sloop John B” (10) • “I’m Waiting For The Day” (10) • “God Only Knows” (9.7)


Irma Thomas
Imperial LP-9302


Jukebox picks: “Take A Look” (10) • “You Don’t Miss A Good Thing (Until It’s Gone)” (8.8) • “Anyone Who Knows What Love Is (Will Understand)” (8.2)


Judy Collins
Elektra EKS-7320


Jukebox picks: “Liverpool Lullaby” (8.6) • “La Colombe” (8.5) • “Dress Rehearsal Rag” (8.5)


Blues Magoos
Mercury SR-61096


Jukebox picks: “(We Ain’t Got) Nothin’ Yet” (9.3) • “I’ll Go Crazy” (9.2) • “Gotta Get Away” (8.4)


The Seeds
GNP Crescendo GNP-2023


Jukebox picks: “Pushin’ Too Hard” (9.4) • “Can’t Seem To Make You Mine” (9.3) • “No Escape” (8.6)


The Dubliners
Transatlantic Records TRA-139


Jukebox picks: “Nelson’s Farewell [live ’66]” (9.8) • “Surrounded By Water (The Sea Around Us) [live ’66]” (8.4) • “McAlpine’s Fusiliers [live ’66]” (8.3)


Otis Redding
Volt VOLT-413


Jukebox picks: “Good To Me” (9.1) • “634-5789 (Soulsville, U.S.A.)” (8.5) • “Just One More Day” (8.1)


Donovan
Epic LN-24217


Jukebox picks: “Ferris Wheel” (9.3) • “Season Of The Witch” (8.7) • “Sunshine Superman” (8.6)


The Mothers Of Invention
Verve Records V6-5005-2


Jukebox picks: “Trouble Every Day” (9.5) • “Hungry Freaks, Daddy” (9.1) • “Help, I’m A Rock” (8.9)


Mahotella Queens
Motella LMO-101


Jukebox picks: “We Boy” (8.4) • “Kuqale Bani” (8.2) • “Hamba Mzala” (7.7)


Love
Elektra EKS-74005


Jukebox picks: “Stephanie Knows Who” (8.6) • “7 And 7 Is” (8.2) • “She Comes In Colors” (8.0)


Otis Redding
Volt VOLT-415


Jukebox picks: “Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song)” (9.6) • “My Lover’s Prayer” (9.2) • “Day Tripper” (7.3)


Ken Nordine
Philips PHM 200-224


Jukebox picks: “Flesh” (10) • “Beige” (9.4) • “Crimson” (9.1)


The Mamas and The Papas
Dunhill DS-50006


Jukebox picks: “Monday, Monday” (9.7) • “California Dreamin'” (9.3) • “Go Where You Wanna Go” (7.8)


The Incredible String Band
Elektra EUK-254


Jukebox picks: “Footsteps Of The Heron” (9.3) • “Can’t Keep Me Here” (8.9) • “Maybe Someday” (8.8)


The Rolling Stones
Decca SKL-4786


Jukebox picks: “Mother's Little Helper” (8.9) • “Out Of Time” (8.8) • “Doncha Bother Me” (7.3)


Buffy Saint-Marie
Vanguard VSD-79211


Jukebox picks: “Sir Patrick Spens” (9.8) • “Lady Margaret” (8.0) • “Little Wheel Spin And Spin” (7.8)


The Animals
MGM Records SE-4414


Jukebox picks: “Hey Gyp” (7.3) • “The Other Side Of This Life” (7.2) • “Outcast” (7.0)


13th Floor Elevators
International Artists IA-LP-1


Jukebox picks: “You’re Gonna Miss Me” (8.7) • “Roller Coaster” (7.8) • “Reverberation (Doubt)” (7.6)


The Animals
Decca LK-4797


Jukebox picks: “Outcast” (8.4) • “One Monkey Don’t Stop No Show” (7.4) • “What Am I Living For” (7.2)


Paul Revere and The Raiders
Columbia CL-2508


Jukebox picks: “Get It On” (7.8) • “Kicks” (7.4) • “I’m Not Your Stepping Stone” (7.2)


The Toys
Dynovoice Records DVM-9002


Jukebox picks: “A Lover’s Concerto” (9.7) • “This Night” (7.8) • “Baby’s Gone” (6.6)


The Hollies
Parlophone PMC-7008


Jukebox picks: “That’s How Strong My Love Is [mono version]” (8.4) • “I Am A Rock [mono version]” (7.6) • “I’ve Got A Way Of My Own [mono version]” (7.0)


The Byrds
Columbia CS-9349


Jukebox picks: “Eight Miles High” (7.9) • “What’s Happening?!?!” (7.3) • “Mr. Spaceman” (6.6)


Paul Revere and The Raiders
Columbia CL-2595


Jukebox picks: “Undecided Man” (8.5) • “1001 Arabian Nights” (7.6) • “Why? Why? Why? (Is It So Hard)” (7.1)


Johnny Cash
Columbia CL-2492


Jukebox picks: “Joe Bean [1966]” (7.4) • “Cup Of Coffee” (7.3) • “Austin Prison [1966]” (6.1)


The Dave Clark Five
Epic LN-24198


Jukebox picks: “I Really Love You” (7.0) • “I Never Will” (6.7) • “Looking In” (6.6)


Fred Neil
Capitol Records ST-2655


Jukebox picks: “Faretheewell (Fred's Tune)” (7.9) • “Cynicrustpetefredjohn Raga” (7.7) • “The Dolphins” (6.8)


The Yardbirds
Columbia SCX-6063


Jukebox picks: “The Nazz Are Blue” (6.6) • “He’s Always There” (6.5) • “Hot House Of Omagarashid” (6.2)


Ewan MacColl with Peggy Seeger
Topic Records 12-T-147


Jukebox picks: “We Poor Labouring Men” (7.1) • “Barbara Allen” (6.9) • “Homeward Bound” (6.2)


Sugar Belly Combo
Port-O-Jam LP-107


Jukebox picks: “Wings Of A Dove” (7.3) • “Slide Mongoose” (6.7) • “Linstead Market” (6.5)


The Dave Clark Five
Epic LN-24212


Jukebox picks: “Look Before You Leap” (7.6) • “Good Lovin’” (6.9) • “It’ll Only Hurt For A Little While” (6.2)


The Seekers
Columbia SCX-6093


Jukebox picks: “Come The Day” (8.4) • “Turn, Turn, Turn” (8.0) • “California Dreamin’” (6.5)


Nina Simone
Philips PHM 200-207


Jukebox picks: “Break Down And Let It All Out” (7.4) • “I Love Your Lovin’ Ways” (6.8) • “Four Women” (6.8)


The Hollies
Parlophone PMC-7011


Jukebox picks: “Stop, Stop, Stop” (7.0) • “Suspicious Look In Your Eyes” (6.9) • “Peculiar Situation” (6.2)


The Easybeats
Parlophone PMCO-7530


Jukebox picks: “Sad And Lonely And Blue” (7.2) • “Then I’ll Tell You Goodbye” (6.5) • “Come And See Her” (6.3)


Wanda Jackson
Capitol Records ST-2606


Jukebox picks: “The Soldier’s Last Letter” (6.8) • “The Great Speckled Bird” (6.0) • “Blue Yodel no. 6” (5.8)


Bee Gees
Spin EL-32031


Jukebox picks: “Big Chance” (6.5) • “Glass House” (6.4) • “I Don’t Know Why I Bother With Myself” (5.6)


Johnny Cash
Columbia CL-2537


Jukebox picks: “No One Will Ever Know” (7.0) • “Happy To Be With You” (6.4) • “Ancient History” (5.4)


Neil Diamond
Bang Records BLP-214


Jukebox picks: “I’ll Come Running” (7.9) • “Solitary Man” (6.2) • “Do It” (5.4)


Buffalo Springfield
ATCO Records SD 33-200


Jukebox picks: “Flying On The Ground Is Wrong” (6.6) • “Sit Down I Think I Love You” (5.9) • “Go And Say Goodbye” (5.3)


Georgie Fame and The Blue Flames
Columbia SX-6043


Jukebox picks: “Last Night” (7.5) • “The Whole World’s Shaking” (6.5) • “Funny How Time Slips Away” (5.2)


The Ikettes
Modern Records MST-102


Jukebox picks: “Da Do Ron Ron” (7.6) • “(He’s Gonna Be) Fine, Fine Fine” (5.6) • “Camel Walk” (5.1)


John Mayall with Eric Clapton
Decca LK-4804


Jukebox picks: “It Ain't Right” (6.1) • “Ramblin' On My Mind” (5.9) • “Parchman Farm” (5.7)


Stevie Wonder
Tamla TM-272


Jukebox picks: “Mr. Tambourine Man” (6.3) • “Bang Bang” (5.7) • “Be Cool, Be Calm (And Keep Yourself Together)” (5.4)


The Mindbenders
Fontana MGF-27554


Jukebox picks: “Seventh Son” (5.9) • “The Way You Do The Things You Do” (5.7) • “You Don’t Know About Love” (5.1)


Lou Rawls
Capitol Records T-2566


Jukebox picks: “Breaking My Back (Instead Of Using My Mind)” (5.4) • “So Hard To Laugh, So Easy To Cry” (5.0) • “Memory Lane” (5.0)


Elvis Presley
RCA Victor LPM-3758


Jukebox picks: “Where No One Stands Alone” (7.0) • “Where Could I Go But To The Lord” (5.8) • “Run On” (5.2)


Rolf Harris
Music For Pleasure MFP-1433


Jukebox picks: “Football Crazy [live]” (6.4) • “Maximillian Mouse [live]” (4.8) • “A Smugglers Life” (4.5)


The Royalettes
MGM Records E-4366


Jukebox picks: “It’s Better Not To Know” (5.1) • “Forever More” (4.4) • “Baby Are You Putting Me On” (4.0)


The Alexander Brothers
Pye Golden Guinea Records GGL-0359


Jukebox picks: “The Carnival Is Over” (3.0) • “I Really Don’t Want To Know” (2.8) • “Forty Shades Of Green” (2.8)

see also: (B-list) Album Chart of 1966 |
Album Charts by year
“A-list”
1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
“B-list”
1943 1945 1946 1950 1951 1952 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019
Album Charts by decade
“A-list”
1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s