Last updated 5/4/2020
1966 Christmas Bonus Songs
“If Every Day Was Like Christmas” by Elvis Presley
“Someday At Christmas” by Stevie Wonder
Song 45
The only instrumental to rank above #130 peaked at #3 on 2/5/66.
Liberty Records wanted to make an album of music from recent TV commercials in the hopes of finding a hit. They had used the name “The T-Bones” for other albums that used only studio musicians, so they used it again.
Once the record was a hit, they formed a touring group, none of whom had played on the album. Three members of that touring group later had some vocal hits as Hamilton, Joe Frank and Reynolds.
This is the stereo mix.
#45 – “No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach’s In)” by The T-Bones
Song 46
The first of two records by Johnny Rivers peaked at #3 on 4/23/66.
When CBS bought the British TV show “Danger Man,” they renamed it “Secret Agent” and gave it a new theme song.
This is the stereo mix.
#46 – “Secret Agent Man” by Johnny Rivers
Song 47
The first of three records by The Beach Boys peaked at #3 on 5/7/66.
This song was forced onto the group’s famous “Pet Sounds” album, only because it was their current single.
This is the stereo mix.
#47 – “Sloop John B” by The Beach Boys
Song 48
The first of four Beatles records peaked at #3 on 3/26/66.
This is one of the first Beatles songs to be entirely unrelated to romance or love.
This is the 2009 stereo remaster.
#48 – “Nowhere Man” by The Beatles
Song 49
The other Hermits record on the list peaked at #3 on 3/12/66.
Despite its success in other countries, this was not released as a single in England – it was a B-side.
This is the recent stereo mix.
#49 – “Listen People” by Herman’s Hermits
Song 50
The second Top 10 hit for The Temptations peaked at #3 on 10/1/66.
Their next-highest hit of the year was “(I Know) I’m Losing You” at #100.
This is the stereo mix.
#50 – “Beauty Is Only Skin Deep” by The Temptations
Song 51
The first of two novelty records on the list peaked at #3 on 8/13/66.
The artist/songwriter is Jerry Samuels, who was a New York recording engineer and later became a talent agent.
This is the stereo mix.
#51 – “They’re Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!” by Napoleon XIV
Song 52
Mitch Ryder’s biggest hit peaked at #4 on 11/26/66, 12/3/66, 12/10/66, and 12/17/66.
The group had three Top 10 hits in a little over a year.
This is the stereo mix.
#52 – “Devil With A Blue Dress On/Good Golly Miss Molly” by Mitch Ryder and the Detroit Wheels
Song 53
The only Top 30 hit by Robin Peter Smith peaked at #4 on 7/23/66, 7/30/66, and 8/6/66.
His manager gave him the stage name Crispian St. Peters, and deducted five years from his client’s age for publicity purposes.
This is a mono recording.
#53 – “The Pied Piper” by Crispian St. Peters
Song 54
The second record by The Vogues peaked at #4 on 1/15/66 and 1/22/66.
It was the highest-charting of the group’s four Top 20 hits.
This is a mono recording.
#54 – “Five O’Clock World” by The Vogues
Song 55
The first of two records by Ol’ Blue Eyes peaked at #4 on 12/24/66 and 12/31/66.
On 12/31/66, Frank had #4 and Nancy had #5.
This is the stereo mix.
#55 – “That’s Life” by Frank Sinatra
Song 56
The only Top 40 record for Los Bravos peaked at #4 on 10/1/66 and 10/8/66.
The group was based in Madrid, but the lead singer was from Germany.
This is the stereo mix.
#56 – “Black Is Black” by Los Bravos
Song 57
The first Top 100 by The Mamas and the Papas peaked at #4 on 3/12/66.
The song was first recorded by Barry McGuire, using the same backing vocals and instruments.
The group recorded additional new vocals, and jazz player Bud Shank added the alto flute solo.
This is the stereo mix.
#57 – “California Dreamin'” by The Mamas and the Papas
Song 58
The first Top 10 hit for The Raiders peaked at #4 on 5/14/66.
The song was originally written for The Animals, who turned it down.
This is the stereo mix.
#58 – “Kicks” by Paul Revere and the Raiders
Song 59
Dusty Springfield’s biggest hit peaked at #4 on 7/16/66.
Dusty was not satisfied with her vocal until she had recorded 47 takes. Unhappy with the acoustics in the recording booth, she eventually moved into a stairwell to record.
This is the stereo mix.
#59 – “You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me” by Dusty Springfield
Song 60
The only Top 40 Pop hit for The Statler Brothers peaked at #4 on 1/8/66.
From 1964 to the early Seventies, the Statlers were the opening act and backup singers for Johnny Cash, before going out on their own. They had 33 Top 10 Country hits.
This is the stereo mix.
#60 – “Flowers On The Wall” by The Statler Brothers
Song 61
The first of four records by a singer named Sinatra peaked at #5 on 12/31/66, 1/7/67, and 1/14/67.
All three of Nancy’s Top 10 hits for the year were written by Lee Hazlewood.
This is the stereo mix.
#61 – “Sugar Town” by Nancy Sinatra
Song 62
The Hollies’ first Top 10 record peaked at #5 on 9/17/66, 9/24/66, and 10/1/66.
This was their biggest hit of the Sixties.
This is a narrow stereo mix that reduces the extreme left-right spread of the original.
#62 – “Bus Stop” by The Hollies
Song 63
Bob Lind’s only Top 40 record peaked at #5 on 3/12/66 and 3/19/66.
Lind was the only artist on the World Pacific label to ever chart on the Hot 100. His follow-up single reached #64 and #65 (both sides charted, a month apart).
This is the stereo mix.
#63 – “Elusive Butterfly” by Bob Lind
Song 64
The first of three records by Paul and Art on the list peaked at #5 on 3/26/66 and 4/2/66.
This was their second single.
This is the stereo mix, transferred from a high-resolution digital download.
#64 – “Homeward Bound” by Simon and Garfunkel
Song 65
The first of three Supremes records on the list peaked at #5 on 2/19/66 and 2/26/66.
This was the eighth in a string of 15 straight Supremes records to reach #11 or higher.
This is the stereo mix.
#65 – “My World Is Empty Without You” by The Supremes
Song 66
The first of two Hermits records on the list peaked at #5 on 11/5/66 and 11/12/66.
This was actually a Kinks song, written by Ray Davies, but they didn’t release it as a single in England or America.
This is the recent stereo mix.
#66 – “Dandy” by Herman’s Hermits