We’re late this week so let’s rush towards the sounds of April, 1966…
Songs of the month
“634-5789” – Wilson Pickett
“19Th Nervous Breakdown” – Rolling Stones
[new] “A Groovy Kind Of Love” – Mindbenders
[new] “A Sign Of The Times” – Petula Clark
“Baby Scratch My Back” – Slim Harpo
“Ballad Of The Green Berets” – S/Sgt. Barry Sadler
“Bang Bang” – Cher
“California Dreamin'” – Mamas & Papas
“Daydream” – Lovin’ Spoonful
[new] “Eight Miles High” – Byrds
“Elusive Butterfly” – Bob Lind
[new] “Frankie And Johnny” – Elvis Presley
[new] “Get Ready” – Temptations
[new] “Gloria” – Shadows Of Knight
[new] “Good Lovin'” – Young Rascals
“Homeward Bound” – Simon & Garfunkel
[new] “How Does That Grab You Darlin'” – Nancy Sinatra
“I Fought The Law” – Bobby Fuller Four
[new] “I Hear Trumpets Blow” – Tokens
“I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” – B.J. Thomas
“It’s Too Late” – Bobby Goldsboro
[new] “Kicks” – Paul Revere & Raiders
[new] “Leaning On The Lamp Post” – Herman’s Hermits
“Listen People” – Herman’s Hermits
[new] “Little Latin Lupe Lu” – Mitch Ryder & Detroit Wheels
“Love Makes The World Go Round” – Deon Jackson
“Magic Town” – Vogues
[new] “Message To Michael” – Dionne Warwick
[new] “Monday Monday” – Mamas & Papas
“Nowhere Man” – Beatles
[new] “Rainy Day Women Nos. 12 & 35” – Bob Dylan
[new] “Rhapsody In The Rain” – Lou Christie
“Secret Agent Man” – Johnny Rivers
“Shake Me Wake Me” – Four Tops
[new] “Shapes Of Things” – Yardbirds
[new] “Sloop John B” – Beach Boys
[new] “Somewhere” – Len Barry
“Soul And Inspiration” – Righteous Brothers
[new] “Spanish Flea” – Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass
[new] “Sure Gonna Miss Her” – Gary Lewis & Playboys
“These Boots Are Made For Walkin'” – Nancy Sinatra
[new] “Think I’ll Go Somewhere And Cry Myself To Sleep” – Al Martino
“This Old Heart Of Mine” – Isley Brothers
“Time Won’t Let Me” – Outsiders
[new] “Together Again” – Ray Charles
[new] “Try Too Hard” – Dave Clark Five
“Walkin’ My Cat Named Dog” – Norma Tanega
[new] “What Now My Love” – Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass
[new] “When A Man Loves A Woman” – Percy Sledge
“Woman” – Peter & Gordon
“You Baby” – Turtles
[new] = New to the chart this week.
You can listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link.
This month in history
On the 18th “The Cultural Revolution’\ was officially proclaimed in the People’s Republic of China, with the publication of the government announcement that gave the name that would define the era of upheaval. The official People’s Liberation Army daily newspaper published a front-page editorial with the title “Hold High the Great Red Banner of Mao Tse-tung’s Thought, and Actively Participate in the Great Socialist Cultural Revolution”
And on the 21st, the opening of the Parliament of the United Kingdom was televised for the first time. Glorious slice of technicolor pomp n ceremony below…
Then on the 30th regular hovercraft service began over the English Channel, between Ramsgate and Calais, with an SR.N6 transporting 36 passengers. It would be discontinued in 2000. The customers paid two pounds, two shillings (equivalent to $6.30) apiece for the journey. I remember really wanting to go on the hovercraft in 1985, when I first visited the UK, but we had to take the regular ferry as we had my Grandfather’s ashes to scatter overboard apparently.
What’d Sadie think?
It’s a week more at the top for “Ballad Of The Green Berets” by S/Sgt. Barry Sadler before “Soul And Inspiration” by the Righteous Brothers has a couple there, followed by a week for new track “Good Lovin'” by the Young Rascals.
Loved ’em
A big month for big hits! I was “this many years old” when I learnt the actual name of Bob Dylan’s “Everybody must get stoned…” – oops!
- “Gloria” – Shadows Of Knight
- “Message To Michael” – Dionne Warwick
- “Rainy Day Women Nos. 12 & 35” – Bob Dylan
- “Shapes Of Things” – Yardbirds
- “Eight Miles High” – Byrds
- “Get Ready” – Temptations
- “Monday Monday” – Mamas & Papas
- “Sloop John B” – Beach Boys
- “When A Man Loves A Woman” – Percy Sledge
Liked ’em
- “A Groovy Kind Of Love” – Mindbenders
- “Frankie And Johnny” – Elvis Presley
- “Good Lovin'” – Young Rascals
- “How Does That Grab You Darlin'” – Nancy Sinatra
- “I Hear Trumpets Blow” – Tokens
- “Kicks” – Paul Revere & The Raiders
- “Little Latin Lupe Lu” – Mitch Ryder & Detroit Wheels
- “Rhapsody In The Rain” – Lou Christie
- “Spanish Flea” – Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass
- “Sure Gonna Miss Her” – Gary Lewis & Playboys
- “Together Again” – Ray Charles
- “Try Too Hard” – Dave Clark Five
Leave ’em
- “Leaning On The Lamp Post” – Herman’s Hermits
- “Somewhere” – Len Barry
- “Think I’ll Go Somewhere And Cry Myself To Sleep” – Al Martino
- “What Now My Love” – Herb Alpert & Tijuana Brass
Now go listen to the full playlist on Youtube via this link.