The following songs achieved the highest chart positions in the charts of 1966.
# | Artist | Title | Chart Entries |
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1 | FRANK SINATRA | "Strangers in the Night" | UK 1 – May 1966, US BB 1 – May 1966, Italy 1 of 1966, Germany 1 – Jul 1966, Éire 1 – Jun 1966, Australia 1 for 5 weeks May 1966, Grammy in 1966, Canada 2 – May 1966, Netherlands 2 – Jun 1966, South Africa 3 of 1966, US CashBox 4 of 1966, Norway 5 – Jul 1966, Scrobulate 6 of swing, Australia 9 of 1966, US BB 29 of 1966, POP 29 of 1966, RYM 42 of 1966, Germany 48 of the 1960s, RIAA 275, Acclaimed 1681 |
2 | THE BEATLES | "We Can Work It Out" / "Day Tripper" | CAN CHUM Chart 1 UK Singles Chart 1 – Dec 1965, US Billboard Hot 100 1 – Jan 1966 |
3 | THE BEATLES | "Yellow Submarine" / "Eleanor Rigby" | UK 1 – Aug 1966, Canada 1 – Aug 1966, Netherlands 1 – Aug 1966, Norway 1 – Aug 1966, Germany 1 – Sep 1966, Éire 1 – Aug 1966, New Zealand 1 for 3 weeks Sep 1966, Australia 1 for 6 weeks Aug 1966, Australia Goset 1 – Oct 1966 US BB 2 – Aug 1966 US BB 7 of 1966 POP 7 of 1966 RYM 22 of 1966 Italy 29 of 1966 , Scrobulate 47 of classic rock US CashBox 83 of 1966 Germany 141 of the 1960s |
4 | THE BEACH BOYS | "Good Vibrations" | UK 1 – Nov 1966 US BB 1 – Oct 1966 France 1 – Jul 1976 DDD 1 of 1966 Canada 2 – Oct 1966 Norway 2 – Dec 1966 Australia Goset 2 – Dec 1966 RYM 3 of 1966 Acclaimed 3 Netherlands 4 – Nov 1966 Rolling Stone 6 Germany 8 – Jan 1967 Scrobulate 8 of oldies Europe 12 of the 1960s US BB 14 of 1966 POP 14 of 1966 Australia 15 of 1966 RIAA 24 31 in 2FM list WXPN 57 OzNet 58 Italy 69 of 1967 |
5 | THE BEATLES | "Paperback Writer" / "Rain" | UK 1 – Jun 1966 US BB 1 – Jun 1966 Canada 1 – May 1966 Netherlands 1 – Jun 1966 Norway 1 – Jun 1966 Éire 1 – Jun 1966 New Zealand 1 for 3 weeks Jul 1966 Germany 2 – Jul 1966 RYM 2 of 1966 France 9 – Mar 1976 US BB 12 of 1966 POP 12 of 1966 Scrobulate 22 of British US CashBox 43 of 1966 Italy 45 of 1966 DDD 53 of 1966 Germany 181 of the 1960s Acclaimed 195 WXPN 765 |
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[ Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun |
Jul | Aug | Sept | Oct | Nov | Dec ] [ 1966 ] |
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Release Date | Country of Release |
Title / Artist | Songwriter(s) | Label / Cat# |
Release Date | Country of Release |
Title / Artist | Songwriter(s) | Label / Cat# |
Release Date | Country of Release |
Title / Artist | Songwriter(s) | Label / Cat# |
Release Date | Country of Release |
Title / Artist | Songwriter(s) | Label / Cat# |
Release Date | Country of Release |
Title / Artist | Songwriter(s) | Label / Cat# | ||
27 May 1966 |
UK |
A Side "Paperback Writer" B Side "Rain" THE BEATLES |
![]() PARLOPHONE R 5452 |
Release Date | Country of Release |
Title / Artist | Songwriter(s) | Label / Cat# | ||
24 June 1966 |
UK |
A Side "He" B Side "He Will Break Your Heart" THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS |
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Release Date | Country of Release |
Title / Artist | Songwriter(s) | Label / Cat# |
Release Date | Country of Release |
Title / Artist | Songwriter(s) | Label / Cat# | ||
1952 |
UK |
A Side "Yellow Submarine" B Side "Eleanor Rigby" THE BEATLES |
![]() PARLOPHONE R 5493 |
Release Date | Country of Release |
Title / Artist | Songwriter(s) | Label / Cat# |
Release Date | Country of Release |
Title / Artist | Songwriter(s) | Label / Cat# |
Release Date | Country of Release |
Title / Artist | Songwriter(s) | Label / Cat# |
Release Date | Country of Release |
Title / Artist | Songwriter(s) | Label / Cat# |
Release Date | Country of Release |
Title / Artist | Songwriter(s) | Label / Cat# | ||
1966 |
UK |
A Side "" |
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1966 |
UK |
A Side "" |
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1966 |
UK |
A Side "" |
Date | Single – Artist | Composer | |
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Winter | |||
December 1965 |
"The Sound of Silence" SIMON & GARFUNKEL |
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words & music Paul Simon |
25 February 1966 |
"Shapes of Things" THE YARDBIRDS |
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words Keith Relf music Jim McCarty, Paul Samwell-Smith; guitar solo by Jeff Beck |
3 December 1965 |
"We Can Work It Out" THE BEATLES |
words & music John Lennon and Paul McCartney |
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"I Got You (I Feel Good)" JAMES BROWN |
words & music James Brown |
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"Over and Over" THE DAVE CLARK FIVE |
words & music Robert James Byrd |
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"Let's Hang On!" THE FOUR SEASONS |
words & music Bob Crewe, Sandy Linzer, Denny Randell |
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"Fever" THE McCOYS |
words & music Eddie Cooley and John Davenport (a pseudonym for Otis Blackwell) |
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"Ebb Tide" THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS |
words Carl Sigman; music Robert Maxwell |
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"England Swings" ROGER MILLER |
words & music Roger Miller |
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"Make the World Go Away" EDDY ARNOLD |
words & music Hank Cochran |
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"She's Just My Style" GARY LEWIS and the PLAYBOYS |
words & music Gary Lewis, Leon Russell, Snuff Garrett, Al Capps |
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"Flowers on the Wall" THE STATLER BROTHERS |
words & music Lew DeWitt |
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November 1966 |
"Help Me Girl" ERIC BURDON AND THE ANIMALS |
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words & music Scott English and Lawrence Weiss |
"Five O'Clock World" THE VOGUES |
words & music Allen Reynolds |
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"Day Tripper" THE BEATLES |
words & music John Lennon and Paul McCartney |
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"The Men In My Little Girl's Life" MIKE DOUGLAS |
words & music Gloria Shain, Eddie Dean and Mary Candy |
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"No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In)" THE T-BONES |
music Granville Burland |
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"A Must to Avoid" HERMAN'S HERMITS |
words & music Steve Barri and P. F. Sloan |
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"You Didn't Have to Be So Nice" THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL |
words & music John Sebastian and Steve Boone |
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"Barbara Ann" THE BEACH BOYS |
words & music Fred Fassert |
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"My Love" PETULA CLARK |
words & music Tony Hatch |
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November 1965 |
"Jenny Take a Ride" MITCH RYDER and the DETROIT WHEELS |
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words & music Richard Penniman, Enotris Johnson and Bob Crewe |
4 February 1966 |
"Lightnin' Strikes" LOU CHRISTIE |
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words & music Lou Christie and Twyla Herbert |
"Crying Time" RAY CHARLES |
words & music Buck Owens |
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"Uptight (Everything's Alright)" STEVIE WONDER |
words & music Henry Cosby, Stevie Wonder and Sylvia May |
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"My World Is Empty without You" THE SUPREMES |
words & music Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland |
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"Don't Mess with Bill" THE MARVELETTES |
words & music Smokey Robinson |
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"These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" NANCY SINATRA |
words & music Lee Hazlewood |
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"Ballad of the Green Berets" SGT. BARRY SADLER |
words & music Robin Moore and Barry Sadler |
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"California Dreamin'" THE MAMAS & THE PAPAS |
words & music John Phillips and Michelle Phillips |
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"Elusive Butterfly" BOB LIND |
words & music Bob Lind |
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"Working My Way Back to You" THE FOUR SEASONS |
words & music Sandy Linzer, Denny Randell |
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"Listen People" HERMAN'S HERMITS |
words & music Graham Gouldman |
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"Nowhere Man" THE BEATLES |
words & music John Lennon and Paul McCartney |
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I Fought the Law" BOBBY FULLER FOUR |
words & music Sonny Curtis |
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"Homeward Bound" SIMON & GARFUNKEL |
words & music Paul Simon |
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"Daydream" THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL |
words & music John Sebastian |
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"(You're My) Soul and Inspiration" THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS |
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words & music Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil |
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Spring | |||
"Sure Gonna Miss Her" GARY LEWIS and the Playboys |
words & music Bobby Russell |
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"Secret Agent Man" JOHNNY RIVERS |
words & music P. F. Sloan and Steve Barri |
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"I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" B. J. Thomas |
words & music Hank Williams |
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27 May 1966 |
"Don't Bring Me Down" THE ANIMALS |
Gerry Goffin, Carole King | |
"Inside-Looking Out" THE ANIMALS |
words & music Eric Burdon |
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"Time Won't Let Me" THE OUTSIDERS |
words & music Tom King and Chet Kelley |
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"Good Lovin'" THE YOUNG RASCALS |
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"Kicks" PAUL REVERE & the Raiders |
words & music Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil |
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"Sloop John B" THE BEACH BOYS |
words & music Traditional |
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"Monday, Monday" THE MAMAS & THE PAPAS |
words & music John Phillips |
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"Leaning on the Lamp Post" HERMAN'S HERMITS |
words L. Arthur Rose and Douglas Furber music Noel Gay |
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"Rainy Day Women #12 & 35" BOB DYLAN |
words & music Bob Dylan |
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"Over Under Sideways Down" THE YARDBIRDS |
words Keith Relf music Jim McCarty, Chris Dreja, Paul Samwell-Smith guitar solo Jeff Beck |
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"Gloria" SHADOWS OF KNIGHT |
words & music Van Morrison |
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"How Does That Grab You, Darlin'" NANCY SINATRA |
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"Message to Michael" DIONNE WARWICK |
words
Hal David music Burt Bacharach |
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"When a Man Loves a Woman" PERCY SLEDGE |
words & music Calvin Lewis and Andrew Wright |
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"A Groovy Kind of Love" THE MINDBENDERS |
words & music Carole Bayer Sager and Toni Wine |
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"Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart" THE SUPREMES |
words & music Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland |
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"Paint It Black" THE ROLLING STONES |
words & music Mick Jagger and Keith Richards |
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"I Am a Rock" SIMON & GARFUNKEL |
words & music Paul Simon |
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"Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?" THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL |
words & music John Sebastian |
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"It's a Man's Man's Man's World" JAMES BROWN |
words & music James Brown and Betty Jean Newsome |
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"Green Grass" GARY LEWIS and the Playboys |
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"Strangers in the Night" FRANK SINATRA |
words & music Charles Singleton, Eddie Snyder, Bert Kaempfert |
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"Barefootin'" ROBERT PARKER |
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"Cool Jerk" THE CAPITOLS |
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"Red Rubber Ball" THE CYRKLE |
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"Paperback Writer" THE BEATLES |
words & music John Lennon & Paul McCartney |
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"You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" DUSTY SPRINGFIELD |
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"Sweet Talkin' Guy" THE CHIFFONS |
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Summer | |||
"Hanky Panky" TOMMY JAMES and the Shondells |
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"Wild Thing" THE TROGGS |
Chip Taylor | ||
"Little Girl" SYNDICATE OF SOUND |
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"Along Comes Mary" THE ASSOCIATION |
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"Lil' Red Riding Hood" SAM THE SHAM and the Pharaohs |
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"Hungry" PAUL REVERE & the Raiders |
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"The Pied Piper" – Crispian St. Peters | |||
"I Saw Her Again" – The Mamas & the Papas | |||
"Sweet Pea" – Tommy Roe | |||
"Summer in the City" – The Lovin' Spoonful | words John Sebastian and Mark Sebastian music John Sebastian and Steve Boone |
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"Somewhere, My Love" RAY CONNIFF and the Singers |
words Paul Francis Webster music Maurice Jarre |
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"They're Coming to Take Me Away Ha-Haaa!" NAPOLEON XIV |
N. Bonaparte (aka. Jerry Samuels) |
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"Sunny" – Bobby Hebb | |||
"See You in September" THE HAPPENINGS |
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"Sunshine Superman" – Donovan | words & music Donovan |
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"You Can't Hurry Love" THE SUPREMES |
words & music Holland-Dozier-Holland |
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"Yellow Submarine" – The Beatles | words & music John Lennon, Paul McCartney |
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"Summertime" – Billy Stewart | George Gershwin | ||
"The Land of 1000 Dances" – Wilson Pickett | words & music Chris Kenner |
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"Working in the Coal Mine" – Lee Dorsey | words & music Allen Toussaint |
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"Blowin' in the Wind" – Stevie Wonder | words & music Bob Dylan |
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"Bus Stop" – The Hollies | words & music Graham Gouldman |
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"Guantanamera" – The Sandpipers | |||
"Cherish" – The Association | |||
"Wouldn't It Be Nice" – The Beach Boys | words & music Brian Wilson, Tony Asher, Mike Love |
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"Beauty Is Only Skin Deep" – The Temptations | |||
"Black Is Black" – Los Bravos | words & music Michelle Grainger, Tony Hayes, Steve Wadey |
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"96 Tears" – Question Mark & the Mysterians | |||
"Reach Out I'll Be There" – Four Tops | words & music Holland-Dozier-Holland |
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"Cherry Cherry" – Neil Diamond | |||
Autumn | |||
"Born Free" ROGER WILLIAMS |
words & music John Barry, Don Black |
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"Dandy" HERMAN'S HERMITS |
words & music Ray Davies |
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28 October 1966 |
"Devil With A Blue Dress On / Good Golly Miss Molly" MITCH RYDER & the Detroit Wheels |
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words & music W. Stevenson, F. Long, J. Marascalco, R. Blackwell, Martinez |
"Good Thing" PAUL REVERE & the Raiders |
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"Good Vibrations" – The Beach Boys | words & music Brian Wilson, Mike Love |
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"Hooray for Hazel" – Tommy Roe | |||
"I'm a Believer" – The Monkees | words & music Neil Diamond |
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"I'm Ready for Love" – Martha and the Vandellas | |||
"I'm Your Puppet" – James & Bobby Purify | |||
"I've Got You Under My Skin" – The Four Seasons | |||
"(I Know) I'm Losing You" – The Temptations | |||
"If I Were a Carpenter" – Bobby Darin | words & music Tim Hardin |
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"Lady Godiva" – Peter and Gordon | |||
"Last Train to Clarksville" – The Monkees | words & music Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart |
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"Mellow Yellow" – Donovan | words & music Donovan |
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"A Place in the Sun" – Stevie Wonder | words & music Ronald Miller, Bryan Wells |
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"Poor Side of Town" – Johnny Rivers | |||
"Psychotic Reaction" – Count Five | |||
"Rain on the Roof" THE LOVIN' SPOONFUL |
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"See See Rider" ERIC BURDON and the Animals |
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"Snoopy vs. the Red Baron" THE ROYAL GUARDSMEN |
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"Sugar Town" NANCY SINATRA |
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"Tell It Like It Is" AARON NEVILLE |
words & music George Davis and Lee Diamond |
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"That's Life" FRANK SINATRA |
words & music Dean Kay, Kelly Gordon |
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"Walk Away Renee" THE LEFT BANKE |
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"What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" JIMMY RUFFIN |
words & music William Witherspoon, Paul Riser, James Dean |
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"Winchester Cathedral" THE NEW VAUDEVILLE BAND |
words & music Geoff Stephens |
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"You Keep Me Hangin' On" THE SUPREMES |
words & music Holland-Dozier-Holland |
Winter
Spring
Summer
Autumn
(Not all of these were necessarily released as singles.)
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Please address any comments concerning this page to The Music Maestro Mark Chard BSc, PLY |
Page created: 16th December 2017 Last edited: 18th January 2025 |