Nostalgia Debate : Best Album of 1966

Since it's 40 years for the landmark year and we just passed the anniversary of "Pet Sounds" release date (I think), which of the 3 usual suspect classics of that year was actually the best album? "Pet Sounds"? "Revolver"? "Blonde on Blonde"? .......Which one has time been the kindest or cruelest to? I'd pick "Blonde On Blonde" as my favorite just because of the lyrical imagery which I find never gets old.....I gotta hunch it would be the third choice on this board though if forced to choose among these 3 monumental releases.

For me it's REVOLVER hands down. I love BLONDE ON BLONDE and think "God Only Knows" is one of the most perfect songs of all time, but nothing can beat an album with "Tomorrow Never Knows," "And Your Bird Can Sing," "Taxman," "Eleanor Rigby," "Yellow Submarine" and every other song on it that I would just be wasting my time typing out.

"Tomorrow Never Knows" alone is the direct ancestor of much of the music that I love the most, and 40 years later is still an amazing invention. It's in an eternal death struggle with "Sister Ray" as my favorite song of all time.

Revolver is the 1st Beatles LP I can listen to and has a few classics. They got better the following year.
Blonde on Blonde has a few good tracks but overall, hmmm...
Pet Sounds; see other thread for over-glorified argument.
Kinks Face to Face and Who's A Quick One/Happy Jack are as good as those and I'll also go with Aftermath (UK or US; they differ).



Post Edited (05-22-06 17:37)

appears 1966 was a pretty dire year...

guess i'll go for either roger the engineer or unit structures.

"appears 1966 was a pretty dire year..." Ha! It was all about singles, not LPs yet. And '66 was the height of the trashy garage/surf/"Nuggets" RAWk'n'roll. The best kind.

MrFab wrote:

> "appears 1966 was a pretty dire year..." Ha! It was all about
> singles, not LPs yet. And '66 was the height of the trashy
> garage/surf/"Nuggets" RAWk'n'roll.


well, compared to 56, 76, 86 or even double-aught six, i'd stand by pretty dire...

but it's one up on 96!

1. She's Just My Style - Gary Lewis & The Playboys
2. Red Rubber Ball - The Cyrkle
3. No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach's In) - The T-Bones
4. The Ballad Of The Green Berets - SSgt Barry Sadler
5. Sloop John B - The Beach Boys
6. Sunshine Superman - Donovan
7. Daydream - The Lovin' Spoonful
8. Winchester Cathedral - New Vaudeville Band
9. Cherish - The Association
10. Last Train To Clarksville - The Monkees

from an article a while back

Redding’s Otis Blue tore at you, and then knocked you down, leaving you there; Butterfield’s East-West introduced bluesy psychedelia, raga, jamming, and sick licks of Jewish misery from Michael Bloomfield’s bottomless heart. The Byrds’ Fifth Dimension, the Yardbirds’ Roger the Engineer, and the Who’s Happy Jack were the climaxes of those groups up to that point—startling leaps over their prior works, full of energy and confidence and bravado and wit and technique. The Stones released the first of their five masterpieces soon stretched over time and space, the alcoholic Aftermath, and their winsome, fracturing rivals put out their best, Revolver. The Beach Boys went to heaven in drag cars with blondes and came back with shorter hair and the nearly-perfect Pet Sounds. And Dylan, before zigging instead of zagging over Woodstock alleys, stole some session cats for a few days, drank some cheap red wine, swallowed bits of Ginsberg, and made the hallucinatorily gorgeous Blonde on Blonde; taking his “Mystery Train”-like leap to England, “Traitor!” our former British cousins howled, but if I had any friends this would be the Dylan, the album, the idea, that they would take to their desert island graves. But the best album of that year was Face to Face, by the incomparable Kinks.

I suppose as a less mainstream pick "Freak Out!" deserves a mention here too .....

I will probably go with Revolver, which I first remember hearing as a four-yr. old (my sister's 11 yrs. older than me & was a big Beatles fan back then). To me it was the last time the Beatles led instead of following. Close behind for me is Face to Face, the first Kinks album not dependant on the YRGM powerchords and the beginning of Ray Davies' amazing run which culminated in VGPS. Pet Sounds was also excellent, although it got a bit overpraised in the '90s. Fifth Dimension had a great groove, although I wish the songwriting could have been a bit better. There were also a lot of great singles released in 1966. "Summertime" by Billy Stewart & "Summer In the City" by the Lovin' Spoonful are my favorites.

these were debuts from that startling year

the Young Rascals; Zappa’s Freak Out; Jefferson Airplane; Mama and the Papas; the Small Faces; The Monkees; Cream; Love; the Monks; Tim Buckley; 13th Floor Elevators; Tim Hardin.

and here is partial list of knock out 45's

. Summer Wind - Frank Sinatra
2. I'm A Believer - the Monkees
3. When A Man Loves A Woman - Percy Sledge
4. Wild Thing - The Troggs
5. Mustang Sally - Wilson Pickett
6. This Old Heart Of Mine - Isley Brothers
7. Yellow Submarine - the Beatles
8. Devil With The Blue Dress - Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels
9. Get Ready - Temptations
10. You Can't Hurry Love - Supremes
11. Good Lovin' - Rascals
12. Paperback Writer - the Beatles
13. It Was a Very Good Year - Frank Sinatra
14. Good Vibrations - Beach Boys
15. Hanky Panky - Tommy James
16. Time Won't Let Me - Outsiders
17. Crying Time - Ray Charles
18. Barbara Ann - Beach Boys
19. Secret Agent Man - Johnny Rivers
20. Rainy Day Woman 12 & 35 - Bob Dylan
21. Cool Jerk - the Capitols
22. Land of 1,000 Dances - Wilson Pickett
23. I Fought The Law - Bobby Fuller Four
24. Summer In The City - Lovin' Spoonful
25. Mellow Yellow - Donovan
26. You Keep Me Hanging On - Supremes
27. Monday Monday - Mamas and the Papas
28. Sunshine Superman - Donovan
29. Strangers In The Night - Frank Sinatra
30. Working My Way Back To You - Four Seasons
31. California Dreamin' - Mamas and the Papas
32. Tijuana Taxi - Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass
33. Sounds of Silence - Simon and Garfunkle
34. Paint It, Black - Rolling Stones
35. God Only Knows - Beach Boys
36. Wouldn't It Be Nice - Beach Boys
37. 96 Tears - ? & the Mysterians
38. Black Is Black - Los Bravos
39. 19th Nervous Breakdown - Rolling Stones
40. See You In September - the Happenings


and these memorable efforts


Fred Neil; two each by the Hollies, Animals, Herman’s Hermits, Four Tops, and Wilson Pickett; Mayall and Clapton; Getting’ Ready and Sunshine Superman; Sounds of Silence and Parsley, Sage ; the remarkable Dedicated To You, by the Manhattans; the Kinks’ Kontroversy; live Ochs; and memorable albums from Dusty, the Turtles, Manfred Mann, The Action, Shadows of the Knights, and the Everlies; 6 by james B;3 by Right Rev Marvin Gaye; the righteous brothers at their peaks

more singles


yummy

19th Nervous Breakdown - The Rolling Stones (#2)
634-5789 (Soulsville, U.S.A.) - Wilson Pickett (#13)
7 and 7 Is - Love (#33)
96 Tears - ? & The Mysterians (#1)
Ain't Too Proud to Beg - The Temptations (#13)
All I See Is You - Dusty Springfield (#20)
Along Comes Mary - The Association (#7)
Are You Lonely for Me - Freddie Scott (#39)
At the Scene - The Dave Clark Five (#18)
B-A-B-Y - Carla Thomas (#14)
Backstage - Gene Pitney (#25)
Band of Gold - Mel Carter (#32)
Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down) - Cher (#2)
Barbara Ann - The Beach Boys (#2)
Barefootin' - Robert Parker (#7)
"Batman" Theme - The Marketts (#17) (instrumental)
Beauty Is Only Skin Deep - The Temptations (#3)
Billy and Sue - B.J. Thomas & the Triumphs (#34)
Black is Black - Los Bravos (#4)
Blowin' in the Wind - Stevie Wonder (#9)
Breakin' Up Is Breakin' My Heart - Roy Orbison (#31)
Bus Stop - The Hollies (#5)
California Dreamin' - The Mamas & The Papas (#4)
Call Me - Chris Montez (#22)
Caroline, No - Brian Wilson (#32)
The Cheater - Bob Kuban & The In-Men (#12)
Cherish - The Association (#1)
Cherry, Cherry - Neil Diamond (#6)
Come On, Let's Go - The McCoys (#22)
(Come 'Round Here) I'm the One You Need - The Miracles (#17)
Cool Jerk - The Capitols (#7)
Dandy - Herman's Hermits (#5)
The Dangling Conversation - Simon & Garfunkel (#25)
Daydream - The Lovin' Spoonful (#2)
Day Tripper - The Beatles (#5)
Dedicated Follower of Fashion - The Kinks (#36)
Devil with a Blue Dress On / Good Golly Miss Molly - Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels (#4)
Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind? - The Lovin' Spoonful (#2)
Dirty Water - The Standells (#11)
Distant Shores - Chad & Jeremy (#30)
Don't Bring Me Down - The Animals (#12)
Don't Mess with Bill - The Marvelettes (#7)

East West - Herman's Hermits (#27)
Eight Miles High - The Byrds (#14)
Eleanor Rigby - The Beatles (#11)

Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa-Fa (Sad Song) - Otis Redding (#29)
Get Ready - The Temptations (#29)
Girl in Love - The Outsiders (#21)
Girl on a Swing - Gerry & The Pacemakers (#28)
Gloria - The Shadows of Knight (#10)
Go Away Little Girl - The Happenings (#12)
God Only Knows - The Beach Boys (#39)
Good Lovin' - The Young Rascals (#1)
Good Thing - Paul Revere & The Raiders (#4)
Good Vibrations - The Beach Boys (#1)
A Groovy Kind of Love - The Mindbenders (#2)
Hanky Panky - Tommy James & The Shondells (#1)
Happenings Ten Years Time Ago - The Yardbirds (#30)
A Hard Day's Night - Ramsey Lewis (#29) (instrumental)
Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing in the Shadow? - The Rolling Stones (#9)
Help Me Girl - Eric Burdon & The Animals (#29)
Hey Joe - The Leaves (#31)

Hold On! I'm A-Comin' - Sam & Dave (#21)
Homeward Bound - Simon & Garfunkel (#5)
How Sweet It Is (to Be Loved By You) - Jr. Walker & The All-Stars (#18)
Hungry - Paul Revere & The Raiders (#6)
I Am a Rock - Simon & Garfunkel (#3)
I Couldn't Live Without Your Love - Petula Clark (#9)
I Just Don't Know What to Do with Myself - Dionne Warwick (#26)
(I Know) I'm Losing You - The Temptations (#8)
I Need Somebody - ? & The Mysterians (#22)
I Want You - Bob Dylan (#20)
(I Washed My Hands In) Muddy Water - Johnny Rivers (#19)
I'll Take Good Care of You - Garnet Mimms (#30)
I'm A Believer - The Monkees (#1)
I'm Ready for Love - Martha & The Vandellas (#9)
I'm Your Puppet - James & Bobby Purify (#6)

I've Passed This Way Before - Jimmy Ruffin (#17)
If I Were A Carpenter - Bobby Darin (#8)
It Tears Me Up - Percy Sledge (#20)
It's a Man's Man's Man's World - James Brown (#8)
Just Like a Woman - Bob Dylan (#33)
Kicks - Paul Revere & The Raiders (#4)
Knock on Wood - Eddie Floyd (#28)
Lady Godiva - Peter & Gordon (#6)
Lady Jane - The Rolling Stones (#24)
Land of 1000 Dances - Wilson Pickett (#6)
Last Train to Clarksville - The Monkees (#1)
Leaning on the Lamp Post - Herman's Hermits (#9)
Let's Fall in Love - Peaches & Herb (#21)
Let's Go Get Stoned - Ray Charles (#31)
Lightnin' Strikes - Lou Christie (#1)
Lil' Red Riding Hood - Sam the Sham & The Pharaohs (#2)
Listen People - Herman's Hermits (#3)
Little Girl - Syndicate of Sound (#8)
The Little Girl I Once Knew - The Beach Boys (#20)
Little Latin Lupe Lu - Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels (#17)
Little Man - Sonny & Cher (#21)
Long Live Our Love - The Shangri-Las (#33)
Love Is a Hurtin' Thing - Lou Rawls (#13)
Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart - The Supremes (#9)
Love's Made a Fool of You - Bobby Fuller Four (#26)
Make Me Belong To You - Barbara Lewis (#28)
Mellow Yellow - Donovan (#2)
The Men in My Little Girl's Life - Mike Douglas (#6)
Message to Michael - Dionne Warwick (#8)
Monday, Monday - The Mamas & The Papas (#1)
Mother's Little Helper - The Rolling Stones (#8)
Mr. Spaceman - The Byrds (#36)
A Must to Avoid - Herman's Hermits (#8)
Mustang Sally - Wilson Pickett (#23)
My Baby Loves Me - Martha & The Vandellas (#22)
My Heart's Symphony - Gary Lewis & The Playboys (#13)
My Love - Petula Clark (#1)
My World Is Empty Without You - The Supremes (#5)
Night Time - The Strangeloves (#30)
Nothing's Too Good for My Baby - Stevie Wonder (#20)
Nowhere Man - The Beatles (#3)
Oh Yeah - The Shadows of Knight (#39)
One More Heartache - Marvin Gaye (#29)
Open the Door to Your Heart - Darrell Banks (#27)
Over Under Sideways Down - The Yardbirds (#13)
Paint It, Black - The Rolling Stones (#1)
Paperback Writer - The Beatles (#1)
Please Tell Me Why - The Dave Clark Five (#28)
Pretty Flamingo - Manfred Mann (#29)
Psychotic Reaction - Count Five (#5)
Pushin' Too Hard - The Seeds (#36)
Rain - The Beatles (#23)
Rain on the Roof - The Lovin' Spoonful (#10)
The Rains Came - Sir Douglas Quintet (#31)
Rainy Day Women #12 & 35 - Bob Dylan (#2)
Reach Out I'll Be There - Four Tops (#1)
Red Rubber Ball - The Cyrkle (#2)
Respectable - The Outsiders (#15)
(I'm a) Road Runner - Jr. Walker & The All-Stars (#20)
Satisfaction - Otis Redding (#31)
A Satisfied Mind - Bobby Hebb (#39)
Say I Am (What I Am) - Tommy James & The Shondells (#21)
Secret Agent Man - Johnny Rivers (#3)
Secret Love - Billy Stewart (#29)
See See Rider - Eric Burdon & The Animals (#10)
See You in September - The Happenings (#3)
Shake Me, Wake Me (When It's Over) - Four Tops (#18)
Shapes of Things - The Yardbirds (#11)
Sloop John B - The Beach Boys (#3)
Stop Stop Stop - The Hollies (#7)
Sugar Town - Nancy Sinatra (#5)
Summer in the City - The Lovin' Spoonful (#1)
Summer Wind - Frank Sinatra (#25)
Summertime - Billy Stewart (#10)
The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore) - The Walker Brothers (#13)
Sunny - Bobby Hebb (#2)
Sunny Afternoon - The Kinks (#14)
Sunshine Superman - Donovan (#1)
Sweet Pea - Tommy Roe (#8)
Sweet Talkin' Guy - The Chiffons (#10)
Talk Talk - The Music Machine (#15)
These Boots Are Made For Walkin' - Nancy Sinatra (#1)
This Door Swings Both Ways - Herman's Hermits (#12)
This Old Heart of Mine (Is Weak for You) - The Isley Brothers (#12)
Time After Time - Chris Montez (#36)
Time Won't Let Me - The Outsiders (#5)
Together Again - Ray Charles (#19)
Trains and Boats and Planes - Dionne Warwick (#22)
Try A Little Tenderness - Otis Redding (#25)
Try Too Hard - The Dave Clark Five (#12)
Turn-Down Day - The Cyrkle (#16)
Walk Away Renee - The Left Banke (#5)
We Can Work It Out - The Beatles (#1)
What Becomes of the Brokenhearted? - Jimmy Ruffin (#7)
When A Man Loves A Woman - Percy Sledge (#1)
(When She Needs Good Lovin') She Comes to Me - The Chicago Loop (#37)
Where Were You When I Needed You - The Grass Roots (#28)
Whispers (Gettin' Louder) - Jackie Wilson (#11)
Who Am I - Petula Clark (#21)
Wild Thing - The Troggs (#1)
Wipe Out - The Surfaris (#16) (instrumental)
With A Girl Like You - The Troggs (#29)
Woman - Peter & Gordon (#14)
Words of Love - The Mamas & The Papas (#5)
Working in the Coal Mine - Lee Dorsey (#8)
Working My Way Back to You - The 4 Seasons (#9)
Wouldn't It Be Nice - The Beach Boys (#8)
Yellow Submarine - The Beatles (#2)
You Baby - The Turtles (#20)
You've Been Cheatin' - The Impressions (#33)
You Better Run - The Young Rascals (#20)
You Don't Have To Say You Love Me - Dusty Springfield (#4)
You Keep Me Hangin' On - The Supremes (#1)
(You're My) Soul and Inspiration - The Righteous Brothers (#1)

Top Albums of 1966
1 Original Soundtrack The Sound Of Music
2 The Beatles Revolver
3 The Beatles Rubber Soul
4 The Rolling Stones Aftermath
5 The Beach Boys Pet Sounds
6 Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass Going Places
7 The Beach Boys Best Of The Beach Boys
8 Original Soundtrack Doctor Zhivago
9 Dusty Springfield Golden Hits
10 The Beach Boys Best Of The Beach Boys