The #1 easy listening hits of 1966 are listed here. Interestingly, the category name went from easy listening (7/17/1961) to middle-road singles (11/3/1962) to pop-standard singles (5/2/1964) to middle-road singles (10/24/1964), back to pop-standard singles (5/1/1965), finally back to easy listening (6/5/1965). It stayed there until 4/7/1979, when it became adult contemporary. I usually list the category as AC.
*Strangers in the Night – Frank Sinatra (Reprise), 7 weeks at #1; also, #1 pop
Born Free – Roger Williams (Kapp), 6 weeks at #1; also #7 pop. From the movie. He’s NOT the Roger Williams who founded Rhode Island.
*The Ballad of the Green Berets – SSgtBarry Sadler (RCA Victor), 5 weeks at #1
Spanish Eyes – Al Martino (Capitol), 4 weeks at #1; also #15 pop.
| From J-archive: | DOUBLE TALK $800 (Daily Double): It’s what Al Martino wanted the girl to say in the following song: “Blue Spanish eyes / Teardrops are falling from your Spanish eyes…” |
Somewhere My Love – Ray Coniff & the Singers, 4 weeks at #1; also #9 pop. a/k/a Larta’s Theme from the movie Dr. Zhivago.
The Wheel Of Hurt – Margaret Whiting (London), 4 weeks at #1; also #26 pop
*Winchester Cathedral – The New Vaudeville Band (Fontana), 4 weeks at #1; also #1 pop for three weeks
Crying Time – Ray Charles (ABC-Paramount), 3 weeks at #1; also #5 RB, #6 pop
*I Want to Go With You – Eddy Arnold, (RCA Victor), 3 weeks at #1; also #1 CW for six weeks
Together Again – Ray Charles (ABC-Paramount), 3 weeks at #1; also #10 RB, #19 pop
That’s Life – Frank Sinatra (Reprise)- 3 weeks at #1; also #4 pop, #25 RB. It was also #1 on Record World, but I’m focusing here on Billboard.
Band Of Gold – Mel Carter (Imperial), 2 weeks at #1; #32 pop
In The Arms Of Love – Andy Williams (Columbia), 2 weeks at #1; also #49 pop. Co-written by Henry Mancini.
The remaining songs were #1 AC for one week
England Swings – Roger Miller (Smash); also #3 CW, #8 pop. For reasons, when this came out, I changed a line to “Westminster Abigail, the tower Big Benjamin. The rosy-red cheeks of the little children-alin.”
It Was A Very Good Year – Frank Sinatra (Reprise); also #28 pop
The Impossible Dream (the Quest) – Jack Jones (Kapp); also #35 pop. The only song from Man of La Mancha I know. The changed lyric is not an improvement, but it is probably more radio-friendly than the “march into hell ” line.
I Couldn’t Live Without Your Love – Petula Clark (Warner); also #9 pop
Summer Wind – Frank Sinatra (Reprise); also #25 pop
The JEOPARDY response, What is “Si, si”?
