UK Singles Chart: 1966

Once again in 1966, we begin the year with a chart debutant at number one. This was Spencer Davis Group with "Keep On Running". They followed this up with another number one with "Somebody Help Me" and had a further two hits this year with "When I Come Home" and "Gimme Some Loving".

The second number one also came from a chart debutant. This was the Lennon/McCartney penned "Michelle" by the Overlanders, who would be a one hit wonder. The same week chart debutants "David & Jonathan" also released a version of this record. They would have one more hit in July with "Lovers Of The World Unite", though both members of the group would return in some capacity as they were the famous songwriters Roger Cook and Roger Greenway.

The third number one also came from a chart debutant, Nancy Sinatra with "These Boots Are Made For Walkin". We also saw her father Frank Sinatra return to the charts this year with a number one record "Strangers In The Night".

It was business as usual for the Beatles who reached number one with both singles this year, "Paperback Writer" and "Yellow Submarine/Eleanor Rigby". This would bring their total number ones to 11.

Elvis Presley was still in the lead in terms of both number of hits and number of number ones. Although he didn't top the charts this year, he did have 5 singles bring his total to 60. In second place, someway back, was Cliff Richard with 39. In third place was Lonnie Donegan with 30, 4 years after his final hit. In fourth was Nat 'King' Cole with 29, also 4 years after his last hit but he wasn't quite finished yet. In fifth was Everly Brothers with 28, though this was the first year they failed to chart since their debut in 1957. Then there were four acts tied in sixth place on 26. Despite it being 7 years since his last hit, Frankie Laine was one of these acts. Another act who's chart career had now ended was also in third place, Pat Boone. Then there was Frankie Vaughan who was currently on hiatus from the charts. The final act in sixth place was Billy Fury who would bid farewell to the top 40 this year with his final 2 hits, "I'll Never Quite Get Over You" and "Give Me Your Word".

Another act from the 50s bidding farewell to the Top 40 this year after a 3 year absence was Bobby Darin with his cover of "If I Were A Carpenter". Meanwhile 1954 debutant Petula Clark was still active in the charts and would be back.

From Motown we have the Temptations make their chart debut with "Ain't Too Proud To Beg". Also from Motown we see the debut of Stevie Wonder with "Uptight (Everything's Alright)". We also have a Motown number one at the end of October with "Reach Out I'll Be There" by the Four Tops.

Percy Sledge had both his UK singles this year, "When A Man Loves A Woman" and "Warm And Tender Love". There was also the debut of Ike & Tina Turner with "River Deep Mountain High" and followed up with "A Love Like Yours". It would however be another 7 years until they chart with a new record again.

The folk world was still going strong in 1966, with the likes of Bob Dylan and Donovan continuing to have hits. We also saw the debut of Simon & Garfunkel in March with "Homeward Bound", whilst Irish group the Bachelors would have a hit with a cover of Simon & Garfunkel's "The Sound Of Silence". Also debuting was Mamas and the Papas with "California Dreamin" in April. From the UK we see Cat Stevens debuting in October with "I Love My Dog".

Aside from the Beatles, we see the last of the Merseybeat bands bid farewell to the charts this year. First up was Swinging Blue Jeans in January with "Don't Make Me Over" reaching number 33. Also in January was The Merseybeats who reached 38 with "I Stand Accused". Tony Crane and Billy Kinsley of the band would then form a duo called The Merseys who had their only hit in April reaching number 4 with "Sorrow". Also in April came the last hit for the Searchers reaching number 31 with "Take It Or Leave It". That was it for the Merseybeat scene which had dominated the charts just a couple of years earlier.

Just over a year after making their chart debut, Eric Claptons former band the Yardbirds would have their final top 40 hit in June with "Over Under Sideways Down". Eric Claptons new band Cream would make their debut in October with "Wrapping Paper".

This was the year that the Animals became Eric Burden & The Animals, mainly because Eric Burden was the only original member in the band left. Former keyboard player Alan Price made his debut with "I Put a Spell On You", meanwhile future Animals keyboard player Zoot Money would have his only top 40 hit "Big Time Operator".

We also see the first Spanish act in the top 40. This was Los Bravos with "Black Is Black" and followed up with their only other hit "I Don't Care".

So 1966 basically saw the progression of the music from the previous year, with folk, soul and blues being the major sounds. Will 1967 continue in the same fashion? We'll see next year!