List of Billboard Easy Listening number ones of 1966

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Frank Sinatra had four number ones in 1966. Frank Sinatra laughing.jpg
Frank Sinatra had four number ones in 1966.

In 1966, Billboard magazine published a chart ranking the top-performing songs in the United States in the easy listening market. The chart, which in 1966 was entitled Easy Listening, has undergone various name changes and since 1996 has been published under the title Adult Contemporary. [1] In 1966, 18 songs topped the chart based on playlists submitted by easy listening radio stations and sales reports submitted by stores. [1]

Contents

In the year's first issue of Billboard, Roger Miller moved up one place to number one with "England Swings", [2] however the song held the top spot for only a single week before being replaced by Al Martino's "Spanish Eyes", which spent four weeks atop the chart. Immediately after Martino's run at number one, Frank Sinatra, one of the most popular and influential musical artists of the 20th century, [3] gained his first Easy Listening chart-topper with "It Was a Very Good Year". Sinatra, who was experiencing a career resurgence at the age of 50, [4] achieved several chart distinctions in 1966. He had the most number ones of the year, topping the chart with four singles, spent the most total weeks in the top spot with 13, and had the longest unbroken run at number one when "Strangers in the Night" spent seven consecutive weeks topping the listing. Although Sinatra reportedly did not care for "Strangers in the Night", [5] it also topped Billboard's pop music chart, the Hot 100, [6] received the award for best original song at the 24th Golden Globe Awards, [7] and claimed four Grammy Awards at the 1967 ceremony. [8]

Two other Easy Listening number ones also topped the Hot 100. [6] In the early part of the year, Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler, a serving soldier in the United States military, [9] [10] reached the top of both listings with "The Ballad of the Green Berets". The patriotic song went on to be the biggest-selling single of the year in the U.S. [11] In December, the British novelty act the New Vaudeville Band reached number one on both charts with the 1920s-styled "Winchester Cathedral", the only song of the group's career to achieve major chart success in the United States. [12] [13] Neither act topped the Easy Listening chart again in their career; the Ray Conniff Singers, Margaret Whiting, and Roger Williams also achieved their only number ones on the listing during 1966. [14]

Chart history

Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler had one of the biggest hits of 1966 with "The Ballad of the Green Berets". A1C Sadler.jpg
Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler had one of the biggest hits of 1966 with "The Ballad of the Green Berets".
Ray Conniff and his singers topped the chart with "Somewhere, My Love", a vocal interpretation of "Lara's Theme" from the film Doctor Zhivago. Ray Conniff (1967).png
Ray Conniff and his singers topped the chart with "Somewhere, My Love", a vocal interpretation of "Lara's Theme" from the film Doctor Zhivago .
"I Couldn't Live Without Your Love" was a number one for British singer Petula Clark. Petula Clark b.jpg
"I Couldn't Live Without Your Love" was a number one for British singer Petula Clark.
Key
†Indicates number one on Billboard's year-end easy listening chart for 1966 [16]
Chart history
Issue dateTitleArtist(s)Ref.
January 1"England Swings" Roger Miller [2]
January 8"Spanish Eyes" Al Martino [17]
January 15 [18]
January 22 [19]
January 29 [20]
February 5"It Was a Very Good Year" Frank Sinatra [21]
February 12"Crying Time" Ray Charles [22]
February 19 [23]
February 26 [24]
March 5" The Ballad of the Green Berets " Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler [25]
March 12 [26]
March 19 [27]
March 26 [28]
April 2 [29]
April 9"I Want to Go with You" Eddy Arnold [30]
April 16 [31]
April 23 [32]
April 30"Together Again" Ray Charles [33]
May 7 [34]
May 14 [35]
May 21"Band of Gold" Mel Carter [36]
May 28 [37]
June 4"Strangers in the Night" Frank Sinatra [38]
June 11 [39]
June 18 [40]
June 25 [41]
July 2 [42]
July 9 [43]
July 16 [44]
July 23" The Impossible Dream (The Quest) " Jack Jones [45]
July 30"Somewhere, My Love" Ray Conniff Singers [46]
August 6 [47]
August 13 [48]
August 20 [49]
August 27"I Couldn't Live Without Your Love" Petula Clark [50]
September 3"Born Free" † Roger Williams [51]
September 10 [52]
September 17 [53]
September 24 [54]
October 1"In the Arms of Love" Andy Williams [55]
October 8 [56]
October 15"Summer Wind" Frank Sinatra [57]
October 22"Born Free" † Roger Williams [58]
October 29 [59]
November 5" The Wheel of Hurt " Margaret Whiting [60]
November 12 [61]
November 19 [62]
November 26 [63]
December 3"Winchester Cathedral" The New Vaudeville Band [64]
December 10 [65]
December 17 [66]
December 24 [67]
December 31"That's Life" Frank Sinatra [68]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strangers in the Night</span> 1966 single by Frank Sinatra and covered by Charles Singleton and Eddie Snyder

"Strangers in the Night" is a song composed by Bert Kaempfert with English lyrics by Charles Singleton and Eddie Snyder. Kaempfert originally used it under the title "Beddy Bye" as part of the instrumental score for the movie A Man Could Get Killed. The song was made famous in 1966 by Frank Sinatra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">All I Ever Need Is You (song)</span> 1971 single by Sonny & Cher

"All I Ever Need Is You" is a popular song written by Jimmy Holiday and Eddie Reeves, and initially recorded by Ray Charles for his 1971 album, Volcanic Action of My Soul. The most well-known version of the song is the hit single by Sonny & Cher which, in 1971, reached No. 7 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, and was their single of greatest chart longevity, spending 15 weeks on that chart. Their album by the same title sold over 500,000 copies reaching RIAA gold status.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Summer Wind</span> 1965 song performed by Wayne Newton

"Summer Wind" is a 1965 song, originally released in Germany as "Der Sommerwind" and written by Heinz Meier and German language lyrics by Hans Bradtke. Johnny Mercer re-wrote the song into English along the same themes as the original, which talked of the changing of the seasons using the Southern European sirocco wind as a metaphor. In America, it was first recorded by Wayne Newton and subsequently by Bobby Vinton and Perry Como.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'll Never Fall in Love Again</span> 1969 single by Bacharach & David

"I'll Never Fall in Love Again" is a popular song by composer Burt Bacharach and lyricist Hal David that was written for the 1968 musical Promises, Promises. Several recordings of the song were released in 1969; the most popular versions were by Dionne Warwick, who took it to number 6 on Billboard magazine's Hot 100 and spent three weeks topping the magazine's list of the most popular Easy Listening songs, and Bobbie Gentry, who topped the UK chart with her recording and also peaked at number 1 in Australia and Ireland, number 3 in South Africa and number 5 in Norway.

"Winchester Cathedral" is a song by the New Vaudeville Band, a British novelty group established by the song's composer, Geoff Stephens, and was released in late 1966 by Fontana Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Holly Holy</span> 1969 single by Neil Diamond

"Holly Holy" is a song written and recorded by Neil Diamond with instrumental backing provided by the American Sound Studio house band in Memphis. Released as a single on October 13, 1969, it was a successful follow up to "Sweet Caroline", reaching #6 on the U.S. pop singles chart by December. The song also reached #5 on the Easy Listening chart. It became a gold record and then eventually a platinum record.

"Moon Over Naples" is a 1965 instrumental composed and recorded by German bandleader Bert Kaempfert. The instrumental version reached No. 6 on Billboard's Adult Contemporary chart. It won a BMI Award in 1968.

<i>Warm and Willing</i> 1962 studio album by Andy Williams

Warm and Willing is the tenth studio album by American pop singer Andy Williams and was released in 1962 by Columbia Records. Allmusic's William Ruhlmann explained that Williams and producer Robert Mersey "followed the Sinatra concept-album formula of creating a consistent mood, in this case a romantic one, and picking material mostly from the Great American Songbook of compositions written for Broadway musicals in the 1920s and '30s by the likes of George and Ira Gershwin, then giving them slow, string-filled arrangements over which Williams could croon in his breathy, intimate tenor voice."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My Angel Baby</span> 1978 single by Toby Beau

"My Angel Baby" is a 1978 song by Toby Beau. "My Angel Baby" was written by band members Danny McKenna and Balde Silva. The single, from the group's self-titled album, went to #1 on the Easy Listening chart for one week, and peaked at #13 on the Billboard Hot 100. "My Angel Baby" was the group's only Top 40 single. In Canada, the song reached #10 on the Top 100 chart.

<i>In the Arms of Love</i> (album) 1966 studio album by Andy Williams

In the Arms of Love is the nineteenth studio album by American pop singer Andy Williams and was released on December 19, 1966, by Columbia Records and was the last of twelve consecutive Williams studio LPs produced by Robert Mersey.

<i>Love Story</i> (Andy Williams studio album) 1971 studio album by Andy Williams

Love Story is the twenty-seventh studio album by American pop singer Andy Williams that was released on February 3, 1971, by Columbia Records. This was another in his series of cover albums, but the title track, subtitled "Where Do I Begin", was the one song included that he originated.

<i>The Heart of a Woman</i> (album) 1974 studio album by Johnny Mathis

The Heart of a Woman is an album by American pop singer Johnny Mathis that was released on November 25, 1974, by Columbia Records. Produced by ex-Motowner Johnny Bristol, the LP is made up mostly of new material, in that only three of the 10 songs had already been recorded by other artists.

<i>I Only Have Eyes for You</i> (Johnny Mathis album) 1976 studio album by Johnny Mathis

I Only Have Eyes for You is an album by American pop singer Johnny Mathis that was released on May 10, 1976, by Columbia Records and included two new songs, "Yellow Roses on Her Gown" and "Ooh What We Do", which was written specifically for him, as well as a contemporary arrangement of the 1934 title track that foreshadowed his recordings of standards that incorporated a disco beat a few years later.

References

  1. 1 2 Whitburn 2007, p. vi.
  2. 1 2 "Adult Contemporary chart for January 1, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 6, 2018. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  3. ↑ Ruhlmann, William. "Frank Sinatra Biography & History". AllMusic . Archived from the original on August 28, 2019. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  4. ↑ Breihan, Tom (September 11, 2018). "The Number Ones: Frank Sinatra's "Strangers In The Night"". Stereogum . Archived from the original on December 11, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  5. ↑ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Strangers in the Night – Frank Sinatra". AllMusic . Archived from the original on December 10, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  6. 1 2 Whitburn 2005, p. 1160.
  7. ↑ "Eddie Snyder obituary". The Daily Telegraph . March 31, 2011. Archived from the original on October 13, 2019. Retrieved May 16, 2024.
  8. ↑ "9th Annual GRAMMY Awards". Grammy Awards. Archived from the original on March 3, 2024. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
  9. ↑ Whitburn 2002, p. 213.
  10. ↑ "'Green Berets' singer Barry Sadler dies at 49" . The Washington Post . Associated Press. November 6, 1989. Archived from the original on January 16, 2023. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
  11. ↑ Stanley, Bob (November 20, 2025). "1966: The Year the Decade Exploded by Jon Savage review – the year pop culture exploded". The Guardian . Archived from the original on March 26, 2024. Retrieved June 16, 2024.
  12. ↑ Whitburn 2005, p. 509.
  13. ↑ Huey, Steve. "New Vaudeville Band Biography & History". AllMusic . Archived from the original on October 23, 2018. Retrieved December 10, 2018.
  14. ↑ Whitburn 2002, pp. 63, 182, 213, 257, 259.
  15. ↑ Lawson & MacDonald 2018, p. 79.
  16. ↑ "Top Records of 1966". Billboard . December 24, 1966. p. 35.
  17. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 8, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 7, 2018. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  18. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 15, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on March 17, 2018. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  19. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 22, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  20. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 29, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  21. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 5, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  22. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 12, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  23. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 19, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  24. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 26, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  25. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 5, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 10, 2018. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  26. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 12, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  27. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 19, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  28. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 26, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 10, 2018. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  29. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 2, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  30. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 9, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  31. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 16, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  32. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 23, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
  33. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 30, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  34. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 7, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  35. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 14, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 10, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  36. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 21, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  37. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 28, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 10, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  38. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 4, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  39. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 11, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on March 17, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  40. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 18, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  41. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 25, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  42. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 2, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 10, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  43. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 9, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  44. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 16, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  45. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 23, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  46. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 30, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  47. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 6, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  48. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 13, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  49. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 20, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  50. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 27, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  51. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 3, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 10, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  52. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 10, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  53. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 17, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  54. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 24, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  55. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 1, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  56. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 8, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  57. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 15, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 10, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  58. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 22, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  59. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 29, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 10, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  60. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 5, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on March 17, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  61. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 12, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 10, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  62. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 19, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  63. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 26, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 10, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  64. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 3, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 10, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
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  66. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 17, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  67. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 24, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on March 17, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  68. ↑ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 31, 1966". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.

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