# Best of the Rest of the Top 40: 1966 **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [January 17, 2015, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1966/710070 "2015-01-17T15:57:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1966/710070/1 "2015-01-17T15:57:31Z")
The year is now 1966. In the #1 polls, this year was the peak of psychedelia, and the Top 40, though less so, is certainly a grab bag. This is one of the first years with a really significant number of #1 eliminations - I had to go all the way to #10 to find a song that wasn’t a #1, and all the way to #50 to get the 25 songs for this poll. What’s your favorite? Previous polls: [1956](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744629) [1957](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744819) [1958](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744978) [1959](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745151) [1960](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745331) [1961](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745525) [1962](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745733) [1963](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=745956) [1964](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=746118) [1965](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=746342) Best #1 single polls: [1955-56](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=731649) [1957](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=731871) [1958](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732021) [1959](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732199)[1960](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732526) [1961](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732691) [1962](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=732872) [1963](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733112) [1964](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733297) [1965](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733526) [1966](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733750) [1967](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=733958) [1968](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734168) [1969](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734331) [1970](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734535) [1971](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=734741) [1972](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735107) [1973](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735304) [1974](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735502) [1975](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735659) [1976](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=735871) [1977](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736076) [1978](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736316) [1979](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736501) [1980](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736705) [1981](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=736957) [1982](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737099) [1983](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737315) [1984](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737488) [1985](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737732) [1986](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=737957) [1987](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738178) [1988](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738403) [1989](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738639) [1990](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=738829) [1991](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739067) [1992](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739360) [1993](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739525) [1994](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=739880) [1995](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740122) [1996](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740302) [1997](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740497) [1998](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740709) [1999](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=740859) [2000](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741047) [2001](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741267) [2002](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741450) [2003](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741604) [2004](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741730) [2005](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=741915) [2006](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742069) [2007](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742147) [2008](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742282) [2009](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742467) [2010](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742676) [2011](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=742846) [2012](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=675664) [2013](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=710843) [2014](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743899) [1950s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743046) [1960s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743240) [1970s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743399) [1980s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743597) [1990s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743803) [2000s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=743981) [2010s](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744176) [All-time](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=744358) ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1966/710070/2 "2015-01-17T16:16:45Z")
You’ve got the wrong song name for The Outsiders’ song; it’s [Time Won’t Let Me](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yQERVphWhY). I went with _California Dreamin’_. Even though it’s overplayed on oldies stations, it remains a great song from a good album and was iconic to the hippie era. I will note with pride that I saw Sam The Sham live at the armory in Anchorage when I was in high school. ---
**Author:** ![Smapti](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/smapti/32/17938_2.png) [@Smapti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smapti)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1966/710070/3 "2015-01-17T16:21:13Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > You’ve got the wrong song name for The Outsiders’ song; it’s [Time Won’t Let Me](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3yQERVphWhY). You’re right. How did I miss that? I was looking directly at my list while typing out the poll options. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1966/710070/4 "2015-01-17T18:55:00Z")
> [@Smapti](#): > > You’re right. How did I miss that? I was looking directly at my list while typing out the poll options. There were a number of songs back then with “time” in the title or lyrics. There was one where the band members would shout TIME! and there was some clock-like syncopation on the cowbell going in the background. It was a solid rock tune and I can’t remember the artist or the name of the tune for the life of me. ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1966/710070/5 "2015-01-17T19:02:13Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > There were a number of songs back then with “time” in the title or lyrics. There was one where the band members would shout TIME! and there was some clock-like syncopation on the cowbell going in the background. It was a solid rock tune and I can’t remember the artist or the name of the tune for the life of me. Chambers Brothers, Time Has Come Today ---
**Author:** ![NineToTheSky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5a626/32.png) [@NineToTheSky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NineToTheSky)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1966/710070/6 "2015-01-17T19:33:27Z")
It was a toss up between the Mamas and Papas and Bob Lind, but I went for Bob Lind because it was one of the first great lyrically psychedelic songs. The music was very beautiful too. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1966/710070/7 "2015-01-17T21:03:19Z")
I despise “California Dreamin’.” I went to the other coast (Boston) and picked the Standells’ “Dirty Water.” Great riff (loved it since I was about six years old), nasty vocals, captures a '66 vibe that was sort of a Stateside version of the Yardbirds thing going on across the pond. ---
**Author:** ![Sir\_Prize](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d2c977/32.png) [@Sir\_Prize](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sir_Prize)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1966/710070/8 "2015-01-17T21:21:59Z")
> [@JKellyMap](#): > > I went to the other coast (Boston) and picked the Standells’ “Dirty Water.” Great riff (loved it since I was about six years old), nasty vocals, captures a '66 vibe that was sort of a Stateside version of the Yardbirds thing going on across the pond. Had to pick that one too. There are quite a few here that i hope someone votes for. ---
**Author:** ![Jonathan\_Chance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jonathan_chance/32/701_2.png) [@Jonathan\_Chance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jonathan_Chance)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1966/710070/9 "2015-01-17T21:50:02Z")
Mitch Ryder. That’s one hell of a committed performance. ---
**Author:** ![Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Enter\_the\_Flagon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enter_the_Flagon)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1966/710070/10 "2015-01-17T22:02:51Z")
[“Sunny”](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ubvYQxTXO3U) by Bobby Hebb. > [@](#): > > When Hebb toured with The Beatles in 1966 his “Sunny” was, at the time of the tour, ranked higher than any Beatles song then on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.[citation needed] ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 10:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1966/710070/11 "2015-01-17T22:16:52Z")
I went with Bus Stop. It’s a wonderful song. > [@](#): > > Bus stop, wet day, she’s there, I say > Please share my umbrella > Bus stop, bus goes, she stays, love grows > Under my umbrella ---
**Author:** ![Ponch8](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponch8/32/9883_2.png) [@Ponch8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponch8)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1966/710070/12 "2015-01-17T22:18:04Z")
I voted for “Walk Away Renee,” one of the saddest songs I’ve ever heard. Other contenders were “California Dreamin’” and “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted,” but they weren’t quite highly-rated enough in the world-famous **Ponch8 Music Rating System** to win my vote. “Sweet Pea” is dead-ass last. What a horrible record that was. I’m a year late, but some of these songs remind me of this [1965-style cover](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7cCrgGBQIE) of “Flagpole Sitta” by Harvey Danger. ---
**Author:** ![chiroptera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/df705f/32.png) [@chiroptera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiroptera)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2015, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1966/710070/13 "2015-01-17T22:23:34Z")
So much awesomeness in 1966. Like **Leaffan** , I went with _Bus Stop_ although it’s not going to win the popular vote. It has a lovely, nostalgic feel to it (for me). Just a sweet and intimate song that evokes a time and place when people actually used the bus and formed relationships doing that very mundane thing. ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2015, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1966/710070/14 "2015-01-18T01:04:51Z")
I can easily vote for either Lovin Spoonful or Outsiders, but I will give them all a listen tonight in case there is one I like better. ---
**Author:** ![Leaffan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leaffan/32/299_2.png) [@Leaffan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leaffan)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2015, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1966/710070/15 "2015-01-18T01:56:09Z")
> [@chiroptera](#): > > So much awesomeness in 1966. > > Like **Leaffan** , I went with _Bus Stop_ although it’s not going to win the popular vote. It has a lovely, nostalgic feel to it (for me). Just a sweet and intimate song that evokes a time and place when people actually used the bus and formed relationships doing that very mundane thing. It actually reminds me of an early McCartney song. I’m not musically inclined, so I can’t explain exactly why. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2015, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1966/710070/16 "2015-01-18T02:02:44Z")
**Daydream**. Runners up: Dusty; Standells ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2015, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1966/710070/17 "2015-01-18T02:07:08Z")
The Temptations almost got it, but “California Dreamin’” is such a perfect song it had to get my vote. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2015, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1966/710070/18 "2015-01-18T02:16:28Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > … “What Becomes of the Brokenhearted,” … I might not vote for that one. It always reminds me of the bathroom stall graffiti, “…Came to shit, but only farted.” ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2015, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1966/710070/19 "2015-01-18T03:10:25Z")
> [@Ponch8](#): > > Chambers Brothers, Time Has Come Today That’s it! HEY! ---
**Author:** ![Nema98](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/d2c977/32.png) [@Nema98](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nema98)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2015, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1966/710070/20 "2015-01-18T19:12:50Z")
It’s the Outsiders for me. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-of-the-rest-of-the-top-40-1966/710070.md?page=2)