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List of Billboard Easy Listening number ones of 1966

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The singer Frank Sinatra in a tuxedo in a formal dinner setting
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]

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

[edit]
The singer Barry Sadler in military uniform
Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler had one of the biggest hits of 1966 with "The Ballad of the Green Berets".
The musician Ray Conniff
Ray Conniff and his singers topped the chart with "Somewhere, My Love", a vocal interpretation of "Lara's Theme" from the film Doctor Zhivago.[15]
The singer Petula Clark holding a large bunch of flowers
"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 date Title Artist(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

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References

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  1. ^ a b Whitburn 2007, p. vi.
  2. ^ a b "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. ^ a b 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.
  65. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 10, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 9, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
  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.

Works cited

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