27 Best Songs From 1966

“Homeward Bound” by Simon and Garfunkel

Paul Simon wrote “Homeward Bound” while waiting for a train at Liverpool Station. At the time, Simon lived in Essex, England.

For him, the song title was twofold. He wanted to return to Essex, but he was also keen to return to New York.

Simon subsequently felt frustrated by the title, which he claimed was unoriginal. But fans loved it. And the simplicity meant “Homeward Bound” stuck in people’s minds. Years later, Peter Carlin repurposed the song title for his biography of Paul Simon.

“Michelle” by Bud Shank

One of the unlikely hits of 1966 was jazz artist Bud Shank’s cover of “Michelle.”

The Beatles wrote “Michelle” in 1965. Earlier in sixty-six, Shank collaborated with The Mamas and The Papas on the alto flute solo for “California Dreamin’,” making his leap from jazz to Beatles riffs more logical than it might seem.

Played with verve and harmonic prowess, Shank’s jazzy rendition of “Michelle” was enormously popular and remains worth listening to today.

“Guantanamera” by The Sandpipers

The lyrics of “Guantanamera” are from a poem by José Martí. In 1929, a Cuban musician, Joseíto Fernandez put the poem to music.

Subsequently, folk artist Pete Seeger found and recorded the song, and their version was what popularized Fernandez’s composition for many North Americans.

Its themes of peace and beauty resonated with Americans. The song was so popular that in 1966, already exhausted by the Vietnam War, The Sandpipers did a version. It was a runaway success and became one of the best songs of 1966.

“Strangers in the Night” by Frank Sinatra

“Strangers in the Night” first appeared as part of the film A Man Could Get Killed. It had the much less compelling title “Beddy Bye” and was supposed to be sung by Melina Mercouri.

At the eleventh hour, the film producers changed their minds, reasoning the song would suit a male singer’s vocal color better. Frank Sinatra got the song instead, and it became a classic example of good music in 1966.

Sinatra’s warm, crooning vocals matched the lyrics perfectly. Many have sung the song since, but none as memorably or resonantly as Sinatra.

 “These Boots Are Made for Walkin’” by Nancy Sinatra

Lee Hazelwood, writer of “These Boots Are Made For Walkin’,” said the song had its genesis in a line spoken by Frank Sinatra on a comedy western show.

Despite this, it was Sinatra’s daughter, Nancy, who initially sang the song. Released in January 1966, it quickly became one of the best songs of 1966.

It was such a success that many artists performed a version, including

• Billy Ray Cyrus
•  Jessica Simpson

The song also appeared in several films and television shows, including

• Austin Powers
•  Ocean’s Eight
• Family Guy

“Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” by The Temptations

When discussing good music in 1966, it’s impossible not to mention The Temptations. The group had many hits, and at the time, “Ain’t Too Proud to Beg” was their most recent.

Written by Norman Whitfield and with lyrics by Edward Holland Jr, the song sat at number 13 on the Billboard 100 for eight consecutive weeks.

Like many sixties-era songs, love is at the thematic core of “Ain’t too Proud to Beg.” The speaker pleads with his partner not to leave as he anticipates. Whether they successfully persuade the person they’re speaking to is unclear.

“I’m A Believer” by The Monkees

 “I’m A Believer” was another of the best songs of 1966. As discussed, The Monkees had several hits that year.

Neil Diamond wrote the song, and vocalist Micky Dolenz sang the melody line. Because of its catchy, dance-like beat, the song was an immediate triumph for The Monkees. Released at the beginning of December 1966, it sat on the billboard charts for Britain and North America into the start of 1967.

“When A Man Loves a Woman” by Percy Sledge

Another essential aspect of good music in 1966 was R&B music. “When A Man Loves A Woman” hit the charts in 1966 and was an instant rock ‘n roll hit. Calvin Lewis and Andrew Wright wrote it.

Not only did it succeed on North America’s Billboard charts, but “When A Man Loves A Woman” also scored highly on the R&B singles charts.

Like so many hits, the song came about by accident. Lewis was improvising on an organ with different musical riffs when the melody hit him. They were practicing for a dance, but when the rehearsal ended, he went home and recorded what became the melody of “When A Man Loves A Woman.”

Afterward, he handed it to Wright, who composed the lyrics with similar rapidity.

“Daydream” by The Lovin’ Spoonful

“Daydream” was written by John Sebastien for his band The Lovin’ Spoonfuls. It pays deliberate homage to The Supremes’ hit song “Baby Love.” It also takes inspiration from The Beatles’ song “Black Magic.” 

But the inspiration wasn’t one-way-only. When Paul McCartney wrote “Good Day Sunshine,’ he used “Daydream” for musical inspiration.

“Friday On My Mind” by The Easybeats

Another of the best songs of 1966 comes from the Australian rock group The Easybeats.

Written by George Young and Harry Vanda, the song’s perspective on the tedium of the work week quickly termed it a “working class anthem.”

But neither Vanda nor Young was thinking about class when composing the piece. Instead, it was more about their outlook on the world at large. That they stumbled into an effective class commentary was a happy accident.