A History of Pop Music – Albums 1966

Featured Album:

The Mama’s & The Papa’s If you can believe your eyes and ears

This is a series of articles looking at albums from 1960 to whatever year we end up in.

I will select a featured album for each year and the link for the whole album, Plus list the songs on it.

As before, it is not just about the songs and tunes, it is very much about memories, and good ones, I hope.

Not everyone will like my choices of course, and you may remember some from each particular year that you feel should have been included, so do please post a link to the song.

It would be extremely easy to have picked a Beatles or Beach Boys album again, but when I first heard the Mama’s and the Papas, it was different. They are still on my regular playlist after 50 odd years.

Two absolute classics on this album including Monday, Monday and California Dreamin’, superb songs. It’ the debut album by the Mama’s and the Papa’s (written as The Mama’s and the Papa’s, released in 1966.

Track listing

Side one

“Monday, Monday” (John Phillips) – 3:28
“Straight Shooter” (J. Phillips) – 2:58
“Got a Feelin'” (J. Phillips, Denny Doherty) – 2:53
“I Call Your Name” (John Lennon, Paul McCartney) – 2:38
“Do You Wanna Dance” (Bobby Freeman) – 3:00
“Go Where You Wanna Go” (J. Phillips) – 2:29

Side two

“California Dreamin’” (J. Phillips, Michelle Phillips) – 2:42
“Spanish Harlem” (Jerry Leiber, Phil Spector) – 3:22
“Somebody Groovy” (J. Phillips) – 3:16
“Hey Girl” (J. Phillips, M. Phillips) – 2:30
“You Baby” (Steve Barri, F. Sloan) – 2:22
“The ‘In’ Crowd” (Billy Page) – 3:12

Personnel

Denny Doherty– vocals
Cass Elliot– vocals
John Phillips– vocals, guitar
Michelle Phillips– vocals
F. Sloan– guitars, additional vocals
Larry Knechtel– keyboards
Hal Blaine– drums
Joe Osborn– bass guitar
Bud Shank– flute solo on “California Dreamin'”
Peter Pilafian – electric violin
Lou Adler– producer

More writings on this album here: If You Can Believe Your Eyes and Ears

Mama Cass Elliot is a good read, bit of a go-er! Yet another tragic heroin user dying at just 32. Strangely enough Keith Moon died in the same flat she was staying in, but 4 years later, he was also 32.

The Top 10 Albums with a You Tube hyperlink on the title:

Top Tip: Right-click and open in new tab

Top Albums of 1966
1	Original Soundtrack	The Sound Of Music
2	The Beatles	Revolver
3	The Beatles	Rubber Soul
4	The Rolling Stones	Aftermath
5	The Beach Boys	Pet Sounds
6	Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass	Going Places
7	The Beach Boys	Best Of The Beach Boys
8	Original Soundtrack	Doctor Zhivago
9	Dusty Springfield	Golden Hits
10	The Beach Boys	Best Of The Beach Boys

I love the 60’s, here again 2 albums in the charts for The Beatles, 3 for The Beach Boys. Dusty has a wonderful voice and that album is well worth a listen, full of brilliant tunes.

It was my 64^th birthday yesterday, I celebrated at home with Charlie, I drank Hooky and he did not (only 16). I think this was the year that my two elder sisters and I received a transistor radio for Christmas. The house was always full of music. At night-time, despite being school tomorrow, I would be under the covers in bed listening to Radio Luxembourg. No central heating in them days, coal fire in the living room was the only heating, maybe a hot water bottle at night in bed! Such awesome tunes. I remember watching England win the 1966 World Cup, I was at my great grandma’s they had black and white telly. We had some tea, then it was Doctor Who. Happy days.

The top 10 albums for 1966, like the previous 5 years were all awesome. However, some more are below that I would say are well worth a listen. In my view the best albums of the year, after the featured one, and the top tunes from each, are:

The Monkees – The Monkees – Loved this show, they may feature later.

Simon & Garfunkel – Parsley Sage Rosemary and Thyme – Superb album with classics, but I prefer their more upbeat tunes.

The Supremes – The Supremes A’ Go-Go – great Motown stuff, includes the classic Phil Collins hit “You can’t hurry love” (Sniggerz)

Martha & The Vandellas – Watchout! – More Motown, as you cannot have too much of this.

The Temptations – Gettin’ Ready – Smashing, super, marvellous.

The Byrds – 5D (Fifth Dimension) – Folky type stuff, I find most pleasant.

The Who – A quick one – Not my favourite group, but I know many will appreciate this.

The Easybeats – It’s 2 Easy – Classic 60’s sound

Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich – Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich (Hold tight, Zanadu and some other great ones.

Scoring:

As you know I like to review your “tunes” that you post. Scoring this week will be as per my first comment you will not read:

*Note. Anyone scoring a Morrissey (lowest score possible) will be reported and blocked.