Billboard Number 1 Songs of 1966 Quiz

Answer: The Sounds of Silence

"The Sounds of Silence" (later "The Sound of Silence")surprised Simon and Garfunkel when it hit the number one spot. It was originally recorded with just voices and guitar for their acoustic "Wednesday Morning, 3 AM" album. The album failed to have success, so Art returned to school and Paul went to England. Columbia producers decided the song may be a hit if they added electric instruments to it, so they had the session players for Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" remain and put bass, electric guitar and drums on the song.

It received airplay and became a huge hit. Paul Simon wrote "Red Rubber Ball" for the British group The Cyrcle. "Turn! Turn! Turn!" was by the Byrds and Barry McGuire had number one success earlier with "Eve of Destruction."

Answer: Lou Christie

Lou Christie had enjoyed chart success earlier in the sixties with "The Gypsy Cried" and "Two Faces Have I." He met co-writer Twyla Herbert when he was fifteen while she was looking for a singer for her group, The Classics. When he had his first chart success with "The Gypsy Cried" the label changed his name from Lugee Sacco to Lou Christie without his knowledge. Christie was drafted in the midst of his success and was determined to have a number one hit when he was discharged. Frankie Valli headed the Four Seasons. Roy Head had a top five with "Treat Her Right." Johnny Rivers had several top twenty songs including the theme to the TV show "Secret Agent Man."

Answer: Nancy Sinatra

Nancy Sinatra brought the Lee Hazlewood song to number one. Nancy was one of the first artists signed to her father, Frank's, new Reprise label in 1961. She had released fifteen songs without any success and eventually worked with Lee in the studio. He wrote the song specifically for her and it created a new image for the former wife of Tommy Sands.

She later did a duet with Lee titled "Summer Wine" and sang a duet with her father called "Something' Stupid." Her father had a number one in July, 1966, with "Strangers in the Night." Nancy went on to act in several movies such as "For Those Who Think Young." Fontella Bass hit the Billboard Hot 100 with "Rescue Me." Dusty Springfield sang "Son of a Preacher Man," and Petula Clark had several hits including "My Love."

Answer: S/Sgt Barry Sadler

S/Sgt Barry Sadler was recovering from a leg wound he sustained in Vietnam when he wrote a poem about The Green Berets. Robin Moore, the author of the book "The Green Berets" collaborated with Sadler and their song was recorded on a shoestring budget exclusively for the military. RCA agreed to finance a studio recording of the song and it became a success. Sadler was given leave to appear on "The Ed Sullivan Show," Jimmy Dean's television show and other venues to promote the song.

It was his only hit. Major Lance had a hit with "The Monkey Time." Crispian St. Peters did the catchy "Pied piper," and Len Barry had a number three song in 1965 appropriately titled "1-2-3."

Answer: Monday, Monday

If "California Dreamin'" was a choice it would be difficult to select which one topped the charts, but "Monday, Monday" was their first, even though "California Dreamin'" was released first. After the members of the group had worked with several other artists and bands in the early sixties, they met each other in California.

They were staying with Barry McGuire who had just had a hit with "Eve of Destruction." He introduced them to his producer, Lou Adler, who promptly signed the group. John Phillips had to convince the other members to record "Monday, Monday" as they didn't like it. "Daydream" was by the Lovin' Spoonful. "My World is Empty Without You" was a Supremes hit and "Listen People" was done by Herman's Hermits.

Answer: Percy Sledge

Percy Sledge was working with a band called the Esquires doing cover tunes. One evening he was so upset about a broken relationship that he asked his band to improvise some music and he poured his heart out over the music. When he was in a better frame of mind he tightened it up. Bassist Cameron Lewis and organist Arthur Wright were the band mates that had done the music so he gave them total songwriting credit.

After a recording with a local Alabama label, the song eventually was released by Atlantic records. Stevie Wonder charted with "Uptight." James Brown enjoyed chart success with "I Feel Good (I Got You)," and Tom Jones' early hit was "What's New Pussycat?"

Answer: Tommy James and the Shondells

Tommy put a band together during his Michigan high school years. He worked in a record store to start networking his first recording, "Long Pony Tail." A DJ expressed interest and asked Tommy for more material. Tommy heard a band doing the Barry/Greenwich song, "Hanky Panky," in a club and decided it would be good for him to cover.

After enjoying regional success "Hanky Panky" faded. Two years later it had a resurgence but Tommy didn't have a band. He walked into a club and asked a band he liked named The Raconteurs if they wanted to be the Shondells.

When they agreed they went to New York and kept the hits cranking. Sam the Sham and The Pharaohs had a few hits, such as "Wooly Bully." The Happenings did "See You in September," and The Association had number one success with "Cherish" September 24th, 1966.

Answer: The New Vaudeville Band

Composer Geoff Stevens was working in his London office when he saw a calendar with a photograph of Winchester Cathedral. Because he was a big fan of vaudeville music he was inspired to write a song about the church in that style. He personally sang the song through a megaphone with session musicians to ensure authenticity.

When the song became a success he formed a real band and they toured extensively, even performing at The Aladdin Hotel in Las Vegas for a year. Mitch Ryder and his band recorded the medley "Devil With A Blue Dress On/Good Golly Miss Molly." The Seekers did "A World of Our Own," and Blue Magoos had a top five hit with "(We Ain't Got) Nothin' yet."

Answer: Last Train to Clarksville

Written by the songwriting team of Boyce and Hart, "Last Train to Clarksville" was released two weeks before the NBC series "The Monkees" premiered. It hit number one eight weeks later. Screen Gems produced "The Monkees" and asked publisher Don Kirshner to find material for their label, Colpix, to release as songs for the Monkees. Boyce and Hart also wrote the theme song for the show.

The town of Clarksville, Arizona, became the inspiration for "Last Train to Clarksville," and was the fourth town to be mentioned in the title of a number one song. "I'm A Believer" was also number one for the Monkees later in 1966. "Daydream Believer" was a later hit for the band. "Poor Side of Town" was a number one for Johnny Rivers on November 12, 1966.

He also did "Mountain of Love."

Answer: Summer in the City

John Sebastian got the inspiration for the band's name from a Mississippi John Hurt song that had the lyrics "I love my baby by the lovin' spoonful." The core of the band was John and Zal Yanovsky, who were introduced by Cass Elliot of the Mamas and Papas.

After later adding Steve Boone and Joe Butler they began having chart success. John's brother, Mark, had written a poem about the city and Steve Boone and John added some additional lyrics and music to it. "Lil' Red Riding Hood" was by Sam the Sham & the Pharaohs. "Sunshine Superman" was a 1966 number one for Scottish folk singer Donovan the following month.

A band named ?(Question Mark) and the Mysterians took "96 Tears" to the top spot in October of 1966.