1966
The year in music, movies, TV, fads & memories
In 1966, “California Dreamin'” by The Mamas & the Papas topped the Billboard year-end Hot 100 and Pet Sounds by The Beach Boys and Revolver by The Beatles were on every turntable. The Good, the Bad and the Ugly, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Batman: The Movie were in theaters, and Star Trek premieres, The Monkees and Mission: Impossible were on TV.
The headlines: Miranda v. Arizona ruling. New that year: Fiber-optic communication proposed. Fads of the year: Batman 'Batusi' craze and Go-go boots peak. Gas was 32¢ a gallon and a stamp was 5¢.
🎂 What music raised you?
Drop your birthday and we'll rewind to your golden era — the years the songs imprinted for life.
🔙 Backtrack — 1966
The world around the music — what was on screen, and what was on the shelf.
🎬 At the movies
📰 Headlines
- Miranda v. Arizona ruling
- Star Trek premieres
- NOW founded
- Surveyor 1 lands on the Moon
- First Kwanzaa
💡 Tech & Firsts
- Fiber-optic communication proposed
- Surveyor 1 soft-lands on Moon
- Gemini 8 first orbital docking
- Dynamic RAM concept
- Hand-held calculator development
🏆 Sports
- Orioles sweep the World Series
- Packers win the NFL title
- Celtics' 8th straight NBA title
- Canadiens win the Stanley Cup
- England wins the World Cup
🤪 Crazes & fads
- Batman 'Batusi' craze
- Go-go boots peak
- Psychedelic posters
- Slot-car racing
- The Monkees
👖 Clothes
- Nehru jacket arrives
- Twiggy 'mod' look
- Op-art prints
- Paper dresses
- Vinyl/PVC clothing
💵 What it cost
- Gas: 32¢/gal
- Stamp: 5¢
- Gallon of milk: ~52¢
- New car avg: ~$3,500
- Median home: ~$14,200
Billboard Year-End Hot 100
📊 Full chart →- 1
California Dreamin'The Mamas & the Papas - 2
96 Tears? and The Mysterians - 3
What Becomes of the BrokenheartedJimmy Ruffin - 4
Last Train to ClarksvilleThe Monkees - 5
Reach Out, I'll Be ThereFour Tops - 6
These Boots Are Made for Walkin'Nancy Sinatra - 7
CherishThe Association - 8
Strangers In the NightFrank Sinatra - 9
KicksPaul Revere & The Raiders - 10
The Ballad of the Green BeretsSSgt. Barry Sadler - 11
Good Lovin'The Young Rascals - 12
You're My Soul and InspirationThe Righteous Brothers - 13
You Can't Hurry LoveThe Supremes - 14
SunnyBobby Hebb - 15
See You In SeptemberThe Happenings - 16
Li'l Red Riding HoodPharaohs & Sam the Sham & The Pharaohs - 17
Lightnin' StrikesLou Christie - 18
The Poor Side of TownJohnny Rivers - 19
Working in the Coal MineLee Dorsey - 20
A Groovy Kind of LoveWayne Fontana & The Mindbenders - 21
You Don't Have to Say You Love MeDusty Springfield - 22
Sunshine SupermanDonovan - 23
Born a WomanSandy Posey - 24Monday, MondayThe Mamas & The Papas
- 25
Red Rubber BallThe Cyrkle
More from 1966
🎤 Big in 1966
🎚️ 1966 genres
🎛️ Behind the boards & the pen — 1966
The hands behind 1966 — the producers and songwriters who actually shaped that year's records. George Martin was on 2 of them.
🎚️ Related vibes
All themes →Themed rooms that lean on the sound of 1966.
What does 1966 remind you of?
The drive, the dance, the heartbreak, the summer. Add a memory of 1966.
Community Memories
How well do you remember 1966?
7 quick questions — the songs, the artists, the year. No cheating. 😏
📀 Take this record with you
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🎵 1966 albums on vinyl
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📻 60s gear
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