2nd - 8th June 1966

21. Over Under Sideways Down - The Yardbirds https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4FA_y92vwvQ A song punctuated by many shouts of "hey". The guitar riff is the highlight. Sadly, this will already be the last of their five top 40 hits with all of them reaching the top 10.

27. Twinkie-Lee - Gary Walker https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5BVWXH3r9U A straightforward pop song with the bass guitar and brass instruments keeping up a pacy rhythm. Both of Gary Walker's two solo hits peaked at number 26.

35. Stop Her On Sight (SOS) - Edwin Starr https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qduMyOwtqTU Edwin's debut hit single is an enjoyable one with his lead vocal supported by backing singers and a Motown style band. It will become popular on the Northern soul scene.

36. Merci Cherie - Vince Hill https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iK4LCWT0WpQ A cover of this year's Eurovision winner which came from Austria with new English language lyrics. There is some similarity to 'You'll Never Walk Alone' at the start. Vince reaches the big extended note in the middle but there's nothing else notable about this.

39. Water - Geno Washington and the Ram Jam Band https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbADz8zjoOE An English group fronted by the American singer. The saxophones make an impact but the song wasn't one I'll remember.

40. Whatcha Gonna Do Now - Chris Andrews https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mE0ZfWmw6AY This song is a bit of a mess with some amateurish backing vocals and brass playing and Chris not doing much better with his lead vocal.

Record of the week : 13. Don't Bring Me Down - The Animals

It's another record of the week for The Animals with this one. I like the guitar work which combines well with the drums and electric organ and there's the usual passionate vocal from Eric Burdon. The song was written by Gerry Goffin and Carole King. It will reach a peak position of number 6.

Over Under is one of those song titles that never rings any bells until I hear the track - the middle-eastern-ish intro riff is very familiar, the rest of the song not so much, but as a whole the track is rather cool, one of those I'd like to hear more of. Pretty sure I have it on a Yardbirds multi-track CD single/EP somewhere, but if not I need to download it. Twinkie-Lee I have no memory of but the backing Sax-ish rhythms are lifted from other 60's hits, but sounding weedier. Even the melody sounds like something nicked from somewhere.

Stop Her On Sight I will have heard in 1969 when it became a hit in the UK, but I really noticed it when mum and dad's younger RAF friends Pete & Jill gave me a copy of it (and Magical Mystery Tour EP!) when we visited them in Lincolnshire after we all got back from a now-closed-down RAF Changi, sometime in 1972. As usual I always dived straight into everyone's record collections when visiting, started doing that when I was around 9 years old. It's a great Motown/soul track, and Edwin Starr seemed to get more appreciation in the UK - he moved here.

Vince's Eurovision cover is a new one on me - had no idea! I knew Vince in '67 from Idle Vice, a fave at the time. This is OK, and yes I can see the You'll Never Walk Alone vibes too. Quite nice but wouldnt rush to play it again. Geno Washington I'd never heard of until I picked up the first edition of the Guinness Book Of Hit Singles, and especially Dexy's chart-topper, but Water is fine. Low-key funk-soul with roots in Blues. The early Dexy's sound is already there ready and waiting..

Chris Andrews seemed to be running out steam generally around this time, but there's nothing bad about Watcha Gonna Do as such - it's just lacking the monster hooks and melodies of previous hits, and this has a Big Band/Blues-funk vibe to it as seen through English Producers eyes. I like it. Didnt realise Dont Bring Me Down was Goffin & King! In line with everything else at this time, I really wasnt get my pop music fixes while dad was in Aden and I really don't know this one very well, not one that gets a lot of attention on oldies radio even though it's classy. I like it but it's Edwin Starr for me this week.

9th - 15th June 1966

25. Don't Answer Me - Cilla Black https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PTP8tneMRNc An orchestral ballad that steadily builds up towards the end. Cilla's vocal is mostly OK this time and this will be her seventh top 10 hit.

31. Sunny Afternoon - The Kinks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a21mSikXv7s This would be ROTW on most weeks but there's something even better to come. Written about the high tax levels in the UK at the time, the song has a music hall sort of sound to it and the descending guitar chords are a particular highlight along with Ray Davies' whimsical lead vocal. It will be the group's third number 1 single.

34. Opus 17 (Don't You Worry 'bout Me) - The Four Seasons with Frankie Valli https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MWMm6SK5mVk The title comes from this being the Four Seasons' 17th single. A good pace is kept throughout and this time, Frankie does not use his falsetto.

37. Nobody Needs Your Love - Gene Pitney https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MM58MRe75Cg A song already recorded by Neil Sedaka but not released after a dispute with his record label. This is the same recording so you can still hear his backing vocals behind Gene's new lead vocal. It's another solid performance by Gene but I'm surprised the single will go as high as number 2, equalling his highest chart peak, as it's not very memorable.

38. Hideaway - Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Tich https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qf35lmzcMpk Their second top 10 hit. The drums and bass guitar create a catchy rhythm here and there's a distinctive guitar solo in the middle.

Record of the week : 33. River Deep, Mountain High - Ike and Tina Turner

Tina Turner's unique vocals combine perfectly with Phil Spector's wall of sound for this week's winner. 21 session musicians contributed to the recording, painstakingly put together by Spector who got Tina to sing her vocal over and over again for hours until he was happy with it. The single will only reach number 88 in the US after the white radio stations won't play it for being too black and the black radio stations won't play it for being too white. This will lead to Spector's withdrawal from the music industry. In the UK, the single will do much better, peaking at number 3.

I was scrolling down slowly and was momentarily shocked that 'Sunny Afternoon' wasn't your ROTW this time... until I saw 'River Deep, Mountain High' was its competition! Two classics there.

'Sunny Afternoon' might be my favourite Kinks single these days as I really love the ominous feel of the descending guitar, plus the creative lyrics.

'River Deep, Mountain High' is also Tina's best release for me. She sounds electric here and Spector's formula is effective as ever.

Yes I agree with you and Jade, Sunny Afternoon is peak Kinks, what a great record and one I liked at the time, but River Deep is a monster classic that hit again in 1969 when I noticed it a bit more, and one I grew to adore with time. Epic. Don't Answer Me is a good Cilla single, though not one of her classics. Opus 17 is a great record, I never knew the title and I never noticed the track till years later when it was more a case of "oh yeah I really like that one". ROTW had the Kinks or Turners not been here.

Nobody Needs Your Love not one I recall as being a big hit, but Gene remained popular in the UK long after his US hits dried up, and it's a good single, albeit not classic Pitney. Hideaway a lesser Dave Dee & co hit that again evaded me at a time when I knew all their other big hits, but it still sounds good anyway, tho it's not in the same league as Hold Tight, Bend It or Zabadak.

16th - 22nd June 1966

28. I Am A Rock - Simon & Garfunkel https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JKlSVNxLB-A Originally a Paul Simon solo track, this has been recorded again with Art Garfunkel. It's an anthem for those of us who prefer to stay in our own homes rather than go out socialising. Musically, there's also lots to like so this is another good song from the duo.

30. It's A Man's Man's Man's World - James Brown and the Famous Flames https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H77fRz1rybs Like the previous single, 'I Got You', this failed to make the top 10 but is well known in the 21st Century. The string section is the best part of the song for me.

31. Lana - Roy Orbison https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5KhQN600h8 This is a bit lighter than most of his songs, quite a fun tune with that tuba riff and the backing vocals.

32. Sweet Talkin' Guy - The Chiffons https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eiesKIOSO1g The Chiffons' first hit since 1963 is a well produced pop song with excellent vocal harmonies. It will only get to number 31 but the 1972 re-issue will do much better, reaching number 4.

34. To Make A Big Man Cry - P J Proby https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiNiQ-6pBzY Another well sung ballad from PJ with big orchestration and female backing vocals.

35. Lady Jane - David Garrick https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y7CF5nv7Kps A cover of a track from the current Rolling Stones album. He sings it with a posh voice as if he's in a Shakespeare play. The girls in the audience here try not to laugh when he approaches them. The last one he sings to looks more assured so might have been planted there.

38. Sittin' On A Fence - Twice As Much https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElrHUR1kEi4 This is another Rolling Stones cover although this time their version hasn't yet been released. It's very pleasant with the harpsichord, guitars and woodwind instruments backing the duo's vocals.

Record of the week : 2. Paperback Writer - The Beatles

There hasn't been a Beatles single or album released since Christmas so this would have been long awaited. It's not one of their best songs but still nudges ahead of Sweet Talkin' Guy this week. I like the guitar playing and the vocal effects which include the echo after "writer". Paul McCartney's aunt wanted him to write a song that wasn't about love so here we have the story of an aspiring author sending his book to a publisher. The single will spend two weeks at number 1 but only five in the top 10 and will be the group's lowest selling in the UK since 'Love Me Do'.

I Am A Rock is a good Simon & Garfunkel track, but never one of my faves of theirs, James Brown's Man's Man's World is prob my fave of his, unlike most people I actually enjoy his emotional ballads more than the funk beats, bar one or two of them. The lyrics may not have aged well but that doesnt mean they are bad as such, and Brilliant's 80's more-uptempo cover with a detached female vocal gave it a great spin. AKA Youth/Killing Joke, KLF and Stock Aitken Waterman before they broke big (either inside the band or backscenes or writing/producing).

Lana is sweet, but not peak Roy by any stretch. PJ Proby's is not one I know much, though I have heard it before. It's not too bad as a big ballad, though the lyrics are unfortunate given his more recent comments that got him firmly cancelled. Lady Jane is utterly period, and that period is 1965-7, so I get quite a nostalgic vibe from it without actually associating it with any memories of that time. Nice. Sitting On A Fence is liable to give you splinters and this sounds a bit like a demo for the later better She's A Rainbow, and another that is pure 1966.

So, it's Paperback Writer, which always takes me back to The South Bank Show TV theme and charting again in 1976, and my least-fave Beatles single to date despite the great riff, or it's 1972's top 10 hitting and personal-chart-topping Chiffons' Sweet Talking Guy.

Sweet Talking Guy, I absolutely love it, and it's not even close.

Paperback Writer is a good observational song not about love indeed.

Must check out Geno Washington and Ram Jam Band - massive influence on Geno by Dexy's Midnight Runners obviously.

Orchestral ballads still a thing with that Cilla Black song, there are loads in the early 50s charts so maybe it was nostalgia for that period.

Edited June 22Jun 22 by TheSnake

Good to see the fab four back and topping this group! 'Paperback Writer' has quietly crept up on me more over the years. I particularly appreciate its distinctive harmonies and guitar work. It feels like a significant leap forward for them artistically ahead of the much-loved Revolver album. This song would've fit well on that project if they hadn't been against including already released singles on their albums.

23rd - 29th June 1966

19. Bus Stop - The Hollies https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H9AYPtFtMzU I think this is the best Hollies song so far and it's unlucky to miss out on the ROTW award. Written by Graham Gouldman, it's a romantic tale of meeting a future partner at a bus stop and sharing an umbrella in the rain, many years before Rihanna came up with something similar.

28. Get Away - Georgie Fame and The Blue Flames https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZKrYVTGDYE After his last three singles missed the top 20, Georgie has his second number 1 with this one which is less remembered than 'Yeh, Yeh' and was originally written for a petrol advert but was considered to be good enough to be a single. There's some good use of brass instruments and it's a fun tune to listen to.

31. No One Will Ever Know - Frank Ifield https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8YUNw8dK6U We may be in 1966 now but Frank is not going to change his sound and this is pleasant enough with the strings and backing singers behind Frank's familiar voice.

34. The More I See You - Joy Marshall https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUxCqFUPSf8 A song from 1945 done by many artists and this is a good version from the English jazz singer who delivers a fine vocal. Even OMD had a go at this in 1980, in their own synth pop style.

37. This Door Swings Both Ways - Herman's Hermits https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRdkN56rjJs A nice little song about dealing with joy and sorrow in your life.

Record of the week : 36. Out Of Time - Chris Farlowe

Chris Farlowe follows up his minor hit from earlier in the year with this marvellous cover of one of the tracks from the current Rolling Stones album 'Aftermath'. The string arrangement at the start draws you in before the song opens up with a powerful vocal from Chris, a big drum sound and the Beach Boys style "whoo ooh"s. Produced by Mick Jagger, the single will top the chart for one week.

I know 'Bus Stop' well my dad is a fan of 10CC and Graham Gouldman sometimes performs 'Bus Stop' at their concerts.

Get Away is a fun enough Georgie Fame track, but never one of my faves of his. I lost a point in the music round of a quiz Thursday by not listing The Blue Flames on Yeh Yeh. Outrageous 😄Dont know that Fran Ifield track, but it sounds a bit like a Roy Orbison impressionist having a go at a song a bit like Nobody's Child, and quite nice. The More I See You has always been a laid-back fave song of mine as done by Chris Montez, Joy's voice has none of that summery vibe, and the recording's not really a sound I go for much. I have Herman's Hermits Greatest Hits CD and this track isn't on it (they had so many bigger hits, no room!) and it's not one I remember from the time. Pleasant and way better than their awful huge US hits I'm Henery The 8th I Am and Mrs Brown You've Got A Luvverly Daughter Vaudeville oldies that Mickie Most had the good taste not to release as singles in the UK.

So in the battle for the top, it's not Out Of Time, much as I like Chris farlowe's vocal on it. I first noticed it in the summer of 75 when The Rolling Stones, Dan McCafferty and Chris all charted with it after Dan's cover was released outside of Nazereth. At which time Dan's was my fave version - but Chris should get the kudos really. Bus Stop, though, is a brilliant song and given it was written by a teenager is amazingly mature. One of the great records of the 60's for me. Oddly I never got to see The Hollies in concert, but I am seeing Graham Gouldman at the end of July in a church in Poole doing his career overview as opposed to 10CC stuff, so should get a version then hopefully.

One of the best things about living in Poole is we are spoilt for music venues, not just large venues in Poole & Bournemouth, but loads of outlying ones in Ringwood, Pavilions in Bournemouth and Weymouth, historical charity run Wimborne Tivoli, The Firestation for bands in small settings, Boscombe O2 for bands not quite big enough for a large venue. The comedy circuit is well-werved as is the tribute band/shows and musicals. And there's still venues out in the sticks or nearby Southampton. The only gap is the megastar - Southampton St Mary's in the summer or London for those.

30th June - 6th July 1966

34. I Couldn't Live Without Your Love - Petula Clark https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWTun8B1lHg I do recognise this one, it has a good chorus and the deep drum sound and expansive orchestration give it some scale. Her second top 10 hit of the year.

37. Mama - Dave Berry https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--UybzpevdM This is reminding me of No Charge by J J Barrie except this time the list of things that the mother does extends all the way to the son's wedding. It will be the last of Dave Berry's seven top 40 singles. He's still going at the age of 87 and has not yet retired.

39. The More I See You - Chris Montez https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yXJIQNDC-N4 This will do much better than last week's version, reaching number 3, but I think I prefer Joy Marshall's out of the two.

Record of the week : 35. Black Is Black - Los Bravos

Los Bravos were a mainly Spanish rock band, the lead singer being from Germany. I'm more familiar with La Belle Epoque's disco cover of this song from 1977 but I have heard the original a few times and it's very good with a Gene Pitney style vocal, bass guitar, tubular bells and an additional horn section. It will reach a peak of number 2, the same position that La Belle Epoque will later take the song to.

I saw Dave Berry in the 80's as opposed to in his 80's, but Mama is still last slot here fairly easily. Chris Montez' The More I See You is laid-back jazzy vibes and has the same effect on me as Girl From Ipanema, memories of the 60's and cocktail easy listening latin vibes. Still enjoy it a lot. The top track is hard pick this time for me, I adore Petula's, one I knew in the 60's and loved, and also Black Is Black, great track. At the time Pet was my fave, no question. I think nostalgia has the edge for me still!

Belated appreciation for 'Out Of Time' Farlowe has a strong voice and the orchestration backing him is stunning. Testament to the talent of the Stones that an album track was good enough to eventually be a #1 single under a different guise too.