Visions isn't a Cliff song that rushes to mind and the melody seems very familiar, it's on the tip of my tongue which song it is - a flash of inspiration and the gentle intro to The Day I Met Marie springs to mind as one candidate, Visions is like a run-through for the proper song without a hook. Or it might be that Cliff sang it at the end of each episode of his TV show that year. Bob's tickets go on sale this morning for his next tour, but as usual I dont think I could take 2 hours of his voice, legend that he is or not. I Want You is one of his better hits though.

Hi Lili Hi Lo is the first song of this batch that I actually remember from the time, always liked Alan Price 60's stuff. Not heard this in ages and ages, and it all comes rushing back to me as I play it. Fun! Best so far. The Critters I have never even heard of, and the song rings no bell. Young Girl did it better, at least he was telling the young girl to go away and was aware it was a no no. This one doesnt really go anywhere, it starts and it ends. My Lover's Prayer not one I know but I like the gritty soulful vocal, apparently rediscovered via The Soprano's.

So it's down to 2 classic records I knew at the time, Summer In The City and Lover's Of The World Unite. The Lovin' Spoonful missed out on a lot of good US hits in the UK, and this single is a brilliant creation, still exciting and clever and hook-driven, a brilliant song. Lover's Of The World Unite, OTOH, has that melody to die for, it takes me back to that era more than Summer In The City does. And I saw Roger Cook at Madeline Bell's 81st birthday gig, and as a fan of Blue Mink and his many fabulous hit songs with Roger Greenaway (aka David & Jonathan) I'm going with my emotion over what is the better record really.

'With A Girl Like You' isn't as good as 'Wild Thing' for me but undoubtably an earworm.

I feel like a lot of people would scratch their heads if presented with the name The Lovin' Spoonful but would say "ohhhh it's that song", or words to that effect, if 'Summer In The City' was played. #8 feels a bit low for it, not even their highest peaker, but at least they took it to #1 in the U.S. A great summer song. I recently compiled a playlist of one song that reminds me of summer from every year between 1960 and 2026 and I considered it it for 1966, but ultimately it was pipped by another "ohhhh it's that song" moment from later in the year, so will come back to that!

Great to see a mention for the summer of love already, looking forward to that era next year.

1 hour ago, Popchartfreak said:

Visions isn't a Cliff song that rushes to mind and the melody seems very familiar, it's on the tip of my tongue which song it is - a flash of inspiration and the gentle intro to The Day I Met Marie springs to mind as one candidate, Visions is like a run-through for the proper song without a hook. Or it might be that Cliff sang it at the end of each episode of his TV show that year.

Yes, the wiki page for the song did say that he sang the chorus at the end of his TV show as it contained the line "when will we meet again".