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List of Hot Country Singles number ones of 1966

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A fair-haired man in a dark shirt smiling broadly
Buck Owens had four number ones in 1966.

Hot Country Songs is a chart that ranks the top-performing country music songs in the United States, published by Billboard magazine. In 1966, 13 different singles topped the chart, which was published at the time under the title Hot Country Singles, in 53 issues of the magazine. Chart placings were based on playlists submitted by country music radio stations and sales reports submitted by stores.[1]

At the start of the year the number one single was the instrumental "Buckaroo" by Buck Owens and his Buckaroos, the track's second week in the top spot.[2] It held the number one position for the first week of 1966 before being replaced by "Giddyup Go" by Red Sovine, the first of a number of sentimental songs about the truck-driving industry for which the singer would become known.[3] After Sovine's six-week run at number one, Owens returned to the top with "Waitin' in Your Welfare Line", the first of three chart-toppers from his album "Open Up Your Heart".[4] One of the most successful recording artists of the mid-1960s,[5] Owens spent the highest number of weeks at number one in 1966, occupying the top spot for a total of 18 weeks with his four chart-topping singles. Only two other artists took more than one single to number one in 1966. Eddy Arnold, one of the biggest country music stars of the 1940s and early 1950s, had revitalized his somewhat declining career in the mid-1960s by embracing the "Nashville sound", a newer style of country music which eschewed elements of the earlier honky-tonk style in favor of smooth productions which had a broader appeal.[6][7] In 1965 Arnold had gained his first number one in ten years,[8] and his success continued into 1966, when he reached the top spot twice and spent a combined total of ten weeks at number one. Jim Reeves also achieved two chart-toppers in 1966, both of which were posthumous; the singer had been killed in a plane crash two years earlier.[9]

Two vocalists topped the chart in 1966 for the first time in their respective careers. In August, David Houston reached the top spot for the first time with "Almost Persuaded",[10] and remained atop the chart for nine consecutive weeks. There would not be another unbroken run of this length at the top of the Hot Country chart for more than 40 years, until Taylor Swift had a nine-week run at number one with "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" in 2012.[11] In December, Jack Greene reached the top of the chart for the first time with "There Goes My Everything",[12] which was the final number one of the year. It would go on to win the award for Song of the Year at the inaugural Country Music Association Awards ceremony early the following year.[13][14] Both singers would go on to achieve several more number ones in the remainder of the 1960s, but neither would top the chart after 1969.[10][12]

Chart history

[edit]
A dark-haired young man in a dark jacket, smiling broadly while holding a guitar
David Houston spent nine consecutive weeks at number one with "Almost Persuaded". The next unbroken run at number one of this length would not occur until 2012.
A fair-haired man singing and playing a guitar
Eddy Arnold had two number ones in 1966, "I Want to Go with You" and "Somebody Like Me".
An old man in a black cowboy hat, blue jacket and black pants, standing next to some rocks on which a number of trophies are displayed
Jack Greene ended the year at number one with "There Goes My Everything".
Hot Country Singles number ones of 1966
Issue date Title Artist(s) Ref.
January 1 "Buckaroo" Buck Owens and his Buckaroos [2]
January 8 "Giddyup Go" Red Sovine [15]
January 15 [16]
January 22 [17]
January 29 [18]
February 5 [19]
February 12 [20]
February 19 "Waitin' in Your Welfare Line" Buck Owens [21]
February 26 [22]
March 5 [23]
March 12 [24]
March 19 [25]
March 26 [26]
April 2 [27]
April 9 "I Want to Go with You" Eddy Arnold [28]
April 16 [29]
April 23 [30]
April 30 [31]
May 7 [32]
May 14 [33]
May 21 "Distant Drums" Jim Reeves [34]
May 28 [35]
June 4 [36]
June 11 [37]
June 18 "Take Good Care of Her" Sonny James [38]
June 25 [39]
July 2 "Think Of Me" Buck Owens [40]
July 9 [41]
July 16 [42]
July 23 [43]
July 30 [44]
August 6 [45]
August 13 "Almost Persuaded" David Houston [46]
August 20 [47]
August 27 [48]
September 3 [49]
September 10 [50]
September 17 [51]
September 24 [52]
October 1 [53]
October 8 [54]
October 15 "Blue Side of Lonesome" Jim Reeves [55]
October 22 "Open Up Your Heart" Buck Owens [56]
October 29 [57]
November 5 [58]
November 12 [59]
November 19 "I Get the Fever" Bill Anderson [60]
November 26 "Somebody Like Me" Eddy Arnold [61]
December 3 [62]
December 10 [63]
December 17 [64]
December 24 "There Goes My Everything" Jack Greene [65]
December 31 [66]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2005). Joel Whitburn's Top Country Songs: 1944–2005. Record Research. p. ix. ISBN 9780898201659.
  2. ^ a b "Hot Country Songs chart for January 1, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  3. ^ Manheim, James. "Red Sovine Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 2, 2021. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  4. ^ "Open Up Your Heart – Buck Owens". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 3, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  5. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Buck Owens Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 4, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  6. ^ Miller, Zell (1996). They Heard Georgia Singing. Mercer University Press. p. 22. ISBN 9780865545045.
  7. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Eddy Arnold Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 3, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  8. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1996). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits. Watson-Guptill. p. 30. ISBN 9780823082896.
  9. ^ Vinopal, David. "Jim Reeves Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on April 30, 2018. Retrieved April 30, 2018.
  10. ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (1996). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits. Watson-Guptill. p. 150. ISBN 9780823082896.
  11. ^ Miller, Donna Marie (2017). The Broken Spoke: Austin's Legendary Honky-Tonk. Texas A&M University Press. p. 58. ISBN 9781623495190.
  12. ^ a b Whitburn, Joel (1996). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits. Watson-Guptill. p. 132. ISBN 9780823082896.
  13. ^ "Jack Greene Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on March 7, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  14. ^ "Past Winners and Nominees: 1967". Country Music Association. Archived from the original on June 16, 2020. Retrieved December 21, 2019.
  15. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for January 8, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 26, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  16. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for January 15, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  17. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for January 22, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  18. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for January 29, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  19. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for February 5, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 26, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  20. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for February 12, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 26, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  21. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for February 19, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  22. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for February 26, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  23. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for March 5, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 26, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  24. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for March 12, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 26, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  25. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for March 19, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  26. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for March 26, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  27. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for April 2, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 26, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  28. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for April 9, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  29. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for April 16, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  30. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for April 23, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  31. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for April 30, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  32. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for May 7, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  33. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for May 14, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 26, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  34. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for May 21, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  35. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for May 28, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 26, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  36. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for June 4, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 26, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  37. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for June 11, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  38. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for June 18, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 26, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  39. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for June 25, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  40. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for July 2, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  41. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for July 9, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 26, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  42. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for July 16, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  43. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for July 23, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 26, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  44. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for July 30, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  45. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for August 6, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  46. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for August 13, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 26, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  47. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for August 20, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 26, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  48. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for August 27, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  49. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for September 3, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 26, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  50. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for September 10, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  51. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for September 17, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  52. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for September 24, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 26, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  53. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for October 1, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  54. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for October 8, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  55. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for October 14, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  56. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for October 22, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  57. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for October 29, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 26, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  58. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for November 5, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  59. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for November 12, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 26, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  60. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for November 19, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  61. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for November 26, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 26, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  62. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for December 3, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  63. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for December 10, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  64. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for December 17, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  65. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for December 24, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 22, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.
  66. ^ "Hot Country Songs chart for December 31, 1966". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 26, 2018. Retrieved May 4, 2018.

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