The big hits of June 1966

It was reported that the official Cliff Richard fan-club – which has been in existence for nine years and has 42,000 members – is to close in April 1967, when he ends his London Palladium season and is expected to semi-retire and undertake a three year College course in Divinity. The Musicians Union in the UK successfully closes TV shows that feature miming. They also prevent taping for Pirate Radio Stations.

Tragedy in the USA for Roy Orbison on the June 6^th when his wife Claudette was killed in a motor-cycle accident near Nashville. Orbison had written the song Claudette, a big hit for The Everly Brothers.

The New musical Express reports on the 10^th that Manfred Mann will change record companies from EMI to Phillips and lead singer Paul Jones will leave the group to pursue a solo career.

On the 12^th The Dave Clark Five appear on the Ed Sullivan Show for the 12^th time – more than any other UK act.

On the 15^th The Beatles new album, Yesterday and Today, is released in the USA. The original cover featured them dressed as butchers with mutilated dolls and hunks of meat; this was quickly withdrawn and replaced with a less controversial cover.

On the 17^th Eric Clapton’s departure from John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers is permanent and he is to be replaced by the relatively unknown Peter Green and on the 18^th Paul Samwell Smith leaves The Yardbirds to be replaced by session man Jimmy Page. A week later, Melody Maker reports that Clapton had formed new super-group Cream with Ginger Baker the acclaimed drummer in The Graham Bond Organisation and Jack Bruce the highly rated bassist with Manfred Mann.

Drama at Radio City, Shivering Sands, Thames Estuary in the UK on the 20^th when after negotiations between the owner Reg Calvert and Major Oliver Smedley of Project Atlanta break down, the Major along with a boarding party seizes the Pirate Radio Ship and closes it down. The following day Calvert goes to the Major’s home in Saffron, Essex to confront him over the seizure. Major Smedley kills him with a shotgun. Two days later legislation is introduced in the House of Commons to eliminate Pirate Radio Stations.

Leonard Bernstein observes that he is more interested in Simon & Garfunkel and The Association than he is in the “musty odour of academicism of contemporary art music”.

Fourteen New York Hotels have banned The Rolling Stones from their premises.

The top ten in Australia in June 1966:

1. Hitch-Hiker – Bobby & Laurie
2. Paint It Black – The Rolling Stones
3. You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me – Dusty Springfield
4. Pretty Flamingo – Manfred Mann
5. Substitute – The Who
6. I’m The Pied Piper – Crispin St. Peters
7. Elusive Butterfly – Bob Lind
8. How Does That Grab You Darling – Nancy Sinatra
9. Come And See Her – The Easybeats
10. Strangers In The Night – Frank Sinatra

The number ones in the UK for June 1966:
4^th 11^th 18^thStrangers In The Night – Frank Sinatra
25^thPaperback Writer – The Beatles

In the USA:
4^thWhen A Man Loves A Woman – Percy Sledge
11^th 18^thPaint It Black – The Rolling Stones
25^thPaperback Writer – The Beatles

In Australia:
4^th 11^thHitch-Hiker – Bobby & Laurie
18^thPaint It Black – The Rolling Stones
25^thStrangers In The Night – Frank Sinatra

Where were you when these songs hit the charts? Who were your favourites?