List of Hot Country Singles number ones of 1966 explained

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. 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.[2] 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".[3] One of the most successful recording artists of the mid-1960s,[4] 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.[5] [6] In 1965 Arnold had gained his first number one in ten years,[7] 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.[8]

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",[9] 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.[10] In December, Jack Greene reached the top of the chart for the first time with "There Goes My Everything",[11] 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.[12] [13] 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.

Chart history

Issue date!scope=col
Titlescope=colArtist(s)scope=col class=unsortableRef.
scope=row"Buckaroo" and his Buckaroos[14]
scope=row"Giddyup Go"[15]
scope=row[16]
scope=row[17]
scope=row[18]
scope=row[19]
scope=row[20]
scope=row"Waitin' in Your Welfare Line"[21]
scope=row[22]
scope=row[23]
scope=row[24]
scope=row[25]
scope=row[26]
scope=row[27]
scope=row"I Want to Go with You"[28]
scope=row[29]
scope=row[30]
scope=row[31]
scope=row[32]
scope=row[33]
scope=row"Distant Drums"[34]
scope=row[35]
scope=row[36]
scope=row[37]
scope=row"Take Good Care of Her"[38]
scope=row[39]
scope=row"Think Of Me"[40]
scope=row[41]
scope=row[42]
scope=row[43]
scope=row[44]
scope=row[45]
scope=row"Almost Persuaded"[46]
scope=row[47]
scope=row[48]
scope=row[49]
scope=row[50]
scope=row[51]
scope=row[52]
scope=row[53]
scope=row[54]
scope=row"Blue Side of Lonesome"[55]
scope=row"Open Up Your Heart"[56]
scope=row[57]
scope=row[58]
scope=row[59]
scope=row"I Get the Fever"[60]
scope=row"Somebody Like Me"[61]
scope=row[62]
scope=row[63]
scope=row[64]
scope=row"There Goes My Everything"[65]
scope=row[66]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Whitburn, Joel. Joel Whitburn

    . Joel Whitburn's Top Country Songs: 1944–2005. ix. Joel Whitburn. Record Research. 2005. 9780898201659.

  2. Web site: Red Sovine Biography & History. James. Manheim. AllMusic. May 4, 2018. January 2, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210102174215/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/red-sovine-mn0000454240/biography. live.
  3. Web site: Open Up Your Heart – Buck Owens. AllMusic. May 4, 2018. May 3, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180503180644/https://www.allmusic.com/album/open-up-your-heart-mw0000177354. live.
  4. Web site: Buck Owens Biography & History. Stephen Thomas. Erlewine. AllMusic. May 4, 2018. May 4, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180504011716/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/buck-owens-mn0000941579/biography. live.
  5. Book: Miller, Zell. They Heard Georgia Singing. 22. 1996. Mercer University Press. 9780865545045.
  6. Web site: Eddy Arnold Biography & History. Stephen Thomas. Erlewine. AllMusic. May 4, 2018. May 3, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180503181114/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/eddy-arnold-mn0000796741/biography. live.
  7. Book: Whitburn, Joel. Joel Whitburn

    . The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits. 30. Joel Whitburn. Watson-Guptill. 1996. 9780823082896.

  8. Web site: Jim Reeves Biography & History. AllMusic. David. Vinopal. April 30, 2018. April 30, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180430181732/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jim-reeves-mn0000903609/biography. live.
  9. Book: Whitburn, Joel. Joel Whitburn

    . The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits. 150. Joel Whitburn. Watson-Guptill. 1996. 9780823082896.

  10. Book: Miller, Donna Marie. 58. The Broken Spoke: Austin's Legendary Honky-Tonk. Texas A&M University Press. 2017. 9781623495190.
  11. Book: Whitburn, Joel. Joel Whitburn

    . The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits. 132. Joel Whitburn. Watson-Guptill. 1996. 9780823082896.

  12. Web site: Jack Greene Biography & History. AllMusic. December 20, 2019. March 7, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220307234758/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/jack-greene-mn0000108331/biography. live.
  13. Web site: Past Winners and Nominees: 1967. Country Music Association. December 21, 2019. June 16, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200616215738/http://cmaawards.com/past-winners-and-nominees/?appSession=6NIGU58V898644I4PW4EP9NF3S6232LG354OGVSPSPW2693H7IR72XH4UWSCVEZFF09198470N55M9WPEW70V18C16W3312XSQ336ID3F7T2KLEZ7VKNO20I3725MJ01. live.
  14. Hot Country Songs chart for January 1, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522061228/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-01-01 . live .
  15. Hot Country Songs chart for January 8, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 26, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180526054846/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-01-08 . live .
  16. Hot Country Songs chart for January 15, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522080732/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-01-15 . live .
  17. Hot Country Songs chart for January 22, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522055421/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-01-22 . live .
  18. Hot Country Songs chart for January 29, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522084237/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-01-29 . live .
  19. Hot Country Songs chart for February 5, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 26, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180526062101/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-02-05 . live .
  20. Hot Country Songs chart for February 12, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 26, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180526063701/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-02-12 . live .
  21. Hot Country Songs chart for February 19, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522074824/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-02-19 . live .
  22. Hot Country Songs chart for February 26, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522062741/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-02-26 . live .
  23. Hot Country Songs chart for March 5, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 26, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180526062017/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-03-05 . live .
  24. Hot Country Songs chart for March 12, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 26, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180526061934/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-03-12 . live .
  25. Hot Country Songs chart for March 19, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522062603/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-03-19 . live .
  26. Hot Country Songs chart for March 26, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522082328/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-03-26 . live .
  27. Hot Country Songs chart for April 2, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 26, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180526062133/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-04-02 . live .
  28. Hot Country Songs chart for April 9, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522062933/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-04-09 . live .
  29. Hot Country Songs chart for April 16, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522070021/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-04-16 . live .
  30. Hot Country Songs chart for April 23, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522062945/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-04-23 . live .
  31. Hot Country Songs chart for April 30, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522072822/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-04-30 . live .
  32. Hot Country Songs chart for May 7, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522055442/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-05-07 . live .
  33. Hot Country Songs chart for May 14, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 26, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180526113342/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-05-14 . live .
  34. Hot Country Songs chart for May 21, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522072833/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-05-21 . live .
  35. Hot Country Songs chart for May 28, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 26, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180526062050/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-05-28 . live .
  36. Hot Country Songs chart for June 4, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 26, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180526062007/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-06-04 . live .
  37. Hot Country Songs chart for June 11, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522075002/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-06-11 . live .
  38. Hot Country Songs chart for June 18, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 26, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180526061852/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-06-18 . live .
  39. Hot Country Songs chart for June 25, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522062541/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-06-25 . live .
  40. Hot Country Songs chart for July 2, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522073135/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-07-02 . live .
  41. Hot Country Songs chart for July 9, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 26, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180526061829/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-07-09 . live .
  42. Hot Country Songs chart for July 16, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522074857/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-07-16 . live .
  43. Hot Country Songs chart for July 23, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 26, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180526053301/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-07-23 . live .
  44. Hot Country Songs chart for July 30, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522072905/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-07-30 . live .
  45. Hot Country Songs chart for August 6, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522074940/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-08-06 . live .
  46. Hot Country Songs chart for August 13, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 26, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180526063745/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-08-13 . live .
  47. Hot Country Songs chart for August 20, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 26, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180526061924/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-08-20 . live .
  48. Hot Country Songs chart for August 27, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522072937/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-08-27 . live .
  49. Hot Country Songs chart for September 3, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 26, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180526063840/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-09-03 . live .
  50. Hot Country Songs chart for September 10, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522074919/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-09-10 . live .
  51. Hot Country Songs chart for September 17, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522074929/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-09-17 . live .
  52. Hot Country Songs chart for September 24, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 26, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180526060455/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-09-24 . live .
  53. Hot Country Songs chart for October 1, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522071722/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-10-01 . live .
  54. Hot Country Songs chart for October 8, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522052004/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-10-08 . live .
  55. Hot Country Songs chart for October 14, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522090018/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-10-15 . live .
  56. Hot Country Songs chart for October 22, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522053602/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-10-22 . live .
  57. Hot Country Songs chart for October 29, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 26, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180526063808/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-10-29 . live .
  58. Hot Country Songs chart for November 5, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522080722/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-11-05 . live .
  59. Hot Country Songs chart for November 12, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 26, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180526063829/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-11-12 . live .
  60. Hot Country Songs chart for November 19, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522061250/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-11-19 . live .
  61. Hot Country Songs chart for November 26, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 26, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180526062144/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-11-26 . live .
  62. Hot Country Songs chart for December 3, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522111949/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-12-03 . live .
  63. Hot Country Songs chart for December 10, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522055515/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-12-10 . live .
  64. Hot Country Songs chart for December 17, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522080617/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-12-17 . live .
  65. Hot Country Songs chart for December 24, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 22, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180522062647/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-12-24 . live .
  66. Hot Country Songs chart for December 31, 1966 . Billboard . May 4, 2018 . May 26, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180526061956/https://www.billboard.com/charts/country-songs/1966-12-31 . live .

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