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Summer of 1966, #1 Single in the City

By
Home Inspector with King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. Home Inspector Lic #207

 Forty-five years ago, the song that was at the top of the singles chart for much of August was by four guys, from the U.S. and Canada,  who considered themselves to be more a a jug band than a rock band. The screaming girls through them for a loop. 

This band, one of my favorites of the era, squeezed into #1 on the charts by bumping four guys from England off the #1 perch. And, three weeks later, they were knocked down to #2 by an English folksinger. Those Brits were not to be trifled with in the 1960's.

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This jug band had four top ten hits prior to the August smash that propelled them to the top of the charts. This gritty hit has gone on to be one of the classics songs of summer. There are few tunes about the hot weather that better describe the big city on a hot day. The minute you hear the opening bars, you know the song. It has been featured in many movie soundtracks.

To see the original artists perform the song that topped the charts, for three weeks back in August 1966, you need to go over to the vintage TV and switch channels. You can watch Have Gun Will Travel another day. Simply click on Richard Boone's face to be taken back to that hot summer in August 1966 when this hit ruled the airwaves. 

 

"This Day In History" features songs and television appearances from the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's. I will write these, over the next few weeks, months or years as time permits. In the meantime, keep it groovy !

               

 

To see other features in this series, click on Elvis' gold record below

             

Posted by

Steven L. Smith

If you enjoy nostalgia and music of yesteryear, click on Elvis' gold record to visit This Day In History. To explore The Stories Behind The Music blog posts click on the electric guitar. 

 

        

 

 

 

 

Comments (17)

Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate

Steven... I am guessing it was Summer in the City by the Lovin Spoonful.  Great group.  Although this particular song was NOT one that I really liked... I was a big fan of John Sebastian.  Younger Girl was a great song... as was Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind.

Aug 05, 2011 05:47 PM
David Gibson CNE, 719-304-4684 ~ Colorado Springs Relocation
Colorado Real Estate Advisers LLC - Colorado Springs, CO
Relocation, Luxury & Lifestyle residential

Steven I saw the Spoonful at the Santa Monica Civic which was popular with bands because the house paid everyone so the promoters didn’t run off with the money and the “Civic” was outside the jurisdiction of the LAPD. Great band, great music that year.

Aug 05, 2011 05:52 PM
Karen Anne Stone
New Home Hunters of Fort Worth and Tarrant County - Fort Worth, TX
Fort Worth Real Estate

Ooops... I didn't see that I could click on the video.  The picture of Paladin and Have Gun Will Travel threw me of.  But I just did click on it... and there he was... John Sebastian and the Spoonful.

Aug 05, 2011 05:53 PM
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

Like Totally Cool!

 

Aug 05, 2011 05:56 PM
Curtis C. Brown
CURTIS C HOME INSPECTION SERVICES, LLC (Whatcom County, WA - Bellingham, WA

Reminds me of welcome back Kotter.

Aug 05, 2011 06:01 PM
George Bennett
Inactive - Port Orford, OR
Inactive Principal Broker, GRI

Thanks for the link. Great song that brings back sweet memories.

Aug 05, 2011 06:04 PM
Donald Hester
NCW Home Inspections, LLC - Wenatchee, WA
NCW Home Inspections, LLC

Steve,

 Great tune, love it.

Aug 05, 2011 07:01 PM
Andrea Swiedler
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices New England Properties - New Milford, CT
Realtor, Southern Litchfield County CT

Oh, I love that song...they were fantastic! Thanks for the trip down memory lane.

Ahhh... those were the days....

Aug 06, 2011 12:39 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

That summer I was 13, and visiting my cousins in New Jersey.  We went to a Lovin' Spoonful concert!  It was held in a tent!  There were maybe 150 people there.  And they sang this song, of course, along with Sebastian's "Day Dream."  It was a great concert.  Those were the days.

Aug 06, 2011 12:39 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

P.s. I have a classic, and vintage song, of my own composition, on my post today.

Enjoy!

Maybe you should post it here.  My version that is...

Aug 06, 2011 12:43 AM
Don MacLean
New England Real Estate Center Inc. - Easton, MA
Realtor-Homes for Sale- Easton, Mass 02356

Just a baby then but the song has never gone away lol

Great influinces in a lot of peoples lives.

Enjoy the day

Aug 06, 2011 02:37 AM
Clint Mckie
Desert Sun Home, commercial Inspections - Carlsbad, NM
Desert Sun Home, Comm. Inspection 1-575-706-5586

Hi Steven,

What a trip.

Thanks for the post.

Clint McKie

Aug 06, 2011 03:42 AM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Karen Anne, you need to get back into the mindset of no "remote control" on that channel changer.

Jay, I will check out your offering and have Wheatloaf check it too, being a huge influence in the music business.

Andrea, it seemed simpler back then at least for us kids, maybe the parents were not enjoying it all so much.

Aug 06, 2011 05:50 AM
Brian Madigan
RE/MAX West Realty Inc., Brokerage (Toronto) - Toronto, ON
LL.B., Broker

Great presentation.

Zal (the singer) ran a restaurant in Kingston Ontario for years, until he passed away a few years ago.

 

Aug 06, 2011 11:46 AM
Barbara S. Duncan
RE/MAX Advantage - Searcy, AR
GRI, e-PRO, Executive Broker, Searcy AR

These songs make me wonder how a hit develops now.  I listen to Sirius radio.  I doubt that kids listen to the radio anymore so where do they find the hits?  Are there any famous deejays anymore?

Aug 10, 2011 02:43 PM
Steven L. Smith
King of the House Home Inspection, Inc. - Bellingham, WA
Bellingham WA Home Inspector

Barbara,

I think youtube has quite a bit to do with some of them.

Aug 15, 2011 02:55 AM
Gail Sterback
Coldwell Banker Select Professionals, Lancaster PA - Mountville, PA
LancasterRelocation Specialist

1966 - Summer after I graduated from college.  Seems like 100 years ago, not 45.  Good times, goodmemories!

Oct 06, 2011 03:36 AM