1966 in Music

This isn't up on youtube anymore, or at least not the original version, although there is a cover of it. But still. So I'm going to have to hunt down a CD of this, since I think that this is almost the perfect example of an old album that's worth trying to get, even if it's a little harder to find.

In 1966 the Beatles were in transition. {give examples}

It was also the year of their last tours, such as their (July) 1966 Live in Japan tour, which presented an interesting blend of their earlier and newer work. (One of the new songs, which they had written in April, was their single "Paperback Writer", which wasn't included in any of their original 12 (UK) albums, although it has appeared in various compilation albums. This is also true of several of their earlier songs released only as singles-- "Day Tripper" and "I'm Down" (1965), and "I Feel Fine" and "She's a Woman" (1964).)

The band also went to America for the last of three times in August; some time before this John Lennon had commented that the Beatles were "more popular than Jesus". This created a stir, and this and other incidents in their 1966 concerts led to the Beatles deciding to no longer go on tour and to spend more time in the studio.

They would also soon begin to stop wearing the same clothes, and each would cultivate a different appearance instead.

In 1966, Gene Clark had already left the band, and the Byrds lineup was: Jim McGuinn, David Crosby, Chris Hillman, and Michael Clarke. Both Jim McGuinn and David Crosby increased their songwriting output to compensate for Gene Clark's departure, and so this can be seen as the high point of their collaboration: this is when McGuinn and Crosby were friends. (And before Crosby and Clarke became enemies.)

Anyway, the first two albums were the ones that received the most praise, but I personally find "Fifth Dimension" to be the group's best piece, just like "Pet Sounds" was the best work of the Beach Boys.

Despite being a big Byrds fan, I'm not a big Bob Dylan fan, but I have listened to this album, and it has been noted for its quality.

George Harrison once said in some 70s (or something) interview that he thought that the Beatles were like the Monkees. ("For me, the Beatles are like the Monkees.") I guess it all depends on how you interpret George, but I'm not sure he meant it as a compliment to these guys. You can turn it around, though-- the gap between different groups isn't always as vast as it can be made out to be.

In 1966 the Monkees were just forming, and this was their first album. Much of the work that they would produce during the following year would be more original than this, but as a first try, it's pretty good.

Eric Clapton and Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker formed the "supergroup" Cream; they all already had experience being in other bands.

Eric Clapton, who became the band's lead guitarist, had already established himself as an excellent musician working in other bands, but he wanted to be in a group where he would have more freedom. He met Ginger Baker, to become the group's drummer, who was also in a band but looking to form a new one himself. Clapton suggested that they invite Jack Bruce to join the group, and Baker accepted. Jack Bruce became the band's bass player, and he also sang the lead vocals in most of the time, and wrote some of the songs as well. Baker and Bruce had had some personal disputes previously, but both put these behind them for the good of the group.

The group called themselves "Cream" because they had all already proved themselves to be talented and they believed themselves to be "the cream of the crop"-- the best of the best. And so Cream formed in 1966, and released its first album, "Fresh Cream" in the same year.