Best Albums of 1966
Explore the best albums of 1966, based on over 2 million album rankings across 60,000 charts.
Click to see how the rankings are calculated
Last updated: 1 hour ago
Last updated: 1 hour ago
"An amazing album, but not the Beatles very best for me. Still though, when you have an album where every song is near perfection, you can't really complain." Reply
Year of Release:
1966
Appears in:
Rank Score:
46,724
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Comments:
"What can I say about "Pet Sounds"? This album is just so ridiculously out-of-this-world. Especially considering where music was at in 1966, it is very hard to believe that a guy could create this music almost single handedly. Composition and production-wise, this album is a complete masterpiece a..." [+] Reply
Year of Release:
1966
Appears in:
Rank Score:
36,683
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"The way I feel about this album is best represented by the scene in High Fidelity in which Jack Black's character, Barry, describes not owning it as "perverse." That about sums it up. Song for song, this is finest folk rock album ever made. "Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands" is probably the highligh..." [+] Reply
Year of Release:
1966
Appears in:
Rank Score:
23,719
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"Under-appreciated classic. It's been overshadowed by Beggar's Banquet, Let it Bleed, Sticky Fingers, and Exile, but I'd take Aftermath over any of them except Let it Bleed. Highly focused, consistent record, each song is extremely satisfying, adding up to a rich experience over the course of the ..." [+] Reply
Year of Release:
1966
Appears in:
Rank Score:
4,316
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"Songwriting 101 right here. I don't really think of Simon and Garfunkle as a dark band, but this is a really dark album. It consistently evokes feeling of loneliness and isolation. I Am a Rock, Richard Cory and the title track are the stand out tracks." Reply
Year of Release:
1966
Appears in:
Rank Score:
4,147
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"This is a brilliant commentary on society in the 60's that is still extremely relevant to this day with the consumerism we have present in modern society. It is also a genius parody of the music in the 60's but also a demonstration of how it could be made to a higher musical quality if artists st..." [+] Reply
Year of Release:
1966
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Rank Score:
3,514
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"Their best album. Gorgeous. Gorgeous. Gorgeous. On this one Simon has finally reached his peak as an arranger and composer (maybe not as a lyricist, but not a big problem) and Garfunkel and him sing these songs with pastoral youthful emotion. There's an emotional arc to almost every song, and the..." [+] Reply
Year of Release:
1966
Appears in:
Rank Score:
3,411
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"What I find remarkable is how she was able to put so much passion into everything she did. I recommend listening to "Four Women" and "What More Can I Say?" Amazing." Reply
Year of Release:
1966
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,392
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"More advanced musicianship and intricate song writing compared to their earlier, garage rock style albums. There are still great guitar riffs throughout the album, but they are couched in more lush compositions that would foreshadow the grandoise concept albums they'd put out in the late 60s and ..." [+] Reply
Year of Release:
1966
Appears in:
Rank Score:
2,208
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"The jug sounds annoyed me at first, but I have grown to love them. I have even added them to the playlist on our school radio. The kids love Fire Engine." Reply
Year of Release:
1966
Appears in:
Rank Score:
1,998
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Total albums: 748. Page 1 of 75
Best Albums of 1966 composition
| Artist | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| Sun Ra | 7 | 1% | |
| Various Artists | 4 | 1% | |
| Buck Owens | 4 | 1% | |
| Wes Montgomery | 4 | 1% | |
| Hugh Masekela | 4 | 1% | |
| Art Blakey | 4 | 1% | |
| Ornette Coleman | 4 | 1% | |
| Show all | |||
| Country | Albums | % | |
|---|---|---|---|
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|
422 | 56% | |
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103 | 14% | |
|
23 | 3% | |
|
23 | 3% | |
|
21 | 3% | |
|
20 | 3% | |
|
19 | 3% | |
| Show all | |||
Best Albums of 1966 chart changes
| Biggest climbers Biggest climbers in top 100 since last month |
|---|
Up 7 from 102nd to 95th |
Up 6 from 79th to 73rd |
Up 5 from 103rd to 98th |
| Biggest fallers Biggest fallers in top 100 since last month |
|---|
Down 3 from 88th to 91st |
Down 2 from 75th to 77th |
Down 2 from 78th to 80th |
| New entries New entries in top 100 since last month |
|---|
Up 7 from 102nd to 95th |
Up 5 from 103rd to 98th |
| Leavers Leavers from top 100 since last month |
|---|
Down 5 from 96th to 101st |
Down 2 from 100th to 102nd |





