R&B Through History
The Hits of 1966
1966 R&B TOP SINGLES
Explore the defining R&B and Soul single releases of 1966. Click any card to load its details, source album, and a fun fact below! (← Back to Main Dashboard)
1966
Sophisticated Soul / Stax PowerTop 30 Single Releases
Selected Song Details
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Key Takeaways: 1966 Singles
The year 1966 was a landmark for soul music, showcasing a remarkable divergence of styles. **Motown** reached new heights of sophistication with the dramatic, desperate pleas of **The Temptations'** "Ain't Too Proud to Beg" and the ambitious arrangements of **The Four Tops'** "Reach Out I'll Be There." In the South, the raw, visceral power of **Stax Records** was undeniable, with **Sam & Dave**'s explosive "Hold On, I'm Comin'" becoming a defining anthem of the era. The year also produced one of the greatest ballads of all time, **Percy Sledge's** #1 hit "When a Man Loves a Woman," recorded at the legendary FAME Studios in Muscle Shoals. Soul music was becoming more complex, more powerful, and more diverse than ever before.