Top 40 Bliss in ’66

Saturday night during WRCO’s Those Were the Days radio show, I will spotlight a few of the top hits from this weekend in 1966. It was a long time ago, but surprisingly some of the songs are better known now than they were then. The Rolling Stones were at number one with Paint It, Black. That is a tune that has been used in many television shows and movies. Other top radio hits during the month of June were When a Man Loves a Woman-Percy Sledge, Cool Jerk-Capitols, Paperback Writer-Beatles, Good Lovin-Rascals, Dirty Water-Standells, and Sloop John B.-Beach Boys. Many of the top tv shows from that year are some of the most iconic of all time including Gilligan’s Island, Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres, Bewitched, Hogan’s Heroes, Andy Griffith Show, Bonanza, and Gunsmoke. All of those shows still run daily on the various channels and streaming services. On Nee lane, we had the old black and white set on a tripod stand. We would not make the conversion to color tv for a couple more years. That is when the tech person from Saffell’s store in Richland Center said the picture tube had burned out. Our barn radio for years was an old tube model that was full of dust. You would turn it on, and it would take a while to warm up. It was usually about half on a local station and half on static. The kitchen radio sat on top of the dryer. The radio was made by General Electric, and the dryer was manufactured by Norge. You did not dare change the station from WRCO to another signal or you might lose a limb! Mother did not like anyone messing with her radio or tv and she would say “you’re gonna get that all out of kilter and I won’t be able to hear my stories”! I have technicolor memories of life on the farm as a wee Nee. Hard work during the week and maybe a fish fry on Friday night or a visit from the area card club on Saturday nights. On those occasions, my sister Sue and I would be sent upstairs with a tray of ground bologna sandwiches and snacks that were extras from the plate that would serve guests later. We would have a couple of bottles of Ski or Double Cola and the guests would be served an ice cold PBR, Blatz, Schlitz, or Fox Deluxe. There might have been a little Mogan David or Boones Farm for the more hoity toity visitors.

I hope you will join me for radio fun during Those Were the Days on WRCO Saturday night between six and midnight. I will be on hand to take your requests and play trivia. Get ready for a fun night! It’ll be more enjoyable than a ground bologna sandwich.

Phil