4 Unforgettable Hard Rock Hits From 1966 That Take Baby Boomers Back in Time
Hard rock was taking shape in 1966, blending with garage, R&B, psychedelic and other styles as bands reached large audiences. Four songs from that year illustrate the sound’s range and its growing chart appeal.
The Troggs’ “Wild Thing” topped US and UK charts, while the Young Rascals’ “You Better Run” reached No. 20 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The Rolling Stones’ “Paint It Black” topped charts across the US, UK, Canada and much of Europe; Cream’s “I Feel Free” peaked at No. 11 in the UK.
In short
- “Wild Thing” topped charts in the US and UK.
- “Paint It Black” was a worldwide chart-topper.
- Cream’s “I Feel Free” reached No. 11 in the UK.
Explained simply
Hard rock was emerging in the mid-1960s as British and American bands combined loud guitars and forceful rhythms with influences from blues, rhythm and blues, garage rock and psychedelia. The style was still developing, so songs from the period could sound quite different from one another.
The Troggs and the Rolling Stones had major chart success with “Wild Thing” and “Paint It Black”. The Young Rascals’ “You Better Run” also reached the US Top 20, while Cream’s “I Feel Free” made the UK Top 20. These records show how varied the sound was as guitar-led rock reached a broad audience.
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