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List of Hot Country Albums number ones of 1966

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Singer Eddy Arnold
Eddy Arnold had three chart-topping albums in 1966.

Top Country Albums is a chart that ranks the top-performing country music albums in the United States, published by Billboard. In 1966, 17 different albums topped the chart, which was at the time published under the title Hot Country Albums, based on sales reports submitted by a representative sample of stores nationwide.[1]

In the issue of Billboard dated January 1, Connie Smith was at number one with Cute 'n' Country, the album's second week in the top spot.[2] The following week it was displaced from the top spot by My World by Eddy Arnold, which spent eleven consecutive weeks atop the chart, the year's longest unbroken run in the top spot. Arnold would return to number one for two weeks in April with I Want to Go with You and for a single week in September with The Last Word in Lonesome. Buck Owens and his Buckaroos also achieved three chart-toppers during the year, spending a total of 15 weeks in the top spot with Roll Out the Red Carpet for Buck Owens and his Buckaroos, Dust on Mother's Bible and the live recording Carnegie Hall Concert. Between late 1965 and early 1968 Owens and his band placed 12 albums on the chart, only one of which failed to reach number one, however after that the group never topped the chart again.[3] The only artist other than Arnold and Owens to achieve more than one chart-topping album in 1966 was Connie Smith, who returned to the top spot for a single week in December with Born to Sing, which would prove to be her final number-one album.[4]

Four singers who would go on to become amongst the most successful in country music history gained their first number-one albums in the second half of 1966. In August George Jones reached the top spot for the first time with I'm a People,[5] and in November You Ain't Woman Enough was the first chart-topper for Loretta Lynn.[6] In December Merle Haggard, along with his long-time backing band the Strangers, reached the top spot for the first time with Swinging Doors/The Bottle Let Me Down,[7] and Sonny James did the same with the compilation album The Best of Sonny James.[8] Jones, despite many problems in his personal life, accrued more than 150 hit singles and was acclaimed as the greatest vocalist in country music.[9][10] Haggard achieved nearly 40 number ones on the country singles chart and has been called one of the genre's greatest songwriters.[11][12] Lynn, who experienced success in six decades and was nominated for a Grammy Award in 2018 at the age of 86,[13] is regarded as one of the most influential female artists in country music and has been dubbed the "first lady of country".[14] James would achieve a string of number ones in the late 1960s and early 1970s and remain successful until he opted to retire from the music industry in 1983.[15] All four have been inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in recognition of their contributions to the genre.[16][17][18][19]

Chart history

[edit]
Singer Loretta Lynn
Loretta Lynn had her first number one with You Ain't Woman Enough.
Singer Merle Haggard
Merle Haggard was another first-time chart-topper in 1966.
Singer George Jones
I'm a People was a number-one album for George Jones.
Singer David Houston
David Houston spent a single week at number one with Almost Persuaded, named for his number-one single of the same title.
Issue date Title Artist(s) Ref.
January 1 Cute 'n' Country Connie Smith [2]
January 8 My World Eddy Arnold [20]
January 15 [21]
January 22 [22]
January 29 [23]
February 5 [24]
February 12 [25]
February 19 [26]
February 26 [27]
March 5 [28]
March 12 [29]
March 19 [30]
March 26 Ballad of the Green Berets Ssgt Barry Sadler [31]
April 2 [32]
April 9 Roll Out the Red Carpet for Buck Owens and his Buckaroos Buck Owens and his Buckaroos [33]
April 16 [34]
April 23 I Want to Go with You Eddy Arnold [35]
April 30 [36]
May 7 Roll Out the Red Carpet for Buck Owens and his Buckaroos Buck Owens and his Buckaroos [37]
May 14 [38]
May 21 [39]
May 28 [40]
June 4 [41]
June 11 [42]
June 18 Distant Drums Jim Reeves [43]
June 25 [44]
July 2 [45]
July 9 [46]
July 16 [47]
July 23 [48]
July 30 [49]
August 6 I'm a People George Jones [50]
August 13 [51]
August 20 Dust on Mother's Bible Buck Owens and his Buckaroos [52]
August 27 [53]
September 3 The Last Word in Lonesome Eddy Arnold [54]
September 10 Carnegie Hall Concert Buck Owens and his Buckaroos [55]
September 17 [56]
September 24 [57]
October 1 [58]
October 8 Almost Persuaded David Houston [59]
October 15 I Love You Drops Bill Anderson [60]
October 22 [61]
October 29 Carnegie Hall Concert Buck Owens and his Buckaroos [62]
November 5 Another Bridge to Burn Ray Price [63]
November 12 You Ain't Woman Enough Loretta Lynn [64]
November 19 [65]
November 26 Another Bridge to Burn Ray Price [66]
December 3 Born to Sing Connie Smith [67]
December 10 Swinging Doors/The Bottle Let Me Down Merle Haggard and the Strangers [68]
December 17 [69]
December 24 The Best of Sonny James Sonny James [70]
December 31 [71]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Hot Country Albums: Billboard 1964 to 2007. Record Research, Incorporated. p. 6. ISBN 9780898201734.
  2. ^ a b "Country Albums chart for January 1, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2019.
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Hot Country Albums: Billboard 1964 to 2007. Record Research, Incorporated. p. 168. ISBN 9780898201734.
  4. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Hot Country Albums: Billboard 1964 to 2007. Record Research, Incorporated. p. 231. ISBN 9780898201734.
  5. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Hot Country Albums: Billboard 1964 to 2007. Record Research, Incorporated. p. 128. ISBN 9780898201734.
  6. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Hot Country Albums: Billboard 1964 to 2007. Record Research, Incorporated. p. 149. ISBN 9780898201734.
  7. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Hot Country Albums: Billboard 1964 to 2007. Record Research, Incorporated. p. 106. ISBN 9780898201734.
  8. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2008). Joel Whitburn Presents Hot Country Albums: Billboard 1964 to 2007. Record Research, Incorporated. p. 122. ISBN 9780898201734.
  9. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "George Jones Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  10. ^ Vinson, Christina (July 29, 2013). "George Jones Remembered With 'God's Country: George Jones and Friends' Tribute Album". Taste of Country. Townsquare Media. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  11. ^ Trust, Gary (April 6, 2016). "Merle Haggard Notched 38 No. 1s on Billboard's Hot Country Songs Chart". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 18, 2018. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  12. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Merle Haggard Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved December 14, 2019.
  13. ^ Beaumont-Thomas, Ben (February 8, 2019). "Grammys 2019: who will – and should – win the biggest awards". The Guardian. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  14. ^ "The 60 greatest female singer-songwriters of all time". The Daily Telegraph. March 8, 2018. Retrieved May 24, 2018.
  15. ^ Bush, John. "Sonny James Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  16. ^ "Merle Haggard". Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  17. ^ "Sonny James". Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  18. ^ "George Jones". Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  19. ^ "Loretta Lynn". Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  20. ^ "Country Albums chart for January 8, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  21. ^ "Country Albums chart for January 15, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  22. ^ "Country Albums chart for January 22, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  23. ^ "Country Albums chart for January 29, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  24. ^ "Country Albums chart for February 5, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  25. ^ "Country Albums chart for February 12, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  26. ^ "Country Albums chart for February 19, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  27. ^ "Country Albums chart for February 26, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
  28. ^ "Country Albums chart for March 5, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  29. ^ "Country Albums chart for March 12, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  30. ^ "Country Albums chart for March 19, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  31. ^ "Country Albums chart for March 26, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  32. ^ "Country Albums chart for April 2, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  33. ^ "Country Albums chart for April 9, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  34. ^ "Country Albums chart for April 16, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  35. ^ "Country Albums chart for April 23, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  36. ^ "Country Albums chart for April 30, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  37. ^ "Country Albums chart for May 7, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  38. ^ "Country Albums chart for May 14, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  39. ^ "Country Albums chart for May 21, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  40. ^ "Country Albums chart for May 28, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  41. ^ "Country Albums chart for June 4, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  42. ^ "Country Albums chart for June 11, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  43. ^ "Country Albums chart for June 18, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  44. ^ "Country Albums chart for June 25, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  45. ^ "Country Albums chart for July 2, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  46. ^ "Country Albums chart for July 9, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  47. ^ "Country Albums chart for July 16, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  48. ^ "Country Albums chart for July 23, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  49. ^ "Country Albums chart for July 30, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  50. ^ "Country Albums chart for August 6, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  51. ^ "Country Albums chart for August 13, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  52. ^ "Country Albums chart for August 20, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  53. ^ "Country Albums chart for August 27, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  54. ^ "Country Albums chart for September 3, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  55. ^ "Country Albums chart for September 10, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  56. ^ "Country Albums chart for September 17, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  57. ^ "Country Albums chart for September 24, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  58. ^ "Country Albums chart for October 1, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  59. ^ "Country Albums chart for October 8, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  60. ^ "Country Albums chart for October 15, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  61. ^ "Country Albums chart for October 22, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  62. ^ "Country Albums chart for October 29, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  63. ^ "Country Albums chart for November 5, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  64. ^ "Country Albums chart for November 12, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  65. ^ "Country Albums chart for November 19, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  66. ^ "Country Albums chart for November 26, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  67. ^ "Country Albums chart for December 3, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  68. ^ "Country Albums chart for December 10, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  69. ^ "Country Albums chart for December 17, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  70. ^ "Country Albums chart for December 24, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 13, 2019.
  71. ^ "Country Albums chart for December 31, 1966". Billboard. Retrieved December 7, 2019.