Pick a Day

Music History Events: Recordings

July 25, 1966 "Last Train To Clarksville," the debut single by The Monkees, is recorded at RCA studios in Los Angeles. Like all of their early songs, the group doesn't play on the record. The only Monkee on the track is Micky Dolenz, who does the vocal.

July 19, 1966 The theme song to The Monkees TV series is recorded at RCA studios in Hollywood. The only Monkee to participate is Micky Dolenz, who does the vocal - the rest of the musicians are session performers.

July 19, 1966 Johnny Rivers records "Poor Side Of Town."

July 18, 1966 The Beach Boys release "Wouldn't It Be Nice" with "God Only Knows" on the flip side.

June 24, 1966 The Supremes record "Love Is Like an Itching In My Heart."

June 21, 1966 The Beatles record "She Said She Said," a song inspired by a party where Peter Fonda, John Lennon, Ringo Starr and George Harrison were taking acid. Paul McCartney, who did not partake at the party, finds himself frozen out of the recording session and leaves, so Harrison plays bass on the track.

June 12, 1966 Elvis Presley records "Indescribably Blue," "I'll Remember You," and "If Every Day Was Like Christmas."

May 26, 1966 The Beatles record their whimsical hit "Yellow Submarine," primarily written by Paul McCartney.

May 26, 1966 Elvis Presley records "Where No One Stands Alone," "Down In The Alley," "Tomorrow Is A Long Time," and "Love Letters."

May 18, 1966 The Hollies record "Bus Stop." The song becomes the British Invasion band's first Top 10 single in the US, peaking at #5.

May 18, 1966 Sixteen-year-old Bruce Springsteen records for the first time when his band, The Castiles, cut two songs ("Baby I" and "That's What You Get") at a studio in the Brick Mall Shopping Centre in New Jersey. Springsteen wrote both songs, which later emerge on bootlegs, with his bandmate, George Theiss.

May 16, 1966 Frank Sinatra records "Summer Wind."

April 22, 1966 The Beatles continue work on their Revolver album, with Ringo adding cowbell to "Taxman" and George Harrison putting sitar on "Tomorrow Never Knows."

April 11, 1966 Frank Sinatra records "Strangers In The Night," improvising the famous "dooby, dooby doo" at the end.

March 15, 1966 Sandy Posey records "Born A Woman."

February 17, 1966 Brian Wilson begins recording The Beach Boys' "Good Vibrations."

February 11, 1966 Cher records "Bang Bang."

February 1, 1966 The Young Rascals record "Good Lovin'."

January 31, 1966 At Western Recorders in Hollywood, Brian Wilson records "Caroline, No" without the other Beach Boys. The song appears on the group's Pet Sounds album, but the single is released under his name.

December 20, 1965 Wilson Pickett records "634-5789" with Booker T. & the MG's, sans Booker (with Isaac Hayes filling in for him on piano).

December 18, 1965 Staff Sergeant Barry Sadler records "The Ballad Of The Green Berets."

December 16, 1965 Peter & Gordon record "Woman."

December 6, 1965 The Rolling Stones record "19th Nervous Breakdown" and "Mother's Little Helper."

November 11, 1965 The Beatles pull an all-nigher at Abbey Road Studios to complete work on their Rubber Soul album. They finish up the songs "You Won't See Me," "Girl," "Wait," and "I'm Looking Through You."

October 28, 1965 The Supremes record "My World Is Empty Without You."

October 21, 1965 The Spencer Davis Group records "Keep On Running."

September 22, 1965 The Supremes record "I Hear A Symphony."

September 20, 1965 The Animals record "It's My Life."

September 3, 1965 Lou Christie records "Lightnin' Strikes" in New York City, with session player Ralph Casale improvising the thunderous guitar solo.

June 16, 1965 At Columbia Studios in New York City, Bob Dylan finishes recording "Like A Rolling Stone," a song about a socialite who falls from grace. The Hammond organ comes courtesy of Al Kooper, who later forms Blood, Sweat & Tears.