6 of the 60s: June 11, 2014 (1966)

It's humpday 60s madness, with a half-dozen more nuggets from 1966, the year the Dick Van Dyke show aired its final episode.

The Beach Boys - "Good Vibrations"
from the album Smiley Smile (1967)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #1
Songwriters: Brian Wilson, Mike Love

The most ambitious single of the entire decade, which changed not only the group and its dynamics, but American pop music itself. With an intricacy more akin to symphonic pieces, Wilson reached his pinnacle with this three and a half minutes of heaven.

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The Happenings - "See You In September"
from the album The Happenings (1966)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #3
Songwriters: Sherman Edwards, Sid Wayne

High school students bid farewell for the summer vacation with this neo-doo-wop cover of a Tempos song from 1959.

The Hollies - "Bus Stop"
from the album Bus Stop (1966)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #5
Songwriter: Graham Gouldman

The song's writer, Graham Gouldman, would go on to be a part of his own hitmaking band 10cc in the 70s.

Syndicate Of Sound - "Little Girl"
from the album Little Girl (1966)
Billboard Hot 100 peak; #8
Songwriters: Don Baskin, Bob Gonzalez

This short lived garage band from San Jose, California predated the psychedelic rock that would dominate the end of the decade.

Cyrkle - "Turn Down Day"
from the album Red Rubber Ball (1966)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #16
Songwriters: David Blume, Jerry Keller

The trippy band from Easton, Pennsylvania followed up their big hit "Red Rubber Ball" with this lazy afternoon charmer.

Manfred Mann - "Pretty Flamingo"
from the album Pretty Flamingo (1966)
Billboard Hot 100 peak: #29
Songwriter: Mark Barkan

Although this record only spent a couple of months on the American chart, it was their second #1 hit in England. It also sported cred, with future Cream bassist Jack Bruce in the lineup, and the song written by Barkan, who would go on to helm the music for the Banana Splits Hour.

I'll be back tomorrow with seven more from 1976 and 8 from 1986...