Billboard Hot 100 | Top 5 – Week of August 6, 1966
The Billboard Hot 100 for August 6, 1966 kept The Troggs at #1 with “Wild Thing,” one of the rawest and most memorable rock records of the decade. After reaching the top the previous week, the song held its position and continued to define the rougher, louder side of the summer of 1966. Its simple riff, blunt vocal, and garage-rock attitude made it sound almost primitive compared with the polished pop productions elsewhere on the chart, but that directness was part of its power.
Behind “Wild Thing,” the Top 5 was filled with personality. Sam The Sham and the Pharaohs climbed to #2 with “Lil’ Red Riding Hood,” continuing their run of playful, novelty-flavored rock hits. The Lovin’ Spoonful surged to #3 with “Summer In The City,” a record that captured the heat, noise, and pressure of urban summer life. Crispian St. Peters held at #4 with “The Pied Piper,” while Napoleon XIV jumped into the Top 5 with the strange and unforgettable “They’re Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!”
This was one of the most unusual Top 5 lineups of 1966. It mixed raw British rock, novelty storytelling, urban pop-rock, cheerful British pop, and a spoken-word novelty record. At the same time, The Mamas & The Papas, Tommy James And The Shondells, The Rolling Stones, and Ray Conniff all remained in the Top 10, showing just how wide the chart had become.
By early August, the Hot 100 was reflecting every corner of popular music. Rock was becoming rougher, pop was becoming stranger, and summer radio was filled with records that were impossible to ignore.
Top 5 Songs
1. Wild Thing – The Troggs
“Wild Thing” remained at #1 for another week, continuing its run as one of the defining rock records of 1966. The song’s stripped-down sound and raw vocal delivery helped make it one of the most instantly recognizable hits of the decade.
Its success showed that rock did not need polish or complexity to make an impact. “Wild Thing” connected through attitude, repetition, and a rebellious spirit that fit the summer perfectly.
2. Lil’ Red Riding Hood – Sam The Sham and the Pharaohs
“Lil’ Red Riding Hood” climbed from #3 to #2, giving Sam The Sham and the Pharaohs another major hit near the top of the chart. The song mixed humor, character, and a steady rock groove into one of the summer’s most recognizable singles.
Its rise showed that personality-driven records still had a strong place on the Hot 100. Like “Wooly Bully,” it worked because it was fun, memorable, and unlike anything else on radio.
3. Summer In The City – The Lovin’ Spoonful
“Summer In The City” made a strong move from #7 to #3, bringing The Lovin’ Spoonful back into the Top 5 with one of their most powerful records. The song’s pounding rhythm and city sound effects gave it a hot, restless atmosphere.
Unlike the group’s lighter hits, this record had a tougher edge. It captured the pressure and excitement of summer in a way that made it feel immediate and alive.
4. The Pied Piper – Crispian St. Peters
“The Pied Piper” held at #4, continuing its strong American chart run. Crispian St. Peters delivered a bright, sing-along pop record that contrasted sharply with the rougher rock songs surrounding it.
The song’s cheerful melody and easy charm helped it stand out during a chart week filled with louder and more unusual records.
5. They’re Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa! – Napoleon XIV
“They’re Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!” jumped from #11 to #5, becoming one of the strangest Top 5 hits of the decade. Its spoken-word style, odd sound effects, and novelty structure made it unlike the rock, pop, and soul records around it.
The song’s sudden rise showed how unpredictable the Hot 100 could be in 1966. A record that sounded more like a comic performance than a traditional pop single could still become a national sensation.
More Weeks at #1 for “Wild Thing”
This song spent multiple weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Explore each chart week below:
🎂 What Was the #1 Song on Your Birthday?
If you were born during the week ending August 6, 1966, this was your birthday song:
🎵 Wild Thing by The Troggs
▶ Watch and experience this song →
🎂 Born in the 60s? Try your own birthday:
Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 This Week
- Wild Thing – The Troggs
- Lil’ Red Riding Hood – Sam The Sham and the Pharaohs
- Summer In The City – The Lovin’ Spoonful
- The Pied Piper – Crispian St. Peters
- They’re Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa! – Napoleon XIV
- I Saw Her Again – The Mamas & The Papas
- Hanky Panky – Tommy James And The Shondells
- Sweet Pea – Tommy Roe
- Mothers Little Helper – The Rolling Stones
- Somewhere, My Love – Ray Conniff And The Singers
Chart Movers This Week
Why This Chart Week Mattered
This chart week mattered because it captured the wild variety of summer 1966. “Wild Thing” kept raw garage-rock energy at #1, while “Lil’ Red Riding Hood” and “They’re Coming To Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa!” showed how novelty and personality-driven records could dominate the national conversation.
The August 6, 1966 Hot 100 also pointed toward the next major summer hit, with “Summer In The City” charging into the Top 3. It was a chart filled with heat, humor, attitude, and unpredictability — exactly the kind of mix that made 1966 one of the most colorful years in Billboard history.
