Billboard Hot 100 | Top 5 – Week of November 5, 1966
The Billboard Hot 100 for November 5, 1966 brought television pop to the top as The Monkees reached #1 with “Last Train To Clarksville.” After weeks of steady climbing, the song moved from #2 to the summit and confirmed that The Monkees were no passing novelty. Their television show had introduced them to millions of viewers, but this single proved they could also command the national pop chart.
The rest of the Top 5 captured the variety of late 1966. ? (Question Mark) & The Mysterians slipped to #2 after their single-week run at #1 with “96 Tears,” while Johnny Rivers climbed to #3 with “Poor Side Of Town.” The Four Tops remained powerful at #4 with “Reach Out I’ll Be There,” and Herman’s Hermits moved into the Top 5 with “Dandy.”
This week’s Top 10 balanced garage rock, Motown soul, British pop, folk-influenced ballads, and television-era pop-rock. Tommy Roe, Jimmy Ruffin, Bobby Darin, The Rolling Stones, and The Left Banke all added different colors to the chart, making early November another strong snapshot of 1966’s musical range.
By this point in the year, the Hot 100 had become a fast-moving mix of new stars and established names. The Monkees’ arrival at #1 showed how quickly pop culture could create a chart phenomenon when television, radio, and a catchy single all came together.
Top 5 Songs
1. Last Train To Clarksville – The Monkees
“Last Train To Clarksville” climbed from #2 to #1, giving The Monkees their first Billboard Hot 100 chart-topper. The song’s bright pop-rock sound, urgent rhythm, and memorable chorus helped make it one of the defining debut hits of 1966.
The record proved that The Monkees were more than a television creation. Their first major single connected with radio listeners and quickly turned the group into one of the biggest new acts in America.
2. 96 Tears – ? (Question Mark) & The Mysterians
After reaching #1 the previous week, “96 Tears” slipped to #2 but remained one of the most distinctive records on the chart. Its electric organ riff and raw garage-rock sound continued to separate it from more polished pop productions.
The song’s success helped prove that rougher regional rock records could become national hits. Even after leaving the top spot, it remained one of the defining garage-rock singles of the decade.
3. Poor Side Of Town – Johnny Rivers
“Poor Side Of Town” climbed from #4 to #3, giving Johnny Rivers one of his strongest chart runs. The song’s reflective tone and mature emotional style gave the Top 5 a more thoughtful mood.
Its rise showed Rivers’ ability to move beyond upbeat rock and pop material into more serious songwriting. The record was quickly becoming one of the standout ballads of the fall.
4. Reach Out I’ll Be There – Four Tops
“Reach Out I’ll Be There” slipped from #3 to #4 but remained one of Motown’s most powerful records of the year. Levi Stubbs’ urgent lead vocal and the dramatic production continued to give the song enormous emotional force.
The Four Tops had already secured one of the great soul hits of 1966, and its continued Top 5 presence showed how deeply the record had connected with listeners.
5. Dandy – Herman’s Hermits
“Dandy” climbed from #6 to #5, giving Herman’s Hermits another Top 5 hit. The song’s playful British pop style fit neatly with the group’s upbeat image and radio-friendly sound.
Its success showed that lighter British Invasion pop still had strong appeal in America, even as Motown, garage rock, and more serious ballads were shaping the rest of the chart.
🎂 What Was the #1 Song on Your Birthday?
If you were born during the week ending November 5, 1966, this was your birthday song:
🎵 Last Train to Clarksville by The Monkees
▶ Watch and experience this song →
🎂 Born in the 60s? Try your own birthday:
Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 This Week
- Last Train To Clarksville – The Monkees
- 96 Tears – ? (Question Mark) & The Mysterians
- Poor Side Of Town – Johnny Rivers
- Reach Out I’ll Be There – Four Tops
- Dandy – Herman’s Hermits
- Hooray For Hazel – Tommy Roe
- What Becomes Of The Brokenhearted – Jimmy Ruffin
- If I Were A Carpenter – Bobby Darin
- Have You Seen Your Mother, Baby, Standing In The Shadow? – The Rolling Stones
- Walk Away Renee – The Left Banke
Chart Movers This Week
Why This Chart Week Mattered
This chart week mattered because “Last Train To Clarksville” marked the arrival of The Monkees as a major chart force. Their television fame helped launch them, but the song’s strong pop-rock craft gave them a legitimate #1 hit.
The November 5, 1966 Hot 100 also showed the full personality of late 1966: garage rock, Motown soul, British pop, folk-influenced ballads, and television-driven pop all competing in the Top 10. It was another vivid example of how broad and unpredictable the decade’s music had become.
