Every Baby Boomer Alive Remembers These 4 Classic Country Jams From 1966

Some strong contenders hit the charts for country song of the year in 1966, and many a baby boomer with a love for honky-tonk tunes got to enjoy all the music that hit the airwaves that year. If you were around when the following iconic country songs dropped in 1966, I bet you still remember them very well. If you know all the words, feel free to sing along. No judgment here.

“Think Of Me” by Buck Owens from ‘Open Up Your Heart’

Buck Owens always seemed to be near the top of the charts in the 1960s. And he did indeed make it to the tippy-top with this country tune from 1966. “Think Of Me” by Buck Owens (and His Buckaroos) was written by Estrella Olson and Don Rich. Owens turned it into a smash hit, peaking at No. 1 on the Hot Country Singles chart. “Think Of Me” came close to being a crossover pop hit, too. It peaked at No. 74 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

“Swingin Doors” by Merle Haggard and The Strangers from ‘Swinging Doors’

Merle Haggard, like Buck Owens, was a regular sight near the top of the country charts in the 1960s. This title track from Swinging Doors ended up being quite the hit. It peaked at No. 5 on the Hot Country Songs chart. If you’ve ever been dumped or done dirty by a lover and found that you really have all you need without them, this song will definitely resonate with you.

“Almost Persuaded” by David Houston from ‘Almost Persuaded’

Remember this David Houston gem? Written by Billy Sherrill and Glenn Sutton, “Almost Persuaded” is a somewhat taboo song about a married man who almost cheats. He backs out when he sees the shimmer of his wedding ring in the eyes of the other woman. This song was a smash hit and stayed at No. 1 on the Hot Country Singles chart for a whopping nine weeks.

“You Ain’t Woman Enough To Take My Man” by Loretta Lynn from ‘You Ain’t Woman Enough’

This Loretta Lynn classic really changed the game. If you were a young baby boomer in 1966, you probably hadn’t heard a woman sing a country song this in-your-face and defiantly before. Lynn would make something of a career out of that and eventually become one of the most famous women in country music, period.

“You Ain’t Woman Enough To Take My Man” by Loretta Lynn peaked at No. 2 on the Hot Country Singles chart. It would become one of Lynn’s signature songs.

Photo by Sylvia Pitcher/Redferns