The Top Song of 1966 - Wow, How Times Have Changed

[JimBowie1958]

This was the Billboard number one song for 1966




Ballad of the Green Berets - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"The Ballad of the Green Berets" is a patriotic song in the ballad style about the Green Berets, an elite special force in the U.S. Army. It is one of the very few songs of the 1960s to cast the military in a positive light and in 1966 it became a major hit, reaching No. 1 for five weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and four weeks on Cashbox. Ultimately, the song was named Billboard's #1 single for the year 1966. It was also a crossover smash, reaching No. 1 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart and No. 2 on Billboard's Country survey.

The song was written by Robin Moore and Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler, while the latter was recuperating from a leg wound suffered as a medic in the Vietnam War. Moore also wrote a book, The Green Berets, about the force. The tune itself is borrowed from the traditional American folk song "The Butcher Boy".

The lyrics were written in honor of Green Beret US Army Specialist 5 James Gabriel, Jr., the first native Hawaiian to die in Vietnam, who was killed by Viet Cong gunfire while on a training mission on April 8, 1962.[2] One verse mentioned Gabriel by name, but it wasn't included in the recorded version.[3]

Comparing that song with this one is interesting. A very similar topic but the production is very different and the musci quality much improved as well.



I wonder if the Ballad of the Green Berets would have become a number one hit today.

 

[mdk]

I only know two artists in the present Billboard: Top Ten. I don't know either of the songs. lol

 

[JimBowie1958]

Another similar song for contrast

 

[JimBowie1958]

I only know of the two artists in the present Billboard: Top Ten. I don't know either of the songs. lol

Yeah, I remember when music had to have at least two of melody, rythm and harmony.

Now all it needs is rythm and someone spitting out lyrics and its a "song".

 

[Al Azar]

Coincidentally, 50 years ago today, 8 Sep 1966, I reported as ordered to the Los Angeles Armed Forces Induction Center and began an interesting chapter my life.

I don't recall that song having anything to do with it.

 

[mdk]

I only know of the two artists in the present Billboard: Top Ten. I don't know either of the songs. lol

Yeah, I remember when music had to have at least two of melody, rythm and harmony.

Now all it needs is rythm and someone spitting out lyrics and its a "song".

There is a lot of great music to be found today if one knows where to look. Almost the music I listen is never played on the radio, unless it's 80's much. I freely admit that I love much of the 80's. lol

 

[SassyIrishLass]

I only know of the two artists in the present Billboard: Top Ten. I don't know either of the songs. lol

Yeah, I remember when music had to have at least two of melody, rythm and harmony.

Now all it needs is rythm and someone spitting out lyrics and its a "song".

There is a lot of great music to be found today if one knows where to look. Almost the music I listen is never played on the radio, unless it's 80's much. I freely admit that I love much of the 80's. lol

Have tweens in your home...you'll hear music you never knew existed

 

[gipper]

War is the health of the State.

Fuck the State. Do not die for the State.

Though the song has a nice beat.

 

[OldLady]

This was the Billboard number one song for 1966




Ballad of the Green Berets - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"The Ballad of the Green Berets" is a patriotic song in the ballad style about the Green Berets, an elite special force in the U.S. Army. It is one of the very few songs of the 1960s to cast the military in a positive light and in 1966 it became a major hit, reaching No. 1 for five weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and four weeks on Cashbox. Ultimately, the song was named Billboard's #1 single for the year 1966. It was also a crossover smash, reaching No. 1 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart and No. 2 on Billboard's Country survey.

The song was written by Robin Moore and Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler, while the latter was recuperating from a leg wound suffered as a medic in the Vietnam War. Moore also wrote a book, The Green Berets, about the force. The tune itself is borrowed from the traditional American folk song "The Butcher Boy".

The lyrics were written in honor of Green Beret US Army Specialist 5 James Gabriel, Jr., the first native Hawaiian to die in Vietnam, who was killed by Viet Cong gunfire while on a training mission on April 8, 1962.[2] One verse mentioned Gabriel by name, but it wasn't included in the recorded version.[3]

Comparing that song with this one is interesting. A very similar topic but the production is very different and the musci quality much improved as well.



I wonder if the Ballad of the Green Berets would have become a number one hit today.

OMG!!! My friend's Dad had this on a 45 and one of those record players that you could stack and play a bunch of them. I went to sleep many a night listening to this and to a couple of other ones like ... there was a swamp...gators..... It was very blue-grassy.

 

[hazlnut]

This was the Billboard number one song for 1966




Ballad of the Green Berets - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"The Ballad of the Green Berets" is a patriotic song in the ballad style about the Green Berets, an elite special force in the U.S. Army. It is one of the very few songs of the 1960s to cast the military in a positive light and in 1966 it became a major hit, reaching No. 1 for five weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and four weeks on Cashbox. Ultimately, the song was named Billboard's #1 single for the year 1966. It was also a crossover smash, reaching No. 1 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart and No. 2 on Billboard's Country survey.

The song was written by Robin Moore and Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler, while the latter was recuperating from a leg wound suffered as a medic in the Vietnam War. Moore also wrote a book, The Green Berets, about the force. The tune itself is borrowed from the traditional American folk song "The Butcher Boy".

The lyrics were written in honor of Green Beret US Army Specialist 5 James Gabriel, Jr., the first native Hawaiian to die in Vietnam, who was killed by Viet Cong gunfire while on a training mission on April 8, 1962.[2] One verse mentioned Gabriel by name, but it wasn't included in the recorded version.[3]

Comparing that song with this one is interesting. A very similar topic but the production is very different and the musci quality much improved as well.



I wonder if the Ballad of the Green Berets would have become a number one hit today.

It's from that dopey movie that closet fag John Wayne made.

 

[mdk]

I only know of the two artists in the present Billboard: Top Ten. I don't know either of the songs. lol

Yeah, I remember when music had to have at least two of melody, rythm and harmony.

Now all it needs is rythm and someone spitting out lyrics and its a "song".

There is a lot of great music to be found today if one knows where to look. Almost the music I listen is never played on the radio, unless it's 80's much. I freely admit that I love much of the 80's. lol

Have tweens in your home...you'll hear music you never knew existed

My sister said the same thing when we recently had a similar conversation. lol. Thank goodness she has the boys loving Classic Rock of the 60's and 70's as well. When they were here last, one of them was pleased as punch to show me how much of Kashmir he learned on the piano. He raided my sheet music from the bench and removed all the Beatles and Fleetwood Mac he could find to take home.

 

[Old Rocks]

Australian, but a very good view of what the war meant to many who were there;

 

[JimBowie1958]

I only know of the two artists in the present Billboard: Top Ten. I don't know either of the songs. lol

Yeah, I remember when music had to have at least two of melody, rythm and harmony.

Now all it needs is rythm and someone spitting out lyrics and its a "song".

There is a lot of great music to be found today if one knows where to look. Almost the music I listen is never played on the radio, unless it's 80's much. I freely admit that I love much of the 80's. lol

Yeah, I am into any rock prior to Death Metal, if that is music or Thrash, which is not music, I guess up to 1980ish. Def Lepard was my last group I liked that was big on the charts, and mostly listend to traditional country after that. But now Country has gone all Pop too, Thank you Taylor Swift so I listen to oldies Rock or Country.

Keep getting this feeling that I have lived too long.

 

[JimBowie1958]

I only know of the two artists in the present Billboard: Top Ten. I don't know either of the songs. lol

Yeah, I remember when music had to have at least two of melody, rythm and harmony.

Now all it needs is rythm and someone spitting out lyrics and its a "song".

There is a lot of great music to be found today if one knows where to look. Almost the music I listen is never played on the radio, unless it's 80's much. I freely admit that I love much of the 80's. lol

Have tweens in your home...you'll hear music you never knew existed

My sister said the same thing when we recently had a similar conversation. lol. Thank goodness she has the boys loving Classic Rock of the 60's and 70's as well. When they were here last, one of them was pleased as punch to show me how much of Kashmir he learned on the piano. He raided my sheet music from the bench and removed all the Beatles and Fleetwood Mac he could find to take home.

Sounds like your sister is raising them right.

 

[guno]

This was the Billboard number one song for 1966




Ballad of the Green Berets - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"The Ballad of the Green Berets" is a patriotic song in the ballad style about the Green Berets, an elite special force in the U.S. Army. It is one of the very few songs of the 1960s to cast the military in a positive light and in 1966 it became a major hit, reaching No. 1 for five weeks on the Billboard Hot 100 and four weeks on Cashbox. Ultimately, the song was named Billboard's #1 single for the year 1966. It was also a crossover smash, reaching No. 1 on Billboard's Easy Listening chart and No. 2 on Billboard's Country survey.

The song was written by Robin Moore and Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler, while the latter was recuperating from a leg wound suffered as a medic in the Vietnam War. Moore also wrote a book, The Green Berets, about the force. The tune itself is borrowed from the traditional American folk song "The Butcher Boy".

The lyrics were written in honor of Green Beret US Army Specialist 5 James Gabriel, Jr., the first native Hawaiian to die in Vietnam, who was killed by Viet Cong gunfire while on a training mission on April 8, 1962.[2] One verse mentioned Gabriel by name, but it wasn't included in the recorded version.[3]

Comparing that song with this one is interesting. A very similar topic but the production is very different and the musci quality much improved as well.



I wonder if the Ballad of the Green Berets would have become a number one hit today.

so when did you serve?

I remember in boot camp in 68' the 2nd week on a saturday night they marched us to the drill hall for "entertainment" and showed the movie the green berets , starring john wayne, who never himself served in the military, all that crap was for propaganda purposes, a lot off us saw it for it was except for the plow boys who were ready and willing to become cannon fodder that minute

 

[SassyIrishLass]

I only know of the two artists in the present Billboard: Top Ten. I don't know either of the songs. lol

Yeah, I remember when music had to have at least two of melody, rythm and harmony.

Now all it needs is rythm and someone spitting out lyrics and its a "song".

There is a lot of great music to be found today if one knows where to look. Almost the music I listen is never played on the radio, unless it's 80's much. I freely admit that I love much of the 80's. lol

Have tweens in your home...you'll hear music you never knew existed

My sister said the same thing when we recently had a similar conversation. lol. Thank goodness she has the boys loving Classic Rock of the 60's and 70's as well. When they were here last, one of them was pleased as punch to show me how much of Kashmir he learned on the piano. He raided my sheet music from the bench and removed all the Beatles and Fleetwood Mac he could find to take home.

Ours are really into Indie-electro like Avicii and Tiestro but they like about anything, Fleetwood Mac is one they listen to a lot. Just don't fire up Bieber, they think he's a twit

 

[JimBowie1958]

I only know of the two artists in the present Billboard: Top Ten. I don't know either of the songs. lol

Yeah, I remember when music had to have at least two of melody, rythm and harmony.

Now all it needs is rythm and someone spitting out lyrics and its a "song".

There is a lot of great music to be found today if one knows where to look. Almost the music I listen is never played on the radio, unless it's 80's much. I freely admit that I love much of the 80's. lol

Have tweens in your home...you'll hear music you never knew existed

My sister said the same thing when we recently had a similar conversation. lol. Thank goodness she has the boys loving Classic Rock of the 60's and 70's as well. When they were here last, one of them was pleased as punch to show me how much of Kashmir he learned on the piano. He raided my sheet music from the bench and removed all the Beatles and Fleetwood Mac he could find to take home.

Ours are really into Indie-electro like Avicii and Tiestro but they like about anything, Fleetwood Mac is one they listen to a lot. Just don't fire up Bieber, they think he's a twit

One of the best rock albums of all time.

 

[SassyIrishLass]

They play this song a lot at our daughter's gym academy...I don't mind them listening to this at all.

 

[mdk]

Yeah, I remember when music had to have at least two of melody, rythm and harmony.

Now all it needs is rythm and someone spitting out lyrics and its a "song".

There is a lot of great music to be found today if one knows where to look. Almost the music I listen is never played on the radio, unless it's 80's much. I freely admit that I love much of the 80's. lol

Have tweens in your home...you'll hear music you never knew existed

My sister said the same thing when we recently had a similar conversation. lol. Thank goodness she has the boys loving Classic Rock of the 60's and 70's as well. When they were here last, one of them was pleased as punch to show me how much of Kashmir he learned on the piano. He raided my sheet music from the bench and removed all the Beatles and Fleetwood Mac he could find to take home.

Ours are really into Indie-electro like Avicii and Tiestro but they like about anything, Fleetwood Mac is one they listen to a lot. Just don't fire up Bieber, they think he's a twit

One of the best rock albums of all time.

My other nephew brought his guitar played Never Going Back Again. The guitar in that song is sweet and delicate, but also a little complex...at least for my hooves. lol

 

[JimBowie1958]

There is a lot of great music to be found today if one knows where to look. Almost the music I listen is never played on the radio, unless it's 80's much. I freely admit that I love much of the 80's. lol

Have tweens in your home...you'll hear music you never knew existed

My sister said the same thing when we recently had a similar conversation. lol. Thank goodness she has the boys loving Classic Rock of the 60's and 70's as well. When they were here last, one of them was pleased as punch to show me how much of Kashmir he learned on the piano. He raided my sheet music from the bench and removed all the Beatles and Fleetwood Mac he could find to take home.

Ours are really into Indie-electro like Avicii and Tiestro but they like about anything, Fleetwood Mac is one they listen to a lot. Just don't fire up Bieber, they think he's a twit

One of the best rock albums of all time.

My other nephew brought his guitar played Never Going Back Again. The guitar in that song is sweet and delicate, but also a little complex...at least for my hooves. lol

Hooves? lol

I tried to learn to play guitar, learned you cant do it with ten thumbs, but at least I'm not bovine.