The 25 best Classic Rock albums of 1966

15 April 2026, 13:54 | Updated: 15 April 2026, 17:40

Radio X looks back at the year of The Rolling Stones' Aftrmath, Bob Dylan's Blonde On Blonde, The Beatles' Revolver, The Who's A Quick One and The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds.

1. The Spencer Davis Group - The Second Album: release date 7th January 1966

   The Birmingham R&B act's second outing featuring Steve Winwood on lead vocals an included their evergreen hit Keep On Running.

   

2. Simon & Garfunkel - Sounds Of Silence: release date 17th January 1966

   The duo's second studio album included their popular tunes I Am A Rock, Homeward Bound and The Sound Of Silence.

   

3. The Mamas & The Papas - If You Can Believe Your Eyes And Ears: release date 28th February 1966

   The debut album from the American vocal group included the hits Monday Monday and California Dreamin'.

   

4. The Seeds - The Seeds: released April 1966

   The debut album from the influential LA garage rock band led by Sky Saxon included the singles Can't Seem To Make You Mine and Pushin' Too Hard. They followed it up with another album later the same year, titled A Web Of Sound, and would be a favourite of the nascent punk scene in the mid-1970s with bands like the Ramones.

   

5. The Rolling Stones - Aftermath: release date 15th April 1966

   The Stones' fourth album included some progressive tracks, including Mother's Little Helper, Lady Jane and Under My Thumb.

   

6. The Small Faces - The Small Faces: release date 6th May 1966

   The British band's debut album included the hits Whatcha Gonna Do About It and Sha-La-La-La-Lee.

   

7. The Animals - Animalisms: release date 13th May 1966

   The third album by the Newcastle R&B band included covers of I Put A Spell On You, Sweet Little Sixteen and Gin House Blues.

   

8. The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds: release date 16th May 1966

   Brian Wilson's masterpiece was a huge influence on The Beatles' Sgt Pepper and included the classics Caroline No Sloop John B, Wouldn't It Be Nice and God Only Knows.

   

9. Bob Dylan - Blonde On Blonde: release date 20th June 1966

   Dylan's seventh album was the follow-up to the acclaimed Highway 61 Revisited and included the raucous Rainy Day Women #12 & 35, Visions Of Johanna, Just Like A Woman and the epic Sad-Eyed Lady Of The Lowlands.

   

10. The Mothers Of Invention - Freak Out! Release date 27th June 1966

    The debut album from Frank Zappa's experimental rock band was hugely influential and included Who Are The Brain Police, Trouble Comin' Every Day and How Could I Be Such A Fool?

    

11. The Troggs - From Nowhere: release date July 1966

    The Andover garage heroes issued their first album, which included the huge hit Wild Thing plus a cover of the rock standard Louie Louie.

    

12. The Yardbirds - Roger The Engineer aka Yardbirds: release date 15th July 1966

    The legendary blues band only issued one studio album in the UK, which included the tracks Over Under Sideways Down and The Nazz Are Blue.

    

13. The Byrds - Fifth Dimension: release date 18th July 1966

    The third album from the LA folk rockers included their psychedelic hit Eight Miles High, plus 5D (Fifth Dimension) and Mr Spaceman.

    

14. The Beatles - Revolver: release date 5th August 1966

    What's considered by some to be the best Beatles album was issued shortly before the band quit touring and pointed the way forward for experimental rock music. Tracks included Taxman, Eleanor Rigby, Yellow Submarine, Good Day Sunshine and the forward-thinking Tomorrow Never Knows.

    

15. Jefferson Airplane - Jefferson Airplane Takes Off: release date 15th August 1966

    The debut album from the respected psychedelic San Francisco rock band featured Signe Toly Anderson on vocals rather than Grace Slick and future Moby Grape star Skip Spence on drums. Tracks included It's No Secret and Come Up The Years.

    

16. Donovan - Sunshine Superman: release date 26th August 1966

    Donovan Leitch's third album included the hit title track and Season Of The Witch.

    

17. Tim Buckley - Tim Buckley: released October 1966

    The American folk singer (and father of Jeff) issued his debut album at the tail end of '66. Tracks included Wings. Grief In My Soul and Aren't You The Girl?

    

18. The 13th Floor Elevators - The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators: release date 17th October 1966

    Roky Erickson led this influential psych band from Austin, Texas - their debut album included their only hit, You're Gonna Miss Me.

    

19. The Monkees- The Monkees: release date 10th October 1966

    The debut album from the band that were created to feature in their own TV comedy show included the classic Theme From The Monkees, Last Train To Clarksville and Saturday's Child.

    

20. Manfred Mann - As Is: release date 21st October 1966

    The band's first album to feature new vocalist Mike D'Abo (who replaced Paul Jones) and bassist Klaus Voormann (an associate of The Beatles from the Hamburg days and the artist who designed cover of the year's big album, Revolver). Tracks included covers of Autumn Leaves and Dylan's Just Like A Woman.

    

21. The Kinks - Face To Face: release date 28th October 1966

    The fourth album from Ray Davies and co included the hits Sunny Afternnon, Dandy and Rosy Won't You Please Come Home.

    

22. Love - Da Capo: release date November 1966

    The second album from Arthur Lee's pioneering psych rock band included their classic 7 And 7 Is, Stephanie Knows Why and She Comes In Colors.

    

23. Buffalo Springfield - Buffalo Springfield: release date 5th December 1966

    Neil Young and Stephen Stills' band issued their debut album, which included Burned, Nowadays Clancy Can't Even Sing and the hit For What It's Worth.

    

24. The Who - A Quick One: release date 9th December 1966

    The mod pioneers' second album included the single Happy Jack. plus the hilarious Boris The Spider, So Sad About Us and the mini-rock opera A Quick One While He's Away.

    

25. Cream - Fresh Cream: release date 9th December 1966

    The trio of Eric Clapton, Ginger Baker and Jack Bruce issued their debut album, which included Spoonful, I'm So Glad and a cover of Robert Johnson's Four Until Late.