1966: Where the Music Plays Till Way Past Two

 8 — The Statler Brothers: "Flowers on the Wall"

 7 — The Vogues: "Five O'Clock World"

 5 — The T-Bones: "No Matter What Shape (You're Stomach's In)"

 8 — The Beatles: "We Can Work It Out"

 7 — Chris Andrews: "Yesterday Man"

 9 — The Rolling Stones: "As Tears Go By"

 6 — Petula Clark: "My Love"

 7 — Lou Christie: "Lightnin' Strikes"

 3 — David and Jonathan: "Michelle"

 8 — Nancy Sinatra: "These Boots Are Made for Walking"

 4 — The Dave Clark Five: "At the Scene"

 4 — Herman's Hermits: "Listen People"

 9 — The Beatles: "Nowhere Man"

 3 — Peter and Gordon: "Woman"

 8 — The Vogues: "Magic Town"

 6 — The Lovin' Spoonful: "Daydream"

 8 — The Young Rascals: "Good Lovin'"

 7 — Paul Revere and the Raiders: "Kicks"

 9 — The Mamas and the Papas: "Monday, Monday"

 9 — Percy Sledge: "When a Man Loves a Woman"

 8 — The Rolling Stones: "Paint It Black"

 6 — Gary Lewis and the Playboys: "Green Grass"

 4 — The Chiffons: "Sweet Talkin' Guy"

 8 — The Beatles: "Paperback Writer"

 5 — The Cyrkle: "Red Rubber Ball"

 4 — Crispian St. Peters: "The Pied Piper"

 4 — Tommy James and the Shondells: "Hanky Panky"

 3 — Tommy Roe: "Sweet Pea"

 6 — The Mamas and the Papas: "I Saw Her Again"

 9 — The Lovin' Spoonful: "Summer in the City"

 2 — The Happenings: "See You in September"

 7 — The Hollies: "Bus Stop"

 2 — Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames: "Get Away"

 9 — The Beatles: "Yellow Submarine" / "Eleanor Rigby"

10 — The Kinks: "Sunny Afternoon"

 4 — The Association: "Cherish"

 6 — Los Bravos: "Black Is Black"

 4 — Eric Burdon and the Animals: "See See Rider"

 3 — ? and the Mysterians: "96 Tears"

 7 — The Monkees: "Last Train to Clarksville"

 4 — Herman's Hermits: "Dandy"

 7 — Johnny Rivers: "Poor Side of Town"

4 / 5 — New Vaudeville Band: "Winchester Cathedral" / Dana Rollin: "Winchester Cathedral"

 4 — Peter and Gordon: "Lady Godiva"

 5 — The Hollies: "Stop! Stop! Stop!"

 6 — The Monkees: "I'm a Believer"

Considering how the last few number ones on the RPM chart hadn't been all that brilliant - no disrespect at all to either The Monkees and Johnny Rivers but there's no way their singles ought to have been the best of what followed the dual high of The Beatles' "Yellow Submarine" / "Eleanor Rigby" and The Kinks' "Sunny Afternoon" — the average score for the foty-six Canadian number ones is a respectable 6.01. It no doubt helped that there had been some stellar choices during the early-to-mid part of the year which offset the later period of mediocrity. Plus, there weren't many that were utterly vile.

It being a year of haves and have nots, many of the less capable members of the British Invasion really began to falter. Wait, is that accurate? Herman's Hermits, Peter and Gordon, Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames: they didn't really falter since they were never all that great to begin with. But it's certainly true that many of them were enjoying their final days of fame. Replacing them would be The Monkees who could be erratic but certainly had their moments and a new generation of American pop acts, many of whom were like the poor cousins of Dolenz, Jones, Naismith and Tork. Yikes.

'66 was all over the place in terms of quality and we're going to have much the same in the year ahead. But expect that the lows to be much shoddier. I got one waiting for me as a matter of fact...