American Bandstand 1966 - TOP 10 - I Am A Rock, Simon & Garfunkel

Airdate: June 18, 1966
Watch those dangerous cameras!
Simon and Garfunkel’s 3rd top 5 hit is at its peak of #3 today. Paul Simon recorded “I Am A Rock” solo after he and Art Garfunkel broke up because their debut album, “Wednesday Morning, 3 A.M.” tanked. After a remixed “The Sound of Silence” (and renamed “The SoundS of Silence”) became a hit, Paul and Art got back together and re-recorded “I Am A Rock” (the version played here) for their new “Sounds of Silence” album released in 1966.
The 1966 Bathing Beauties contest is introduced today for girls ages 14-18. It may not be very appropriate by today’s standards but it probably helped with the show’s ratings.
The “rock”-solid regulars dancing today are: Anita Prince (1:48), June Strode (2:01), Famous Hooks (2:06), Marcia Silverman (2:18), Steve Schreiner & Judy Baker (2:37), John Pollard (briefly in back at 3:21), Frank Vanderpuil & Kris Merches (3:31), Melody McMurray (4:09), and Mike Loyette & Sue Orchell on the riser at 2:45.
Thank you for watching!

[@simfaithguitar1]

I never really thought of “I Am a Rock” as a dance song. 😄. - more of a thinking song 🤔. Guess it’s true - YouCanDanceToIt! Thanks for posting!

[@pdizbon]

60's to the mid- 70s... best music and the last great years

[@larrysproul9424]

Plus FM radio came out in the mid 60''s . Made a huge change in radio coverage .At least it did living in a rural area .

[@jerrygil1965]

And the 80s

[@tonycollazorappo]

I've always thought the same thing, I was born in 1961.

[@kbobdonahue1966]

I was born the following morning (Sunday June 19,1966).

[@davesparks9503]

'66 quite possibly the most expansive period for music that reached maturation in the summer of '67. A very creative period. Gradually the various genres began to separate themselves .I particularly enjoy the Top Ten sequences as they tell the tale. Note Paul Simon penned tunes hold the Number 7 & Number 1 slot on this Top Ten.

[@michaelserby7697]

1965 -- 1975 🇺🇸 💙 best music ever era

[@usmc-veteran73-77]

I agree, we are about the same age. Loved to go back and stay, then repeat it again.

[@adriennerobinson1180]

Oh wow

[@jerrygil1965]

And the 80s

[@mistery-ed7900]

Sometimes I think 1966 was the best year for music in my life. Pop rock was getting intellectual and poetic. Folk was becoming more interesting. Soul music was in peak mode. Psychedelia was just getting under way but not too far out yet. Garage bands abounded! Cool stuff all around.

[@White-Michael935]

1966 & 1969

[@junebermingham9300]

I agree Michael !! ☘️💚

[@mitzipaulos1290]

Was 16 yrs old😜🦋

[@clarencevickrot3531]

It got more soulful in '66, too.

[@brucekatz7481]

@@mitzipaulos1290 ME, TOO!

[@catherineerwin8269]

I like the dancer at the 3:41 mark. She already had that Mom look going. I expect in a few years she might be serene in a golden harvest colored kitchen... .Always love any clip with regulars like Frank, Don & Famous...

[@ichironca]

Her name is Connie Westbrook, 15 at the time. Now definitely sporting the grand-MOM look in 2021

[@MrWahooknows]

A freshly-minted 2nd lieutenant in the USMC on his way to a hot, dark place many, many miles away for a 13-month visit remembers this song very well.

[@frithst]

Crikey, never ever thought of dancing to this. One of my favourite songs though.

[@lemurianchick]

Is this Crocodile Dundee checking in? 🤣

[@theglobol]

I wouldn't say it's a particularly danceable song, neither in regards to lyrics nor groove. Kinda ironic in my opinion that they are dancing to this song.

[@robertnycguyraisedonrecord7587]

S&G music is a time capsule to my youth. Grew up with their music. Such fine melodies. Music was changing, evolving in so many amazing and creative ways. The dancers are enjoying themselves.

[@marge3470]

I so enjoy all these videos, the music and especially the dancers that I've come to recognize on here since I started watching about a yr. ago. I've noticed that some of the dancers comment as well about their time on AB, and wondered if Famous Hooks, and Jenny Nickles are still around and aware that these videos that they are both in are on here?

[@csmelen]

Two AB clips in 2 days Aaron? What a nice surprise on hump day. Love it!

[@BleedBNG]

I wish they had panned the cameras back to this girl who is wearing a hat. Right at the upbeat she starts rockin'. 1:51

[@sharonramone7186]

My favorite Simon and Garfunkel song!

[@mylesrichardson2087]

This is bloody Brilliant...

[@shave-a-thon3415]

What surprised me about this show is they would play songs that were as far away as danceable tracks as possible. While a terrific tune, "I Am A Rock" wasn't exactly an uplifting or romantic dance tune that you would hear at a dance club and a wedding or bar mitzvah at the time. Didn't Dick sometimes mention the Top 10 and then play an entirely different tune than what was on the list?

[@lusasilva8373]

John Pollard sighting...yay! 😂 I wonder how many young men were yelled at for growing their hair long and wearing those furry vests. Lol.

[@allysonkitchens5840]

Lusa Silva , I turned 3 the next month. My teen cousins lived around the corner. I remember watching Bandstand with them and Simon and Garfunkel on their stereo. Wonderful memories.

[@Texaslawhorn]

The Billboard Hot 100's Top 20 for the week ending June 18, 1966: 1) "Paint It Black" - the Rolling Stones 2) "Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?" - the Lovin' Spoonful 3) "I Am a Rock" - Simon and Garfunkel 4) "When a Man Loves a Woman" - Percy Sledge 5) "Strangers in the Night" - Frank Sinatra 6) "A Groovy Kind of Love" - the Mindbenders 7) "Barefootin' " - Robert Parker 8) "Green Grass" - Gary Lewis and the Playboys 9) "Cool Jerk" - the Capitols 10) "Red Rubber Ball" - the Cyrkle 11) "Sweet Talkin' Guy" - the Chiffons 12) "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" - Dusty Springfield 13) "Oh How Happy" - Shades of Blue 14) "Opus 17 (Don't You Worry 'bout Me) - the Four Seasons 15) "Paperback Writer" - the Beatles 16) "The More I See You" - Chris Montez 17) "Don't Bring Me Down" - the Animals 18) "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" - James Brown and the Famous Flames 19) "Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love) - Swingin' Medalions 20) "(I'm a) Road Runner" - Jr. Walker and the All Stars

[@TurboMountTV]

Girls were apparently thinner and better looking in 1966... AND Dick Clark wouldn't survive METOO in 2020

[@usmc-veteran73-77]

Everyone was skinny back then including myself. Not sure what has happen in 50 yrs.

[@TurboMountTV]

@@usmc-veteran73-77 Ya except the young ones NOW are already fat, let alone 50 years from now.

[@jerrygil1965]

@@usmc-veteran73-77 Fast food came in

[@usmc-veteran73-77]

@@jerrygil1965 yes that is true. Very few fast food restaurants back then. I was raised poor, we never ate at fast food restaurants. Grew up on home cooked meals. But still if we eat fast food now, eat in moderation. Stay safe and greetings from Charleston West Virginia

[@adriennerobinson1180]

Wow

[@suuzq35]

Wow this was done three days before I was born...

[@kevingoins9858]

Indeed, Paul cut "I Am A Rock" for the CBS UK album release of "The Paul Simon Songbook", (in a studio with just one mic!) during his brief stay in Great Britain after the "Wednesday Morning...." album Bit of trivia - the Cyrkle's "Red Rubber Ball" was a tune Paul had co-authored in the UK with the Seekers' Bruce Woodley.

[@keithidota]

Interesting to note that in between S&G's "Sounds of Silence" and "I Am A Rock", which were from the same album. was "Homeward Bound" which was on a later album. On the bathing beauties, it would be nice if Peggy chimed in with her thoughts on entering the contest. Did she win? Maybe not, otherwise Don would have known.

[@shave-a-thon3415]

Try to imagine any show today holding a bathing beauty contest asking teens to send in their photos.

[@michellehershey2171]

Homeward Bound was a brilliant album with every song memorable. Preserve your memories...they're all that's left you.......

[@dancerdon9175]

Is that our very own Peggy Waggoner-Names' bathing beauty photo at 0:55? Peggy wore a very similar bathing suit on Where The Action Is while swimming in a pool as The Association performed "Cherish" in 1966".

[@YCDTI]

@dancer don, Hi Don, I was thinking the same thing! if that isn’t her, whoever it is could definitely double for her. If it is her, I I wonder if she entered the contest? Perhaps we will find out :)

[@dancerdon9175]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZnfCi5qZiL2MmbM Here's the link to the Where The Action Is segment featuring the Association. That's Peggy swimming as the Association perfromed "Cherish".

[@dancerdon9175]

@@YCDTI Yep, Peggy entered the bathing beauty contest!

[@YCDTI]

dancer don I’ve seen that picture many times and have often thought it was her. So cool to have confirmation and thank you for the WTAI link!

[@billritter4213]

@@YCDTI I thought that was Peggy there at first glance but was not sure. Thanks for confirming it!

[@michellehershey2171]

This song got me through Boarding school. Thanks so much!

[@shave-a-thon3415]

I have a feeling it wasn't exactly the most requested dance number, though! 😉

[@larrysproul9424]

AB was great . Saturday afternoon was reserved for it. Look how nice the kids dressed then .

[@born4thstime]

U can see the kids r respectful compared to the later sixties AB vids. As he years wore on , the more rebellious the music got, so did the kids. Myself included.

[@mrob75]

“I Am a Rock” what a GREAT record! Thank you, Aaron, for today’s clip. I also like “He” by the Righteous Brothers ...That was a doubled-sided record with a remake of: “He Will Break Your Heart”. (2020 oxymoron: everything seems to go now a days...Except beauty contests. That concept appears to be quite innocent compared to the vulgarity all over today’s social media. Just saying.)

[@shave-a-thon3415]

Great song but not exactly a dance number you would hear in the clubs at that time or at weddings and bar mitzvahs.

[@georgiethumbs2438]

What's funny is back then they had music like this which was awkward if not outright impossible to dance to but people didn't care, they tried anyway.

[@thefirstMrsLankton]

Aaron...what's your hurry! Back to back videos? What's up with that??? I'm feeling lost....too much to do. Have to be in Russell Springs by 4:30p for an eye exam. Yesterday was a different wellness check involving other stuff. B/P too high....add another pill...and it kicks my butt. Ok...enough of that. I never really viewed I AM A ROCK as a dancing song. It was one of those sit by the fireplace and be deep kind of tunes. I remember getting bored with it. Adios amigos till we meet again. J.

[@YCDTI]

The Sugar, Sugar video was just a repost from a year ago, I’m carefully pacing myself, lol. Anyways, You sound a bit overwhelmed. Sorry to hear that. I hope you feel better Jean. 🙏

[@thefirstMrsLankton]

@@YCDTI Just a bit. I've been in some pain, but I will rally! Anyway this is a music channel and music is good for the soul. Sugar Sugar will always be a favorite; if for no other reason to watch Frank whirling himself across the dance floor!!!😏🕺

[@AmericanBandstandAgain]

@@thefirstMrsLankton Feel better Jean

[@thefirstMrsLankton]

@@AmericanBandstandAgain thank you!!!

[@dancerdon9175]

Hang in there Jean! Be like Coco Chanel, but instead of removing one accessory before leaving the house, take one thing off the "to do" list. Tomorrow's another day :--)

[@SAGENATOR1]

How did we as a society ever let good times like this go... what happened to this lifestyle in the USA....sad what it has turned into.... these jerks now a days will not have anything to look back on when they get old if they make it that long... and the way they are I doubt God will allow them to

[@adriennerobinson1180]

Sad but True

[@BOSS-xz4tj]

I was 11 and it was a golden era of music…but I didn’t yet know that. In Alabama most of us had 2 channels on a single tv to choose from. We had one rock station in our area but most of us kids didn’t have radios. The adults listened to country or classic and didn’t like rock. Lol

[@AdrianDeVore]

A great Simon and Garfunkel song that I can't picture as danceable but these '66 kids had lots of fun dancing to it. Also, that cameraman was probably fired or retrained for accidentally running into a dancer.

[@ledzepandhabs]

It's hard to fathom that that gorgeous girl at 3:09 is now a granny in her late 70's.

[@usmc-veteran73-77]

Yes she may be BUT you and I will be in our late 70s someday.

[@doloresdemar2347]

I would have to say that she was about 16 yo there if that! If so then she has about 9 years on me putting her at about 73 now in 2022!! Def not in her late 70s at all 😄

[@geofbrit59]

Sounds like the guy in the Sonny Bono vest got whacked in the head. These clips never fail to leave me with a smile on my face :-)

[@dennismitchell1934]

So sad that this was the times before the declining fall of morals into the cesspool of now ! !

[@PikesvilleAl]

The crowd is like "How the F are we going to dance to this depressing song?"

[@Bentom86]

Haaa! At least it wasn’t Staff Sgt Barry Sadler’s “Ballad of the Green Berets”. But it was also a #1 in ‘66, so I would love to see the kids somehow dance to that if that clip still exists.

[@wynnssecret3594]

Alf..........Anyone who can make me laugh out loud( with a written comment ) deserves credit😄😄😄😄. I was thinking the same exact thing " Seriouly, I am a rock; how do you dance to that"

[@alanbush4192]

interesting to see some of the British mod fashion creeping in to the States at that time

[@doloresdemar2347]

That is where we got all of our styles then,, from London!!

[@ModernWarflare]

Probably up to 689403475627 by now.

[@moorlock2003]

The Hollies version of “I Am A Rock” (from the “Bus Stop” album) blows Simon & Garfunk away. Bye bye!

[@carmar597]

Wow 1966, the year of my birth. It looks kind of strange like the Addams Family. Very cool.

[@adriennerobinson1180]

Wow

[@1martuska]

Teens were so much more mature then in the present time .

[@jerrygil1965]

I'm 19 and I agree It's hard to find ACTUAL mature teens nowadays

[@usmc-veteran73-77]

Really miss these days, loved American Bandstand. It was hard for me to believe Dick Clark and my dad were to same age. Dad would let us watch it. He was "Cool"✌🇺🇸🎸

[@dominictant]

I loved 1966 and American Bandstand !!...... And I finally got to have pointy shoes !!

[@cynthiapickett8577]

Folk-rock really dominated the pop charts by mid-1966.

[@stevieg7672]

Oh thanks for a clip of my favorite episodes.

[@1amazingj]

Great Video. Great Song.

[@olblu8746]

Thanks, l had forgotten this song. I remember when l didn't think much of UTube , now .....l Thank God for Utube. I can now hear songs that bring back so many great moments.

[@johnlinnon2629]

What happened at the end? What was that guy wearing? it looked strange, hard to tell. Almost looked like furs. And the cameraman bumped his head? Lawsuit, maybe?

[@bereldovlerner5557]

People DANCED to this song?!?!?!?!

[@AdrianDeVore]

On American Bandstand June 18 1966, they certainly did!🤣

[@vcrsalesman2606]

The song is so timeless, it’s weird to see it performed on this type of show

[@jimmymelendez1836]

What a great song that was. It's such a joy seeing teenagers dancing on this show. I really miss seeing American Bandstand on TV.

[@robertharrison2.055]

thank you '''

[@nealblue6413]

Great video! Thanks Aaron!

[@carolynreed451]

The late 60s the 70s music kool groovey

[@Mister8224]

Wow. What a great top 10. Had to be the summer of 66', because I vividly remember many of these tunes playing on the radio WILS Lansing when heading for the lake.

[@brianmcd9492]

Great video of the 60's Song ,Dance,Fashion Media style, and entertainment in one music video 🙂

[@andyrudy8627]

I was only 4 then and this is my favorite era by far!

[@doloresdemar2347]

I was 7

[@nuwavedave]

AB left Philly at just the right time. LA was what was happening. "I Am A Rock": In hindsight, it staggers the imagination to think that mere kids like Paul Simon, P.F. Sloan, Janis Ian, Lennon & McCartney, and Bob Dylan were composing pop songs with such deep lyrics. Amazingly, Simon & Garfunkle, as teenagers, had been making hit records since the late-1950s!

[@shawoo]

If Howard likes it. I like it.

[@lancelot1953]

HI YouCanDanceToit!, thank you so much for posting this sample of our American musical history. Thank you for bringing me back to a time of innocence, freedom and peace (before the war)... May Peace be with you, Ciao, L (US Navy Veteran)

[@YCDTI]

It’s my pleasure @lancelot1953. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Thank you for your service.

[@roberthill799]

I like your post but the war was raging at this time, 1966.

[@lancelot1953]

@@roberthill799 Hi Robert, I know the war was building up at the time but I was not there yet and I still had my innocence and my dreams of "America, the Beautiful". Later, I was to fly 118 combat missions and loose many friends but in 1966, in my little "Norman Rockwell" New England countryside younger days, war was far, far away... Peace be with you, Ciao, L

[@roberthill799]

My mistake and sorry for misunderstanding your post. I'm very glad you made it back. A couple of guys about a decade older than me from my neighborhood did not. Take care.

[@lancelot1953]

@@roberthill799 Hi Robert, no harm done! It is nice to still have some civil comments and some common courtesy on YT and in our modern era - I do have some nostalgia over my "American Graffiti" days. Ciao, L

[@hmldjr]

Old hippie music it was made to put you asleep

[@voiceguy3635]

Dancing to folk music.

[@arttafil6792]

My favorite song! It describes me completely!

[@Anonymous-gu2cw]

Same here

[@debbiegum2226]

Instagram before we had Instagram

[@peggela]

Thanks, Aaron for the embarrassing bathing beauty photo! Yikes! I am a poster girl for condoning bad behavior!

[@YCDTI]

Peggy Names lol! I think you look great!

[@michaelbond145]

@Peggy Names, those were different times and different rules. So many actions acceptable back then would be frowned upon today. The late 60's certainly had a lot going on, I remember being in college and seeing everything from min skirts to maxi coats to the summer of love, miss those days. Plus I agree with Aaron @youcandancetoit as always you look great.

[@KingOfHockeyNow]

I wonder what would happen if you sent something to that PO Box nowadays...

[@shave-a-thon3415]

If it was a picture of a teen in a bathing suit, you would probably be hearing from the authorities! No show would attempt that contest in this day and age!

[@tonybeards9153]

👀👀😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@CARLWISE2008]

Simon and Garfunkel number one over some of the best pop artist in the world something is off here . This is a joke .

[@edwardrossman9448]

The Kid from 1:50 to 1:60 wearing the early BeaTles shirt and tie is the king of cool.

[@jeffreyamster6020]

A top ten list with the Beatles, Stones, Paul & Art and the Chairman of the Board- that is some list!

[@lauralong6695]

I sure would love to see these kids now.

[@peggela]

"Strangers in the Night" at #5! HUH!!! That makes no sense at all

[@valleyguy633]

Ikr. He was a teen idol at one time, I think. But not at that time period.

[@debbieedwards711]

@@valleyguy633 Right, 20 years earlier, although Strangers was a huge hit single at this time. Funny, I was 10 yrs. old but I remember it like it was yesterday. "Talkin about my generation"

[@kevinfitzmaurice4072]

It wasn't unusual to have adult music mixed in with rock on the popularity charts back then. Louis Armstrong's "Hello, Dolly" knocked The Beatles out of first place in 1964.

[@georgiethumbs2438]

Wow I didn't know they had a #1 with that

[@ichironca]

They didn’t. Hightest charted position according to Billboard was #3

[@denworley16]

Good old days

[@peterwithers8945]

All those young people now there in there 70s . thats if they made it to that together with all the trauma on the way.

[@LastTrainToClarkson]

Send'em your picture wearing a bathing suit! Uh-hum

[@barneycrumley7770]

👁👁..I wonder is that Rydell High?

[@fog1962]

Im a little disturbed...send pics of chicks ?

[@johncollins9143]

I Agree..63 to 74. Wii be played forever.

[@onlyonemgpatch9612]

Is that Peggy Names in the first bathing suit photo?

[@josephguagenti3730]

Great shots of Famous and June

[@jeep146]

I miss the simpler days when you can ask young women to send bathing photos on national TV and you don't get them back.

[@mpriest1966]

Ancient history.

[@usmc-veteran73-77]

I'd love to return and stay.

[@mpriest1966]

@@usmc-veteran73-77 For sure!

[@hillaryilinsky1009]

boot camp.

[@PFay]

Was that Famous I saw there, as usual, dancing with the prettiest girl in the room. What a legend and I just wonder what became of his gorgeous partner and who she might be?

[@gregmoore7709]

Her names June Strode and she is an actress.Your right when you say pretty.

[@tsf5-productions]

1966...one of my all-time favorites years!

[@gertbotha816]

One of the best