The following events occurred in 1966
January[]
- the members of the "Delta Nu" group had begun to head their various ways. Kennedy had left for California to look for work, Flynn had dropped out of college and returned to Shreveport, and Fox had started managing The Alliance, a small rock 'n' roll group based in nearby Dubach which included guitarist Roland Sheehan.
- Barry Sadler releases "Ballad of the Green Berets". The Residents would go on to cover it in 1975, for their Third Reich N Roll album.
February[]
- 13th: BJ Thomas & The Turnips release their cover of 'I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry'. It peaks at number 8 in the US charts. The Residents would go on to cover I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry in 1986, as an outtake from Stars & Hank Forever.
- 21st: The Young Rascals release their version of "Good Lovin'" and shortly it becomes a #1 hit, unlike the original version by Lemme B. Good, which failed to chart. It's likely that this is the basis for The Residents' cover version recorded in 1975 for their Third Reich N Roll album.
April[]
- James Brown releases "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" a song that The Residents would later cover in 1984.
May[]
- 7th: The Rolling Stones' Paint It Black is released. The Residents would later perform the song live twice, in 1997 and 2010. Randy Rose would perform the song as part of his 2011 - 2012 one-man show.
June[]
- Count Five release "Psychotic Reaction" The Residents would go on to cover it in 1974, for their Third Reich N Roll album.
- Syndicate of Sound release "Little Girl" The Residents would go on to cover it in 1974, for their Third Reich N Roll album.
July[]
- Wilson Pickett releases his version of Land of 1000 Dances. It peaks at number 1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles. The Residents' recorded versions of Land of 1000 Dances all through their career, likely taking Pickett's version as lead inspiration.
- The Swingin' Medallions release their version of Double Shot (Of My Baby's Love), it reaches #17 on the charts, and is the basis for The Residents numerous cover versions.
August[]
- ? and the Mysterians release "96 Tears". The Residents go on to cover the song in 1975, for their album The Third Reich 'n Roll.
- The Beatles release the album "Revolver" it contains the tracks "Yellow Submarine" & "Love To You", two tracks that would be sampled in The Residents 1977 song "Beyond The Valley of a Day In The Life"
September[]
- 8th: Star Trek is broadcast for the first time. The Residents later sample the theme from Star Trek on their 1996 version of Pollex Christi.
November[]
- The Music Machine release "Talk Talk" The Residents go on to cover the song in 1974, for their album The Third Reich 'n Roll.
December[]
- 13th: Toby Dammit is born in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Unknown[]
- Michel Polnareff's 'Love Me, Please Love Me' is released. In 1993 The Residents would cover the song.