This Was the Hit Song of the Summer the Year You Were Born (2024)

Brian Hyland's first and only No. 1 Billboard hit made every woman want to go out and grab her very own yellow polka dot bikini.

This wasn't just the song of the summer back in '61. Bobby Lewis's chart-topper was the top song for the entire year, staying at No. 1 for seven weeks.

Before the Beatles took the top slot, British clarinet player Acker Bilkkept listeners dancing with this one.

Everyone was ready to hit the beach, thanks to the iconic duo of Jan & Dean.

Do you remember "wah-wah-ooh"-ing to the tunes from the California-based rock band, The Beach Boys?

We couldn't get enough of The Four Tops' dance-y love song about wanting one person ("and nobody else, ooh!").

People have their favorite beach read, but in1966, you couldn't get through a chapter without hearing this song about a writer.

Aretha spelled it out perfectly:"R-E-S-P-E-C-T." And we found out what it meant to her, and everyone else in 1967. It was a smash.

Did you know this was originally about Eleanor Roosevelt? In creating the soundtrack for the iconic film The Graduate, Simon & Garfunkel made a slight change to their original tune.

Zodiac and music fans alike were probably going crazy for this song from The 5th Dimension. This medley was made for the 1967 musical Hair.

Nothing was catchier than this bop from the Jackson siblings. And easy as 1-2-3, it climbed to No. 1 on the charts in no time.

Rocking the most iconic '70s hairstyles and mustaches, Three Dog Night had everyone feeling especially joyful in 1971.

Rain or shine, you could count on Stevie Wonder to deliver a hit about love.

Their second No. 1 hit was one of many classics from Grand Funk Railroad. It lasted for just two weeks, but remained on the Hot 100 chart for 20.

One of the band's most successful songs of all time, this made the group a bunch of shining stars.

Stevie made almost too many hits to count, but "Sir Duke" took over in the summer of 1977.

Sandy and Danny stole our hearts in the musical Grease,so it was hardly a surprise when the final number was so successful.

Smokey's silk-like voice will have you feelingsummer-ready.