Summer's Greatest Hits,

1955 - 1980

 

We're ALL about The Summers here in Forgotten Hits! 

Elsewhere on this web page, you'll find Top 50 Countdowns for

The Biggest Songs Of Summer, 1967

But here we recap The Biggest Songs of Summer, 1955 - 1980.

First, we recap The Top Ten Hits of Summer on both The National and The Local Chicagoland Charts, 1955 - 1962.

And then, we expand these charts to list The Top FIFTY Hits of Summer from 1963 - 1980.

Remember the songs YOU used to cruise to back in the day ... top and windows down, wind in your hair ... buddies (or love of your life) at your side ... radio cranked up to the max ... singing along with the very BIGGEST hits of the day?  They're all here ... 'cause these are the OFFICIAL rankings based on both the national charts (as rated by the three major music trade publications) and the local charts (if you just happened to grow up here in Chicago like I did!)

Final chart positions were determined by a point system assigned to each Top Ten Hit for the months of June, July and August ONLY for each of the years listed ... truly the most accurate representation of Summer Hits possible.  Enjoy!

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THE NATIONAL CHARTS

 

1955

1. Rock Around The Clock - Bill Haley and the Comets

2. A Blossom Fell - Nat "King" Cole

3. Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White - Perez Prado

4. Learnin' The Blues - Frank Sinatra

5. Unchained Melody - Les Baxter

6. If I May - Nat "King" Cole

7. Ain't That A Shame - Pat Boone

8. Hard To Get - Giselle MacKenzie

9. Honey Babe - Art Mooney

10. Dance With Me Henry - Georgia Gibbs What could be more fitting?  The song that single-handedly launched The Rock And Roll Era comes in as the #1 Song Of Summer for 1955.  It launched a rock and roll revolution ... and music has NEVER been the same since.  "Rock Around The Clock" is STILL near and dear to our hearts ... and it's our very first #1 Summer Hit! 1956  1. The Wayward Wind - Gogi Grant  2. I Almost Lost My Mind - Pat Boone  3. I Want You, I Need You, I Love You - Elvis Presley  4. Moonglow and The Theme from "Picnic" - Morris Stoloff  5. My Prayer - Platters  6. I'm  In Love Again - Fats Domino  7. Hound Dog - Elvis Presley  8. Heartbreak Hotel - Elvis Presley  9. Standing On The Corner - Four Lads 10. More - Perry Como 1956 may have been Elvis' year ... The King Of Rock And Roll placed THREE songs in The Summer of '56 Top Ten Countdown ... but the BIGGEST Hit that summer belonged to Gogi Grant with "The Wayward Wind".  Elvis' biggest chart rival at the time, Pat Boone, came in at #2 with "I Almost Lost My Mind" and Middle-Of-The-Road tunes like "Moonglow and The Theme From 'Picnic'", "My Prayer", "Standing On The Corner" and "More" were still charting high enough to make The Top Ten.  (Guess the whole country hadn't caught Rock And Roll Fever yet ... but a LOT of kids were also listening to the hot new sounds of Fats Domino. who came in at #6 with "I'm In Love Again", Chuck Berry and Little Richard ... music that wasn't even being played on "white" radio stations a year ago when it was Pat Boone who placed in The Top Ten with "Ain't That A Shame" instead of The Fat Man!) 1957  1. Love Letters In The Sand - Pat Boone  2. Bye Bye Love - Everly Brothers  3. Teddy Bear - Elvis Presley  4. So Rare - Jimmy Dorsey  5. Searchin ' - Coasters  6. Bernadine - Pat Boone  7. Loving You - Elvis Presley  8. A Teenager's Romance - Ricky Nelson  9. A White Sport Coat - Marty Robbins 10. Send For Me - Nat "King" Cole Pat Boone came out on top of the heap in 1957, too, with his movie theme "Love Letters In The Sand".  Two-Sided Hits were big this year as the B-Side to that record, "Bernadine" also finished in The Top Ten, as did Elvis' two-sided hit "Teddy Bear" / "Loving You" (also songs from his hit movie that year.)  And Ricky Nelson just missed ... "A Teenager's Romance" came in at #8 but it's flip side, a cover of the Fats Domino classic "I'm Walkin'" failed to make The Top Ten.  The rest of the countdown was a real mixed bag of musical tastes and styles ... The Everly Brothers launched their careers with the huge hit "Bye Bye Love" ... you had the "big band" sound of Jimmy Dorsey at #4 with "So Rare", a country cross-over hit by Marty Robbins, "A White Sport Coat" at #9, an easy-listening ballad "Send For Me" by Nat "King" Cole at #10, and a rock-and-roll novelty hit by the KINGS of rock and roll novelty, The Coasters, whose "Searchin'" placed at #5. 1958  1. The Purple People Eater - Sheb Wooley  2. Poor Little Fool - Ricky Nelson  3. Patricia - Perez Prado  4. All I Have To Do Is Dream - Everly Brothers  5. Yakety Yak - Coasters  6. Hard-Headed Woman - Elvis Presley  7. Little Star - Elegants  8. Witch Doctor - David Seville  9. Splish Splash - Bobby Darin 10. Secretly - Jimmie Rodgers Looks like novelty hits were all the rage in 1958, too ... "The Purple People Eater" by Sheb Wooley, "Yakety Yak" by The Coasters and "Witch Doctor" by the pre-Chipmunks David Seville all made The Top Ten.  (Some might argue that Bobby Darin's "Splish Splash" also belongs on this list!)  The Everly Brothers were back in The Top Ten ... and so was Ricky Nelson with his first #1 Record, "Poor Little Fool". 1959  1. Battle Of New Orleans - Johnny Horton  2. Lonely Boy - Paul Anka  3. Personality - Lloyd Price  4. Dream Lover - Bobby Darin  5. A Big Hunk O' Love - Elvis Presley  6. My Heart Is An Open Book - Carl Dobkins, Jr.  7. Lavendar Blue - Sammy Turner  8. There Goes My Baby - Drifters  9. Waterloo- Stonewall Jackson 10. Kansas City - Wilbert Harrison What a GREAT Summer of crusin' THIS must have been!!! (Hey, I was just turning SIX that summer ... I missed ALL of these songs the first time around ... but there are some GREAT tunes on the list from The Summer of '59!)  You couldn't escape Johnny Horton's "Battle Of New Orleans" ... and Paul Anka, Bobby Darin and Elvis Presley ALL had Top Ten Hits that Summer.  The Drifters made their first appearance on the pop charts, too ... and tracks like "Personality" by Lloyd Price and "Kansas City" by Wilbert Harrison have gone on to become rock and roll classics. 1960  1. I'm Sorry - Brenda Lee  2. Everybody's Somebody's Fool - Connie Francis  3. Only The Lonely - Roy Orbison  4. Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka-Dot Bikini - Brian Hyland  5. Cathy's Clown - Everly Brothers  6. Alley-Oop - Hollywood Argyles  7. It's Now Or Never - Elvis Presley  8. Burning Bridges - Jack Scott  9. Good Timin' - Jimmy Jones 10. Paper Roses - Anita Bryant The first two Queens Of Rock And Roll finished first and second in our 1960 Countdown ... they spent most of their careers in the '60's at the top of the pop charts, matching each other hit for hit.  (Yet incredibly only Brenda Lee has ever been recognized for her talent and contributions ... she's in The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame and Connie Francis is not ... one of the grossest injustices of this organization ... but don't even get me started on that topic!!!)  A couple more novelty hits made the list ... "Alley-Oop" by The Hollywood Argyles (which later this year would become the very first rock and roll song played on WLS when they switched over to a Top 40 format) and "Itsy Bitsy Teenie-Weenie Yellow Polka-Dot Bikini" by Brian Hyland, which has been a summer standard ever since.  The Everly Brothers scored one of the biggest hits of their careers with "Cathy's Clown" and Roy Orbison out-placed his former Sun Records labelmate Elvis Presley with a #3 showing on his big hit "Only The Lonely".  Even orange juice queen Anita Bryant made the list! 1961 1. Tossin' And Turnin' - Bobby Lewis 2. Raindrops - Dee Clark 3. Quarter To Three - Gary "US" Bonds 4. I Like It Like That - Chris Kenner 5. Travelin' Man- Ricky Nelson 6. Last Night - Mar-Keys 7. The Boll Weevil Song - Brook Benton 8. Moody River - Pat Boone 9. Stand By Me - Ben E. King 10.Yellow Bird - Arthur Lymon Group Bobby Lewis kept us tossin' and turnin' all summer long with HIS monster hit in 1961.  '50's artists like Pat Boone, Ricky Nelson and Brook Benton were still having some of the biggest hits of their career in the new decade ... and does ANY song get you going quite the way "Last Night" does by The Mar-Keys???  Gary "U.S." Bonds made his first major mark on the charts ... and Ben E. King recorded a '60's classic that still plays at least half a dozen times a day all these years later! 1962  1. Roses Are Red - Bobby Vinton 2. Can't Stop Loving You - Ray Charles 3. The Stripper - David Rose 4. The Wah-Watusi - Orlons 5. Sealed With A Kiss - Brian Hyland 6. Breaking Up Is Hard To Do - Neil Sedaka 7. Palisades Park - Freddy Cannon 8. Stranger On The Shore - Mr. Acker Bilk 9. It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin' - Johnny Tillotson 10. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance - Gene Pitney Seems like music had taken a softer turn by 1962 ... "Roses Are Red" by Bobby Vinton, "I Can't Stop Loving You" by Ray Charles, "Sealed With A Kiss" by Brian Hyland and "Stranger On The Shore" by Mr. Acker Bilk all placed in The Top Ten.  Thankfully, rockers like Freddy Cannon and The Orlons kept us dancing with up-tempo tunes like "Palisades Park" and "The Wah-Watusi" ... and David Rose may have inspired a little dancing of his own (albeit of a more "private" nature") with his monster instrumental hit "The Stripper." ===================================================== Summer's Greatest Hits, Chicago-Style! 1955: 1. Rock Around The Clock - Bill Haley and the Comets Although we'll admit that you'd be hard pressed to find an official Top 40 Pop Chart from Chicago from the Summer of 1955, there is no doubt in my mind that "Rock Around The Clock" wouldn't be The #1 Song Of Summer here in Chicagoland, too.  It's impact on the world of music is legendary ... and within a year we'd soon have as many as three AM Top 40 Radio Stations broadcasting the latest hits of the day.  (Back in '55, you might find a Top Ten Chart printed in Friday's Newspaper ... other summer favorites included "The Yellow Rose of Texas" by Mitch Miller, "Ain't That A Shame" by Pat Boone (they didn't DARE play the Fats Domino version yet!), "Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White" by Perez Prado and "The Ballad Of Davy Crockett" by Bill Hayes ... but we're sticking with Bill Haley's "Rock Around The Clock" as the BIGGEST Song of Summer, 1955 ... and the Dawn of the Rock And Roll Era! 1956 1. I Almost Lost My Mind - Pat Boone 2. I'm In Love Again - Fats Domino 3. My Prayer - Platters 4. Whatever Will Be, Will Be - Doris Day 5. Be-Bop-A-Lula - Gene Vincent 6. Hound Dog - Elvis Presley 7. Moonglow and Theme from "Picnic" - George Cates 8. Stranded In The Jungle - Jayhawks 9. Sweet Old-Fashioned Girl - Teresa Brewer 10. The Flying Saucer - Buchanan and Goodman Some of the biggest names in early Rock And Roll made our Chicagoland Chart for 1956.  Pat Boone tops the list with his #1 Smash "I Almost Lost My Mind" ... but not far behind you'll find Fats Domino, The Platters, Gene Vincent and Elvis himself.  A HUGE #1 Chicagoland Hit was the Buchanan and Goodman novelty track "The Flying Saucer" ... it placed at #10 for the summer!  1957 1. Bye Bye Love - Everly Brothers 2. Teddy Bear - Elvis Presley 3. It's Not For Me To Say - Johnny Mathis 4. Love Letters In The Sand - Pat Boone 5. So Rare - Jimmy Dorsey 6. Tammy - Debbie Reynolds 7. Rainbow - Russ Hamilton 8. A White Sport Coat - Marty Robbins 9. I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter - Billy Williams 10. Around The World In 80 Days - Victor Young The Everly Brothers came out on top in 1957, besting Elvis' big hit "Teddy Bear" and ballads by Johnny Mathis and Pat Boone.  "Tammy" by Debbie Reynolds held on long enough to score big points here in Chicago ... and one of MY favorite Forgotten Hits also made the list ... "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter" by Billy Williams!  (No, not the Cub Great ... but Williams cut a KILLER remake of the old Fats Waller tune from the '30's ... and it scored well enough here in Chi-Town to place him in The Top Ten!) 1958 1. Poor Little Fool - Ricky Nelson 2. The Purple People Eater - Sheb Wooley 3. Patricia - Perez Prado 4. Yakety Yak - Coasters 5. Do You Want To Dance - Bobby Freeman 6. Endless Sleep - Jody Reynolds 7. Little Star - Elegants 8. Splish Splash - Bobby Darin 9. Jennie Lee - Jan and Arnie 10. Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu - Domenico Modugno An absolutely KILLER Top Ten for The Summer of '58 ... and a little bit of EVERYTHING in music styles, too.  Ricky Nelson, Bobby Darin and Bobby Freeman kept the rock and roll thing going, Sheb Wooley and The Coasters gave us a touch of novelty with our music, The Elegants and Jan and Arnie incorporated some of the doo-wop sounds that made the '50's so unique ... and there was still room for a little foreign flavor, thanks to the likes of Perez Prado's "Patricia" and Domenico Modugno's classic "Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blue" aka "Volare".  What a GREAT Summer for music! 1959 1. Battle Of New Orleans - Johnny Horton 2. Lonely Boy - Paul Anka 3. Personality - Lloyd Price 4. There Goes My Baby - Drifters 5. Bobby Sox To Stockings - Frankie Avalon 6. Hush-A-Bye - Mystics 7. It Was I - Skip and Flip 8. Waterloo - Stonewall Jackson 9. Caio Caio Bambina - Jackie Noguez 10. Quiet Village - Martin Denny Talk about musical diversity, check out THIS Top Ten List!  Only HALF these songs made the national counterpoint list ... here in Chicago, we were evidently digging (and buying) the sounds of Frankie Avalon, The Mystics, Skip and Flip, Jackie Noguez and Martin Denny instead! 1960 1. I'm Sorry - Brenda Lee 2. Alley-Oop - Hollywood Argyles 3. Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini - Brian Hyland 4. Image Of A Girl - Safaris 5. It's Now Or Never - Elvis Presley 6. Only The Lonely - Roy Orbison 7. Walk Don't Run - Ventures 8. Everybody's Somebody's Fool - Connie Francis 9. Cathy's Clown - Everly Brothers 10. Clap Your Hands - Beaumarks My First 45 made the list ... "Itsy Bitsy Teenie-Weenie Yellow Polka-Dot Bikini" by Brian Hyland came in at #3 ... and "Alley Oop" by The Hollywood Argyles ... the very first Top 40 Rock Song WLS played when they switched over their format ... was #2.  Rock Sisters Connie Francis and Brenda Lee did well on our local chart, too, as did long-standing early rock standards like "Only The Lonely" by Roy Orbison, "Cathy's Clown" by the Everly Brothers and "Walk Don't Run" by The Ventures.  Even Elvis was back on the list!  the only surprises may have been The Beaumakrs with "Clap Your Hands" and "Image Of A Girl" by The Safaris ... which had absolutely NOTHING to do with wiping out ... or a similarily named group who hit the charts several years later. 1961 1. Quarter To Three - Gary  "US" Bonds 2. Michael - Highwaymen 3. Hats Off To Larry - Del Shannon 4. Hello Mary Lou - Ricky Nelson 5. Tossin' And Turnin' - Bobby Lewis 6. Raindrops - Dee Clark 7. Peanuts - Rick and the Keens 8. Running Scared - Roy Orbison 9. Moody River - Pat Boone 10. Barbara Ann - Regents Gary "U.S." Bonds scored the Biggest Hit of Summer, 1961, here in Chi-Town ... "Quarter To Three" was ALL over the radio that year.  Surprising in hindsight, knowing how big Bobby Lewis' hit "Tossin' And Turnin'" was.  Here in Chicago, "Hello Mary Lou" proved to be the bigger size hit of Ricky Nelson's two-sided chart-topper ... "Travelin' Man" didn't even make our Top Ten Countdown.  "Michael" by The Highwaymen proved how strong folk-rock music was influencing our tastes ... and The Regents' original version of "Barbara Ann" made the list, too! 1962 1. Roses Are Red - Bobby Vinton 2. The Stripper - David Rose 3. Breaking Up Is Hard To Do - Neil Sedaka 4. Sealed With A Kiss - Brian Hyland 5. I Can't Stop Loving You - Ray Charles 6. Sheila - Tommy Roe 7. The Man Who Shot Libert Valance - Gene Pitney 8. Palisades Park - Freddy Cannon 9. The Loco-Motion - Little Eva 10. Al-Di-La - Emilio Pericoli Chicago's 1962 Summer Chart doesn't look all that different from those records who scored big on the national scene ...  In fact, seven of these tracks are common to both lists. =====================================================  Beginning with 1963, we have expanded these Summer Countdown lists to The Top 50 Songs of Summer for both the national and our local Chicagoland charts ... ENJOY! ===================================================== THE TOP 50 SONGS OF SUMMER, 1963 (National Charts Edition) 1. EASIER SAID THAN DONE - The Essex (Roulette) 2. SUKIYAKI - Kyu Sakamoto (Capitol) 3. SO MUCH IN LOVE - The Tymes (Parkway) 4. SURF CITY - Jan & Dean (Liberty) 5. FINGERTIPS (pt. 2) - Little Stevie Wonder (Tamla) 6. IT'S MY PARTY - Lesley Gore (Mercury) 7. BLUE ON BLUE - Bobby Vinton (Epic) 8. WIPE OUT - The Surfaris (Dot) 9. HELLO STRANGER - Barbara Lewis (Atlantic) 10. (You're The) DEVIL IN DISGUISE - Elvis Presley (RCA Victor) 11. BLOWIN' IN THE WIND - Peter, Paul & Mary (Warner Bros.) 12. MEMPHIS - Lonnie Mack (Fraternity) 13. TIE ME KANGAROO DOWN, SPORT - Rolf Harris (Epic) 14. YOU CAN'T SIT DOWN - The Dovells (Parkway) 15. DA DOO RON RON (When He Walked Me Home) - The Crystals (Philles) 16. JUDY'S TURN TO CRY - Lesley Gore (Mercury) 17. THOSE LAZY-HAZY-CRAZY DAYS OF SUMMER - Nat King Cole (Capitol) 18. CANDY GIRL - The 4 Seasons (Vee-Jay) 19. I LOVE YOU BECAUSE - Al Martino (Capitol) 20. ONE FINE DAY - The Chiffons (Laurie) 21. JUST ONE LOOK - Doris Troy (Atlantic) 22. PRIDE AND JOY - Marvin Gaye (Tamla) 23. STILL - Bill Anderson (Decca) 24. RING OF FIRE - Johnny Cash (Columbia) 25. MORE - Kai Winding & His Orchestra (Verve) 26. DETROIT CITY - Bobby Bare (RCA Victor) 27. IF YOU WANNA BE HAPPY - Jimmy Soul (S.P.Q.R.) 28. TWO FACES HAVE I - Lou Christie (Roulette) 29. SURFIN' U.S.A. - The Beach Boys (Capitol) 30. 18 YELLOW ROSES - Bobby Darin (Capitol) 31. NOT ME - The Orlons (Cameo) 32. HOPELESS - Andy Williams (Columbia) 33. HELLO MUDDUH, HELLO FADDUH! (A Letter From Camp) - Allan Sherman (Warner Bros.) 34. MOCKINGBIRD - Inez Foxx (Symbol) 35. DENISE - Randy & The Rainbows (Rust) 36. ON TOP OF SPAGHETTI - Tom Glazer & The Do-Re-Mi Children's Chorus (Kapp) 37. GREEN, GREEN - The New Christy Minstrels (Columbia) 38. MY BOYFRIEND'S BACK - The Angels (Smash) 39. ABILENE - George Hamilton IV (RCA Victor) 40. MY SUMMER LOVE - Ruby & The Romantics (Kapp) 41. BIRDLAND - Chubby Checker (Parkway) 42. DANKE SHOEN - Wayne Newton (Capitol) 43. IF I HAD A HAMMER - Trini Lopez (Reprise) 44. STRING ALONG - Rick Nelson (Decca) 45. ANOTHER SATURDAY NIGHT - Sam Cooke (RCA Victor) 46. IF MY PILLOW COULD TALK - Connie Francis (MGM) 47. LOSING YOU - Brenda Lee (Decca) 48. HARRY THE HAIRY APE - Ray Stevens (Mercury) 49. FALLING - Roy Orbison (Monument) 50. I WILL FOLLOW HIM - Little Peggy March (RCA Victor) THE TOP 50 SONGS OF SUMMER, 1963 (Chicagoland Edition) 1. Easier Said Than Done - Essex 2. Surf City - Jan & Dean 3. Sukiyaki - Kyu Sakamoto 4. Shut Down - Beach Boys 5. Blue On Blue - Bobby Vinton 6. So Much In Love - Tymes 7. Wipe Out - Surfaris 8. Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport - Rolf Harris 9. Candy Girl - Four Seasons 10. One Fine Day - Chiffons 11. Gypsy Woman - Rick Nelson 12. Blowin' In The Wind - Peter, Paul and Mary 13. Memphis - Lonnie Mack 14. It's My Party - Lesley Gore 15. Denise - Randy and the Rainbows 16. My Boyfriend's Back - Angels 17. Still - Bill Anderson 18. Fingertips, Part 2 - Stevie Wonder 19. Devil In Disguise - Elvis Presley 20. Hello Stranger - Barbara Lewis 21. Falling - Roy Orbison 22. Till Then - Classics 23. Detroit City - Bobby Bare 24. You Can't Sit Down - Dovells 25. Hello Mudduh, Hello Fadduh - Allan Sherman 26. Judy's Turn To Cry - Lesley Gore 27. Hootenannny - Glencloves 28. Sting Ray - Routers 29. Ring Of Fire - Johnny Cash 30. Green Green - New Christy Minstrels 31. Two Faces Have I - Lou Christie 32. I'm Afraid To Go Home - Brian Hyland 33. Da Do Ron Ron - Crystals 34. From Me To You - Del Shannon 35. True Love Never Runs Smooth - Gene Pitney 36. I'm Movin' On - Matt Lucas 37. Be True To Yourself - Bobby Vee 38. When A Boy Falls In Love - Mel Carter 39. Good Night My Love - Fleetwoods 40. More - Kai Winding 41. Six Days On The Road - Dave Dudley 42. Not Me - Orlons 43. What A Guy - Raindrops 44. Tamoure - Bill Justice 45. Foolish Little Girl - Shirelles 46. Danke Schoen - Wayne Newton 47. Come Go With Me - Dion 48. Abilene - George Hamilton IV 49. Your Graduation Means Goodbye - Cardigans 50. 18 Yellow Roses - Bobby Darin On our 1963 Biggest Songs Of Summer Charts, we find that "Easier Said Than Done" tops BOTH the National and the Local List ... clearly the undisputed Biggest Song Of Summer, 1963. Other clear-cut, Top Ten Favorites include "Sukiyaki" by Kyu Sakamoto, "Surf City" by Jan and Dean, "So Much In Love" by The Tymes and "Blue On Blue" by Bobby Vinton. In fact, 15 different titles share a spot on EACH of The 20 Lists, a pretty good representation of just how big these songs really were during the Summer of '63. While The Beatles wouldn't make their big splash here in The States for several months, Del Shannon took a Lennon and McCartney tune into The Top Ten here in Chicago when he recorded their British #1 Hit "From Me To You". (Nationally, this one stopped at #67 on The Cash Box Chart.) It's also interesting to see "Shut Down" by The Beach Boys chart as the A-Side here in Chicago while the recognized hit side of the record, "Surfin' USA" didn't even make our Local Summer List. Chicagoans also seemed to prefer the flip side of Rick Nelson's hit "String Along", making "Gypsy Woman" the charted record of choice. (Both of the "traditional" A-Sides made The National List Summer Showing.) And a few records that didn't even crack Billboard's Top 40 ended up placing on The Chicago Chart as well ... it's probably safe to say that most of the country wasn't even familiar with the likes of "Hootenanny" by The Glencloves, "Sting Ray" by the Routers, "I'm Afraid To Go Home" by Brian Hyland, "Tamoure" by Bill Justice and "Your Graduation Means Goodbye" by The Cardigans. THE TOP 50 SONGS OF SUMMER, 1964 (National Edition) 1. I GET AROUND - The Beach Boys (Capitol) 2. RAG DOLL - The 4 Seasons (Philips) 3. MEMPHIS - Johnny Rivers (Imperial) 4. A HARD DAY'S NIGHT - The Beatles (Capitol) 5. A WORLD WITHOUT LOVE - Peter & Gordon (Capitol) 6. EVERYBODY LOVES SOMEBODY - Dean Martin (Reprise) 7. CHAPEL OF LOVE - The Dixie Cups (Red Bird) 8. MY BOY LOLLIPOP - Millie Small (Smash) 9. WISHIN' AND HOPIN' - Dusty Springfield (Philips) 10. THE LITTLE OLD LADY (From Pasadena) - Jan & Dean (Liberty) 11. PEOPLE - Barbra Streisand (Columbia) 12. DON'T LET THE SUN CATCH YOU CRYING - Gerry & The Pacemakers (Laurie) 13. THE GIRL FROM IPANEMA - Stan Getz & Astrud Gilberto (Verve) 14. UNDER THE BOARDWALK - The Drifters (Atlantic) 15. WHERE DID OUR LOVE GO - The Supremes (Motown) 16. DANG ME - Roger Miller (Smash) 17. CAN'T YOU SEE THAT SHE'S MINE - The Dave Clark Five (Epic) 18. LOVE ME WITH ALL YOUR HEART (Cuando Calienta El Sol) - The Ray Charles Singers (Command) 19. LOVE ME DO - The Beatles (Tollie) 20. KEEP ON PUSHING - The Impressions (ABC-Paramount) 21. LITTLE CHILDREN - Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas (Imperial) 22. WALK ON BY - Dionne Warwick (Scepter) 23. NO PARTICULAR PLACE TO GO - Chuck Berry (Chess) 24. I WANNA LOVE HIM SO BAD - The Jelly Beans (Red Bird) 25. MY GUY - Mary Wells (Motown) 26. C'MON AND SWIM - Bobby Freeman (Autumn) 27. BAD TO ME - Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas (Imperial) 28. HELLO, DOLLY! - Louis Armstrong & The All Stars (Kapp) 29. STEAL AWAY - Jimmy Hughes (Fame) 30. TELL ME WHY - Bobby Vinton (Epic) 31. DON'T THROW YOUR LOVE AWAY - The Searchers (Kapp) 32. PEOPLE SAY - The Dixie Cups (Red Bird) 33. GOOD TIMES - Sam Cooke (RCA Victor) 34. NOBODY I KNOW - Peter & Gordon (Capitol) 35. TRY IT BABY - Marvin Gaye (Tamla) 36. (You Don't Know) HOW GLAD I AM - Nancy Wilson (Capitol) 37. DIANE - The Bachelors (London) 38. BECAUSE - The Dave Clark Five (Epic) 39. WALK--DON'T RUN '64 - The Ventures (Dolton) 40. TEARS AND ROSES - Al Martino (Capitol) 41. HANDY MAN - Del Shannon (Amy) 42. HOW DO YOU DO IT? - Gerry & The Pacemakers (Laurie) 43. THE HOUSE OF THE RISING SUN - The Animals (MGM) 44. AIN'T SHE SWEET - The Beatles (Atco) 45. DO YOU LOVE ME - The Dave Clark Five (Epic) 46. FARMER JOHN - The Premiers (Warner Bros.) 47. JUST BE TRUE - Gene Chandler (Constellation) 48. (Just Like) ROMEO AND JULIET - The Reflections (Golden World) 49. TODAY - The New Christy Minstrels (Columbia) 50. WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH YOU BABY - Marvin Gaye & Mary Wells (Motown) The Biggest Hits Of Summer, 1964 - The Chicagoland Charts 1. I Get Around - Beach Boys 2. Rag Doll - Four Seasons 3. Little Children - Billy J. Kramer & Dakotas 4. A World Without Love - Peter & Gordon 5. A Hard Day's Night - Beatles 6. The Little Old Lady From Pasadena - Jan & Dean 7. Can't You See That She's Mine - Dave Clark Five 8. Everybody Loves Somebody - Dean Martin 9. Memphis - Johnny Rivers 10. Don't Let The Sun Catch Your Crying - Gerry & Pacemakers 11. Wishin' And Hopin - Dusty Springfield 12. Love Me Do - Beatles 13. Chapel Of Love - Dixiecups 14. What Have I Got Of My Own - Trini Lopez 15. The Girl From Ipanema - Stan Getz & Astrud Gilberto 16. Nobody I Know - Peter & Gordon 17. I Wanna Love Him So Bad - Jelly Beans 18. My Boy Lollipop - Millie Small 19. She's The One - Chartbusters 20. Party Girl - Bernadette Carroll 21. Dang Me - Roger Miller 22. First Night of the Full Moon - Jack Jones 23. Do You Love Me - Dave Clark Five 24. Don't Throw Your Love Away - Searchers 25. Handy Man - Del Shannon 26. Under The Boardwalk - Drifters 27. Where Did Our Love Go- Supremes 28. How Do You Do It - Gerry & Pacemakers 29. Love Me With All Your Heart - Ray Charles Singers 30. Three Window Coupe - Rip Chords 31. In The Misty Moonlight - Jerry Wallace 32. Father Sebastian - Ramblers 33. Dead Man's Curve - Jan & Dean 34. Diane - Bachelors 35. People Say - Dixiecups 36. C'mon And Swim - Bobby Freeman 37. World Without Love - Bobby Rydell 38. Yesterday's Gone - Chad & Jeremy 39. Because - Dave Clark Five 40. Shangri-La - Vic Dana 41. Don't Worry Baby - Beach Boys 42. Mexican Shuffle - Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass 43. House of the Rising Sun - Animals 44. I'll Keep You Satisfied - Billy J Kramer & Dakotas 45. Tell Me Why - Bobby Vinton 46. Rockin' Robin - Rivieras 47. People - Barbra Streisand 48. The World I Used To Know - Jimmie Rodgers 49. Love Is All We Need - Vic Dana 50. Farmer John - Premiers   THE TOP 50 SONGS OF SUMMER, 1965 (National Edition) 1. (I Can't Get No) SATISFACTION - The Rolling Stones (London) 2. I CAN'T HELP MYSELF (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) - The Four Tops     (Motown) 3. MR. TAMBOURINE MAN - The Byrds (Columbia) 4. I'M HENRY VIII, I AM - Herman's Hermits (MGM) 5. WHAT'S NEW PUSSYCAT? - Tom Jones (Parrot) 6. YES, I'M READY - Barbara Mason (Arctic) 7. WOOLY BULLY - Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs (MGM) 8. CARA, MIA - Jay & The Americans (United Artists) 9. CRYING IN THE CHAPEL - Elvis Presley (RCA Victor) 10. WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW IS LOVE - Jackie DeShannon (Imperial) 11. SAVE YOUR HEART FOR ME - Gary Lewis & The Playboys (Liberty) 12. WONDERFUL WORLD - Herman's Hermits (MGM) 13. SEVENTH SON - Johnny Rivers (Imperial) 14. YOU TURN ME ON (Turn On Song) - Ian Whitcomb & Bluesville (Tower) 15. I GOT YOU BABE - Sonny & Cher (Atco) 16. FOR YOUR LOVE - The Yardbirds (Epic) 17. DON'T JUST STAND THERE - Patty Duke (United Artists) 18. I LIKE IT LIKE THAT - The Dave Clark Five (Epic) 19. HELP ME, RHONDA - The Beach Boys (Capitol) 20. BACK IN MY ARMS AGAIN - The Supremes (Motown) 21. A WALK IN THE BLACK FOREST - Horst Jankowski (Mercury) 22. I WANT CANDY - The Strangeloves (Bang) 23. TOO MANY RIVERS - Brenda Lee (Decca) 24. BABY, I'M YOURS - Barbara Lewis (Atlantic) 25. A LITTLE BIT OF HEAVEN - Ronnie Dove (Diamond) 26. LAURIE (Strange Things Happen) - Dickey Lee (TCF Hall) 27. HUSH, HUSH, SWEET CHARLOTTE - Patti Page (Columbia) 28. DOWN IN THE BOONDOCKS - Billy Joe Royal (Columbia) 29. HOLD ME, THRILL ME, KISS ME - Mel Carter (Imperial) 30. CALIFORNIA GIRLS - The Beach Boys (Capitol) 31. UNCHAINED MELODY - The Righteous Brothers (Philles) 32. MARIE - The Bachelors (London) 33. ENGINE ENGINE #9 - Roger Miller (Smash) 34. (Such An) EASY QUESTION - Elvis Presley (RCA Victor) 35. JUST A LITTLE - The Beau Brummels (Autumn) 36. HELP! - The Beatles (Capitol) 37. IT'S THE SAME OLD SONG - The Four Tops (Motown) 38. TICKET TO RIDE - The Beatles (Capitol) 39. I'VE BEEN LOVING YOU TOO LONG (To Stop Now) - Otis Redding (Volt) 40. SUNSHINE, LOLLIPOPS AND RAINBOWS - Lesley Gore (Mercury) 41. THEME FROM "A SUMMER PLACE" - The Lettermen (Capitol) 42. I'M A FOOL - Dino, Desi & Billy (Reprise) 43. ALL I REALLY WANT TO DO - Cher (Imperial) 44. BEFORE AND AFTER - Chad & Jeremy (Columbia) 45. PAPA'S GOT A BRAND NEW BAG (pt. 1) - James Brown & The Famous Flames (King) 46. TAKE ME BACK - Little Anthony & The Imperials (DCP) 47. SHAKIN' ALL OVER - The Guess Who (Scepter) 48. MRS. BROWN YOU'VE GOT A LOVELY DAUGHTER - Herman's Hermits (MGM) 49. IT'S NOT UNUSUAL - Tom Jones (Parrot) 50. LAST CHANCE TO TURN AROUND - Gene Pitney (Musicor) THE TOP 50 BIGGEST HITS OF SUMMER, 1965 -  Chicagoland Charts   1. Satisfaction - Rolling Stones 2. I Can't Help Myself - Four Tops 3. Mr. Tambourine Man- Byrds 4. Wooly Bully - Sam the Sham & Pharoahs 5. What's New Pussycat - Tom Jones 6. I'm Henry The VIII, I Am - Herman's Hermits 7. Cara Mia - Jay & Americans 8. Crying In The Chapel - Elvis Presley 9. I Want Candy - Strangeloves 10. Save Your Heart For Me - Gary Lewis & Playboys   11. Wonderful World - Herman's Hermits 12. I Got You Babe - Sonny & Cher 13. Baby I'm Yours - Barbara Lewis 14. A Walk In The Black Forest - Horst Jankowski 15. What The World Needs Now Is Love - Jackie DeShannon 16. Don't Just Stand There - Patty Duke 17. Help Me Rhonda - Beach Boys 18. For Your Love - Yardbirds 19. I Like It Like That - Dave Clark Five 20. Down In The Boondocks - Billy Joe Royal 21. Seventh Son - Johnny Rivers 22. Help! - Beatles 23. California Girls - Beach Boys 24. I'm A Fool - Dino, Desi & Billy 25. Silhouettes - Herman's Hermits 26. Laurie - Dickey Lee 27. It's Not Unusual - Tom Jones 28. Just A Little - Beau Brummels 29. Little Miss Sad - Five Emprees 30. Hush Hush Sweet Charlotte - Patti Page 31. Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me - Mel Carter 32. You Turn Me On - Ian Whitcomb 33. Give Us Your Blessing - Shangri-Las 34. All I Really Want To Do - Byrds 35. Back In My Arms Again - Supremes 36. Sunshine, Lollipops And Rainbows - Lesley Gore 37. New Orleans - Eddie Hodges 38. A Little Bit Of Heaven - Ronnie Dove 39. It's The Same Old Song - Four Tops 40. Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan 41. Nothing But Heartaches - Supremes 42. The In Crowd - Ramsey Lewis Trio 43. She's About A Mover - Sir Douglas Quintet 44. Unchained Melody - Righteous Brothers 45. It Ain't Me Babe - Turtles 46. Mrs. Brown You've Got A Lovely Daughter - Herman's Hermits 47. Catch Us Is You Can - Dave Clark Five 48. Before And After - Chad & Jeremy 49. Baby The Rain Must Fall - Glenn Yarbrough 50. You'd Better Come Home - Petula Clark   The Biggest Songs Of Summer, 1966 - Based on The National Charts 1. HANKY PANKY - Tommy James & The Shondells (Roulette) 2. STRANGERS IN THE NIGHT - Frank Sinatra (Reprise) 3. LIL' RED RIDING HOOD - Sam The Sham & The Pharaohs (MGM) 4. PAPERBACK WRITER - The Beatles (Capitol) 5. WILD THING - The Troggs (Atco / Fontana) 6. RED RUBBER BALL - The Cyrkle (Columbia) 7. YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY YOU LOVE ME - Dusty Springfield (Philips) 8. PAINT IT, BLACK - The Rolling Stones (London) 9. THE PIED PIPER - Crispian St. Peters (Jamie) 10. SUMMER IN THE CITY - The Lovin' Spoonful (Kama Sutra)   11. SWEET PEA - Tommy Roe (ABC) 12. COOL JERK - The Capitols (Karen) 13. I AM A ROCK - Simon & Garfunkel (Columbia) 14. MOTHER'S LITTLE HELPER - The Rolling Stones (London) 15. SUNNY - Bobby Hebb (Philips) 16. DID YOU EVER HAVE TO MAKE UP YOUR MIND? - The Lovin' Spoonful (Kama Sutra) 17. I SAW HER AGAIN - The Mama's & The Papa's (Dunhill) 18. AIN'T TOO PROUD TO BEG - The Temptations (Gordy) 19. THEY'RE COMING TO TAKE ME AWAY, HA-HAAA! - Napoleon XIV (Warner Bros.) 20. DIRTY WATER - The Standells (Tower) 21. SOMEWHERE, MY LOVE - Ray Conniff & The Singers (Columbia) 22. HUNGRY - Paul Revere & The Raiders (Columbia) 23. LITTLE GIRL - The Syndicate Of Sound (Bell) 24. A GROOVY KIND OF LOVE - The Mindbenders (Fontana) 25. DON'T BRING ME DOWN - The Animals (MGM) 26. ALONG COMES MARY - The Association (Valiant) 27. SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER - The Happenings (B.T. Puppy) 28. OH HOW HAPPY - The Shades Of Blue (Impact) 29. SWEET TALKIN' GUY - The Chiffons (Laurie) 30. WHEN A MAN LOVES A WOMAN - Percy Sledge (Atlantic) 31. OVER UNDER SIDEWAYS DOWN - The Yardbirds (Epic) 32. BAREFOOTIN' - Robert Parker (Nola) 33. OPUS 17 (Don't You Worry 'Bout Me) - The 4 Seasons (Philips) 34. THIS DOOR SWINGS BOTH WAYS - Herman's Hermits (MGM) 35. GREEN GRASS - Gary Lewis & The Playboys (Liberty) 36. I COULDN'T LIVE WITHOUT YOUR LOVE - Petula Clark (Warner Bros.) 37. DOUBLE SHOT (Of My Baby's Love) - The Swingin' Medallions (Smash) 38. SWEET DREAMS - Tommy McLain (MSL) 39. HE - The Righteous Brothers (Verve) 40. IT'S A MAN'S MAN'S MAN'S WORLD - James Brown & The Famous Flames (King) 41. THE WORK SONG - Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass (A&M) 42. (I Washed My Hands In) MUDDY WATER - Johnny Rivers (Imperial) 43. BLOWIN' IN THE WIND - Stevie Wonder (Tamla) 44. THE MORE I SEE YOU - Chris Montez (A&M) 45. LOVE LETTERS - Elvis Presley (RCA Victor) 46. SUNSHINE SUPERMAN - Donovan (Epic) 47. MONDAY, MONDAY - The Mama's & The Papa's (Dunhill) 48. HOLD ON! I'M A COMIN' - Sam & Dave (Stax) 49. MAMA - B.J. Thomas (Scepter) 50. PLEASE TELL ME WHY - The Dave Clark Five (Epic)   The Biggest Songs Of Summer, 1966 - CHICAGOLAND CHART 1. Wild Thing - The Troggs 2. Hanky Panky - Tommy James and the Shondells 3. Pied Piper - Crispian St. Peters 4. Summer In The City - The Lovin' Spoonful 5. Hungry - Paul Revere and the Raiders 6. Paperback Writer / Rain - The Beatles 7. I Saw Her Again - The Mamas and The Papas 8. Lil' Red Riding Hood - Sam The Sham and the Pharoahs 9. Strangers In The Night - Frank Sinatra 10. Paint It Black - The Rolling Stones 11. Bus Stop - The Hollies 12. I Am A Rock - Simon & Garfunkel 13. Dirty Water - The Standells 14. Sugar & Spice - The Cryan' Shames 15. Red Rubber Ball - The Cyrkle 16. You Don't Have To Say You Love Me - Dusty Springfield 17. I Couldn't Live Without Your Love - Petula Clark 18. Say I Am - Tommy James and the Shondells 19. You Wouldn't Listen - The Ides Of March 20. Sweet Pea - Tommy Roe 21. Sunny - Bobby Hebb 22. See You In September - The Happenings 23. A Groovy Kind Of Love - The Mindbenders 24. When A Man Loves A Woman - Percy Sledge 25. Did You Ever Have To Make Up Your Mind - The Lovin' Spoonful 26. Cool Jerk - The Capitols 27. Over Under Sideways Down - The Yardbirds 28. Sunshine Superman - Donovan 29. Don't Bring Me Down - The Animals 30. The More I See You - Chris Montez 31. This Door Swings Both Ways - Herman's Hermits 32. Along Comes Mary - The Association 33. Mother's Little Helper / Lady Jane - The Rolling Stones 34. Hey Joe - The Leaves 35. Girl In Love - The Outsiders 36. Respectable - The Outsiders 37. Sweet Dreams - Tommy McLain 38. They're Coming To Take Me Away Ha Ha - Napoleon XIV 39. Wouldn't It Be Nice / God Only Knows - The Beach Boys 40. The Land Of Milk And Honey - The Vogues 41. Born A Woman - Sandy Posey 42. Yellow Submarine / Eleanor Rigby - The Beatles 43. Sweet Talkin' Guy - The Chiffons 44. I Call Your Name - The Buckinghams 45. Day For Decision - Johnny Sea 46. Oh How Happy - Shades Of Blue 47. You Can't Hurry Love - The Supremes 48. Alfie - Cilla Black 49. Evol Not Love - The Five Americans 50. Sunny Afternoon - The Kinks   © Copyright Kent Kotal / Forgotten Hits, 1998 - 2025 ...  All rights reserved TO VIEW SUMMER'S BIGGEST HITS OF 1967, CLICK THE LINK BELOW ... https://fhsummeroflove.blogspot.com/ TO CONTINUE ON READING THE TOP 50 SUMMER HITS FOR EACH YEAR, 1968 - 1980, CLICK THE "OLDER POSTS" TAB AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE TO SEE A LIST OF AMERICA'S FAVORITE SUMMER SONGS AS VOTED ON BY FORGOTTEN HITS READERS, BE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR MOST RECENT POLL VIA THE LINK BELOW:  https://fhsummerfavorites.blogspot.com/