Oh, summer. How fleeting you are, old friend. Now that August is over, our minds are already wandering toward apple cider and blurry Halloween parties. Before our white shoes go into hibernation though, it’s time we took a moment to appreciate the hit songs of the summer – from 50 years ago! In February, we celebrated the 50th anniversary of The Beatles’ appearance on the Ed Sullivan show — but hey, that’s not all 1964 had to offer. Check out some of the slammin’ hits (excluding The Beatles) that sountracked summer BBQs, pool parties and rooftop bashes half a century ago!
Spotify
1. “I Get Around” — The Beach Boys
The Beach Boys, who may already be the best summer band in general, released “I Get Around” early in the summer, so obviously it stuck around for the whole season. This carefree and sunny summer hit is as quintessential for this playlist as it is eternal.
2. “My Boy Lollipop” — Millie Small
This track perfectly captures the romanticized small town sweetness of the early ‘60s. It quite literally sounds like the experience of eating a lollipop.
3. “It’s Over” — Roy Orbison
Remember when ballads could be chart toppers? Songs just don’t sound like this anymore. Perhaps a tad melodramatic with the combination of the soaring strings and Orbison’s tremulous wail, but jeez if that doesn’t pull at your heartstrings then you probably don’t have a heart to begin with.
4. “Keep On Pushing” — The Impressions
Mmmm….that perfect mix of R&B, doo-wop, gospel, falsetto and horns. The sexy sweetness of the mid-60s is trickling in.
5. “A World Without Love”– Peter and Gordon
The British Invasion was happening, bowl cuts were popular and “A World Without Love” was blasting all around the world.
6. “My Guy” — Mary Wells
Oh — AND ALSO, Motown. Motown was also happening.
7. “Everybody Loves Somebody” — Dean Martin
Dean Martin is one of those celebrity types we don’t have anymore, excelling as an actor, singer and dancer. By 1964, he had already been a celebrity for almost two decades!
8. “Chapel of Love”– The Dixie Cups
By the end of the 60s, counterculture decreed that you should be doing anything but getting married. In 1964 however, fantasies were still innocent and as precious as this song.
9. “Don’t Let the Sun Catch You Crying” — Gerry and the Pacemakers
More (not Beatles) talent from Liverpool!
10. “Hello, Dolly!”– Louis Armstrong
Besides “Let it Go” from Frozen, can you imagine an artist popularizing a musical theater song? If anyone could do it, it’s Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong.
11. “Where Did Our Love Go?” — The Supremes
All Hail Queen Diana Ross.
12. “House of the Rising Sun” — The Animals
Beginning with one of the most iconic guitar licks of all time, The Animals’ “House of the Rising Song” is an amazing song, with its yowling vocals and psychedelic organ. You can feel the departure from early 60s/50s doo-wop pop into rock ‘n’ roll.
13. “Bad to Me” — Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas
…As opposed to this wonderfully mellow song. Apparently John Lennon suggested that Billy Kramer add the “J” to his name to give him a “tougher edge.”
14. “The Girl from Ipanema” — Stan Getz & Astrud Gilberto
Oh that smooth, elegant painted picture of the 60s. Girls with bouffants were peering over their cocktail glasses into the eyes of handsome, dark strangers in hotel lobbies across America while listening to this song.
15. “What’s the Matter with You Baby” — Marvin Gaye & Mary Wells
No one does the back-and-forth duet better than Mr. Marvin Gaye.
16. “Dang Me” — Roger Miller
This may not be a song you already know, but it’s one that you need to know. It’s never too late to dive into the world of honky-tonk.
17. “Wishin’ and Hopin” — Dusty Springfield
One of my favorite songs to perform for my parents around bedtime when I was a toddler. I especially love the horn outro.
18. “Under the Boardwalk”– The Drifters
If you’re looking for a summer song, you can’t find a more obvious one than “Under the Boardwalk” to fill your head with images of sand, hot dogs, french fries and a blanket with your baby.
19. “I Wanna Love Him So Bad” — The Jelly Beans
There must have been something in the water in the 60s to raise so many talented teenagers. Where have we gone wrong?
20. “You Really Got Me” — The Kinks
With The Kinks, we move into the badass rock ‘n’ roll of the latter half of the decade. Phew. Just in these few months, there was so much great music and so much more to come.
