The Greatest 

1960s Songs of Summer

Sometimes songs epitomize summer so much that even hearing them in the dead of winter gives you a summery feeling. The 1960s brought us our first taste of songs depicting fun summertime activities. They created the soundtrack for hanging out with friends on the beach or cruising the city on warm summer nights.

What are Songs of Summer?

What are Songs of Summer?

You’ll find some songs fitting that description in the list below. In contrast, others made the list because of when they hit the airwaves. Record labels often release songs in time for summer. They know young people are out of school and want new tunes to listen to while hanging out with friends.

#7 Wipeout – The Surfaris

#7 Wipeout – The Surfaris

About the Song: In 1962, the Southern California band The Surfaris needed a B-side song for their single Surfer Joe. The group consisted of five teenagers who scraped together enough money, mostly from their parents, to make the recording.

#6 Light My Fire – The Doors

#6 Light My Fire – The Doors

About the Song: This may not be the first tune to come to mind when thinking of a summertime song. But when it became a hit in the summer of 1967, young people were drawn to its sexually-charged lyrics. It was the Summer of Love, after all! This became The Doors’ first hit and eventually their signature song. When they appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show in 1967, they were asked to change the word “higher” in one of the lyrics.

#5 I Get Around – The Beach Boys

#5 I Get Around – The Beach Boys

About the Song: Is there a Beach Boys song that couldn’t qualify as a song of summer? While the lyrics aren’t summer-specific, it does talk about hanging out with friends, cruising in cars, and finding girls. All things most teenage boys were doing at the time, especially in the summer!

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