Every decade has its own set of rules, societal norms, and trends. The 1960s was no different. It is often thought of as a time of peace, love, and war, an era that was vastly different than the one that preceded it, but it was perhaps a bit more chaotic. There were revolutions in politics, with the rise of political activism like the Vietnam War and anti-protests, and the civil rights movement, a change in cultural standards, like music, sexuality, and drugs, and ground-breaking inventions, like the birth control pill.
Compared to the '50s, an era that was noted for its optimism, prosperity, and overall sense of calm, the '60s have been described as turbulent, a decade filled with disillusionment, protests, and the assassinations of several political figures. But not everything was adverse; economic prosperity continued throughout the times, people fought for equality and equal opportunities, and of course the music, a decade that gave us the Beatles, Joni Mitchell, and Motown.
The post-World War II generation of children was drawn to more rebellious and socially conscious music, which was edgier than the mainstream music their parents listened to. Where the parents of Baby Boomers might have listened to Duke Ellington, big band, and swing, the younger generation had The Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix. (The music of today is even more varied, with artists like Shania Twain and Andrea Bocelli uniting for a duet.)
To determine the greatest billboard hits of the 1960s, 24/7 Tempo reviewed performance data from the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Songs were ranked based on an inverse score wherein a week at No. 1 is worth 100 points, a week at No. 2 is worth 99 points, and so on, up to a week at No. 100 is worth one point. Chart data is current through the week of August 20, 2022. Christmas songs are excluded.
Among the 25 most prominent hits of the 1960s, based on their Top spot and longevity on the Billboard Top 100 hit, eight debuted in 1960. Iconic tracks from that year include Brenda Lee's "I'm Sorry" and Elvis Presley's, "It's Now or Never." Additionally, five of these hits came out in 1962.
As the decade drew to a close, The Beatles climbed to the top of the charts and stayed there for a while with the release of "Twist and Shout" in 1964 and "Hey Jude" in 1968. "Sunshine of Your Love" by the British rock band Cream reached No. 5 in 1968 and remained on the chart for 26 weeks. (These are the biggest music icons of the swinging '60s.)
Here are the 25 biggest Billboard hits of the 1960s: