4 Songs That Instantly Transport Baby Boomers Back to Summer Vacation in the 1960s

Ah, summer vacation! There’s something about dipping out of school when summer just starts to get warm that always has appeal, no matter what generation you’re a part of. For baby boomers, though, it’s worth noting that you had some of the best summer songs to enjoy during the 1960s. The following four gems are just a few songs that made up the soundtrack for many a summer in the 1960s, and I bet baby boomers out there still know them by heart. Let’s enjoy a hefty dose of nostalgia, shall we?

“Hot Fun In The Summertime” by Sly And The Family Stone from ‘Greatest Hits’ (1969)

Sly And The Family Stone dropped this killer psychedelic soul hit shortly before their famed Woodstock performance. Naturally, following that career-defining performance, “Hot Fun In The Summertime” became a smash hit. The song peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and became one of the biggest songs of the year, not just the summer.

“Sunshine Of Your Love” by Cream from ‘Disraeli Gears’ (1967)

Cream was relatively short-lived, but this supergroup dished out some ultra-memorable hits during their time together. One summer mixtape-worthy jam is the psychedelic rock classic “Sunshine Of Your Love”, which peaked at No. 5 on the Hot 100. This tune dropped in the winter, but it was a fast summer classic the following year in 1968.

“Tossin’ And Turnin’” by Bobby Lewis from ‘Tossin’ & Turnin’’ (1961)

“Tossin’ And Turnin’” by Bobby Lewis was easily the song of the year in 1961. This R&B classic was a huge hit on the charts and radio, peaking at No. 1 on the Hot 100 chart. In fact, it stayed at the top of that chart for a whopping seven consecutive weeks. You might also remember this song from its inclusion in the soundtrack for the film Animal House, another summer vacation staple for the youths of the time.

“Help!” by The Beatles from ‘Help!’ (1965) 

I couldn’t leave a Beatles song off our list of summer songs from the 1960s that baby boomers still remember today. “Help!” was the track I went with, simply because it dropped in July 1965 and was absolutely everywhere for the rest of the summer. This Beatles pop-rock jam peaked at No. 1 on both the Hot 100 and the UK Singles chart.

(Photo by Barham/Tony Eyles/Mirrorpix/Getty Images)

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