Copyright Lore Top Summer Hits ALISON HALL For many of us, a song can magically transport us back in time. Summer songs seem to be even more powerful. Looking back at sixty years of the Billboard Hot 100 lists, here’s a sampling of number-one summer flashback hits in ten-year increments. All songs mentioned are registered with the Copyright Office as words and music, sound recordings, or both. (For the purpose of this article, “summer” includes all of June, July, and August.) Burt Bacharach and Hal David followed 1958 and held the top spot for much of the summer until instrumental “Grazing In The Billboard started the Hot 100 chart on Grass” recorded by Hugh Masekela and August 4, 1958, so that summer’s top hits written by Philemon Hou took over. “Hello, only include those in the month of August. I Love You” recorded by The Doors and Ricky Nelson’s recording of “Poor Little written by front man Jim Morrison took Fool,” written by Shari Sheeley, kicked off over the top spot for a week, and then the the list at number one. “Nel Blu Dipinto summer finished with “People Got To Be Di Blu (Volaré)” followed at number one, Free” recorded by The Rascals and written performed by Domenico Modugno and by band members Felix Cavaliere and written by Modugno with Franco Migliacci. Eddie Brigati topping the charts. Doo-wop vocal group The Elegants closed Ricky Nelson scored the first number one hit on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart with “Poor Little out the month with their number one hit Fool” from his self-titled album in the summer “Little Star,” written by group members 1978 of 1958. Arthur Venosa and Vito Picone. Six songs topped the charts in the summer of 1978, including two from the movie 1968 Grease. But first, “Too Much, Too Little, Simon and Too Late” written by John Vallins and Nat Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson” The summer of 1968 started with Simon Kipner and recorded by Johnny Mathis and and The & Garfunkel’s “Mrs. Robinson” in the top Deniece Williams hit number one. Then Commodores’ spot. Paul Simon wrote the song, which the first top song from Grease, “You’re “Three Times a Lady” were was released three months after an The One That I Want” performed by John both number unfinished version appeared in the film Travolta and Olivia Newton-John took over. one songs in The Graduate. Herb Alpert’s recording of John Farrar wrote that song, while Barry the summer’s of ‘68 and ‘78 “This Guy’s In Love With You” written by Gibb wrote the other summer number- respectively. CONTINUED > COPYRIGHT NOTICES | JULY 2018 15 < Copyright Lore: Top Summer Hits one song from the soundtrack, title song resemblance to the Junior Walker song “Grease,” performed by Frankie Valli. “(I’m a) Roadrunner.” The summer ended 2018 Barry Gibb co-wrote another number- with another number one written and As we close out July, Drake’s “In My one song from that summer, “Shadow recorded by George Michael, “Monkey.” Feelings” is at number one. The song is a Dancing,” performed by his brother Andy collaboration of multiple writers: Aubrey Gibb. They wrote the song with their Graham (aka Drake), Benny Workman, brothers Robin and Maurice Gibb as well. 1998 Darius Harrison, Caresha Brownlee, Jatavia The other two number one hits of the Johnson, Stephen Garrett, James Scheffer, summer were “Miss You” performed by the In 1998, “The Boy Is Mine” recorded by Rex Zamor, Dwayne Carter, Renetta Lowe- Rolling Stones and written by Mick Jagger Brandy and Monica dominated the Hot Bridgewater, Orville Hall, Phillip Price, and and Keith Richards and “Three Times A 100 the entire summer. The song appeared Noah Shebib. This song is Drake’s second Lady” performed by The Commodores and on Brandy’s album Never Say Never and number-one hit this summer—“Nice For written by Lionel Richie. Monica’s album The Boy Is Mine, both What” kicked off the summer in the top registered with the Office that year. Brandy spot. wrote the song with Rodney “Darkchild” What other future memory-triggering Jerkins, Fred Jerkins III, Japhe Tejeda, and 1988 songs will hit number one this summer? LaShawn Daniels. It originally was meant We’ll just have to wait and see. But thanks The summer of 1988 saw an even greater to be a solo, but the writers thought it to the creativity of all the songwriters and SHUTTERSTOCK.COM number of songs hit number one. “One would sound better as a duet in the style performers, songs will continue to bring Drake’s song “In My Feelings” is at number one More Try,” written and recorded by George of Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson’s this summer. back memories of summers past. 1 Michael for his first solo album, Faith, previous hit “The Girl Is Mine.” started the summer at the top. Pop songs “Together Forever” recorded by Rick Astley and written by Stock Aitken Waterman and 2008 then “Foolish Beat,” written and recorded by Debbie Gibson followed. Gibson The summer of 2008 started off with the produced her song as well, making her the chart-topping hit “Lollipop” recorded by youngest person to write, produce, and sing Lil Wayne featuring Static Major. Dwayne a number-one single entirely on her own. Carter (aka Lil Wayne) wrote the words The King of Pop’s “Dirty Diana” hit and music along with Stephen Garrett, number one next, which Michael Jackson Darius Harrison, Jim Jonsin, and Rex wrote and recorded. Two ballads, “The Zamor. Coldplay’s “Viva La Vida,” written Flame” performed by Cheap Trick and by all members of the band, followed, and written by Bob Mitchell and Nick Graham then Katy Perry’s recording of “I Kissed and “Hold On To the Nights” written and a Girl” took over for several weeks. Perry performed by Richard Marx followed. “Roll wrote the song with Lukasz Gottwald, With It” performed by Steve Winwood and Max Martin, and Cathy Dennis. Rihanna written by Winwood and Will Jennings finished out the summer with her came next. Later, Motown songwriters recording of “Disturbia” in the top spot, Holland-Dozier-Holland received co- written by Brian Kennedy, Chris Brown, SHUTTERSTOCK.COM writing credits for “Roll With It” due to its Robert Allen, and Andre Merritt. The band Coldplay hit the top spot in the Hot 100 charts with the song “Viva La Vida” in the summer of 2008. COPYRIGHT NOTICES | JULY 2018 16.