Pop’s ADHD year as hits churn faster than ever on radio and the charts, Frank Sinatra scores his last top 10 weeks after his daughter Nancy scores her first, and John Lennon sparks a Beatles backlash with his “bigger than Jesus” comment, clearing the field for The Monkees’ debut. Meanwhile, Garage Bands stomp, Motown and Detroit surge, Vaudeville makes a comeback, and three of the year’s top 10 acts are Folk-Rock newcomers. But the year’s biggest hit is a pro-military anthem by an Army medic as Vietnam escalates.

#1 Song of the Year   The top song according to our Chartcrush ranking of all Hot100 songs that earned the majority of their chart ranking points in the year

Artists of the Year   The top three artists based on all charted songs during the calendar year

1. The Beatles
2. The Lovin’ Spoonful
3. The Rolling Stones

Artist with Most Charting Songs   Artist(s) with the most Hot100 charting songs during the year (song count in parentheses)

• The Beatles (8)

Average #1 Artist Age   The average of how old artists who scored #1 Hot100 hits during the year were when their songs first reached #1

• 25.7 years

#1 Songs   List of Hot100 #1 songs that earned the majority of their chart ranking points in the year, and (in parentheses), the month the song first hit #1 and the total number of weeks it was #1

1. Simon & Garfunkel – The Sounds of Silence (January, 2 wks)
2. The Beatles – We Can Work It Out (January, 3 wks)
3. Petula Clark – My Love (February, 2 wks)
4. Lou Christie – Lightnin’ Strikes (February, 1 wk)
5. Nancy Sinatra – These Boots Are Made for Walkin’ (February, 1 wk)
6. Barry Sadler – The Ballad of the Green Berets (March, 5 wks)
7. The Righteous Brothers – (You’re My) Soul and Inspiration (April, 3 wks)
8. The Young Rascals – Good Lovin’ (April, 1 wk)
9. The Mamas & The Papas – Monday, Monday (May, 3 wks)
10. Percy Sledge – When a Man Loves a Woman (May, 2 wks)
11. The Rolling Stones – Paint It, Black (June, 2 wks)
12. The Beatles – Paperback Writer (June, 2 wks)
13. Frank Sinatra – Strangers in the Night (July, 1 wk)
14. Tommy James & The Shondells – Hanky Panky (July, 2 wks)
15. The Troggs – Wild Thing (July, 2 wks)
16. The Lovin’ Spoonful – Summer in the City (August, 3 wks)
17. Donovan – Sunshine Superman (September, 1 wk)
18. The Supremes – You Can’t Hurry Love (September, 2 wks)
19. The Association – Cherish (September, 3 wks)
20. Four Tops – Reach Out I’ll Be There (October, 2 wks)
21. ? & The Mysterians – 96 Tears (October, 1 wk)
22. The Monkees – Last Train to Clarksville (November, 1 wk)
23. Johnny Rivers – Poor Side of Town (November, 1 wk)
24. The Supremes – You Keep Me Hangin’ On (November, 2 wks)
25. The New Vaudeville Band – Winchester Cathedral (December, 3 wks)
26. The Beach Boys – Good Vibrations (December, 1 wk)