3 One-Hit Wonders From the 60s That Sum up the Decade Perfectly

Some time periods have a sound. In more modern decades, it can be harder to pinpoint what the sound of a generation or a decade is. Maybe we track eras by social media these days. But back in the mid-20th century? It was all about the music. That’s why the 1960s just sound a certain way. For the era that gave us the Beatles and Woodstock, it’s just a reality.

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Below, we wanted to explore three songs that simply sound like the 60s. More specifically, we wanted to explore three one-hit wonders from the decade. Those hit songs from songwriters who never quite had the same success again. Indeed, these are three one-hit wonders from the 60s that just sum up the decade perfectly.

“Surfin’ Bird” by The Trashmen from ‘Surfin’ Bird’ (1963)

This song, which hit No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100, is as surprising a smash single as maybe any in history. It’s part-insane and part-insanely catchy. How does a brain even conceive of something like this, let alone record it, release it, and see it rocket up the charts to become a top 5 hit in the United States? Well, all of that aside, the song somehow just sounds like early rock music. Before bands like Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd could run, bands like The Trashmen had to crawl.

“Do You Love Me” by The Contours from ‘Do You Love Me (Now That I Can Dance)’ (1962)

Speaking of early rock hits, this song peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. It also showcases just about everything you need to know that would come from rock, soul, R&B, disco, and even hip-hop music for the decades to come. While “Do You Love Me” is a straightforward song about the heart, it also demonstrates tidbits of musical styles that would become prominent in the future. From the beat to the blistering vocals to the style and pizzazz of the performers, the Contours. Without music like this, there might not be any signature bands of the 70s, 80s, and 90s.

“In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” by Iron Butterfly from ‘In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida’ (1968)

By the end of the decade, rock music was coming more and more into shape, into form. It was getting heavier and featured the more classic setup of drums, bass, guitar, lead singer, and maybe keys. Iron Butterfly signified all that, and their hit song, “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida”, which peaked at No. 30 on the Billboard Hot 100, is a heart-pounding track that makes clear what the future of rock music might sound like. Singing about the Garden of Eden, Iron Butterfly oozes 60s vibes.

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