Special Report

Surfing the Charts: Biggest Hit Songs by the Beach Boys

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

For 62 years and counting, the Beach Boys have been honing their unique psychedelic pop sound, characterized by intricate vocal harmonies and experimental songwriting. The California-based band formed in 1961 with a lineup that included brothers Brian, Carl, and Dennis Wilson, along with their cousin Al Jardine and friend Mike Love. 

While their first few years of rock and doo-wop inspired recordings centered around a West Coast youth culture of surfing and automobiles, their music eventually embodied a more progressive sound that infused jazz and classical influences with autobiographical lyrics. The band’s ability to evolve and remain commercially viable has helped them to become one of the most popular rock bands of all time.)

To determine the Beach Boys’ biggest hits, 24/7 Tempo reviewed performance data on 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 worth 99 points, and so on, up to a week at No. 100 worth one point. Chart data is current through the week of July 1, 2023.

Click here to see the biggest hit songs by the Beach Boys

By the time the Beach Boys were inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988, they had dozens of Billboard top 40 hits including three No. 1 songs. Later that year, they released their fourth No. 1, “Kokomo,” which became their first chart-topping song in 22 years.

Although “Little Saint Nick,” the band’s most recent hit to chart, reached the Billboard Top 100 in 2021, the Christmas single was first released in 1963. The majority of the group’s most successful hits, including “Surfin’ USA,” “California Girls,” “Good Vibrations,” and “Sloop John B,” were released in the ‘60s. (Here’s a list of the biggest pop hits of the ‘60s.)

Steve Morley / Redferns via Getty Images

55. “Still Cruisin'”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 93 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 3 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: Aug. 26, 1989

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Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

54. “409”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 76 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 1 week
> Entered Hot 100: Oct. 13, 1962

George Rose / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

53. “Goin’ On”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 83 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 3 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: April 12, 1980

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

52. “Long Promised Road”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 89 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 5 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: Oct. 30, 1971

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RB / Redferns via Getty Images

51. “California Saga (On My Way to Sunny Californ-i-a)”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 84 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 4 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: May 12, 1973

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

50. “It’s Getting Late”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 82 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 5 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: Aug. 3, 1985

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Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

49. “Surfin”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 75 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 6 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: Feb. 17, 1962

RB / Redferns via Getty Images

48. “Add Some Music to Your Day”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 64 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 5 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: March 7, 1970

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

47. “Rock’n’roll to the Rescue”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 68 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 6 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: June 28, 1986

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RB / Redferns via Getty Images

46. “Little Honda”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 65 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 5 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: Oct. 17, 1964

RB / Redferns via Getty Images

45. “Peggy Sue”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 59 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 6 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: Sept. 9, 1978

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Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

44. “Break Away”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 63 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 6 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: July 5, 1969

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

43. “Please Let Me Wonder”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 52 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 5 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: March 6, 1965

RB / Redferns via Getty Images

42. “Bluebirds Over the Mountain”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 61 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 6 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: Dec. 14, 1968

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Kevin Winter / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images

41. “Little Saint Nick”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 29 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 4 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: Jan. 2, 2021

RB / Redferns via Getty Images

40. “Friends”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 47 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 7 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: April 20, 1968

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RB / Redferns via Getty Images

39. “Wendy”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 44 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 6 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: Oct. 17, 1964

RB / Redferns via Getty Images

38. “Here Comes the Night”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 44 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 8 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: March 3, 1979

Rick Stewart / Getty Images Sport via Getty Images

37. “California Dreamin'”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 57 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 10 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: Sept. 20, 1986

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Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

36. “Ten Little Indians”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 49 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 8 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: Dec. 1, 1962

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

35. “Wild Honey”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 31 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 6 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: Nov. 4, 1967

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Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

34. “God Only Knows”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 39 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 8 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: Aug. 13, 1966

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

33. “Good Timin'”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 40 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 10 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: April 28, 1979

Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

32. “Sail on Sailor”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 49 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 17 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: Feb. 24, 1973

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Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

31. “Heroes And Villains”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 12 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 7 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: Aug. 5, 1967

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

30. “It’s O.K.”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 29 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 10 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: Aug. 21, 1976

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Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

29. “The Little Girl I Once Knew”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 20 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 8 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: Nov. 27, 1965

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

28. “Darlin'”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 19 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 9 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: Dec. 23, 1967

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

27. “Do You Wanna Dance?”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 12 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 8 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: Feb. 27, 1965

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Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

26. “I Can Hear Music”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 24 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 10 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: March 8, 1969

CA / Redferns via Getty Images

25. “Don’t Worry Baby”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 24 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 10 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: May 30, 1964

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Central Press / Getty Images

24. “Do It Again”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 20 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 10 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: July 27, 1968

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

23. “In My Room”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 23 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 11 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: Nov. 2, 1963

Steve Morley / Redferns via Getty Images

22. “Getcha Back”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 26 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 12 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: May 25, 1985

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Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

21. “Little Deuce Coupe”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 15 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 11 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: Aug. 17, 1963

CA / Redferns via Getty Images

20. “When I Grow Up (to Be a Man)”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 9 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 10 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: Sept. 5, 1964

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Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

19. “Wouldn’t It Be Nice”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 8 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 11 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: July 30, 1966

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

18. “Shut Down”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 23 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 13 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: April 27, 1963

RB / Redferns via Getty Images

17. “Dance, Dance, Dance”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 8 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 11 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: Nov. 7, 1964

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Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

16. “Come Go With Me”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 18 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 15 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: Nov. 21, 1981

Clive Limpkin / Hulton Archive via Getty Images

15. “Barbara Ann”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 2 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 11 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: Jan. 1, 1966

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Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

14. “Be True to Your School”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 6 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 12 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: Nov. 2, 1963

Hulton Archive / Getty Images

13. “Fun, Fun, Fun”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 5 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 11 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: Feb. 15, 1964

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

12. “California Girls”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 3 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 11 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: July 24, 1965

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Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

11. “Sloop John B”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 3 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 11 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: April 2, 1966

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

10. “Surfer Girl”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 7 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 14 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: Aug. 3, 1963

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Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

9. “Surfin’ Safari”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 14 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 17 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: Aug. 11, 1962

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

8. “The Beach Boys Medley”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 12 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 18 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: July 25, 1981

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

7. “Help Me, Rhonda”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 14 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: April 17, 1965

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Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

6. “Good Vibrations”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 14 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: Oct. 22, 1966

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

5. “Wipeout (with Fat Boys)”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 12 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 19 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: July 11, 1987

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Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons

4. “Rock and Roll Music”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 5 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 17 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: June 5, 1976

Fox Photos / Getty Images

3. “I Get Around”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 2 weeks)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 15 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: May 23, 1964

Michael Ochs Archives / Michael Ochs Archives via Getty Images

2. “Kokomo”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 1 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 28 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: Sept. 3, 1988

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Hulton Archive / Hulton Archive via Getty Images

1. “Surfin’ U.S.A.”
> Peak position on Hot 100: No. 3 (for 1 week)
> Total weeks on Hot 100: 25 weeks
> Entered Hot 100: March 23, 1963

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