“On the Fourth of July 1964, the Beach Boys topped the Billboard Hot 100 with 'I Get Around,' the first single by an American boy group in eight months,” wrote Fred Bronson in The Billboard Book of Number One Hits. “The timing was right, because the Beach Boys … were promoting little coupes, surfing girls from the US and California.” Additionally, “the Beach Boys often performed concerts on the Fourth of July.”
“I Get Around” – which followed four Beatles chart-toppers since February 1964 among the UK chart toppers – became the Beach Boys' first Hot 100 No. 1, their 12th entry on the survey. They had previously reached the top 10 with “Surfin' USA” (No. 3, May 1963), “Surfer Girl” (No. 7, September 1963), “Be True to Your School” (No. 6, December 1963) and “Fun, Fun, Fun” (No. 5, March 1964). Notably, Beach Boy Brian Wilson, who wrote 'I Get Around' with partner Mike Love, reached No.1 as a writer during this time, via Jan & Dean's 'Surf City', which reigned for two weeks in July 1963.
During “I Get Around's” Hot 100 reign, the Beach Boys consisted of Wilson and Love (who shared lead vocals in the group), Wilson's younger brothers Carl and Dennis Wilson, and Al Jardine.
The Beach Boys have since tallied a career-high four Hot 100 No. 1s, including 15 top 10s. After a two-week mandate for “I Get Around,” they reigned again with “Help Me Rhonda” (for two weeks in 1965), “Good Vibrations” (two weeks, 1966) and “Kokomo” (one week, 1988). When “Kokomo” sailed to No. 1, the act ended the longest break between headliners up to that point. (Paul Grein headlined the magazine's Chart Beat column that week: Resurgent Beach Boys Still Get Around.)
This past holiday season, the Beach Boys' classic “Little Saint Nick” reached a new Hot 100 high of No. 25, their highest ranking since the “Kokomo” streak.
The Beach Boys were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1988. In 2001, they were honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Recording Academy, and five of the group's recordings have been voted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, including 2017's “I Get Around” .
On April 2, the Beach Boys released an autobiography of the same title, and a Disney+ documentary premiered on May 24.
“There is love in music and people can relate to love, whether you're two or 92 years old. For me music is love. Love is the message I want to share. That makes the hard work worth it.”
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/beach-boys-i-get-around-chart-rewind-1964-1235724511/
