Hot Fun in the Summertime

Sly and the Family Stone released "Hot Fun in the Summertime" in 1969. The band's highly publicized appearance at Woodstock, which significantly increased their audience, occurred right before the single's release. The Temptations' "I Can't Get Next to You" blocked the song from reaching the number 1 spot, and it peaked at number 2 on the US Billboard Hot 100 pop singles list. In the fall of 1969, "Hot Fun in the Summertime" also reached its highest position at number three on the American Billboard soul singles chart. It was ranked 65th in Canada and seventh in the United States in 1969. The song was ranked #247 by Rolling Stone on their list of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time," and it has also been referred to as an "all-time summer anthem" by Yahoo! Music, and AskMen.

Theme-wise, "Hot Fun in the Summertime" is a celebration of the summertime's entertainment opportunities. The violins in this song are played in the upper register, which is unusual for Sly and the Family Stone songs. The song "Fun" from the group's 1968 third album, "Life," serves as the single's B-side.

Artist: Sly and the Family Stone

Released: July 21, 1969

Genre: Pop, soul