''Hits'' was an EP by

The Beach Boys The Beach Boys are an American Rock music, rock band that formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. The group's original lineup consisted of brothers Brian Wilson, Brian, Dennis Wilson, Dennis, and Carl Wilson, their cousin Mike Love, and frie ...

, released in May 1966 and containing four of the band's most recent hit singles up to that point. The EP was released as a

7-inch In music, a single is a type of release, typically a song recording of fewer tracks than an LP record or an album. One can be released for sale to the public in a variety of formats. In most cases, a single is a song that is released separate ...

vinyl record A phonograph record (also known as a gramophone record, especially in British English), or simply a record, is an analog sound storage medium in the form of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove. The groove usually starts nea ...

mono Mono may refer to: Common meanings * Infectious mononucleosis, "the kissing disease" * Monaural, monophonic sound reproduction, often shortened to mono * Mono-, a numerical prefix representing anything single Music Performers * Mono (Japanese b ...

with the catalogue number

Capitol A capitol, named after the Capitoline Hill in Rome, is usually a legislative building where a legislature meets and makes laws for its respective political entity. Specific capitols include: * United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. * Numerous ...

EAP1-20781. ''Hits'' was the UK number-one EP for 34 weeks, having eight separate stints at the top of the chart from June 1966 until December 1967 – this is the highest number of weeks as number-one EP. ''Hits'' was the incumbent number one when the chart ceased on 16 December 1967.

Track listing

;Side A #"

Help Me, Rhonda "Help Me, Rhonda" is a song by American rock band the Beach Boys, appearing first on their 1965 album ''The Beach Boys Today!'' (where it was spelled "Help Me, Ronda") and subsequently in re-recorded form on the following 1965 album ''Summer Day ...

" (

Brian Wilson Brian Douglas Wilson (born June 20, 1942) is an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer who co-founded the Beach Boys. Often called a genius for his novel approaches to pop composition, extraordinary musical aptitude, and m ...

Mike Love Michael Edward Love (born March 15, 1941) is an American singer and songwriter who co-founded the Beach Boys with his cousins Brian, Dennis, and Carl Wilson and their friend Al Jardine. Characterized by his nasal tenor and occasional bass-bari ...

) – 2:46 #"

California Girls "California Girls" is a song by the American rock band the Beach Boys from their 1965 album, '' Summer Days (And Summer Nights!!)''. Written by Brian Wilson and Mike Love, the lyrics detail an appreciation for women across the world and a wish ...

" (B. Wilson/Love) – 2:45 ;Side B #

The Little Girl I Once Knew "The Little Girl I Once Knew" is a song by the American rock band the Beach Boys that was issued as a standalone single on November 22, 1965. Written and produced by Brian Wilson, it was recorded during the making of the band's 1966 album ''Pet ...

" (B. Wilson) – 2:35 #"

Barbara Ann "Barbara Ann" is a song written by Fred Fassert that was first recorded by the Regents as "Barbara-Ann". Their version was released in 1961 and reached number 13 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart. The more famous version was recorded by the ...

" ( Fred Fassert) – 2:08

Background

Each of the four songs on the EP had been released as singles. In America all charted on the ''Billboard Hot'' 100: "Help Me, Rhonda" had reached number one on 29 May 1965, "California Girls" had peaked at number three on 28 August 1965, "The Little Girl I Once Knew" peaked at number twenty on 1 January 1966, and "Barbara Ann" peaked at number two on 29 January 1966. Three of the singles had also been previously released in the UK, with "Help Me, Rhonda" and "California Girls" making the top thirty of the ''Record Retailer'' chart and "Barbara Ann" peaking at number three in March 1966.

Chart performance

Beginning in 1960s, in addition to publishing a long play (LP) chart, ''Record Retailer'' also ran an EP chart. ''Hits'' was released in May 1966 and became a number-one EP on 4 June. It stayed at the top for 4 weeks and was then displaced by

The Walker Brothers The Walker Brothers were an United States, American pop music, pop musical ensemble, group of the 1960s and 1970s which included Noel Scott Engel (eventually known professionally as Scott Walker (singer), Scott Walker), John Walker (musician), Jo ...

EP ''I Need You''. ''Hits'' returned to the top again on 10 September for another four weeks, being displaced again by the same Walker Brothers EP. On 29 October it returned for a third stint at number-one of seven weeks.

The Who The Who are an English rock band formed in London in 1964. Their classic lineup consisted of lead singer Roger Daltrey, guitarist and singer Pete Townshend, bass guitarist and singer John Entwistle, and drummer Keith Moon. They are considered ...

took the number-one spot over Christmas and in the New Year of 1967, with ''Hits'' reclaiming number-one on 21 January for another seven weeks. After five months of the top, ''Hits'' returned on 12 August for another six weeks at the top in its fifth stint at number-one. The EP alternated weeks at number-one with the ''

Four Tops The Four Tops are an American vocal quartet from Detroit who helped to define the city's Motown sound of the 1960s. The group's repertoire has included soul music, R&B, disco, adult contemporary, doo-wop, jazz, and show tunes. Founded as the ...

Hits'' EP in late September and early October and at this point EPs were dying out. ''Hits'' returned for its eighth and final period atop the chart on 25 November and remained there for four weeks; it was the incumbent number one when the chart ceased on 16 December 1967. In total, ''Hits'' amassed 34 weeks at the top of the chart – more than any other EP.

References

;Footnotes ;Sources * * {{The Beach Boys compilations 1966 EPs Capitol Records EPs The Beach Boys EPs