Four rock and rock-adjacent singles associated with 1961 are being marked at their 65th anniversaries, highlighting a period when the genre was developing new styles from earlier pop, country, blues and R&B influences. The selections illustrate how early 1960s hits helped establish surf rock, rockabilly and enduring mainstream rock standards.

– Dick Dale & The Del-Tones’ “Let’s Go Trippin’” is described as an early surf-rock instrumental, using reverb-heavy guitar and Middle Eastern and South American influences.
– Bobby Lewis’ “Tossin’ And Turnin’”, released in late 1960 but successful in 1961, blended R&B with rock ‘n’ roll and later influenced artists including Joan Jett.
– Dion’s US number-one “Runaround Sue” became an early-1960s rock standard and returned to Billboard’s Digital Song Sales chart in 2021.
– Elvis Presley’s rockabilly track “Little Sister” reached its 65th release anniversary on 8 August 2026.