These three songs are presented as soft-rock staples of the summer of 1977, reflecting the genre’s strong presence on US radio and mixtapes at the time. The article highlights their chart success and lasting recognition, arguing that each became closely associated with that summer’s popular music.

– “Lonely Boy” by Andrew Gold, released in March 1977, reached No. 7 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and No. 11 in the UK; it remained Gold’s biggest US hit and was the final song played on MTV’s first broadcast day in 1981.
– “It’s Sad To Belong” by England Dan & John Ford Coley mixed soft rock and country influences; it peaked at No. 21 on the Hot 100 and topped the US Adult Contemporary chart.
– “I Go Crazy” by Paul Davis, released in June 1977, reached No. 7 on the Hot 100 and No. 4 in Canada; written by Davis, it later received covers from artists including Lee Greenwood and Barry Manilow.