| 100% | SOFINE | 6 | "He's" this, in a 1963 hit for the Chiffons |
| 56% | LOUIE | 5 | Doubled, a 1963 hit for the Kingsmen |
| 51% | LOVEISALLAROUND | 15 | 1968 hit for the Troggs, and a hint to what can precede this puzzle's perimeter words |
| 50% | ONEFINEDAY | 10 | 1963 Top Ten hit for the Chiffons |
| 50% | MRLEE | 5 | "My sweetie" in a 1957 hit for the Bobbettes |
| 48% | THEMANFROMUNCLE | 15 | Hit 1960's TV show with a hint to the nine starred clues in this puzzle |
| 47% | LOUIELOUIE | 10 | 1963 hit for the Kingsmen |
| 44% | HES | 3 | "___ So Fine" (classic hit for the Chiffons) |
| 44% | LOUIE | 5 | Name repeated in a 1963 hit song |
| 44% | ONEFINEDAY | 10 | 1963 hit by The Chiffons |
| 44% | EYEOFTHETIGER | 13 | 1982 hit for Survivor with a sign of the Chinese zodiac in its title: 4 wds. |
| 44% | THEME | 5 | "Welcome, solvers! It's time for another adventure with Head Detective Dale E. ___! Help him uncover the connection in this puzzle!" |
| 44% | RIPPEDABS | 9 | Many a gymgoer's goal … or what the starred clues in this puzzle must have for their answers to make sense? |
| 44% | HES | 3 | "___ So Fine," 1963 #1 hit for the Chiffons |
| 44% | WHITERABBIT | 11 | 1967 hit for Jefferson Airplane with a sign of the Chinese zodiac in its title: 2 wds. |
| 43% | TWISTANDSHOUT | 13 | 1964 Beatles hit, and a hint to the circled letters in this puzzle |
| 43% | INMY | 4 | With 10-Across, 1963 hit for the Beach Boys |
| 43% | USMAP | 5 | Inspiration for the jokes in this puzzle's theme |
| 43% | HMS | 3 | Prefix for the vessels in a monarch's navy |
| 43% | SEEK | 4 | Look for the hider, in a children's game |
| 43% | DANCEMONKEY | 11 | 2019 hit for Tones and I with a sign of the Chinese zodiac in its title: 2 wds. |
| 43% | FELLOW | 6 | For he's a jolly good this |
| 43% | CROSSROADS | 10 | 1969 Cream hit ... or a hint to the seven "mathematical" clues in this puzzle |
| 43% | ACME | 4 | Synonym for the first word in this puzzle's title |
| 43% | BEASTIE | 7 | Epithet for the mouse in Burns's "To a Mouse" |
| 43% | SEEK | 4 | Look for the hidden person, in a children's game |
| 42% | YOUREALLYGOTME | 14 | 1964 hit for the Kinks that's in the Grammy Hall of Fame: 4 wds. |
| 42% | LAVER | 5 | He raised quite a racket in the 60's |
| 42% | ROAR | 4 | Hit song by Katy Perry that was nominated for a Grammy for Song of the Year in 2014 |
| 42% | FIREWORK | 8 | Hit song by Katy Perry that was nominated for a Grammy for Record of the Year in 2012 |