| RINGOFFIRE | 17-Across hit ... or a hint to four connected answers in this puzzle |
| CROSSROADS | 1969 Cream hit ... or a hint to the seven "mathematical" clues in this puzzle |
| WHOLETTHEDOGSOUT | 2000 novelty hit ... or a hint to the answers to the nine starred clues |
| SLOG | A snail's-pace plod, trudge or tiring trek; a strenuous spell of exhausting graft; a hard hit; or, a heavy blow (4) |
| ATBAT | It may result in a hit or a walk |
| STRIKE | Word that can mean "a hit" or "a miss" |
| BATS | Tries for a hit or a walk |
| LEADEROFTHEPACK | 1964 Shangri-Las hit ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme found in 17-, 24-, 47- and 59-Across |
| DONT | 2014 Ed Sheeran hit ... or a contraction |
| SLEEPER | Surprise hit, or a 1973 Woody Allen movie |
| TRAITOR | Olivia Rodrigo hit or a double agent |
| ITRY | Macy Gray hit, or a modest reply |
| SNOWBIRD | Anne Murrray hit or a feathered friend |
| SOMEBODY | Bryan Adams hit or a pronoun |
| HEARTOFGLASS | Late-'70s Blondie hit, or a hint to the middle word in 20-, 33- or 41-Across |
| BYEBYEBYE | 2000 'N Sync hit ... or a hint to 17-, 26- and 45-Across |
| SAYSAYSAY | Paul McCartney/Michael Jackson hit ... or a hint to the starts of 17-, 24-. 57- and 65-Across |
| BLUEONBLUE | 1963 Bobby Vinton hit ... or a hint to both halves of 18-, 23-, 37- and 54-Across |
| ANIMALHOUSE | 1978 comedy hit, or a hint to 16-, 23-, 47- and 57-Across |
| CHARTTOPPER | #1 hit, or a hint to 3-, 8-, 11- and 24-Down |
