| SAYSAYSAY | Paul McCartney/Michael Jackson hit ... or a hint to the starts of 17-, 24-. 57- and 65-Across |
| BEATIT | Michael Jackson hit ... or what you can do to the start of each answer to a starred clue |
| FOODFIGHT | What could cause a mess in a mess, and a hint to 18-, 24-, 57- and 63-Across |
| WHOLETTHEDOGSOUT | 2000 novelty hit ... or a hint to the answers to the nine starred clues |
| CROSSROADS | 1969 Cream hit ... or a hint to the seven "mathematical" clues in this puzzle |
| POOLPARTY | Summer shindig, and a hint to the starts of 17-, 24-, 41- and |
| TIMECHANGE | Daylight saving adjustment (and a hint to the starts of 17-, 24-, 39-, |
| SLOG | A snail's-pace plod, trudge or tiring trek; a strenuous spell of exhausting graft; a hard hit; or, a heavy blow (4) |
| UNDERTHESEA | "The Little Mermaid" hit ... or a phonetic hint to finding the third key letter in this puzzle |
| ITTAKESAVILLAGE | 1996 Hillary Clinton best-seller, and what might be said about the start of 17-, 24-, 48- or 59-Acro |
| PRO | Expert, and what's in motion in 1-, 20-, 40-, 57- and 71- Across |
| FOODFOR | With 42-Across, something to consider, and a hint to the double meaning of the ends of 17-, 21-, 57- and 66-Across |
| STRIKE | Word that can mean "a hit" or "a miss" |
| BATS | Tries for a hit or a walk |
| ATBAT | It may result in a hit or a walk |
| LIGHTWEIGHT | Boxer who tips the scales at between 57 and 60 kilos (11) |
| BUGATTIS | Cars like the Type 57 and Royale (8) |
| 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 |
