Hits are an odd thing. My only personal encounter with a hit was in 1972 hearing Pure Prairie League's "Aimee" off a 1/4" stereo reel to reel taken from the the studio master before it was released to the public. Similar to leaving the studio with a CD copy today.

Everyone who heard it early on seemed to know it would be a hit. They spoke about it as if it were a hit.

After it was released in 1973, Aimee did not shoot straight to the top of the charts and my recollection is it was released a 2nd time in 1975 before charting and I think it's highest rate on the Billboard chart was #27 but it still became a classic r&r standard.

Similarly, Sheriff's "When I'm with you" didn't become a number one hit until 4 years after it was initially released and the band had long broken up.

"Get Together" was released by the Kingston Trio in 1965, the Wee Five in 1967, Recorded and released in 1967 by The Youngbloods.
Only after being used in 1969 in a PSA and gaining new popularity, did "Get Together" become a huge hit and peaked at #5 on the Billboard charts for the Youngbloods.

There are various factors that make a hit and the above history indicates to me, that timing is one of the major factors.

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