The Biggest Hits and Artists of 1961

The top hits of 1961 are calculated from the individual positions of the songs on the national charts and are based on the calendar year 1961.

The Top 100 Hits of 1961

1. Tossin' and Turnin' - Bobby Lewis
2. Calcutta - Lawrence Welk and His Orchestra
3. Big Bad John - Jimmy Dean
4. Pony Time - Chubby Checker
5. Runaround Sue - Dion
6. Travelin' Man - Ricky Nelson
7. Bristol Stomp - Dovells
8. Dedicated to the One I Love - Shirelles
9. Runaway - Del Shannon
10. Will You Love Me Tomorrow - Shirelles
11. Exodus - Ferrante & Teicher
12. Michael - Highwaymen
13. Mother-in-Law - Ernie K-Doe
14. Quarter to Three - U.S. Bonds
15. The Boll Weevil Song - Brook Benton
16. Blue Moon - Marcels
17. Don't Worry - Marty Robbins
18. Crying Roy - Orbison
19. Hit the Road Jack - Ray Charles and His Orchestra
20. Raindrops - Dee Clark
21. A Hundred Pounds of Clay - Gene McDaniels
22. Surrender - Elvis Presley With the Jordanires
23. Running Scared - Roy Orbison
24. Appache - Jorgen Ingmann & His Guitar
25. Shop Around - Miracles (featuring Bill “Smokey” Robinson)
26. Moody River - Pat Boone
27. Take Good Care of My Baby - Bobby Vee
28. Wooden Heart - Joe Dowell
29. Wheels - String-a-Longs
30. This Time - Troy Shondell
31. On the Rebound - Floyd Cramer
32. I Like It Like That, Part 1 - Chris Kenner
33. Where the Boys Are - Connie Francis
34. Fool #1 - Brenda Lee
35. Please Mr. Postman - Marvelettes
36. Last Night - Mar-Keys
37. Calendar Girl - Neil Sedaka
38. Dum Dum - Brenda Lee
39. Wonderland by Night - Bert Kaempfert and His Orchestra
40. Hello Mary Lou - Ricky Nelson
41. Daddy's Home - Shep and the Limelites
42. The Fly - Chubby Checker
43. Let's Twist Again - Chubby Checker
44. Hats Off to Larry - Del Shannon
45. Angel Baby - Rosie and the Originals
46. Every Beat of My Heart - Pips
47. I Love How You Love Me - Paris Sisters
48. Tower of Strength - Gene McDaniels
49. Stand By Me - Ben E. King
50. Yellow Bird - Arthur Lyman Group
51. Take Good Care of Her - Adam Wade
52. But I Do - Clarence Henry
53. Goodbye Cruel World - James Darren
54. I've Told Every Little Star - Linda Scott
55. My True Story - Jive Five With Joe Rene and Orchestra
56. You Don't Know What You've Got (Until You Lose It) - Ral Donner
57. Wings of a Dove - Ferlin Husky
58. There's a Moon Out Tonight - Capris
59. Sad Movies (Make Me Cry) - Sue Thompson
60. Let's Get Together - Hayley Mills and Hayley Mills
61. You Can Depend on Me - Brenda Lee
62. Little Sister - Elvis Presley
63. Mexico - Bob Moore and His Orch.
64. Mama Said - Shirelles
65. Together - Connie Francis
66. The Writing on the Wall - Adam Wade
67. The Mountain's High - Dick and DeeDee
68. Hurt - Timi Yuro
69. Baby Sittin' Boogie - Buzz Clifford
70. Are You Lonesome To-night? - Elvis Presley With the Jordanires
71. Walk Right Back - Everly Brothers
72. Ya Ya - Lee Dorsey
73. Emotions - Brenda Lee
74. Does Your Chewing Gum Lose It's Flavor (On the Bedpost Over Night) - Lonnie Donegan and His Skiffle Group
75. Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart - Connie Francis
76. One Mint Julep - Ray Charles
77. Rubber Ball - Bobby Vee
78. I Understand (Just How You Feel) - G-Clefs
79. Portrait of My Love - Steve Lawrence
80. You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby - Bobby Darin
81. School is Out Gary - U.S. Bonds
82. Ebony Eyes - Everly Brothers
83. Spanish Harlem - Ben E. King
84. Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes) - Carla Thomas
85. San Antonio Rose - Floyd Cramer
86. Those Oldies But Goodies (Remind Me Of You) - Little Caesar and the Romans
87. Please Love Me Forever - Cathy Jean and the Roommates
88. Corinna, Corinna - Ray Peterson
89. Pretty Little Angel Eyes - Curtis Lee
90. Think Twice - Brook Benton
91. Asia Minor - Kokomo
92. Don't Bet Money Honey - Linda Scott
93. Who Put the Bomp (in the Bomp, Bomp, Bomp) - Barry Mann
94. Hello Walls - Faron Young
95. The Twist - Chubby Checker
96. I Feel So Bad - Elvis Presley
97. North to Alaska - Johnny Horton
98. You're the Reason - Bobby Edwards
99. Last Date - Floyd Cramer
100. Tonight - Ferrante & Teicher

The Top 50 Artists of 1961

1. Elvis Presley
2. Chubby Checker
3. Brenda Lee
4. Shirelles
5. Connie Francis
6. Rick Nelson
7. Roy Orbison
8. Bobby Vee
9. Del Shannon
10. Floyd Cramer
11. Bobby Lewis
12. Brook Benton
13. Ray Charles
14. Adam Wade
15. Gene McDaniels
16. Ferrante & Teicher
17. Everly Brothers
18. Linda Scott
19. Neil Sedaka
20. Ben E. King
21. Marcels
22. Dion
23. Drifters
24. Lawrence Welk and His Orchestra
25. Jimmy Dean
26. Clarence Henry
27. Pat Boone
28. Paul Anka
29. Bobby Rydell
30. Dovells
31. Fats Domino
32. Highwaymen
33. Jerry Butler
34. Ernie K-Doe
35. Dee Clark
36. U.S. Bonds
37. Ral Donner
38. Marty Robbins
39. Jorgen Ingmann & His Guitar
40. String-a-Longs
41. Miracles (featuring Bill “Smokey” Robinson)
42. Patsy Cline
43. Joe Dowell
44. Troy Shondell
45. Bert Kaempfert and His Orchestra
46. Chris Kenner
47. Bobby Darin
48. Johnny Burnette
49. Jackie Wilson
50. Marvelettes