Hot Country Songs is a chart that ranks the top-performing country music songs in the United States, published by Billboard magazine. In 1960, five different songs topped the chart, which at the time was published under the title Hot C&W Sides, C&W being an abbreviation for country and western. Chart placings were based on playlists submitted by country music radio stations and sales reports submitted by stores.[1]
In the issue of Billboard dated January 4, the song at number one was "El Paso" by Marty Robbins, the track's third week in the top spot.[2] It held the peak position for the first five weeks of 1960, during which time it also topped the all-genre Hot 100 chart for two weeks.[3] During the remainder of the year, only four other songs reached the top of the Hot C&W Sides listing, three of which each spent twelve or more consecutive weeks at number one. In the issue of Billboard dated February 8, Jim Reeves began a 14-week unbroken run at the top of the chart with "He'll Have to Go", which was immediately followed by a run of the same length by Hank Locklin's "Please Help Me, I'm Falling". Both songs were produced by Chet Atkins,[4][5] widely seen as the originator of the "Nashville Sound", a new style of country music which eschewed elements of the earlier honky-tonk style in favour of smooth productions which had a broader appeal.[6]Cowboy Copas next spent 12 weeks at number one with "Alabam". Several singles peaked at number two during these songs' extended runs at the top of the chart, including "One More Time" by Ray Price, which spent eight consecutive weeks in second place behind Locklin's song.[7]
"Alabam" was the first chart-topping single for Copas and marked a comeback in his career, as prior to its success he had not entered the chart at all since 1952.[8] Nonetheless, it would be the only number one for the singer, who died in a plane crash in 1963.[9][10] "Please Help Me, I'm Falling" was Locklin's first number one since he topped the earlier Country and Western Most Played by Jockeys chart in January 1954, but like Copas he would not return to the top spot,[11] even though he would remain an active recording artist into the 21st century.[12] The final country number one of 1960 was Ferlin Husky's "Wings of a Dove"; although he would continue to chart well into the 1970s, Husky would also not achieve another number one.[13][14] Marty Robbins, in contrast, would go on to achieve several more number ones, including 1976's "El Paso City", a sequel of sorts to his earlier song.[15]
Chart history
Ferlin Husky ended the year at number one.Chet Atkins produced two singles which between them spent 28 consecutive weeks at number one.Jim Reeves spent 14 weeks at number one with "He'll Have to Go".
"Please Help Me, I'm Falling" is a 1960 song written by Don Robertson and Hal Blair and first recorded by Hank Locklin. The single was Locklin's most successful recording and was his second number one on the country charts. "Please Help Me, I'm Falling" spent 14 weeks at the top spot and spent nine months on the country chart and crossed over to the Hot 100 peaking at number eight.
The discography of American country singer-songwriter Hank Locklin contains 29 studio albums, 10 compilation albums, two box sets, 96 singles, two additionally-charting songs and one album appearance. He had his first hit with "The Same Sweet Girl" (1949) after signing with Four Star Records. The song reached the top ten of the Billboard country singles chart, peaking at number eight. A string of singles were released over the next several years that were not successful. With a leasing agreement administered by Decca Records, he had his next hit in 1953 with the number one song, "Let Me Be the One." Disappointed by label management, he switched to RCA Victor Records in 1955. Under the production of Chet Atkins, he had his biggest success. His next hit came with 1956's "Why Baby Why," which reached number nine on the country chart. Between 1957 and 1958, he had three top ten country hits: "Send Me the Pillow You Dream On," "Geisha Girl" and "It's a Little More Like Heaven." In 1958, he recorded among country music's first concept albums called Foreign Love. In 1960, Locklin released his biggest hit single, "Please Help Me, I'm Falling." Not only did it top the Billboard country singles chart, but it also reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 list. It was also one of several hits Locklin had in the United Kingdom, peaking at number nine on their pop chart.
"One Step Ahead of My Past" is a song written by Hal Blair and Don Robertson. It was originally recorded by American country singer–songwriter Hank Locklin. In 1960, it was released as a single and became a major hit on the American country chart the following year. It would later be released on Locklin's studio album titled This Song Is Just for You.
"Happy Journey" is a song written by Charles Nowa, Fred Jacobson and Nicola Wilke. It was originally recorded by American country singer–songwriter Hank Locklin. In 1961, it was released as a single and became a major hit on the American country chart that year. It would later be released on Locklin's studio album of the same name.
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