List of Hot R&B Sides number ones of 1960

Brook Benton and Dinah Washington collaborated on two chart-toppers, including the year's longest-running number one, "Baby (You've Got What It Takes)".

In 1960, Billboard published the Hot R&B Sides chart ranking the top-performing songs in the United States in rhythm and blues (R&B) and related African American-oriented music genres; the chart has undergone various name changes over the decades to reflect the evolution of such genres and since 2005 has been published as Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. ^[1] During 1960, 15 different singles topped the chart, based on playlists submitted by radio stations and surveys of retail sales outlets. ^[2]

In the issue of Billboard dated January 4, the top spot was held by "The Clouds" by the Spacemen, the single's third week at number one. ^[3] The following week, it was displaced by "Smokie, Part 2" by Bill Black's Combo. The group led by Bill Black, best known as the bass player on Elvis Presley's early recordings, ^[4] returned to number one in April with "White Silver Sands". The singles were the first two releases by Black's group to enter the R&B chart but would prove to be the act's only chart-toppers; Black, the group's leader would die in 1965. ^{[4] [5]} Buster Brown also reached number one for the first time when "Fannie Mae" spent a single week in the top spot. ^[6] It was a surprise success for the harmonica player, who was nearly 50 years old and had never previously entered the chart. ^{[6] [7]} Bobby Marchan also achieved his first number one in 1960, as did Jerry Butler, who ended the year atop the chart with "He Will Break Your Heart". ^[8]

Brook Benton spent the highest total number of weeks at number one in 1960. The singer spent nine consecutive weeks at number one with "Kiddio" between August and October and a total of 14 weeks in the top spot with two duets with Dinah Washington, "Baby (You've Got What It Takes)" and "A Rockin' Good Way (To Mess Around and Fall In Love)" for a cumulative total of 23 weeks atop the listing. Washington also achieved a solo chart-topper with "This Bitter Earth", making the two singers the only acts to achieve three number ones during 1960. "Baby (You've Got What It Takes)" was the first single to spend 10 consecutive weeks at number one since Billboard combined sales and airplay into a single R&B chart in 1958. ^[9] Two of 1960's R&B number ones also topped Billboard's all-genre Hot 100 chart: "Cathy's Clown" by the Everly Brothers and "Save the Last Dance For Me" by the Drifters. ^[10]

Chart history

Key

†	Indicates best-charting R&B single of 1960 [11]

Bill Black's Combo (Black pictured) had two number ones in 1960.

Jackie Wilson also took two singles to the top of the chart during the year.

The Everly Brothers spent one week at number one with "Cathy's Clown".

Jerry Butler (pictured in later life) ended the year at number one.

Chart history

Issue date	Title	Artist(s)	Ref.
January 4	" The Clouds "	The Spacemen	[3]
January 11	"Smokie, Part 2"	Bill Black's Combo	[12]
January 18			[13]
January 25			[14]
February 1			[15]
February 8	"Baby (You've Got What It Takes)"	Dinah Washington and Brook Benton	[16]
February 15			[17]
February 22			[18]
February 29			[19]
March 7			[20]
March 14			[21]
March 21			[22]
March 28			[23]
April 4			[24]
April 11			[25]
April 18	"Fannie Mae"	Buster Brown	[26]
April 25	"White Silver Sands"	Bill Black's Combo	[27]
May 2			[28]
May 9			[29]
May 16			[30]
May 23	"Doggin' Around"	Jackie Wilson	[31]
May 30			[32]
June 6			[33]
June 13	"Cathy's Clown"	The Everly Brothers	[34]
June 20	" A Rockin' Good Way (To Mess Around and Fall In Love) "	Dinah Washington and Brook Benton	[35]
June 27			[36]
July 4			[37]
July 11	"There's Something On Your Mind (Part 2)"	Bobby Marchan	[38]
July 18	" A Rockin' Good Way (To Mess Around and Fall In Love) "	Dinah Washington and Brook Benton	[39]
July 25	"This Bitter Earth"	Dinah Washington	[40]
August 1	" A Woman, a Lover, a Friend "	Jackie Wilson	[41]
August 8			[42]
August 15			[43]
August 22			[44]
August 29	"Kiddio" †	Brook Benton	[45]
September 5			[46]
September 12			[47]
September 19			[48]
September 26			[49]
October 3			[50]
October 10			[51]
October 17			[52]
October 24			[53]
October 31	"Save the Last Dance For Me"	The Drifters	[54]
November 7	"Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go"	Hank Ballard & The Midnighters	[55]
November 14	"He Will Break Your Heart"	Jerry Butler	[56]
November 21	"Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go"	Hank Ballard & The Midnighters	[57]
November 28	"He Will Break Your Heart"	Jerry Butler	[58]
December 5	"Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go"	Hank Ballard & The Midnighters	[59]
December 12	"He Will Break Your Heart"	Jerry Butler	[60]
December 19			[61]
December 26			[62]

See also

• 1960 in music
• List of number-one R&B hits (United States)

References

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49. "R & B Chart for September 26, 1960". Billboard . Archived from the original on March 30, 2018. Retrieved June 1, 2020.
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62. "R & B Chart for December 26, 1960". Billboard . Archived from the original on November 21, 2021. Retrieved June 1, 2020.

Works cited

• Hoffmann, Frank (2016). Chronology of American Popular Music, 1900-2000. Routledge. pp. 204, 207. ISBN   978-1-135-86886-4.
• Whitburn, Joel (1996). Joel Whitburn's Top R & B Singles, 1942-1995. Record Research Incorporated. p. xii. ISBN   978-0-89820-115-4.