List of UK top-ten singles in 1961

Last updated

Elvis Presley had the best-selling single of 1961 with "Wooden Heart", which spent eleven weeks in the top 10, six of which were at number-one. In total, Presley had six top-ten singles during the year, five of which reached number-one. Elvis Presley 1960.jpg
Elvis Presley had the best-selling single of 1961 with "Wooden Heart", which spent eleven weeks in the top 10, six of which were at number-one. In total, Presley had six top-ten singles during the year, five of which reached number-one.
Helen Shapiro had three top 10 singles this year, including the number-ones "You Don't Know" and "Walkin' Back to Happiness". Aged 14 years and 11 months old when "You Don't Know" topped the chart, Shapiro remains the youngest female artist to have a UK number-one single. Helen Shapiro (1963).jpg
Helen Shapiro had three top 10 singles this year, including the number-ones "You Don't Know" and "Walkin' Back to Happiness". Aged 14 years and 11 months old when "You Don't Know" topped the chart, Shapiro remains the youngest female artist to have a UK number-one single.
Del Shannon made his UK top 10 debut in 1961 with "Runaway", which spent three weeks at number-one. He scored a second top 10 hit later in the year with "Hats Off to Larry", which peaked at number six. Del Shannon 1965.jpg
Del Shannon made his UK top 10 debut in 1961 with "Runaway", which spent three weeks at number-one. He scored a second top 10 hit later in the year with "Hats Off to Larry", which peaked at number six.

The UK Singles Chart is one of many music charts compiled by the Official Charts Company that calculates the best-selling singles of the week in the United Kingdom. [1] Before 2004, the chart was only based on the sales of physical singles. [2] [3] This list shows singles that peaked in the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart during 1961, as well as singles which peaked in 1960 and 1962 but were in the top 10 in 1961. The entry date is when the single appeared in the top 10 for the first time (week ending, as published by the Official Charts Company, which is six days after the chart is announced).

Contents

One-hundred and seven singles were in the top ten in 1961. Ten singles from 1960 remained in the top 10 for several weeks at the beginning of the year, while "Midnight in Moscow" by Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen, "Stranger on the Shore" by Mr Acker Bil", "Let There Be Drums" by Sandy Nelson and "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" by Neil Sedaka were all released in 1961 but did not reach their peak until 1962. "Poetry in Motion" by John Tillotson was the only single from 1960 to reach its peak in 1961. Twenty-eight artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 1961. Bobby Vee, Del Shannon, Eden Kane, Helen Shapiro, Kenny Ball and Matt Monro were among the many artists who achieved their first UK charting top 10 single in 1961.

The 1960 Christmas number-one, "I Love You" by Cliff Richard, remained at number one for the first week of 1961. The first new number-one single of the year was "Poetry in Motion" by Johnny Tillotson. Overall, twenty-one different singles peaked at number-one in 1961, with Elvis Presley (4) having the most singles hit that position.

Background

Multiple entries

One-hundred and seven singles charted in the top 10 in 1961, with ninety-four singles reaching their peak this year. Three songs were recorded by several artists with each version reaching the top 10:

Twenty-eight artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 1961. The Shadows secured the record for most top 10 hits in 1961 with nine hit singles, four of which were with Cliff Richard.

The Everly Brothers was one of a number of artists with two top-ten entries, including the number-one single "Walk Right Back"/"Ebony Eyes". Craig Douglas, Eden Kane, Matt Monro, Petula Clark and The Temperance Seven were among the other artists who had multiple top 10 entries in 1961.

Chart debuts

Twenty-eight artists achieved their first top 10 single in 1961, either as a lead or featured artist. Of these, seven went on to record another hit single that year: Clarence "Frogman" Henry, Del Shannon, Eden Kane, John Leyton, Karl Denver, Matt Monro and The Temperance Seven. Helen Shapiro achieved two more chart hits in 1961. Bobby Vee had three other entries in his breakthrough year.

The following table (collapsed on desktop site) does not include acts who had previously charted as part of a group and secured their first top 10 solo single.

ArtistNumber of top 10sFirst entryChart positionOther entries
Matt Monro 2"Portrait of My Love"3"My Kind of Girl" (5)
Bobby Vee 4"Rubber Ball"4"More Than I Can Say"/"Stayin' In" (4), "How Many Tears" (10), "Take Good Care of My Baby" (3)
The Shirelles 1"Will You Love Me Tomorrow"4
The Allisons 1"Are You Sure?"2
The Ramrods 1"Riders in the Sky"8
The String-A-Longs 1"Wheels"8
Ferrante & Teicher 1"Theme from Exodus"6
The Temperance Seven 2"You're Driving Me Crazy"1"Pasadena" (4)
The Marcels 1"Blue Moon"1
The Brook Brothers 1"Warpaint"5
Helen Shapiro 3"Don't Treat Me Like a Child"3"You Don't Know" (1), "Walkin' Back to Happiness" (1)
Floyd Cramer 1"On the Rebound"1
Del Shannon 2"Runaway"1"Hats Off to Larry" (6)
Clarence "Frogman" Henry"2"But I Do"3"You Always Hurt the One You Love" (6)
Linda Scott 1"I've Told Every Little Star"7
Eden Kane 2"Well I Ask You"1"Get Lost" (10)
John Leyton 2"Johnny Remember Me"1"Wild Wind" (2)
Gary U.S. Bonds 1"Quarter to Three"7
Karl Denver 2"Marcheta"8"Mexicali Rose" (8)
The Highwaymen 1"Michael"1
Cleo Laine 1"You'll Answer to Me"5
Tony Orlando 1"Bless You"5
The Laurie Johnson Orchestra 1"Sucu Sucu"9
Ray Charles 1"Hit the Road Jack"6
Jimmy Dean 1"Big Bad John"2
The Dave Brubeck Quartet 1"Take Five"6
Danny Williams 1"Moon River" [A] 1
Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen 1"Midnight in Moscow" [B] 2

Songs from films

Original songs from various films entered the top 10 throughout the year. These included "Wooden Heart (Muss i denn)" (from G.I. Blues ), "Theme from Exodus" ( Exodus ), "Where the Boys Are" ( Where the Boys Are ), "The Frightened City" ( The Frightened City ), "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" ( The Sound of Music ), "Wild in the Country" ( Wild in the Country ), "When the Girl in Your Arms Is the Girl in Your Heart" ( The Young Ones ) and "The Time Has Come" ( What a Whopper )

Additionally, the original Spanish language version of "Perfidia" sung by Desi Arnaz featured in the 1941 film Father Takes a Wife . Duane Eddy covered the title song to the comedy film Pepe . Shirley Jones had been responsible for the version on the soundtrack. American songwriter Hoagy Carmichael's recording of "(Up a) Lazy River" (simply called "Lazy River" when released by Bobby Darin) was briefly heard in the 1946 film The Best Years of Our Lives , as well as the 1959 film Hey Boy! Hey Girl! . The Marcels' version of "Blue Moon" was referenced in the Disney animated short-film A Symposium on Popular Songs . "You'll Never Know" was first introduced in the 1943 film Hello, Frisco, Hello , sung by Alice Faye, winning the Academy Award for Best Original Song at that year's ceremony.

Elvis Presley covered "What'd I Say", originally by Ray Charles, and it featured in the 1964 film Viva Las Vegas . "Mexicali Rose" appeared in the 1939 film of the same name. Similarly, "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby" was on the soundtrack the previous year to the film Hard to Get . "Moon River" was written for Breakfast at Tiffany's to be performed by Audrey Hepburn. Johnny Burnette's song "You're Sixteen" would later feature prominently in the 1973 film American Graffiti .

Best-selling singles

Until 1970 there was no universally recognised year-end best-sellers list. However, in 2011 the Official Charts Company released a list of the best-selling single of each year in chart history from 1952 to date. According to the list, "Wooden Heart" by Elvis Presley is officially recorded as the biggest-selling single of 1961.

Top-ten singles

Key
SymbolMeaning
Single peaked in 1960 but still in chart in 1961.
Single released in 1961 but peaked in 1962.
(#)Year-end best-selling single.
EnteredThe date that the single first appeared in the chart.
PeakHighest position that the single reached in the UK Singles Chart.
Entered
(week ending)
Weeks
in
top
10
SingleArtistPeakPeak reached
(week ending)
Weeks
at
peak
Singles in 1960
3 November 196012"It's Now or Never" ‡ Elvis Presley 13 November 19608
11"Rocking Goose" ‡ Johnny and the Hurricanes 317 November 19602
17 November 196011"Save the Last Dance for Me" ‡ The Drifters 21 December 19604
9"Man of Mystery"/"The Stranger" ‡ [D] The Shadows 51 December 19602
24 November 19608"Goodness Gracious Me" ‡ [E] Peter Sellers & Sophia Loren 41 December 19601
1 December 19606"Little Donkey" ‡ Nina & Frederik 38 December 19601
8 December 19609"I Love You" ‡ Cliff Richard & The Shadows 129 December 19602
6"Strawberry Fair" ‡ Anthony Newley 315 December 19602
15 December 196010"Poetry in Motion" Johnny Tillotson 112 January 19612
4"Lonely Pup (In a Christmas Shop)" ‡ Adam Faith 421 December 19602
Singles in 1961
5 January 19614"Perfidia" The Ventures 419 January 19611
12 January 19615"Portrait of My Love" Matt Monro 319 January 19612
19 January 19614"Counting Teardops" Emile Ford & The Checkmates 426 January 19611
6"Pepe" Duane Eddy 22 February 19611
26 January 19617"Are You Lonesome Tonight?" Elvis Presley 126 January 19614
4"Buona Sera" Mr. Acker Bilk & His Paramount Jazz Band 716 February 19611
6"You're Sixteen" Johnny Burnette 316 February 19611
2 February 19617"Sailor" [F] Petula Clark 123 February 19611
4"Rubber Ball" Bobby Vee 416 February 19611
9 February 19611"Sailor" Anne Shelton 109 February 19611
16 February 19619"FBI" [G] The Shadows 616 February 19613
11"Walk Right Back"/"Ebony Eyes" The Everly Brothers 12 March 19613
1"Rubber Ball" Marty Wilde 916 February 19611
23 February 19614"Who Am I?"/"This Is It!" Adam Faith 523 February 19611
7"Will You Love Me Tomorrow" The Shirelles 49 March 19611
3"Calendar Girl" Neil Sedaka 82 March 19611
2 March 196110"Are You Sure?" [H] The Allisons 29 March 19616
6"Riders in the Sky" The Ramrods 823 March 19611
9 March 19617"Theme for a Dream" Cliff Richard & The Shadows 316 March 19613
16 March 196111"Wooden Heart" (#1) Elvis Presley 122 March 19616
1"Wheels" The String-A-Longs 816 March 19611
6"My Kind of Girl" Matt Monro 523 March 19612
23 March 19616"Theme from Exodus" Ferrante & Teicher 617 April 19611
30 March 19611"And the Heavens Cried" Anthony Newley 613 April 19611
4"Lazy River" [I] Bobby Darin 227 April 19611
13 April 19613"Where the Boys Are"/"Baby Roo" [J] Connie Francis 527 April 19611
20 April 19617"You're Driving Me Crazy" The Temperance Seven 125 May 19611
27 April 19612"Gee Whizz It's You" Cliff Richard & The Shadows 44 May 19611
7"Blue Moon" The Marcels 14 May 19612
4"Warpaint" [K] The Brook Brothers 54 May 19611
4 May 19616"Don't Treat Me Like a Child" [L] Helen Shapiro 311 May 19611
4"Theme from Dixie" Duane Eddy 711 May 19612
2"African Waltz" Johnny Dankworth & His Orchestra 94 May 19611
11 May 19616"More Than I Can Say"/"Stayin' In" Bobby Vee 411 May 19615
5"On the Rebound" Floyd Cramer 118 May 19611
3"A Hundred Pounds of Clay" Craig Douglas 911 May 19611
18 May 196112"Runaway" Del Shannon 129 June 19613
9"The Frightened City" The Shadows 31 June 19613
1 June 19617"Surrender" Elvis Presley 11 June 19614
4"You'll Never Know" Shirley Bassey 615 June 19611
2"What'd I Say" Jerry Lee Lewis 101 June 19612
8 June 19617"But I Do" Clarence "Frogman" Henry 322 June 19611
15 June 19611"Have a Drink on Me" Lonnie Donegan 815 June 19611
15"Halfway to Paradise" Billy Fury 33 August 19612
3"I've Told Every Little Star" Linda Scott 722 June 19611
22 June 196112"Hello Mary Lou"/"Travelin' Man" Ricky Nelson 26 July 19612
1"Little Devil" Neil Sedaka 922 June 19611
9"Pasadena" [M] The Temperance Seven 429 June 19612
29 June 19619"Temptation" The Everly Brothers 120 July 19612
3"Running Scared" [N] Roy Orbison 929 June 19611
6 July 19616"A Girl Like You" Cliff Richard & The Shadows 320 July 19611
13 July 196111"Well I Ask You" Eden Kane 13 August 19611
20 July 196112"You Don't Know" [O] Helen Shapiro 110 August 19613
27 July 19614"Time" [P] Craig Douglas 927 July 19613
7"Romeo" Petula Clark 324 August 19611
3 August 19614"You Always Hurt the One You Love" Clarence "Frogman" Henry 610 August 19611
17 August 196110"Johnny Remember Me" John Leyton 131 August 19614
8"Reach For The Stars"/"Climb Ev'ry Mountain Shirley Bassey 121 September 19611
31 August 19613"Quarter to Three" Gary U.S. Bonds 731 August 19611
2"Marcheta" Karl Denver 831 August 19612
7 September 19612"That's My Home" Mr. Acker Bilk & His Paramount Jazz Band 77 September 19611
14 September 19616"Wild in the Country"/"I Feel So Bad" Elvis Presley 414 September 19612
7"Kon-Tiki" The Shadows 15 October 19611
2"How Many Tears" Bobby Vee 1014 September 19612
21 September 19611"Michael, Row the Boat"/"Lumbered" Lonnie Donegan 621 September 19611
2"Cupid" Sam Cooke 721 September 19611
28 September 19615"Jealousy" Billy Fury 25 October 19611
5"Michael" The Highwaymen 15 October 19611
6"You'll Answer to Me" Cleo Laine 519 October 19611
4"Together" Connie Francis 612 October 19611
5 October 19614"Hats Off to Larry" Del Shannon 626 October 19611
1"Get Lost" Eden Kane 105 October 19611
12 October 196111"Walkin' Back to Happiness" Helen Shapiro 119 October 19613
19 October 19615"Wild Wind" John Leyton 226 October 19612
26 October 19616"When the Girl in Your Arms Is the Girl in Your Heart" Cliff Richard 32 November 19612
4"Bless You" Tony Orlando 52 November 19611
3"Sucu Sucu" [Q] The Laurie Johnson Orchestra 926 October 19612
2 November 19618"(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame"/"Little Sister" Elvis Presley 19 November 19614
3"Hit the Road Jack" [R] Ray Charles 69 November 19611
2"Mexicali Rose" Karl Denver 82 November 19611
1"You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby" Bobby Darin 102 November 19611
9 November 19617"Big Bad John" Jimmy Dean 223 November 19611
6"The Time Has Come" Adam Faith 423 November 19611
5"Take Five" The Dave Brubeck Quartet 616 November 19611
16 November 19617"Take Good Care of My Baby" Bobby Vee 314 December 19612
23 November 19617"Tower of Strength" Frankie Vaughan 17 December 19613
9"Moon River" Danny Williams 128 December 19612
30 November 19611"The Savage" The Shadows 1030 November 19611
7 December 19619"Midnight in Moscow" ♦ Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen 24 January 19621
2"I'll Get By" Shirley Bassey 107 December 19612
14 December 19613"My Friend the Sea" Petula Clark 721 December 19611
21 December 19615"Johnny Will" Pat Boone 421 December 19612
17"Stranger on the Shore" ♦ [S] Mr. Acker Bilk 211 January 19623
28 December 19616"Let There Be Drums" ♦ Sandy Nelson 34 January 19622
2"Toy Balloons" Russ Conway 728 December 19611
8"Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" ♦ Neil Sedaka 325 January 19622

Entries by artist

Actor and singer John Leyton had two top 10 entries this year, including "Johnny Remember Me", which spent four weeks at number-one. John Leyton Von Ryan's Express.jpg
Actor and singer John Leyton had two top 10 entries this year, including "Johnny Remember Me", which spent four weeks at number-one.
American country singer Jimmy Dean scored his only UK top 10 hit this year with "Big Bad John", which peaked at number two in November. Jimmy Dean 1958.JPG
American country singer Jimmy Dean scored his only UK top 10 hit this year with "Big Bad John", which peaked at number two in November.
Matt Monro made the UK Singles Chart for the first time in 1961, achieving two top 10 singles, including his debut hit "Portrait of My Love", which peaked at number three in January. Matt Monro.png
Matt Monro made the UK Singles Chart for the first time in 1961, achieving two top 10 singles, including his debut hit "Portrait of My Love", which peaked at number three in January.

The following table shows artists who achieved two or more top 10 entries in 1961, including singles that reached their peak in 1960 or 1962. The figures include both main artists and featured artists. The total number of weeks an artist spent in the top ten in 1961 is also shown.

EntriesArtistWeeksSingles
9 The Shadows [T] [U] 50"A Girl Like You", "FBI", "Gee Whizz It's You", "I Love You", "Kon-Tiki", "Man of Mystery"/"The Stranger", "The Frightened City", "The Savage", "Theme for a Dream"
6 Elvis Presley [T] 43"Are You Lonesome Tonight?", "(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame"/"Little Sister", "It's Now or Never", "Surrender", "Wild in the Country"/"I Feel Bad", "Wooden Heart"
5 Cliff Richard [U] 27"A Girl Like You", "Gee Whizz It's You", "I Love You", "Theme for a Dream", "When the Girl in Your Arms is the Girl in Your Heart"
4 Bobby Vee 18"How Many Tears", "More Than I Can Say"/"Stayin' In", "Rubber Ball", "Take Good Care of My Baby"
3 Acker Bilk [V] 7"Buona Sera", "Stranger on the Shore", "That's My Home"
Adam Faith [T] 12"Lonely Pup In a Christmas Shop", "The Time Has Come", "Who Am I?"/"This Is It!"
Connie Francis [T] 8"My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own", "Together", "Where the Boys Are"/"Baby Roo"
Helen Shapiro 29"Don't Treat Me Like a Child", "Walkin' Back to Happiness", "You Don't Know"
Neil Sedaka 5"Calendar Girl", "Little Devil", "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen"
Petula Clark 16"My Friend, the Sea", "Romeo", "Sailor"
Shirley Bassey 14"I'll Get By", "Reach For The Stars"/"Climb Ev'ry Mountain", "You'll Never Know"
2 Anthony Newley [T] 4"And the Heavens Cried", "Strawberry Fair"
Billy Fury 20"Halfway to Paradise", "Jealousy"
Bobby Darin 5"Lazy River", "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby"
Clarence "Frogman" Henry 11"But I Do", "You Always Hurt the One You Love"
Craig Douglas 7"A Hundred Pounds of Clay", "Time"
Del Shannon 16"Hats Off to Larry", "Runaway"
Duane Eddy 10"Pepe", "Theme from Dixie"
Eden Kane 12"Get Lost", "Well I Ask You"
The Everly Brothers 20"Temptation", "Walk Right Back"/"Ebony Eyes"
John Leyton 15"Johnny Remember Me", "Wild Wind"
Karl Denver 4"Marcheta", "Mexicali Rose"
Lonnie Donegan 2"Have a Drink on Me", "Michael, Row the Boat"/"Lumbered"
Matt Monro 11"My Kind of Girl", "Portrait of My Love"
The Temperance Seven 16"Pasadena", "You're Driving Me Crazy"

Notes

See also

References

General

Specific

  1. "The Official UK Charts Company". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  2. Roberts, David (2005). Guinness World Records: British Hit Singles and Albums (18th edition). Guinness World Records Limited. p. 14. ISBN   1-904994-00-8.
  3. "New singles formats to save the charts". BBC News . 16 October 2003. Retrieved 21 February 2010.