Playlist Time Machine

Graduation year

Class of 1961 songs

The class of 1961 grew up with the number one hits from 1956 to 1966. Here they are, year by year, in the order they reached the top.

181 songs, listed in the order they reached the top.

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1958

In 1958, It's All in the Game by Tommy Edwards holds No. 1 for 6 weeks, the longest run of the year. The year opens with Poor Little Fool by Ricky Nelson.

  1. Poor Little FoolRicky Nelson
  2. Volare (Nel blu dipinto di blu)Domenico Modugno
  3. Little StarThe Elegants
  4. It's All in the GameTommy Edwards
  5. It's Only Make BelieveConway Twitty
  6. Tom DooleyThe Kingston Trio
  7. To Know Him Is to Love HimThe Teddy Bears
  8. The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)The Chipmunks with David Seville

1959

In 1959, Mack the Knife by Bobby Darin holds No. 1 for 9 weeks, the longest run of the year. The year opens with Smoke Gets in Your Eyes by The Platters. Frankie Avalon and The Fleetwoods each have 2 No. 1s.

  1. Smoke Gets in Your EyesThe Platters
  2. Stagger LeeLloyd Price
  3. VenusFrankie Avalon
  4. Come Softly to MeThe Fleetwoods
  5. The Happy OrganDave "Baby" Cortez
  6. Kansas CityWilbert Harrison
  7. The Battle of New OrleansJohnny Horton
  8. Lonely BoyPaul Anka
  9. A Big Hunk o' LoveElvis Presley
  10. The Three BellsThe Browns
  11. Sleep WalkSanto & Johnny
  12. Mack the KnifeBobby Darin
  13. Mr. BlueThe Fleetwoods
  14. Heartaches by the NumberGuy Mitchell
  15. WhyFrankie Avalon

1960

In 1960, Theme from A Summer Place by Percy Faith holds No. 1 for 9 weeks, the longest run of the year. The year opens with El Paso by Marty Robbins. Elvis Presley has 3 No. 1s.

  1. El PasoMarty Robbins
  2. Running BearJohnny Preston
  3. Teen AngelMark Dinning
  4. Theme from A Summer PlacePercy Faith
  5. Stuck on YouElvis Presley
  6. Cathy's ClownThe Everly Brothers
  7. Everybody's Somebody's FoolConnie Francis
  8. Alley-OopHollywood Argyles
  9. I'm SorryBrenda Lee
  10. Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot BikiniBrian Hyland
  11. It's Now or NeverElvis Presley
  12. He'll Have to GoJim Reeves
  13. The TwistChubby Checker
  14. My Heart Has a Mind of Its OwnConnie Francis
  15. Mr. CusterLarry Verne
  16. Save the Last Dance for MeThe Drifters
  17. I Want to Be WantedBrenda Lee
  18. Georgia on My MindRay Charles
  19. StayMaurice Williams and the Zodiacs
  20. Are You Lonesome Tonight?Elvis Presley

1961

In 1961, Tossin' and Turnin' by Bobby Lewis holds No. 1 for 7 weeks, the longest run of the year. The year opens with Wonderland by Night by Bert Kaempfert.

  1. Wonderland by NightBert Kaempfert
  2. Will You Love Me TomorrowThe Shirelles
  3. CalcuttaLawrence Welk
  4. Pony TimeChubby Checker
  5. SurrenderElvis Presley
  6. Blue MoonThe Marcels
  7. RunawayDel Shannon
  8. Mother-in-LawErnie K-Doe
  9. Travelin' ManRicky Nelson
  10. Running ScaredRoy Orbison
  11. Bristol StompThe Dovells
  12. Moody RiverPat Boone
  13. Quarter to ThreeU.S. Bonds
  14. Tossin' and Turnin'Bobby Lewis
  15. Wooden HeartJoe Dowell
  16. MichaelThe Highwaymen
  17. Take Good Care of My BabyBobby Vee
  18. Hit the Road JackRay Charles
  19. Runaround SueDion
  20. Big Bad JohnJimmy Dean
  21. Please Mr. PostmanThe Marvelettes
  22. The Lion Sleeps TonightThe Tokens

1962

In 1962, I Can't Stop Loving You by Ray Charles and Sherry by The Four Seasons each hold No. 1 for 5 weeks, along with 1 more, the longest runs of the year. The year opens with The Twist by Chubby Checker. The Four Seasons has 2 No. 1s.

  1. The TwistChubby Checker
  2. Peppermint TwistJoey Dee and the Starliters
  3. Duke of EarlGene Chandler
  4. Hey! BabyBruce Channel
  5. Don't Break the Heart That Loves YouConnie Francis
  6. Johnny AngelShelley Fabares
  7. Good Luck CharmElvis Presley
  8. Soldier BoyThe Shirelles
  9. Stranger on the ShoreAcker Bilk
  10. I Can't Stop Loving YouRay Charles
  11. The StripperDavid Rose
  12. Roses Are RedBobby Vinton
  13. Breaking Up Is Hard to DoNeil Sedaka
  14. The Loco-MotionLittle Eva
  15. SheilaTommy Roe
  16. SherryThe Four Seasons
  17. Monster MashBobby Boris Pickett
  18. He's a RebelThe Crystals
  19. Big Girls Don't CryThe Four Seasons
  20. TelstarThe Tornados

1963

In 1963, Sugar Shack by Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs holds No. 1 for 5 weeks, the longest run of the year. The year opens with Go Away Little Girl by Steve Lawrence.

  1. Go Away Little GirlSteve Lawrence
  2. Walk Right InThe Rooftop Singers
  3. Hey PaulaPaul and Paula
  4. Walk Like a ManThe Four Seasons
  5. Our Day Will ComeRuby & The Romantics
  6. He's So FineThe Chiffons
  7. I Will Follow HimLittle Peggy March
  8. If You Wanna Be HappyJimmy Soul
  9. It's My PartyLesley Gore
  10. SukiyakiKyu Sakamoto
  11. Easier Said Than DoneThe Essex
  12. Surf CityJan & Dean
  13. So Much in LoveThe Tymes
  14. FingertipsStevie Wonder
  15. Fingertips Pt 2Little Eva
  16. My Boyfriend's BackThe Angels
  17. Blue VelvetBobby Vinton
  18. Sugar ShackJimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs
  19. Deep PurpleNino Tempo and April Stevens
  20. I'm Leaving It Up to YouDale and Grace
  21. DominiqueThe Singing Nun

1964

In 1964, I Want to Hold Your Hand by The Beatles holds No. 1 for 7 weeks, the longest run of the year. The year opens with There! I've Said It Again by Bobby Vinton. The Beatles has 6 No. 1s.

  1. There! I've Said It AgainBobby Vinton
  2. I Want to Hold Your HandThe Beatles
  3. She Loves YouThe Beatles
  4. Can't Buy Me LoveThe Beatles
  5. Hello, Dolly!Louis Armstrong
  6. My GuyMary Wells
  7. Love Me DoThe Beatles
  8. Chapel of LoveThe Dixie Cups
  9. A World Without LovePeter and Gordon
  10. I Get AroundThe Beach Boys
  11. Rag DollThe Four Seasons
  12. A Hard Day's NightThe Beatles
  13. Everybody Loves SomebodyDean Martin
  14. Where Did Our Love GoThe Supremes
  15. The House of the Rising SunThe Animals
  16. Oh Pretty WomanRoy Orbison
  17. Do Wah Diddy DiddyManfred Mann
  18. Baby LoveThe Supremes
  19. Leader of the PackThe Shangri-Las
  20. RingoLorne Greene
  21. Mr. LonelyBobby Vinton
  22. Come See About MeThe Supremes
  23. I Feel FineThe Beatles

1965

In 1965, Satisfaction by The Rolling Stones and Yesterday by The Beatles each hold No. 1 for 4 weeks, the longest runs of the year. The year opens with Downtown by Petula Clark. The Beatles has 4 No. 1s.

  1. DowntownPetula Clark
  2. You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'The Righteous Brothers
  3. This Diamond RingGary Lewis and the Playboys
  4. My GirlThe Temptations
  5. Eight Days a WeekThe Beatles
  6. Stop! In the Name of LoveThe Supremes
  7. I'm Telling You NowFreddie & The Dreamers
  8. Game of LoveWayne Fontana
  9. Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely DaughterHerman's Hermits
  10. Ticket to RideThe Beatles
  11. Help Me RhondaThe Beach Boys
  12. Back in My Arms AgainThe Supremes
  13. I Can't Help MyselfThe Four Tops
  14. Mr. Tambourine ManThe Byrds
  15. SatisfactionThe Rolling Stones
  16. I'm Henry VIII, I AmHerman's Hermits
  17. I Got You BabeSonny and Cher
  18. Help!The Beatles
  19. Eve of DestructionBarry McGuire
  20. Hang On SloopyThe McCoys
  21. YesterdayThe Beatles
  22. Get Off of My CloudThe Rolling Stones
  23. I Hear a SymphonyThe Supremes
  24. Turn! Turn! Turn!The Byrds
  25. Over and OverThe Dave Clark Five

1966

In 1966, I'm a Believer by The Monkees holds No. 1 for 7 weeks, the longest run of the year. The year opens with The Sound of Silence by Simon and Garfunkel. The Monkees and The Beatles each have 2 No. 1s.

  1. The Sound of SilenceSimon and Garfunkel
  2. We Can Work It OutThe Beatles
  3. My LovePetula Clark
  4. Lightnin' StrikesLou Christie
  5. These Boots Are Made for Walkin'Nancy Sinatra
  6. The Ballad of the Green BeretsSSgt Barry Sadler
  7. Soul and InspirationThe Righteous Brothers
  8. Good Lovin'The Young Rascals
  9. Monday MondayThe Mamas and the Papas
  10. When a Man Loves a WomanPercy Sledge
  11. Paint It BlackThe Rolling Stones
  12. Paperback WriterThe Beatles
  13. Strangers in the NightFrank Sinatra
  14. Hanky PankyTommy James and the Shondells
  15. Wild ThingThe Troggs
  16. Summer in the CityThe Lovin' Spoonful
  17. Sunshine SupermanDonovan
  18. You Can't Hurry LoveThe Supremes
  19. CherishThe Association
  20. Reach Out I'll Be ThereThe Four Tops
  21. 96 Tears? and the Mysterians
  22. Last Train to ClarksvilleThe Monkees
  23. Poor Side of TownJohnny Rivers
  24. You Keep Me Hangin' OnThe Supremes
  25. Winchester CathedralThe New Vaudeville Band
  26. Good VibrationsThe Beach Boys
  27. I'm a BelieverThe Monkees
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