The US Number One Songs of 1960 tell the story of a chart that never stayed still for long. Across the year, listeners embraced country, pop, rock and roll, orchestral instrumentals, rhythm and blues, and novelty records. Several artists reached the summit for the first time, while established stars returned with new chart leaders. The result was a year filled with variety rather than domination by a single performer.
Although many songs briefly reached the top, a few managed to hold the position for several consecutive weeks. Percy Faith and His Orchestra enjoyed the longest uninterrupted stay of the year with “The Theme From ‘A Summer Place’,” while artists such as Elvis Presley, Brenda Lee, Connie Francis, and The Drifters appeared more than once. Their repeated success helped shape the direction of the charts as the months passed.
Another striking feature of 1960 was the wide range of record labels represented at the top. Columbia, RCA Victor, MGM, Decca, Atlantic, Mercury, Warner Brothers, Parkway, Chancellor, Herald, Era, ABC-Paramount, and Lute all celebrated at least one Number One record during the year. No single company controlled the charts from January through December.
Looking back today, the Number One songs of 1960 capture a period of transition in American popular music. Traditional pop remained strong, country crossed into the mainstream, teenage pop continued to attract young audiences, and rhythm and blues gained wider commercial success. Each chart leader added something different to the musical picture, making 1960 one of the most varied years of the decade.
Contents
- 1 Quick Facts
- 2 Year Overview
- 3 Complete US Number One Songs Table
- 4 Song Highlights
- 4.1 WHY
- 4.2 EL PASO
- 4.3 RUNNING BEAR
- 4.4 TEEN ANGEL
- 4.5 THE THEME FROM “A SUMMER PLACE”
- 4.6 STUCK ON YOU
- 4.7 CATHY’S CLOWN
- 4.8 EVERYBODY’S SOMEBODY’S FOOL
- 4.9 ALLEY-OOP
- 4.10 I’M SORRY
- 4.11 ITSY BITSY TEENIE WEENIE YELLOW POLKA DOT BIKINI
- 4.12 IT’S NOW OR NEVER
- 4.13 THE TWIST
- 4.14 MY HEART HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN
- 4.15 MR. CUSTER
- 4.16 SAVE THE LAST DANCE FOR ME
- 4.17 I WANT TO BE WANTED
- 4.18 GEORGIA ON MY MIND
- 4.19 STAY
- 4.20 ARE YOU LONESOME TO-NIGHT
- 5 Longest Running Number One Songs
- 6 Artist and Label Trends
- 7 Interesting Chart Facts
- 8 Conclusion
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Year | 1960 |
| Total Chart Weeks | 52 |
| Different Number One Songs | 17 |
| Different Number One Artists | 14 |
| Longest Running Number One | The Theme From “A Summer Place” |
| Most Weeks at Number One | 9 weeks |
| Artist with Most Number One Weeks | Elvis Presley |
| First Number One Song | WHY |
| Last Number One Song | ARE YOU LONESOME TO-NIGHT |
Year Overview
The 1960 chart was built around change. The Number One position changed hands many times during the year, yet several songs enjoyed enough momentum to remain at the summit for a month or more. This balance between short-lived leaders and extended chart runs created a year that felt competitive from beginning to end.
The opening weeks belonged to Frankie Avalon before Marty Robbins and Johnny Preston each enjoyed multi-week runs. Their success set the pace for a year in which every new leader had to compete with strong records already attracting listeners. During late February, Percy Faith and His Orchestra took control of the chart with “The Theme From ‘A Summer Place’.” Its nine-week reign became the defining chart achievement of the year and remained unmatched by any other Number One in 1960.
Spring introduced another familiar name. Elvis Presley returned with “Stuck on You,” beginning a year in which he would reach the summit three separate times. Later, “It’s Now or Never” and “Are You Lonesome To-Night” confirmed his continued ability to dominate the charts whenever he released new material. Few artists matched that level of consistency during the year.
The middle months brought even more variety. The Everly Brothers, Connie Francis, Hollywood Argyles, Brenda Lee, Brian Hyland and Chubby Checker all claimed the top position. Some remained there for several weeks, while others enjoyed only a brief stay before another hit arrived. The chart rarely settled into a predictable pattern, which kept the race for Number One interesting throughout the summer.
The closing months continued that trend. Connie Francis returned for a second Number One, The Drifters reached the summit with “Save the Last Dance for Me,” Ray Charles earned his place at the top, and Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs added another new name to the year’s list of chart leaders. By December, Elvis Presley closed the year with another multi-week Number One, giving him the final word on the 1960 charts.
Several record labels also enjoyed successful years. Columbia benefited from the year’s longest-running Number One, while RCA Victor collected multiple chart leaders through Elvis Presley. MGM, Decca and Atlantic also appeared repeatedly, showing that chart success was shared among several major labels rather than concentrated in one company.
Complete US Number One Songs Table
| Week (Issue Date) | Song Title | Artist(s) | Label | Peak | Total Week | Weeks at #1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 02, 1960 | WHY | Frankie Avalon | Chancellor | 1 | 6 | 1 |
| Jan 09, 1960 | EL PASO | Marty Robbins | Columbia | 1 | 9 | 1 |
| Jan 16, 1960 | EL PASO | Marty Robbins | Columbia | 1 | 10 | 2 |
| Jan 23, 1960 | RUNNING BEAR | Johnny Preston | Mercury | 1 | 14 | 1 |
| Jan 30, 1960 | RUNNING BEAR | Johnny Preston | Mercury | 1 | 15 | 2 |
| Feb 06, 1960 | RUNNING BEAR | Johnny Preston | Mercury | 1 | 16 | 3 |
| Feb 13, 1960 | TEEN ANGEL | Mark Dinning | MGM | 1 | 8 | 1 |
| Feb 20, 1960 | TEEN ANGEL | Mark Dinning | MGM | 1 | 9 | 2 |
| Feb 27, 1960 | THE THEME FROM “A SUMMER PLACE” | Percy Faith and His Orchestra | Columbia | 1 | 7 | 1 |
| Mar 05, 1960 | THE THEME FROM “A SUMMER PLACE” | Percy Faith and His Orchestra | Columbia | 1 | 8 | 2 |
| Mar 12, 1960 | THE THEME FROM “A SUMMER PLACE” | Percy Faith and His Orchestra | Columbia | 1 | 9 | 3 |
| Mar 19, 1960 | THE THEME FROM “A SUMMER PLACE” | Percy Faith and His Orchestra | Columbia | 1 | 10 | 4 |
| Mar 26, 1960 | THE THEME FROM “A SUMMER PLACE” | Percy Faith and His Orchestra | Columbia | 1 | 11 | 5 |
| Apr 02, 1960 | THE THEME FROM “A SUMMER PLACE” | Percy Faith and His Orchestra | Columbia | 1 | 12 | 6 |
| Apr 09, 1960 | THE THEME FROM “A SUMMER PLACE” | Percy Faith and His Orchestra | Columbia | 1 | 13 | 7 |
| Apr 16, 1960 | THE THEME FROM “A SUMMER PLACE” | Percy Faith and His Orchestra | Columbia | 1 | 14 | 8 |
| Apr 23, 1960 | THE THEME FROM “A SUMMER PLACE” | Percy Faith and His Orchestra | Columbia | 1 | 15 | 9 |
| Apr 30, 1960 | STUCK ON YOU | Elvis Presley | RCA Victor | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| May 07, 1960 | STUCK ON YOU | Elvis Presley | RCA Victor | 1 | 5 | 2 |
| May 14, 1960 | STUCK ON YOU | Elvis Presley | RCA Victor | 1 | 6 | 3 |
| May 21, 1960 | STUCK ON YOU | Elvis Presley | RCA Victor | 1 | 7 | 4 |
| May 28, 1960 | CATHY’S CLOWN | The Everly Brothers | Warner Brothers | 1 | 6 | 1 |
| Jun 04, 1960 | CATHY’S CLOWN | The Everly Brothers | Warner Brothers | 1 | 7 | 2 |
| Jun 11, 1960 | CATHY’S CLOWN | The Everly Brothers | Warner Brothers | 1 | 8 | 3 |
| Jun 18, 1960 | CATHY’S CLOWN | The Everly Brothers | Warner Brothers | 1 | 9 | 4 |
| Jun 25, 1960 | CATHY’S CLOWN | The Everly Brothers | Warner Brothers | 1 | 10 | 5 |
| Jul 02, 1960 | EVERYBODY’S SOMEBODY’S FOOL | Connie Francis | MGM | 1 | 8 | 1 |
| Jul 09, 1960 | EVERYBODY’S SOMEBODY’S FOOL | Connie Francis | MGM | 1 | 9 | 2 |
| Jul 16, 1960 | ALLEY-OOP | Hollywood Argyles | Lute | 1 | 7 | 1 |
| Jul 23, 1960 | I’M SORRY | Brenda Lee | Decca | 1 | 8 | 1 |
| Jul 30, 1960 | I’M SORRY | Brenda Lee | Decca | 1 | 9 | 2 |
| Aug 06, 1960 | I’M SORRY | Brenda Lee | Decca | 1 | 10 | 3 |
| Aug 13, 1960 | ITSY BITSY TEENIE WEENIE YELLOW POLKA DOT BIKINI | Brian Hyland | — | 1 | — | — |
| Aug 20, 1960 | IT’S NOW OR NEVER | Elvis Presley | RCA Victor | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| Aug 27, 1960 | IT’S NOW OR NEVER | Elvis Presley | RCA Victor | 1 | 6 | 2 |
| Sep 03, 1960 | IT’S NOW OR NEVER | Elvis Presley | RCA Victor | 1 | 7 | 3 |
| Sep 10, 1960 | IT’S NOW OR NEVER | Elvis Presley | RCA Victor | 1 | 8 | 4 |
| Sep 17, 1960 | IT’S NOW OR NEVER | Elvis Presley | RCA Victor | 1 | 9 | 5 |
| Sep 24, 1960 | THE TWIST | Chubby Checker | Parkway | 1 | 8 | 1 |
| Oct 01, 1960 | MY HEART HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN | Connie Francis | MGM | 1 | 7 | 1 |
| Oct 08, 1960 | MY HEART HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN | Connie Francis | MGM | 1 | 8 | 2 |
| Oct 15, 1960 | MR. CUSTER | Larry Verne | Era | 1 | 7 | 1 |
| Oct 22, 1960 | SAVE THE LAST DANCE FOR ME | The Drifters | Atlantic | 1 | 7 | 1 |
| Oct 29, 1960 | I WANT TO BE WANTED | Brenda Lee | Decca | 1 | 7 | 1 |
| Nov 05, 1960 | SAVE THE LAST DANCE FOR ME | The Drifters | Atlantic | 1 | 9 | 2 |
| Nov 12, 1960 | SAVE THE LAST DANCE FOR ME | The Drifters | Atlantic | 1 | 10 | 3 |
| Nov 19, 1960 | GEORGIA ON MY MIND | Ray Charles | ABC-Paramount | 1 | 8 | 1 |
| Nov 26, 1960 | STAY | Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs | Herald | 1 | 8 | 1 |
| Dec 03, 1960 | ARE YOU LONESOME TO-NIGHT | Elvis Presley | RCA Victor | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Dec 10, 1960 | ARE YOU LONESOME TO-NIGHT | Elvis Presley | RCA Victor | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| Dec 17, 1960 | ARE YOU LONESOME TO-NIGHT | Elvis Presley | RCA Victor | 1 | 5 | 3 |
| Dec 24, 1960 | ARE YOU LONESOME TO-NIGHT | Elvis Presley | RCA Victor | 1 | 6 | 4 |
Song Highlights
WHY
Frankie Avalon opened 1960 at Number One with “WHY,” giving the year an immediate sense of continuity from the previous chart season. Although its stay at the top lasted only a single week during 1960, it provided the bridge between two calendar years before making way for a new leader. That brief appearance ensured Avalon remained part of the year’s story even as the charts quickly moved in another direction.
EL PASO
Marty Robbins followed with “EL PASO,” holding the Number One position across consecutive weeks in January. Its two-week stay gave the chart its first sustained leader of the new year and showed that country-flavoured recordings could compete successfully with mainstream pop. Rather than disappearing after a single week, the song established a stronger presence before another challenger arrived.
RUNNING BEAR
Johnny Preston extended that pattern with “RUNNING BEAR.” The record remained at the summit for three consecutive weeks, making it the first song of 1960 to enjoy a longer run at Number One. Coming after two different chart leaders in January, it brought a period of stability before another change arrived in February. Its three-week reign made it one of the year’s stronger early performers.
TEEN ANGEL
Mark Dinning reached Number One with “TEEN ANGEL” during February. The song remained at the top for two weeks before giving way to a record that would dominate much of the spring. Although its stay was relatively short, it added another new artist to the year’s growing list of chart leaders and continued the steady turnover that characterised the first months of 1960.
THE THEME FROM “A SUMMER PLACE”
No song defined the first half of 1960 more than “THE THEME FROM ‘A SUMMER PLACE'” by Percy Faith and His Orchestra. After climbing to Number One in late February, it stayed there for nine consecutive weeks, the longest run achieved by any record during the year. While many chart leaders arrived and departed within a few weeks, this instrumental remained firmly in place. Its extended reign became the benchmark against which every later Number One was measured during 1960.
STUCK ON YOU
Elvis Presley returned to the top with “STUCK ON YOU,” ending the remarkable run enjoyed by Percy Faith and His Orchestra. The record spent four weeks at Number One and reminded listeners that Presley remained one of the strongest commercial artists of the period. It also marked the beginning of an impressive year in which he would return to the summit more than once.
CATHY’S CLOWN
The Everly Brothers kept the momentum going with “CATHY’S CLOWN,” which became one of the strongest chart performers of the summer. Its five-week stay at Number One showed that listeners quickly embraced the record after it reached the top. While it did not challenge the longest run of the year, it comfortably ranked among the most successful hits of 1960 and gave Warner Brothers an important chart victory.
EVERYBODY’S SOMEBODY’S FOOL
Connie Francis earned her first Number One of the year with “EVERYBODY’S SOMEBODY’S FOOL.” The song held the top position for two weeks before another chart change arrived. Although its reign was shorter than several other major hits, it confirmed Francis as one of the year’s leading female recording artists. She would later return to the summit with another successful release, making her one of the few performers to reach Number One more than once during 1960.
ALLEY-OOP
“ALLEY-OOP” by Hollywood Argyles enjoyed a brief but memorable stay at Number One. The song reached the top for a single week, proving that even a short chart reign could leave a lasting impression on the year’s timeline. Its success also introduced another label to the list of Number One records, adding to the variety that defined the 1960 chart.
I’M SORRY
Brenda Lee reached the summit with “I’M SORRY,” beginning a three-week run that carried through late July and early August. The song strengthened her position among the year’s biggest chart stars and showed steady staying power after reaching the top. It also marked the first of her two Number One songs during the year, making 1960 one of the most successful periods of her chart career.
ITSY BITSY TEENIE WEENIE YELLOW POLKA DOT BIKINI
Brian Hyland’s “ITSY BITSY TEENIE WEENIE YELLOW POLKA DOT BIKINI” spent one week at Number One according to the supplied chart data. Even with its brief stay, it added another distinctive title to the year’s collection of chart leaders. The quick turnover at the top during August reflected how competitive the charts had become as new songs continued to replace one another.
IT’S NOW OR NEVER
Elvis Presley returned to Number One with “IT’S NOW OR NEVER,” proving that his earlier success in the year was no coincidence. The song remained at the summit for five consecutive weeks, making it one of the longest-running Number One records of 1960. Its performance also gave Presley more total weeks at Number One than any other artist during the year, strengthening his place as the year’s dominant chart performer.
THE TWIST
Chubby Checker reached Number One with “THE TWIST” for one week in late September. Although its time at the top was brief during 1960, it became another important milestone in a year filled with changing musical styles. Its arrival also ensured that yet another artist and label joined the growing list of chart leaders.
MY HEART HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN
Connie Francis returned to Number One with “MY HEART HAS A MIND OF ITS OWN.” Its two-week stay gave her a second chart-topper within the same year, an achievement shared by only a handful of artists during 1960. Reaching the summit twice highlighted her consistency across different releases rather than relying on a single successful record.
MR. CUSTER
Larry Verne claimed the top position with “MR. CUSTER.” The song spent one week at Number One before another new leader emerged. Although its chart reign was short, it reflected the competitive nature of the autumn charts, where songs often changed places quickly after reaching the summit.
SAVE THE LAST DANCE FOR ME
The Drifters enjoyed one of the stronger late-year performances with “SAVE THE LAST DANCE FOR ME.” The song first reached Number One in October before returning for additional weeks in November. Altogether it collected three weeks at the top, making it one of the more successful records of the final quarter of the year. Its return to the summit showed lasting popularity rather than a single brief surge.
I WANT TO BE WANTED
Brenda Lee secured her second Number One of 1960 with “I WANT TO BE WANTED.” The song spent one week at the summit, giving her another chart leader only a few months after “I’M SORRY.” Having two different Number One songs in one year placed her among the most successful artists of the 1960 chart.
GEORGIA ON MY MIND
Ray Charles reached Number One with “GEORGIA ON MY MIND.” Its single week at the summit added another respected performer to the year’s impressive list of chart leaders. Coming late in the year, the song continued the pattern of frequent leadership changes that characterised the closing months of 1960.
STAY
Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs earned their place at Number One with “STAY.” The song remained at the top for one week, becoming another example of how quickly the chart could change during the final weeks of the year. Even with its short reign, it completed another chapter in a remarkably varied chart year.
ARE YOU LONESOME TO-NIGHT
Elvis Presley closed the year with “ARE YOU LONESOME TO-NIGHT.” The song remained at Number One for four consecutive weeks and finished 1960 as the final chart leader of the year. Combined with his earlier successes, it gave Presley three different Number One songs during the same calendar year. No other artist matched that achievement in the supplied chart.
Longest Running Number One Songs
Several records enjoyed extended stays at the summit, but one clearly stood above the rest. “THE THEME FROM ‘A SUMMER PLACE'” dominated the chart for nine consecutive weeks, the longest uninterrupted reign of 1960. It held the Number One position from late February through most of April, making it the defining chart success of the spring.
Behind it came “IT’S NOW OR NEVER” by Elvis Presley and “CATHY’S CLOWN” by The Everly Brothers, each remaining at Number One for five weeks. “STUCK ON YOU” and “ARE YOU LONESOME TO-NIGHT” also delivered strong multi-week runs, while “RUNNING BEAR,” “I’M SORRY,” and “SAVE THE LAST DANCE FOR ME” showed enough staying power to become major highlights of the year.
These longer runs gave the chart periods of stability before another successful record emerged to begin a new chapter.
Artist and Label Trends
Elvis Presley enjoyed the strongest year among all artists in the supplied data. Three different songs reached Number One, giving RCA Victor repeated success throughout the calendar year. Connie Francis and Brenda Lee also reached the summit twice with different songs, while The Drifters returned to Number One after an initial chart run, extending the success of “SAVE THE LAST DANCE FOR ME.”
Columbia enjoyed an excellent year thanks to Marty Robbins and Percy Faith and His Orchestra. RCA Victor benefited from Elvis Presley’s remarkable consistency, while MGM collected multiple chart leaders through Mark Dinning and Connie Francis. Decca also appeared more than once through Brenda Lee. Rather than one label dominating from January to December, success was shared across several companies, reflecting the diversity of popular music in 1960.
Interesting Chart Facts
- A total of 17 different songs reached Number One during 1960.
- 14 different artists earned a Number One song.
- THE THEME FROM “A SUMMER PLACE” had the longest stay at the top with 9 weeks.
- Elvis Presley scored three different Number One songs during the year.
- Connie Francis reached Number One twice with different songs.
- Brenda Lee also achieved two separate Number One hits.
- Columbia produced the year’s longest-running chart leader.
- The final Number One song of 1960 was ARE YOU LONESOME TO-NIGHT.
- Several songs spent only one week at Number One, showing how competitive the chart remained.
- The chart featured successful releases from a wide range of record labels instead of one dominant company.
Conclusion
The US Number One Songs of 1960 paint the picture of a chart filled with variety and constant movement. New artists arrived throughout the year, established performers returned with fresh hits, and no single musical style controlled the charts from beginning to end. The result was a balanced year that rewarded both long-running favourites and songs that captured public attention for only a short time.
Percy Faith and His Orchestra delivered the year’s longest reign, while Elvis Presley finished as the most successful artist by collecting three different Number One songs. Connie Francis, Brenda Lee, The Everly Brothers, Marty Robbins, Johnny Preston, Ray Charles and many others also helped shape a memorable year of chart history.
Looking back, the Number One songs of 1960 reveal a music scene that welcomed change. Instrumentals, pop, country, rhythm and blues, and rock and roll all found room at the top. That mix of styles makes this chart especially enjoyable to revisit today. Each new leader brought a different sound, and together they created one of the most varied years in the history of the US singles chart.