|
Rank
|
title
|
artist
|
| 1 |
Tossin' and Turnin' |
Bobby Lewis |
| 2 |
Michael |
The Highwaymen |
| 3 |
Calcutta |
Lawrence Welk |
| 4 |
Runaway |
Del Shannon |
| 5 |
Exodus |
Ferrante & Teicher |
| 6 |
Pony Time |
Chubby Checker |
| 7 |
Will You Love Me Tomorrow |
The Shirelles |
| 8 |
Raindrops |
Dee Clark |
| 9 |
Travelin' Man |
Ricky Nelson |
| 10 |
Crying |
Roy Orbison |
| 11 |
Wooden Heart |
Joe Dowell |
| 12 |
Running Scared |
Roy Orbison |
| 13 |
Take Good Care Of Her |
Adam Wade |
| 14 |
Mother-in-Law |
Ernie K-Doe |
| 15 |
The Boll Weevil Song |
Brook Benton |
| 16 |
Last Night |
The Mar-Keys |
| 17 |
A Hundred Pounds of Clay |
Gene McDaniels |
| 18 |
I Fall to Pieces |
Patsy Cline |
| 19 |
Wonderland By Night |
Bert Kaempfert |
| 20 |
Are You Lonesome Tonight |
Elvis Presley |
| 21 |
Where the Boys Are |
Connie Francis |
| 22 |
My True Story |
The Jive Five |
| 23 |
Shop Around |
The Miracles |
| 24 |
Wheels |
The String-a-Longs |
| 25 |
Quarter to Three |
Gary "U.S." Bonds |
| 26 |
Blue Moon |
The Marcels |
| 27 |
Last Date |
Floyd Cramer |
| 28 |
Dedicated to the One I Love |
The Shirelles |
| 29 |
North To Alaska |
Johnny Horton |
| 30 |
He Will Break Your Heart |
Jerry Butler |
| 31 |
Don't Worry About Me |
Marty Robbins |
| 32 |
Hit the Road Jack |
Ray Charles |
| 33 |
The Mountain's High |
Dick & Dee Dee |
| 34 |
Sad Movies (Make Me Cry) |
Sue Thompson |
| 35 |
A Thousand Stars |
Kathy Young & the Innocents |
| 36 |
Bristol Stomp |
The Dovells |
| 37 |
Apache |
Jorgen Ingmann |
| 38 |
Wheels |
Billy Vaughn |
| 39 |
Daddy's Home |
Shep & the Limelites |
| 40 |
On the Rebound |
Floyd Cramer |
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"The Top Ten" was written by Gary Theroux and Bob Gilbert and published in 1982. It provides a "Top 40" list for each year from 1956 to 1981 and a one page article on each of the top ten songs from each year. It also has a collection of information on pop history to introduce each year. |
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"Band leader Lawrence Welk is an unlikely hit maker for the rock and roll times of 1961, but his recording of "Calcutta" became a number one song in February and would be ranked #3 for the year by G & T. Mr. Welk said the tune was appropriate for him because it was "champagne music" -- an uplifting sound." |
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Chubby Checker capitalized on his 1960 success with the dance song, "The Twist" with another dance song in early 1960, "Pony Time." G & T ranked it the 6th best song of the year. |
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"Travelin Man" was a two sided hit for Rick Nelson in 1961. Its flip side, "Hello Mary Lou" (a Gene Pitney composition) went to #9. G & T ranked "Travelin Man" #9 for the year." |
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