| Click on a button to display a section for 1963 |
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The year end charts as published by Billboard each year were necessarily limited. In order to publish the chart the last week of December, the magazine stopped including rankings effectively the final week of November. In some cases, this caused records whose popularity crossed over from one year to another to be underrated. In some cases, these records ended up on the year end chart for two different years. In some cases, the records were not included in either chart in spite of significant popularity. The “Elvis Era Power Ranking” is an effort to correct this oversight by including all the weeks a record was on the charts, not just the weeks of a particular year. The rating is based on the record's performance in the top twenty: 20 points for being #1, 19 for #2, etc. In the case of the “cross-over” records, whether a record is included in the chart for the year it first entered or the year it last charted, the record was assigned the year in which it enjoyed its highest popularity. In some cases, there were records that were so closely split that they were included on two year end charts.
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| Click on the buttons below to access details about each particular set of rankings: |
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Several big hits of 1963 failed to do well in the Billboard year end rankings due to their initial success coming in late 1962. The most impacted was Steve Lawrence's "Go Away Little Girl." Cashbox ranked the song #2 for 1963 and it was #20 for G&T, yet it only made #80 on the Billboard chart.. Lawrence's ode to the attractions of a younger girl (too young) had initially cracked the top twenty in December of '62 and it was #1 for two weeks in January of '63. Its overall success earns it the #11 spot in the EE rankings. Bobby Vee had been consistently scoring top twenty records but falling short of the top ten until "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" was released in late 1962. It climbed to #3 in February of 1963 and its #37 EE rank is far better than the #67 it scored for Billboard. "Tell Him" by The Exciters was ignored by Billboard but earns a #61 rank on the EE chart. It was in the top ten for seven weeks and was recognized by Cashbox as the #43 song of the year.
"Since I Fell For You" by Lenny Welch peaked at #4 the final week of 1963 and remained in the top ten for several weeks into 1964 and its success placed it at #41 on the EE chart although it failed to be listed by Billboard. Two songs that went to #1 in 1963 did not make Billboard's end of the year chart. "There I've Said It Again" by Bobby Vinton, which would be the first #1 of 1964, was #9 on the EE chart (It would receive a #98 Billboard ranking for 1964) and "Dominique" by The Singing Nun was ranked #4 by EE, spending the whole month of December at the top.
But perhaps one of the biggest slights of Billboard in 1963 was "Louie Louie" by The Kingsmen. The Wand version of the record debuted in October of 1963 and it quickly gained popular notice, climbing to #2 in December. It dropped one spot in the last week of the year, but reclaimed the #2 slot the next week and remained #2 for four weeks. In all, the record spent 16 weeks in the Hot 100. But it was not in the Billboard top 100 for 1963 and only ranked #99 for 1964. On the EE Chart, one of the most recognizable records of the era was the 3rd best of the year. |
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| The chart below is sortable by clicking on the column header: |
| EE Rank |
BB Rank |
title |
artist |
Top Twenty Points |
highest ranking |
Weeks in Top Twenty |
Weeks in Top Forty |
week debuted |
Date Highest Rank |
| 1 |
|
Limbo Rock |
Chubby Checker |
200 |
2 |
14 |
17 |
9/29/1962 |
12/22/1962 |
| 2 |
40 |
Sugar Shack |
Jimmy Gilmer & The Fireballs |
195 |
1 |
12 |
13 |
9/28/1963 |
10/12/1963 |
| 3 |
|
Louie Louie |
The Kingsmen |
171 |
2 |
10 |
16 |
11/30/1963 |
12/14/1963 |
| 4 |
|
Dominique |
The Singing Nun |
169 |
1 |
11 |
12 |
11/16/1963 |
12/7/1963 |
| 5 |
6 |
Hey Paula |
Paul & Paula |
165 |
1 |
10 |
12 |
1/12/1963 |
2/16/1963 |
| 6 |
5 |
Blue Velvet |
Bobby Vinton |
164 |
1 |
10 |
12 |
8/24/1963 |
9/21/1963 |
| 7 |
4 |
He's So Fine |
The Chiffons |
161 |
1 |
11 |
12 |
3/9/1963 |
3/30/1963 |
| 8 |
9 |
My Boyfriend's Back |
The Angels |
158 |
1 |
10 |
12 |
8/10/1963 |
8/31/1963 |
| 9 |
|
There I've Said It Again |
Bobby Vinton |
156 |
1 |
10 |
12 |
12/7/1963 |
1/4/1964 |
| 10 |
|
Telstar |
The Tornadoes |
156 |
1 |
11 |
13 |
11/17/1962 |
12/22/1962 |
| 11 |
80 |
Go Away Little Girl |
Steve Lawrence |
156 |
1 |
12 |
12 |
12/8/1962 |
1/12/1963 |
| 12 |
7 |
Fingertips - Part 2 |
Little Stevie Wonder |
153 |
1 |
10 |
12 |
7/6/1963 |
8/10/1963 |
| 13 |
10 |
Sukiyaki |
Kyu Sakamoto |
148 |
1 |
11 |
12 |
5/25/1963 |
6/15/1963 |
| 14 |
20 |
I Will Follow Him |
Little Peggy March |
147 |
1 |
9 |
11 |
4/6/1963 |
4/27/1963 |
| 15 |
3 |
Rhythm of the Rain |
The Cascades |
146 |
3 |
11 |
13 |
1/26/1963 |
3/9/1963 |
| 16 |
18 |
Walk Like A Man |
The Four Seasons |
143 |
1 |
9 |
12 |
1/26/1963 |
3/2/1963 |
| 17 |
|
I'm Leaving It Up To You |
Dale & Grace |
138 |
1 |
10 |
12 |
10/26/1963 |
11/23/1963 |
| 18 |
23 |
It's My Party |
Lesley Gore |
136 |
1 |
9 |
11 |
5/18/1963 |
6/1/1963 |
| 19 |
28 |
Walk Right In |
The Rooftop Singers |
134 |
1 |
9 |
11 |
1/12/1963 |
1/26/1963 |
| 20 |
22 |
Surf City |
Jan & Dean |
133 |
1 |
10 |
11 |
6/22/1963 |
7/20/1963 |
| 21 |
31 |
Easier Said Than Done |
The Essex |
133 |
1 |
9 |
10 |
6/22/1963 |
7/6/1963 |
| 22 |
35 |
The Name Game |
Shirley Ellis |
133 |
3 |
8 |
10 |
1/9/1965 |
1/30/1965 |
| 23 |
11 |
So Much In Love |
The Tymes |
130 |
1 |
9 |
12 |
6/22/1963 |
8/3/1963 |
| 24 |
62 |
Deep Purple |
Nino Tempo & April Stevens |
130 |
1 |
9 |
12 |
10/5/1963 |
11/16/1963 |
| 25 |
29 |
If You Wanna Be Happy |
Jimmy Soul |
129 |
1 |
9 |
11 |
4/20/1963 |
5/18/1963 |
| 26 |
2 |
The End of the World |
Skeeter Davis |
129 |
2 |
9 |
13 |
2/16/1963 |
3/23/1963 |
| 27 |
12 |
Puff, The Magic Dragon |
Peter, Paul & Mary |
126 |
2 |
10 |
11 |
3/30/1963 |
5/11/1963 |
| 28 |
8 |
Can't Get Used to Losing You |
Andy Williams |
126 |
2 |
9 |
12 |
3/23/1963 |
4/13/1963 |
| 29 |
33 |
Our Day Will Come |
Ruby & the Romantics |
125 |
1 |
8 |
10 |
2/23/1963 |
3/23/1963 |
| 30 |
75 |
Washington Square |
The Village Stompers |
124 |
2 |
9 |
12 |
10/5/1963 |
11/23/1963 |
| 31 |
17 |
You're the Reason I'm Living |
Bobby Darin |
122 |
3 |
10 |
12 |
2/2/1963 |
3/16/1963 |
| 32 |
32 |
Ruby Baby |
Dion |
121 |
2 |
8 |
11 |
1/26/1963 |
2/23/1963 |
| 33 |
35 |
Be My Baby |
The Ronettes |
117 |
2 |
9 |
10 |
9/14/1963 |
10/12/1963 |
| 34 |
1 |
Surfin' U.S.A. |
The Beach Boys |
117 |
3 |
10 |
14 |
4/13/1963 |
5/25/1963 |
| 35 |
14 |
Wipe Out |
The Surfaris |
114 |
2 |
9 |
10 |
7/6/1963 |
8/10/1963 |
| 36 |
13 |
Blowing in the Wind |
Peter, Paul & Mary |
114 |
2 |
8 |
12 |
7/12/1963 |
8/17/1963 |
| 37 |
67 |
The Night Has a Thousand Eyes |
Bobby Vee |
109 |
3 |
8 |
11 |
12/22/1962 |
2/2/1963 |
| 38 |
71 |
Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh |
Alan Sherman |
107 |
2 |
8 |
8 |
8/10/1963 |
8/24/1963 |
| 39 |
45 |
Busted |
Ray Charles |
106 |
4 |
8 |
11 |
9/14/1963 |
10/19/1963 |
| 40 |
39 |
Candy Girl |
The Four Seasons |
103 |
3 |
8 |
10 |
7/20/1963 |
8/24/1963 |
| 41 |
|
Since I Fell For You |
Lenny Welch |
103 |
4 |
10 |
12 |
11/23/1963 |
12/28/1963 |
| 42 |
26 |
Heat Wave |
Martha & the Vandellas |
102 |
4 |
9 |
11 |
8/17/1963 |
9/21/1963 |
| 43 |
57 |
Sally Go Round the Roses |
The Jaynetts |
101 |
2 |
7 |
9 |
9/7/1963 |
9/28/1963 |
| 44 |
30 |
If I Had a Hammer |
Trini Lopez |
100 |
3 |
8 |
11 |
8/10/1963 |
9/7/1963 |
| 45 |
58 |
Devil in Disguise |
Elvis Presley |
100 |
3 |
8 |
8 |
7/13/1963 |
8/10/1963 |
| 46 |
25 |
You Can't Sit Down |
The Dovells |
99 |
3 |
9 |
11 |
5/11/1963 |
6/15/1963 |
| 47 |
|
Everybody |
Tommy Roe |
99 |
3 |
8 |
11 |
10/26/1963 |
12/7/1963 |
| 48 |
42 |
Blue On Blue |
Bobby Vinton |
99 |
3 |
8 |
10 |
6/1/1963 |
7/6/1963 |
| 49 |
|
Forget Him |
Bobby Rydell |
96 |
4 |
8 |
12 |
12/7/1963 |
1/18/1964 |
| 50 |
43 |
Cry Baby |
Garnet Mimms & The Enchanters |
95 |
4 |
8 |
11 |
9/7/1963 |
10/12/1963 |
| 51 |
46 |
Da Doo Ron Ron |
The Crystals |
94 |
3 |
8 |
10 |
5/11/1963 |
6/8/1963 |
| 52 |
36 |
South Street |
The Orlons |
94 |
3 |
7 |
10 |
3/2/1963 |
4/13/1963 |
| 53 |
60 |
Baby Workout |
Jackie Wilson |
93 |
5 |
7 |
9 |
3/23/1963 |
4/13/1963 |
| 54 |
15 |
I Love You Because |
Al Martino |
92 |
3 |
7 |
11 |
5/4/1963 |
6/1/1963 |
| 55 |
53 |
Mean Woman Blues |
Roy Orbison |
92 |
5 |
8 |
10 |
9/28/1963 |
11/2/1963 |
| 56 |
21 |
Pipeline |
The Chantays |
91 |
4 |
8 |
11 |
4/6/1963 |
5/4/1963 |
| 57 |
|
She's a Fool |
Lesley Gore |
91 |
5 |
9 |
11 |
10/19/1963 |
12/7/1963 |
| 58 |
34 |
Hello Stranger |
Barbara Lewis |
90 |
3 |
7 |
10 |
5/25/1963 |
6/22/1963 |
| 59 |
73 |
Tie Me Kangaroo Down, Sport |
Rolf Harris |
90 |
3 |
7 |
9 |
6/22/1963 |
7/13/1963 |
| 60 |
85 |
It's All Right |
The Impressions |
90 |
4 |
8 |
11 |
10/12/1963 |
11/9/1963 |
| 61 |
|
Tell Him |
The Exciters |
87 |
4 |
7 |
10 |
12/15/1962 |
1/19/1963 |
| 62 |
72 |
Judy's Turn to Cry |
Lesley Gore |
87 |
5 |
7 |
9 |
7/20/1963 |
8/17/1963 |
| 63 |
48 |
Memphis |
Lonnie Mack |
84 |
5 |
8 |
10 |
6/22/1963 |
7/20/1963 |
| 64 |
|
Hotel Happiness |
Brook Benton |
83 |
3 |
7 |
10 |
12/8/1962 |
1/19/1963 |
| 65 |
24 |
Blame It On the Bossa Nova |
Eydie Gorme |
83 |
7 |
8 |
11 |
2/9/1963 |
3/2/1963 |
| 66 |
|
You Don't Have To Be A Baby To Cry |
The Caravelles |
80 |
3 |
7 |
10 |
11/23/1963 |
12/21/1963 |
| 67 |
44 |
Two Faces Have I |
Lou Christie |
75 |
6 |
7 |
10 |
4/27/1963 |
6/1/1963 |
| 68 |
59 |
Those Lazy Hazy Crazy Days of Summer |
Nat King Cole |
72 |
6 |
7 |
9 |
5/25/1963 |
6/28/1963 |
| 69 |
|
Surfer Girl |
The Beach Boys |
72 |
7 |
9 |
11 |
8/17/1963 |
9/14/1963 |
| 70 |
47 |
Foolish Little Girl |
The Shirelles |
71 |
4 |
7 |
9 |
4/20/1963 |
5/25/1963 |
| 71 |
|
Then He Kissed Me |
The Crystals |
70 |
6 |
8 |
9 |
8/31/1963 |
9/14/1963 |
| 72 |
52 |
Losing You |
Brenda Lee |
70 |
6 |
7 |
10 |
4/20/1963 |
5/25/1963 |
| 73 |
76 |
Donna the Prima Donna |
Dion |
70 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9/28/1963 |
10/26/1963 |
| 74 |
87 |
One Fine Day |
The Chiffons |
69 |
5 |
6 |
9 |
6/8/1963 |
7/13/1963 |
| 75 |
49 |
In Dreams |
Roy Orbison |
69 |
7 |
8 |
10 |
2/23/1963 |
3/30/1963 |
| 76 |
64 |
Up on the Roof |
The Drifters |
67 |
5 |
7 |
11 |
12/29/1962 |
2/9/1963 |
| 77 |
63 |
From a Jack to a King |
Ned Miller |
67 |
6 |
6 |
8 |
1/26/1963 |
2/16/1963 |
| 78 |
|
Two Lovers |
Mary Wells |
66 |
7 |
7 |
10 |
12/15/1962 |
1/19/1963 |
| 79 |
|
My Dad |
Paul Petersen |
65 |
6 |
7 |
10 |
12/15/1962 |
1/26/1963 |
| 80 |
|
Be True To Your School |
The Beach Boys |
65 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
11/23/1963 |
12/21/1963 |
| 81 |
65 |
What Will Mary Say |
Johnny Mathis |
65 |
9 |
7 |
10 |
2/9/1963 |
3/9/1963 |
| 82 |
|
Loop De Loop |
Johnny Thunder |
62 |
4 |
7 |
9 |
1/5/1963 |
2/9/1963 |
| 83 |
41 |
Still |
Bill Anderson |
61 |
8 |
7 |
11 |
5/11/1963 |
6/8/1963 |
| 84 |
96 |
Maria Elena |
Los Indios Tabajaras |
60 |
6 |
6 |
10 |
10/12/1963 |
11/16/1963 |
| 85 |
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Drip Drop |
Dion |
60 |
6 |
6 |
9 |
11/23/1963 |
12/28/1963 |
| 86 |
56 |
You've Really Got a Hold on Me |
The Miracles |
60 |
8 |
7 |
10 |
1/12/1963 |
2/9/1963 |
| 87 |
19 |
Mockingbird |
Inez Foxx |
59 |
7 |
6 |
10 |
8/3/1963 |
9/7/1963 |
| 88 |
16 |
Wild Weekend |
The Rockin' Rebels |
57 |
8 |
6 |
12 |
1/26/1963 |
3/9/1963 |
| 89 |
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Young Lovers |
Paul & Paula |
56 |
6 |
5 |
8 |
1/12/1963 |
4/20/1963 |
| 90 |
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Talk Back Trembling Lips |
Johnny Tillotson |
56 |
7 |
6 |
10 |
11/30/1963 |
1/4/1964 |
| 91 |
51 |
I Can't Stay Mad At You |
Skeeter Davis |
55 |
7 |
6 |
11 |
9/21/1963 |
11/2/1963 |
| 92 |
68 |
Don't Say Nothin' Bad (About My Baby) |
The Cookies |
55 |
7 |
5 |
9 |
3/23/1963 |
4/27/1963 |
| 93 |
50 |
More |
Kai Winding |
54 |
8 |
6 |
9 |
7/27/1963 |
8/24/1963 |
| 94 |
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It's Up To You |
Ricky Nelson |
52 |
6 |
6 |
9 |
12/29/1962 |
2/2/1963 |
| 95 |
93 |
Wonderful! Wonderful! |
The Tymes |
52 |
7 |
5 |
8 |
8/31/1963 |
9/28/1963 |
| 96 |
|
Walking The Dog |
Rufus Thomas |
52 |
10 |
6 |
9 |
11/2/1963 |
12/7/1963 |
| 97 |
38 |
The Monkey Time |
Major Lance |
51 |
8 |
6 |
10 |
8/10/1963 |
9/7/1963 |
| 98 |
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Zip A Dee Do Dah |
Bob B.Soxx & The Blue Jeans |
49 |
8 |
6 |
9 |
12/8/1962 |
1/12/1963 |
| 99 |
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Bossa Nova Baby |
Elvis Presley |
49 |
8 |
4 |
7 |
11/2/1963 |
11/16/1963 |
| 100 |
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Pepino The Italian Mouse |
Lou Monte |
47 |
3 |
5 |
9 |
12/31/1962 |
1/12/1963 |
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