The Broadway production of “The Sound of Music” premiered in 1959 and was a big hit.  The “Original Broadway Cast” recording was done in January of 1960 and starred Mary Martin as Maria and Theodore Bikel as Captain von Trapp.  It was the #1 album for three months (February – April).

Top Albums:

Original Cast - The Sound of Music
Assorted Artists - Sixty Years of Music America Loves Best
Johnny Mathis - Faithfully
The Kingston Trio - Here We Go Again
Johnny Mathis - Heavenly

Billboard Top 40 for ,3/7/1960
Rank..Previous .. # Weeks .. Title .. Artist

#1 .. 1 / 9 Theme From A Summer Place---------------Percy Faith
#2 .. 3 / 11 He'll Have To Go----------------Jim Reeves
#3 .. 2 / 11 Handy Man----------------Jimmy Jones
#4 .. 10 / 6 Wild One----------------Bobby Rydell
#5 .. 5 / 9 What In The World's Come Over You-------Jack Scott
#6 .. 4 / 12 Teen Angel----------------Mark Dinning
#7 .. 6 / 8 Beyond The Sea----------------Bobby Darin
#8 .. 9 / 7 Baby, You've Got What It Takes----Brook Benton & Dinah Washington
#9 .. 8 / 9 Let It Be Me----------------The Everly Brothers
#10 .. 7 / 21 Running Bear----------------Johnny Preston
#11 .. 13 / 7 Forever----------------The Little Dippers
#12 .. 15 / 7 Harbor Lights----------------The Platters
#13 .. 16 / 12 Sweet Nothin's----------------Brenda Lee
#14 .. 12 / 11 Lonely Blue Boy----------------Conway Twitty
#15 .. 11 / 11 Where Or When----------------Dion & the Belmonts
#16 .. 19 / 6 Lady Luck----------------Lloyd Price
#17 .. 41 / 0 Puppy Love----------------Paul Anka
#18 .. 14 / 11 Down By The Station----------------The Four Preps
#19 .. 27 / 4 Beatnik Fly----------------Johnny & The Hurricanes
#20 .. 17 / 10 Tracy's Theme----------------Spencer Ross
#21 .. 18 / 7 Midnight Special----------------Paul Evans
#22 .. 23 / 5 Delaware----------------Perry Como
#23 .. 34 / 6 (There Was A) Tall Oak Tree-------------Dorsey Burnette
#24 .. 20 / 19 You’ve Got What It Takes----------------Marv Johnson
#25 .. 25 / 6 Country Boy----------------Fats Domino
#26 .. 22 / 10 Rockin' Little Angel----------------Ray Smith
#27 .. 28 / 6 Little Bitty Girl----------------Bobby Rydell
#28 .. 21 / 16 Pretty Blue Eyes----------------Steve Lawrence
#29 .. 61 / 3 O Dio Mio----------------Annette
#30 .. 40 / 4 Outside My Window----------------The Fleetwoods
#31 .. 29 / 18 El Paso----------------Marty Robbins
#32 .. 31 / 14 Lucky Devil----------------Carl Dobkins Jr.
#33 .. 71 / 3 Alvin's Orchestra----------------The Chipmunks
#34 .. 50 / 3 (Welcome) New Lovers----------------Pat Boone
#35 .. 52 / 3 Chattanooga Shoe Shine Boy--------------Freddy Cannon
#36 .. 24 / 9 Bulldog----------------The Fireballs
#37 .. 30 / 8 Too Much Tequila----------------The Champs
#38 .. 37 / 4 Baby What You Want Me To Do-------------Jimmy Reed
#39 .. 39 / 8 Am I That Easy To Forget----------------Debbie Reynolds
#40 .. 33 / 14 Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko-Ko-Bop--Little Anthony & The Imperials

On March 7th, 1960, "Theme From a Summer Place" was in its third week of a nine week run in the top Billboard spot. It would be Billboard's #1 song of 1960. The movie was released in 1959 and starred Richard Egan, Dorothy McGuire, Troy Donahue and Sandra Dee. "Teen Angel" and "Running Bear" were former #1 records still in the top twenty.

The March 7th chart had several runner-ups on the list. "He'll Have To Go," "Handy Man," "Wild One," and "Puppy Love" were all songs that stalled at #2.

Several artists had their biggest successes in March of 1960. Brook Benton and Dinah Washington had each had success as solo performers. They produced a hit together with "Baby, You've Got What It Takes" which would peak at #5 a few weeks later. Bobby Rydell's "Wild One" was his highest ranked record (#2 on 3/28). And the Little Dippers were a "one-hit-wonder" as "Forever" would be their only top forty entry.

"Where or When" was on its way off the charts. It was the highest ranking record for Dion & The Belmonts -- Dion would split with the group the next October.