Billboard Top 40,9/14/1963
Rank..Previous .. # Weeks .. Title .. Artist

#1 .. 1 / 7 My Boyfriend's Back---------------------The Angels
#2 .. 4 / 6 Blue Velvet-----------------------------Bobby Vinton
#3 .. 3 / 8 If I Had a Hammer-----------------------Trini Lopez
#4 .. 2 / 7 Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh--------------Alan Sherman
#5 .. 6 / 7 Heat Wave-------------------------------Martha & the Vandellas
#6 .. 15 / 5 Then He Kissed Me-----------------------The Crystals
#7 .. 12 / 7 Surfer Girl-----------------------------The Beach Boys
#8 .. 8 / 10 The Monkey Time-------------------------Major Lance
#9 .. 29 / 3 Sally Go Round the Roses----------------The Jaynetts
#10 .. 7 / 13 Mockingbird-----------------------------Inez Foxx
#11 .. 10 / 8 Hey Girl--------------------------------Freddie Scott
#12 .. 5 / 11 Candy Girl------------------------------The Four Seasons
#13 .. 31 / 5 Cry Baby---------------Garnet Mimms & The Enchanters
#14 .. 14 / 8 Frankie & Johnny------------------------Sam Cooke
#15 .. 21 / 5 Mickey's Monkey-------------------------The Miracles
#16 .. 22 / 5 Wonderful! Wonderful!-------------------The Tymes
#17 .. 20 / 8 Painted, Tainted Rose-------------------Al Martino
#18 .. 13 / 14 Denise----------------------Randy & the Rainbows
#19 .. 19 / 6 You Can Never Stop Me Loving You-----Johnny Tillotson
#20 .. 55 / 3 Be My Baby------------------------------The Ronettes
#21 .. 9 / 12 Blowing In The Wind---------------------Peter, Paul & Mary
#22 .. 27 / 6 The Kind Of Boy You Can't Forget--------The Raindrops
#23 .. 11 / 13 Fingertips - Part 2---------------------Little Stevie Wonder
#24 .. 30 / 7 The Martian Hop-------------------------The Ran-Dells
#25 .. 38 / 5 Little Deuce Coupe----------------------The Beach Boys
#26 .. 17 / 11 More------------------------------------Kai Winding
#27 .. 24 / 9 Make The World Go Away------------------Timi Yuro
#28 .. 16 / 10 Danke Schoen----------------------------Wayne Newton
#29 .. 45 / 4 A Walkin' Miracle-----------------------The Essex
#30 .. 26 / 9 Wait Til' My Bobby Gets Home------------Darlene Love
#31 .. 28 / 9 I Want To Stay Here---------------------Steve & Eydie
#32 .. 35 / 6 Hey There Lonely Boy---------Ruby & The Romantics
#33 .. 34 / 7 Desert Pete-----------------------------The Kingston Trio
#34 .. 37 / 7 Please Don't Talk To The Lifeguard------Diane Ray
#35 .. 43 / 5 Part Time Love--------------------------Little Johnny Taylor
#36 .. 36 / 6 Drownin' My Sorrows---------------------Connie Francis
#37 .. 18 / 11 Judy's Turn To Cry----------------------Lesley Gore
#38 .. 66 / 2 Busted----------------------------------Ray Charles
#39 .. 40 / 6 The Lonely Surfer-----------------------Jack Nitzsche
#40 .. 48 / 4 Why Don't You Believe Me----------------The Duprees

Girl Groups were very popular in the early 1960's and they were well represented in the top twenty from September 14th, 1963. The Angels were one of the few white Girl Groups. "My Boyfriend's Back" was in its third week at the top spot. "Heat Wave," "Then He Kissed Me," "Sally Go Round the Roses," and "Be My Baby" were the other Girl Group sounds in the top twenty. "Blue Velvet" which would replace "My Boyfriend's Back" at #1 the next week, and "Sugar Shack" by Jimmy Gilmer would keep "Be My Baby" and "Sally Go Round the Roses" out of the #1 spot while "Then He Kissed Me" was in its peak position at #6 and "Heat Wave would peak at #4 the next week.

"Blue Velvet" would become Bobby Vinton's second of four number one records. It was part of Vinton's "Blue" album that was put together after his single "Blue on Blue," a Burt Bacharach composition, reached #3 in the spring of 1963. "Blue Velvet" was included on the album even though Vinton considered it a "throwaway" -- he said "we did it in ten minutes and it's too sweet and pretty." But Epic records got so many requests from deejays to issue it as a single, that the record label over-ruled Vinton's assessment and released. Tony Bennett's original recording had peaked at #16 in 1951 and The Clovers had a #14 R&B version in 1956.

Allan Sherman had the most popular novelty song of 1963 with his summer camp spoof, "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh." It would peak at #2 the next week.

Trini Lopez's "If I Had a Hammer" was in its second week at #3 and that would be its highest point. Lopez had a return engagement that September to P.J.'s, the Hollywood night club where his hit song was recorded.

*To listen to "Novelty Songs" and "Girl Groups" playlists click here.

In 1963's "Charade," Cary Grant is 25 years older than his co-star. Do you know who she is?*