1960 Billboard Number One Hits: Every Hot 100 Chart-Topper

The 1960 Billboard Number One Hits list captured early-1960s pop just before Motown, surf music, girl groups, and the British Invasion reshaped the chart. Country story songs, teen tragedy records, instrumentals, Elvis Presley, dance records, novelty songs, R&B crossovers, and romantic ballads all reached No. 1. Marty Robbins opened the year with El Paso, Percy Faith dominated the spring with Theme from A Summer Place, Chubby Checker launched a dance revolution with The Twist, and Elvis Presley closed the year with Are You Lonesome Tonight?.

This page follows the Billboard Hot 100 issue dates for 1960, shown here as reader-friendly weekly date ranges. Because Billboard chart weeks can cross calendar years, this list begins with the first Billboard issue of 1960 and continues into early 1961 with Elvis Presley’s Are You Lonesome Tonight?.

The Billboard Hot 100 ranks the most popular songs in the United States using radio airplay and sales. These are official Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 songs, not pop-only, R&B-only, country-only, adult-contemporary-only, or “this was definitely on the diner jukebox while someone ordered a malt” rankings.

1960 Billboard Number One Hits by Week

January 4 – January 17, 1960: El Paso – Marty Robbins
January 18 – February 7, 1960: Running Bear – Johnny Preston
February 8 – February 21, 1960: Teen Angel – Mark Dinning
February 22 – April 24, 1960: Theme from A Summer Place – Percy Faith
April 25 – May 22, 1960: Stuck on You – Elvis Presley
May 23 – June 26, 1960: Cathy’s Clown – The Everly Brothers
June 27 – July 10, 1960: Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool – Connie Francis
July 11 – July 17, 1960: Alley Oop – Hollywood Argyles
July 18 – August 7, 1960: I’m Sorry – Brenda Lee
August 8 – August 14, 1960: Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini – Brian Hyland
August 15 – September 18, 1960: It’s Now or Never – Elvis Presley
September 19 – September 25, 1960: The Twist – Chubby Checker
September 26 – October 9, 1960: My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own – Connie Francis
October 10 – October 16, 1960: Mr. Custer – Larry Verne
October 17 – October 23, 1960: Save the Last Dance for Me – The Drifters
October 24 – October 30, 1960: I Want to Be Wanted – Brenda Lee
October 31 – November 13, 1960: Save the Last Dance for Me – The Drifters
November 14 – November 20, 1960: Georgia on My Mind – Ray Charles
November 21 – November 27, 1960: Stay – Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs
November 28, 1960 – January 7, 1961: Are You Lonesome Tonight? – Elvis Presley

Song-by-Song Notes on the 1960 Billboard No. 1 Hits

El Paso – Marty Robbins

Marty Robbins opened the 1960 Billboard Hot 100 calendar with El Paso, a cinematic country story song about love, jealousy, violence, and regret. The song’s Western narrative and dramatic arrangement made it one of the most memorable country-pop crossovers of the era.

Its two-week run showed that story songs still had major power on the early Hot 100. It was basically a Western movie in under five minutes, minus the popcorn and questionable theater seats.

Running Bear – Johnny Preston

Johnny Preston spent three weeks at No. 1 with Running Bear, written by J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson. The song had been recorded before Richardson died in the 1959 plane crash that also killed Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens.

Its chart success gave the song a bittersweet link to the end of the 1950s rock-and-roll era. The record’s Native-themed framing is very much of its time and should be understood as a 1960 pop artifact.

Teen Angel – Mark Dinning

Mark Dinning spent two weeks at No. 1 with Teen Angel, one of the best-known teen tragedy songs of the early 1960s. The song’s melodramatic story of a fatal train accident fit a short-lived but very noticeable pop trend.

Its success showed that heartbreak records could go beyond breakups and straight into roadside tragedy. Early-1960s pop was not always as innocent as the sweaters suggested.

Theme from A Summer Place – Percy Faith

Percy Faith spent nine weeks at No. 1 with Theme from A Summer Place, the longest Hot 100 run of 1960. The lush instrumental became Billboard’s year-end Hot 100 song of 1960 and one of the most successful instrumental singles of the rock era.

The recording later won the Grammy Award for Record of the Year. It is the rare instrumental that did not need lyrics, a dance craze, or a teen idol to dominate the chart.

Stuck on You – Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley returned to No. 1 with Stuck on You, his first single released after his U.S. Army service. The song’s success proved that Elvis’ commercial power had survived his time away from the pop spotlight.

Its four-week run announced that Elvis was still Elvis. The uniform came off, the hits resumed, and the chart adjusted accordingly.

Cathy’s Clown – The Everly Brothers

The Everly Brothers spent five weeks at No. 1 with Cathy’s Clown, one of their biggest and most distinctive hits. The song’s marching rhythm, close harmonies, and wounded pride helped it stand apart from their earlier rock-and-roll and country-pop singles.

It became one of the duo’s signature recordings and a major harmony record of the early 1960s.

Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool – Connie Francis

Connie Francis became the first solo female artist to top the Billboard Hot 100 with Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool. The song’s pop ballad style fit Francis’ smooth, emotionally direct vocal approach.

Its two-week run was a major milestone for women on the Hot 100, and Francis returned to No. 1 again later in the year.

Alley Oop – Hollywood Argyles

Hollywood Argyles reached No. 1 with Alley Oop, a novelty rock-and-roll song based on the comic-strip caveman character. The record’s goofy vocal energy and prehistoric theme made it one of 1960’s oddest chart-toppers.

Its one-week run proves the Hot 100 has always had room for serious ballads, dance crazes, country epics, and cartoon cavemen. Balance is important.

I’m Sorry – Brenda Lee

Brenda Lee spent three weeks at No. 1 with I’m Sorry, a dramatic pop ballad released when she was still a teenager. Lee’s powerful voice made the song feel older than her years.

Its success helped confirm “Little Miss Dynamite” as one of the strongest young vocalists of the era.

Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini – Brian Hyland

Brian Hyland reached No. 1 with Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini, a novelty-pop song about a shy girl in a new swimsuit. The record captured early-1960s beach culture and teen novelty humor in one very long title.

Its one-week run was brief, but the title became permanent pop-culture shorthand. Some hooks are melodies; some are entire laundry lists.

It’s Now or Never – Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley spent five weeks at No. 1 with It’s Now or Never, a dramatic pop adaptation inspired by the Italian song O Sole Mio. The record showed Elvis’ ability to move beyond rock and roll into a broader international pop style.

Its five-week run made it one of his biggest post-Army hits and one of the year’s strongest singles.

The Twist – Chubby Checker

Chubby Checker reached No. 1 with The Twist, the dance record that helped launch one of the biggest dance crazes in American pop history. The song had originally been recorded by Hank Ballard and the Midnighters, but Checker’s version became the national phenomenon.

Its 1960 chart run was only the first chapter. The same recording returned to No. 1 again in 1962, making it one of the most unusual chart stories in Hot 100 history.

My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own – Connie Francis

Connie Francis returned to No. 1 with My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own, giving her a second Hot 100 chart-topper in 1960. The song mixed pop balladry with a slight country flavor.

Its two-week run made Francis one of only three acts with more than one No. 1 during the 1960 issue-date year.

Mr. Custer – Larry Verne

Larry Verne reached No. 1 with Mr. Custer, a comic novelty record built around the Battle of the Little Bighorn. The song’s nervous narrator wants no part of the fight, which made it a spoken-sung comedy hit.

Its Native American and Western comedy framing reflects dated 1960 pop conventions, but as a chart artifact it shows how strongly novelty records could still perform.

Save the Last Dance for Me – The Drifters

The Drifters reached No. 1 with Save the Last Dance for Me, one of the group’s most beloved pop-soul records. Ben E. King’s lead vocal and the song’s elegant Latin-tinged rhythm helped make it a classic.

The song had an interrupted No. 1 run: one week at the top, then Brenda Lee’s I Want to Be Wanted, then two more weeks back at No. 1. The last dance had a brief intermission.

I Want to Be Wanted – Brenda Lee

Brenda Lee returned to No. 1 with I Want to Be Wanted, a dramatic ballad adapted from the Italian song Per tutta la vita. Like I’m Sorry, it showed how mature Lee’s voice sounded despite her age.

Its one-week run made Lee one of only three acts with multiple No. 1 songs in 1960.

Georgia on My Mind – Ray Charles

Ray Charles reached No. 1 with Georgia on My Mind, his landmark version of the Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell standard. Charles’ recording blended pop, soul, jazz, and blues into one of his most enduring performances.

The song later became the official state song of Georgia. That is a pretty strong second career for a pop single.

Stay – Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs

Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs reached No. 1 with Stay, a short, high-energy vocal-group hit. At just over a minute and a half, it became one of the shortest No. 1 singles in Hot 100 history.

The song later gained major pop-culture life through its use in *Dirty Dancing*. Short song, long afterlife.

Are You Lonesome Tonight? – Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley closed the 1960 Billboard Hot 100 year with Are You Lonesome Tonight?, which carried into January 1961. The ballad’s spoken bridge and dramatic delivery made it one of Elvis’ most recognizable post-Army recordings.

Its cross-year run helped give Elvis 14 total weeks at No. 1 during the 1960 issue-date year, more than any other artist.

Biggest Billboard Hot 100 Stories of 1960

Theme from A Summer Place Was Billboard’s Year-End No. 1

Percy Faith’s Theme from A Summer Place spent nine weeks at No. 1 and finished as Billboard’s top Hot 100 song of 1960. Its long run made it one of the most successful instrumental pop records of the Hot 100 era.

Elvis Presley Had the Most Weeks at No. 1

Elvis Presley spent 14 total weeks at No. 1 in 1960 with Stuck on You, It’s Now or Never, and Are You Lonesome Tonight?. He was the year’s dominant No. 1 artist by total weeks.

Only Three Acts Had More Than One No. 1 Song

Elvis Presley, Connie Francis, and Brenda Lee were the only acts with multiple Hot 100 No. 1 songs during the 1960 issue-date year. That made the year more varied than it may look at first glance.

The Twist Started a Chart Story That Continued in 1962

Chubby Checker’s The Twist reached No. 1 in 1960, then returned to No. 1 in 1962. That later comeback made it one of the most unusual repeat No. 1 records in Billboard Hot 100 history.

Novelty, Instrumentals, and Teen Tragedy Records Were Still Strong

Alley Oop, Mr. Custer, Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini, Theme from A Summer Place, and Teen Angel show how broad the early-1960s chart still was. The Hot 100 had room for romance, tragedy, comedy, instrumentals, dance crazes, and Elvis being Elvis.

1960 Billboard Number One Hits Trivia

Theme from A Summer Place by Percy Faith was Billboard’s year-end Hot 100 song of 1960.
Theme from A Summer Place spent nine weeks at No. 1, the longest Hot 100 run of 1960.
Elvis Presley spent 14 total weeks at No. 1 during the 1960 issue-date year.
Elvis Presley, Connie Francis, and Brenda Lee were the only acts with more than one No. 1 song in 1960.
Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool made Connie Francis the first solo female artist to top the Billboard Hot 100.
The Twist reached No. 1 in 1960 and returned to No. 1 in 1962.
Save the Last Dance for Me had an interrupted No. 1 run.
Stay by Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs is one of the shortest No. 1 songs in Hot 100 history.
Are You Lonesome Tonight? closed 1960 and carried into the 1961 Billboard chart year.

Why the 1960 Billboard Number One Hits Matter

The 1960 Billboard Number One Hits list shows a pop chart between eras. Elvis Presley was still a major force, teen tragedy songs and novelty records could still hit No. 1, instrumentals were commercially powerful, and R&B crossover records were becoming more important.

The year also set up several major early-1960s stories: Chubby Checker’s dance-craze dominance, Connie Francis and Brenda Lee as leading female pop stars, Ray Charles’ growing crossover power, and Elvis’ post-Army hit streak. It was not yet the sound of the mid-1960s, but the pieces were moving.

For chart fans, 1960 had Western drama, tragic teens, summer-place strings, Elvis returns, Everly harmonies, polka-dot swimwear, prehistoric novelty rock, The Twist, Ray Charles, and one very short song asking someone to stay.