Pop and Rock Chart Archive
and Music Encyclopedia

Top 20 Song Chart for December 16, 1961

LW TW       peak  
1 1   The Lion Sleeps Tonight  
  The Tokens
    YouTube download at Amazon  

2 2   The Twist 1  
  Chubby Checker
    YouTube download at Amazon  

9 3   Run To Him  
  Bobby Vee
    YouTube download at Amazon  

3 4   Big Bad John 1  
  Jimmy Dean
    YouTube download at Amazon  

4 5   Goodbye Cruel World 4  
  James Darren
    YouTube download at Amazon  

10 6   There's No Other (Like My Baby)  
  The Crystals
    YouTube download at Amazon  

17 7   Peppermint Twist - Part I 1  
  Joey Dee & The Starliters
    YouTube download at Amazon  

6 8   Heartaches 5  
  The Marcels
    YouTube download at Amazon  

8 9   Moon River 8  
  Jerry Butler
    YouTube download at Amazon  

14 10   Walk On By 4  
  Leroy Van Dyke
    YouTube download at Amazon  

16 11   I Don't Know Why 6  
  Linda Scott
    YouTube    

20 12   When I Fall In Love 4  
  The Lettermen
    YouTube download at Amazon  

18 13   Let There Be Drums 9  
  Sandy Nelson
    YouTube download at Amazon  

- 14   Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen 8  
  Neil Sedaka
    YouTube download at Amazon  

5 15   Please Mr. Postman 1  
  The Marvelettes
    YouTube download at Amazon  

11 16   Hit The Road Jack 1  
  Ray Charles
    YouTube download at Amazon  

19 17   Gypsy Woman  
  The Impressions
    YouTube download at Amazon  

- 18   When The Boy In Your Arms (Is The Boy In Your Heart) 9  
  Connie Francis
    YouTube download at Amazon  

- 19   Moon River 16  
  Henry Mancini And His Orchestra
    YouTube download at Amazon  

- 20   Til 9  
  The Angels
    YouTube download at Amazon  

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The Tokens and The Lion Sleeps Tonight finds the top song spot on the chart this week. Chubby Checker finds the number two position this week with The Twist. Run To Him by Bobby Vee comes in at number three.


1961 Pop Top 100 Songs

top pop songs of 1961 in order

1961 Number One Pop Song Calendar

number one pop songs on any date, birthday, wedding, graduation, etc

1961 One Hit Wonders

list of one-time top 20 makers and others with one well-known song