1961 One Hit Wonders page |
| One Hit Wonders from 1961 at Tunecaster |
Here are the US 1961 one hit wonders. All the one hit wonder songs by the artists you remember, and maybe some one hit wonders you forgot. Find a one hit wonder.
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| blue # = pop chart |
| 1 | Angel Baby | 4 | Jan 1961 |
| Rosie & The Originals |
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| Rosie Hamlin wrote Angel Baby when she was 14, and the song became famous when she was 15. She was not listed as the writer on the record. Although Angel Baby was the only top 20 hit for Rosie & The Originals, Rosie followed-up with Lonely Blue Nights, which received minor radio airplay. |
| 2 | Yes, I'm Lonesome Tonight | Jan 1961 |
| Thelma Carpenter |
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| Yes, I'm Lonesome Tonight was an answer song to 1960 number one song Are You Lonesome Tonight by Elvis Presley. Vaughn Deleath originally popularized Are You Lonesome Tonight in 1924. Thelma Carpenter was a popular singer during the big band era, and sang with many top groups. She also was an actress. |
| 3 | (Ghost) Riders In The Sky | Mar 1961 |
| The Ramrods |
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| This instrumental version of (Ghost) Riders In The Sky was a top 20 near miss and by far the most popular song by The Ramrods. |
| 4 | Wheels | 7 | Mar 1961 |
| The String-A-Longs |
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| Number 7 hit instrumental song Wheels was a top 20 one hit wonder for The String-A-Longs. The group followed-up with other instrumentals that received moderate airplay. Wheels was written by Richard Stephens and Jimmy Torres. |
| 5 | Baby Sittin' Boogie | 6 | Mar 1961 |
| Buzz Clifford |
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| Baby Sittin' Boogie was the only top 20 hit for Buzz Clifford. He received some airplay for other songs too, like Three Little Fishes. |
| 6 | Asia Minor | 10 | Apr 1961 |
| Kokomo |
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| Instrumental song Asia Minor was based on Piano Concerto in A Minor by Edvard Grieg. Kokomo was actually Jimmy Wisner, hiding his identity from other classically trained musicians. Kokomo was a top 20 one hit wonder, but Jimmy Wisner received some airplay with other songs as Jimmy Wisner Trio also. The 1970s group Kokomo was unrelated. |
| 7 | Baby Blue | 5 | May 1961 |
| The Echoes |
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| Vocal group The Echoes made the top 20 once, with the song Baby Blue. The group had other popular songs out, like the follow-up, Sad Eyes (Don't You Cry), but no more top 20s. |
| 8 | Good Goodbye (So So Long) | 14 | May 1961 |
| The Bob Knight Four |
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| Good Goodbye (So So Long) was the only top 20 hit for The Bob Knight Four. The group received minor radio airplay with other songs too, like Two Friends. |
| 9 | In My Heart | Jun 1961 |
| The Timetones |
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| In My Heart was also released as Here In My Heart. The Timetones received moderate radio airplay with In My Heart, and slight airplay with I've Got A Feeling. |
| 10 | Peanut Butter | 16 | Jun 1961 |
| The Marathons |
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| The Marathons was actually The Vibrations. The record company wanted a group that sounded like The Olympics, so they secretly borrowed The Vibrations. When the record company for The Vibrations found out, it took the song and released it as by Vibrations Recorded As Marathons. The Vibrations, under its correct name, was a top instrumental surf band with many songs like The Watusi. Peanut Butter was written by: Bill Barnum, Martin Cooper, Cliff Goldsmith, Fred Smith. |
| 11 | Rama Lama Ding Dong | 11 | Jun 1961 |
| The Edsels |
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| Rama Lama Ding Dong was the only top 20 hit for The Edsels. The group received minor airplay for other songs, like Bone Shaker Joe. |
| 12 | Those Oldies But Goodies (Remind Me Of You) | 6 | Jul 1961 |
| Little Caesar And The Romans |
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| Those Oldies But Goodies was the only top 20 tune for doo-wop group Little Caesar And The Romans. Fellow group Nino And The Ebb Tides held back to back chart positions with this same song in July, 1961. Little Caesar And The Romans followed up with other songs including Memories Of Those Oldies But Goodies, which included tributes to many classic songs. |
| 13 | You Can't Sit Down | 19 | Jul 1961 |
| Philip Upchurch Combo |
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| You Can't Sit Down was an instrumental top 20 one hit wonder. The 45 RPM single had parts one and two on its sides. Part two was more famous. This was the most popular song by Philip Upchurch Combo, later known as Phil Upchurch. He received slight radio airplay with other songs, like Softly, and played guitar on many records for decades to come. |
| 14 | Pretty Little Angel Eyes | 1 | Aug 1961 |
| Curtis Lee |
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| Pretty Little Angel Eyes was the only top 20 hit for Curtis Lee. He had other songs that received radio airplay including Under The Moon Of Love. Pretty Little Angel Eyes was written by Tommy Boyce and Curtis Lee. |
| 15 | Wizard Of Love | 8 | Sep 1961 |
| The Ly-Dells |
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| Although Wizard Of Love was the only top 20 hit for The Ly-Dells, the group received minor radio airplay with other songs like Genie Of The Lamp. |
| 16 | I Just Don't Understand | 20 | Sep 1961 |
| Ann-Margret |
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| I Just Don't Understand was the most popular song by actress and performer Ann-Margret, just making the top 20. She had a few other songs that received radio airplay too, like It Do Me So Good. |
| 17 | A Little Bit Of Soap | 8 | Sep 1961 |
| The Jarmels |
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| A Little Bit Of Soap was the only top 20 hit for The Jarmels. The group received some airplay with other songs too, like Little Lonely One, a regional east coast song. |
| 18 | When We Get Married | 13 | Sep 1961 |
| The Dreamlovers |
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| This was the only top 20 hit for The Dreamlovers, who became a classic doowop group with other songs like For The First Time and If I Should Lose You. The Dreamlovers sang backup for Chubby Checker. |
| 19 | Lover's Island | 16 | Sep 1961 |
| The Blue Jays |
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| Lover's Island was the only top 20 hit for The Blue Jays. The group received minor radio airplay with other songs like Tears Are Falling too. In the 1950s, there was another group with the same name. |
| 20 | Nag | Sep 1961 |
| The Halos |
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| Nag was the greatest hit and a top 20 near miss for The Halos. The group received slight radio airplay with other songs, including Come Softly To Me. |
| 21 | Who Put The Bomp (In The Bomp, Bomp, Bomp) | 10 | Sep 1961 |
| Barry Mann |
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| Who Put The Bomp (In The Bomp, Bomp, Bomp) was the only top 20 hit for Barry Mann. He had a string of songs that received minor airplay, including The Princess And The Punk in 1976. |
| 22 | Mexico | 13 | Oct 1961 |
| Bob Moore And His Orchestra |
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| Although instrumental song Mexico was a top 20 one hit wonder for Bob Moore, he received some airplay in 1963 with another regional instrumental, Kentucky. This song was written by Boudleaux Bryant. |
| 23 | I Really Love You | 15 | Oct 1961 |
| The Stereos |
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| I Really Love You was originally released in monophonic sound. This was the only top 20 song for The Stereos, which received no measurable radio airplay with any other song. |
| 24 | Let's Get Together | 6 | Oct 1961 |
| Hayley Mills |
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| Let's Get Together was the only top 20 song for Hayley Mills, who had a near miss a few months later with Johnny Jingo. Let's Get Together was from the movie The Parent Trap. |
| 25 | This Time | 5 | Nov 1961 |
| Troy Shondell |
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| Although This Time was the only top 20 hit for Troy Shondell, some other songs by him received minor radio airplay like Tears From An Angel. Singer Tommy James named his backup band The Shondells after Troy Shondell. |
| 26 | Your Ma Said You Cried In Your Sleep Last Night | Dec 1961 |
| Kenny Dino |
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| Your Ma Said You Cried In Your Sleep Last Night was performed in 1990 by Led Zeppelin member Robert Plant. His version of the song reached number 8 on the rock chart. Kenny Dino was actually Kenny Doino. He received slight airplay with other songs too, like Betty Jean. |
