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Top 20 music hits of the 1960s

Photo credit: Depositphotos.com
Posted on February 8, 2021 by 60+Club

Top 20 music hits of the 1960s

The ’60s was the first full decade of rock and roll, and the top twenty singles of the decade reflect a battle between old and new forms. Elvis Presley and Ray Charles, who helped lay the foundation for the explosion of rock and soul in the ’50s, each appear on the list; so does the smooth doo-wop of the Four Seasons. Louis Armstrong, the famous jazz musician who had been recording since the 1920s, had one of the biggest hit singles of the ’60s.

But the new era arrived quickly. The biggest hit from the decade? Chubby Checker’s rock-indebted dance track “The Twist,” the only song ever to hit No. 1 in two separate runs (in 1960 and again in 1962, due to its revival in its pop culture). Sounds were changing. The Beatles landed two entries on the top twenty — an early number, “I Wanna Hold Your Hand,” and the expansive “Hey Jude,” from later in their career. Soul came on strong at the end of the decade: Otis Redding’s “(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay,” from 1967, and Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” from 1968.

Top 20 music billboard hits as ranked on Billboard.

1. “The Twist” – Chubby Checker

Hot 100 Peak Position: 1
Peak Date: September 24, 1960
Listen to track

 

2. “Hey Jude” – The Beatles

Hot 100 Peak Position: 1
Peak Date: September 28, 1968
Listen to track

 

3.”The Theme From ‘A Summer Place'” – Percy Faith And His Orchestra

Hot 100 Peak Position: 1
Peak Date: February 27, 1960
Listen to track

 

4.”Tossin’ And Turnin'” – Bobby Lewis

Hot 100 Peak Position: 1
Peak Date: July 15, 1961
Listen to track

 

5.”I Want To Hold Your Hand” – The Beatles

Hot 100 Peak Position: 1
Peak Date: February 1, 1964
Listen to track

 

6.”I’m A Believer” – The Monkees

Hot 100 Peak Position: 1
Peak Date: December 31, 1966
Listen to track

 

7.”Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In” – The 5th Dimension

Hot 100 Peak Position: 1
Peak Date: April 12, 1969
Listen to track

 

8.”Sugar, Sugar” – The Archies

Hot 100 Peak Position: 1
Peak Date: September 20, 1969
Listen to track

 

9.”I Heard It Through The Grapevine” – Marvin Gaye

Hot 100 Peak Position: 1
Peak Date: December 14, 1968
Listen to track

 

10.”Are You Lonesome Tonight?” – Elvis Presley With The Jordanaires

Hot 100 Peak Position: 1
Peak Date: December 3, 1960
Listen to track

 

11.”It’s Now Or Never” – Elvis Presley With The Jordanaires

Hot 100 Peak Position: 1
Peak Date: August 20, 1960
Listen to track

 

12.”I Can’t Stop Loving You” – Ray Charles

Hot 100 Peak Position: 1
Peak Date: June 02, 1962
Listen to track

 

13.”I’m Sorry” – Brenda Lee

Hot 100 Peak Position: 1
Peak Date: July 23, 1960
Listen to track

 

14.”Love Is Blue (L’amour Est Bleu)” – Paul Mauriat And His Orchestra

Hot 100 Peak Position: 1
Peak Date: February 10, 1968
Listen to track

 

15.”Hello, Dolly!” – Louis Armstrong And The All Stars

Hot 100 Peak Position: 1
Peak Date: May 9, 1964
Listen to track

 

16.”Big Girls Don’t Cry” – The Four Seasons

Hot 100 Peak Position: 1
Peak Date: November 17, 1962
Listen to track

 

17.”Sugar Shack” – Jimmy Gilmer And The Fireballs

Hot 100 Peak Position: 1
Peak Date: October 12, 1963
Listen to track

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucdAL2_oaE

 

18.”Honky Tonk Women” – The Rolling Stones

Hot 100 Peak Position: 1
Peak Date: August 23, 1969
Listen to track

 

19.”(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay” – Otis Redding

Hot 100 Peak Position: 1
Peak Date: March 16, 1968
Listen to track

 

20.”Big Bad John” – Jimmy Dean

Hot 100 Peak Position: 1
Peak Date: November 11, 1961
Listen to track

Check out our other articles on the Top 20 music hits from the 1950s and 1970s, including videos for every song listed:

  • Top 20 hits of the 1950s
  • Top 20 hits of the 1970s

Source:
– The Top 20 Billboard Hot 100 Hits of the 1960s. 27 October 2014. By Elias Leight. Read article

 


 

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