1960s Music – 1960

by Michael RichComment — Updated August 3, 2023

1960s music1960s Music – 1960, what a year it was!
Elvis is discharged from the Army and he hits the ground singing. The album “Elvis Is Back” was released and included three #1 singles, “It’s Now Or Never”, “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” and “Stuck On You”. Two more songs “Wooden Spoon” and “Surrender” rounded out Elvis’s chart entries.

Number of Charted Songs Top 100:

Elvis Presley – 5
Connie Francis – 4
Brenda Lee – 2
The Drifters – 2
Bobby Vee – 2
The Everly Brothers – 2

And The Grammy Goes To:

Record of the Year – “Theme From A Summer Place” – Percy Faith
Album of the Year – “Button Down Mind” – Bob Newhart
Song of the Year: – “Theme From Exodus” – Ernest Gold, songwriter

1960s music

60s musicElvis certainly wasn’t alone on the charts however.
Superstars like Connie Francis added tunes as well, “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool” and “My Heart Has A Mind Of Its Own” both went to #1. “Where the Boys Are” only charted to #4 but was the theme song for a popular movie by the same name and was responsible for starting the “Spring Break” craze in Ft. Lauderdale among college students.
Brenda Lee lent her voice to the charts with “Sweet Nothin’s”, “I’m Sorry” and “I Want To Be Wanted” with the latter two reaching the #1 spot as well.
The Drifters contributed “Save The Last Dance For Me” and “This Magic Moment” to the top half of the chart.
Bobby Vee who had become a somewhat of a teen idol had some limited chart success with “What Do You Want?” and “Rubber Ball”.
The Everly Brothers had a #1 hit with “Cathy’s Clown” and another chart entry with “Let It Be Me”.
American Bandstand launched the careers of many young artists and many new dance crazes. One in particular was Chubby Checker who twisted his way to #1 with “The Twist”.

music of 1960
SONG ARTIST
(click to purchase)
# OF WEEKS DATE
Why Frankie Avalon 1960s Music - 1960 Photo 1 12/28
El Paso Marty Robbins 1960s Music - 1960 Photo 2 1/4
Running Bear Johnny Preston 1960s Music - 1960 Photo 3 1/18
Teen Angel Mark Dinning 1960s Music - 1960 Photo 2 2/8
The Theme from “A Summer Place” Percy Faith 1960s Music - 1960 Photo 8 2/22
Stuck on You Elvis Presley 1960s Music - 1960 Photo 4 4/25
Cathy’s Clown Everly Brothers1960s Music - 1960 Photo 5 5/23
Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool Connie Francis1960s Music - 1960 Photo 2 6/27
Alley-Oop Hollywood Argyles1960s Music - 1960 Photo 1 7/11
I’m Sorry Brenda Lee1960s Music - 1960 Photo 3 7/18
Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini Brian Hyland1960s Music - 1960 Photo 1 8/8
It’s Now or Never Elvis Presley1960s Music - 1960 Photo 5 8/15
The Twist Chubby Checker1960s Music - 1960 Photo 1 9/19
My Heart Has a Mind of It’s Own Connie Francis1960s Music - 1960 Photo 2 9/26
Mr. Custer Larry Verne1960s Music - 1960 Photo 1 10/10
Save the Last Dance For Me The Drifters1960s Music - 1960 Photo 1 10/17
I Want To Be Wanted Brenda Lee1960s Music - 1960 Photo 3 10/24
Georgia On My Mind Ray Charles1960s Music - 1960 Photo 1 11/14
Stay Maurice Williams & Zodiacs1960s Music - 1960 Photo 1 11/21
Are You Lonesome Tonight? Elvis Presley1960s Music - 1960 Photo 6 11/28

In 1960 the expense of albums was beyond most teenage allowances. The bulk of the “Top 40” music was purchased on 45rpm records. Album sales went mostly to adults who bought movie soundtracks, comedy, Broadway musicals, blues and jazz. So the top albums of 1960 were very different than the what the popular charts reflected:

Top Albums of 1960

Bob Newhart – Button Down Mind
Oliver – Original London Cast
Everly Brothers’s – Everly Time
Elvis Presley – Elvis Is Back
South Pacific – Original Soundtrack

Click Below For Year by Year Song Charts and Information

1960 Hits
1961 Hits
1962 Hits
1963 Hits
1964 Hits
 1965 Hits
1966 Hits
1967 Hits
1968 Hits
1969 Hits

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