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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Other • Top 1000

Top R&B Songs of 1961

1960 <-

1961

-> 1962

Video playlist

Cover

Date

Title

Album

Comment

Video

03/1961

Blue Moon by The Marcels

428

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

✫1
UK

[Colpix 186]
written by Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart

03/1961

Runaway by Del Shannon

from Runaway with Del Shannon

421

✫1
US

3
R&B

✫1
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #466]
[Big Top 3067]
written by Del Shannon (as Charles Westover) & Max Crook

12/1961

Stranger on the Shore by Mr. Acker Bilk

414

✫1
US

✫1
AC

7
R&B

2
UK

with the Leon Young String Chorale
[instrumental]
[Atco 6217]
written by Mr. Acker Bilk (as Acker Bilk) & Robert Mellin

03/1961

On the Rebound by Floyd Cramer

from On the Rebound

343

4
US

16
R&B

✫1
UK

[instrumental]
[RCA Victor 7840]
written by Floyd Cramer

09/1961

Hit the Road Jack by Ray Charles

from Ray Charles Greatest Hits

342

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

6
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #377]
[ABC-Paramount 10244]
written by Percy Mayfield

05/1961

Quarter to Three by Gary U.S. Bonds

from Dance 'Til Quarter to Three

324

✫1
US

3
R&B

7
UK

as U.S. Bonds
[Legrand 1008]
written by Gene Barge, Frank Guida & Joseph Royster

01/1961

Ebony Eyes by The Everly Brothers

from The Golden Hits of the Everly Brothers

301

8
US

25
country

25
R&B

✫1
UK

charted as Walk Right Back / Ebony Eyes in UK charts
[Warner 5199]
written by John D. Loudermilk

09/1961

Runaround Sue by Dion

from Runaround Sue

296

✫1
US

4
R&B

11
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #342]
[Laurie 3110]
written by Dion (as Dion DiMucci) & Ernie Maresca

11/1961

The Lion Sleeps Tonight by The Tokens

from The Lion Sleeps Tonight

293

✫1
US

7
R&B

11
UK

aka Wimoweh, a south african zulu song
[RCA Victor 7954]
written by Solomon Linda, Paul Campbell, Albert Stanton, Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore & George David Weiss

10.

11/1961

The Twist by Chubby Checker

from Your Twist Party

286

✫1
US

4
R&B

14
UK

[R]
[Parkway 811]
written by Hank Ballard

11.

05/1961

I Feel So Bad by Elvis Presley

269

5
US

15
R&B

4
UK

hit for Chuck Willis in 1954
[RCA Victor 47-7880]
written by Chuck Willis

12.

01/1961

Pony Time by Chubby Checker

from It's Pony Time

266

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

27
UK

[Parkway 818]
written by Don Covay & Sonny Spencer (as John Berry [John Bobby Berry])

13.

03/1961

Mother-in-Law by Ernie K-Doe

263

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

29
UK

[Minit 623]
written by Allen Toussaint

14.

05/1961

The Boll Weevil Song by Brook Benton

from The Boll Weevil Song and 11 Other Great Hits

257

2
US

✫1
AC

2
R&B

30
UK

[novelty]
[Mercury 71820]
written by traditional

15.

03/1961

I've Told Every Little Star by Linda Scott

253

3
US

22
R&B

7
UK

[Canadian American 123]
written by Jerome Kern & Oscar Hammerstein II

16.

01/1961

Wheels by The String-A-Longs

from Pick a Hit

247

3
US

19
R&B

8
UK

[instrumental]
[Warwick 603]
written by Richard Stephens, Jimmy Torres & Norman Petty (uncredited)

17.

11/1961

Peppermint Twist (Part 1) by Joey Dee & The Starliters

from Doin' the Twist as the Peppermint Lounge

243

✫1
US

8
R&B

33
UK

as Joey Dee & The Starlighters
inspired by New York City's Peppermint Lounge Club
[Roulette 4401]
written by Joey Dee & Henry Glover

18.

04/1961

Tossin' and Turnin' by Bobby Lewis

235

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

[Beltone 1002]
written by Ritchie Adams & Malou Rene

19.

09/1961

Please, Mr. Postman by The Marvelettes

from Please Mr. Postman

233

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

[Tamla 54046]
written by Georgia Dobbins, William Garrett, Brian Holland, Robert Bateman & Freddie Gorman

20.

05/1961

Stand by Me by Ben E. King

202

4
US

✫1
R&B

27
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #121]
[Atco 6194]
written by Ben E. King, Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller

21.

05/1961

I Like It Like That by Chris Kenner

202

2
US

2
R&B

[Instant 3229]
written by Chris Kenner & Allen Toussaint

22.

05/1961

Raindrops by Dee Clark

197

2
US

3
R&B

[Vee-Jay 383]
written by Dee Clark

23.

03/1961

Daddy's Home by Shep & The Limelites

194

2
US

4
R&B

[Hull 740]
written by James Sheppard & William H. Miller

24.

05/1961

You Always Hurt the One You Love by Clarence Henry

192

12
US

11
R&B

6
UK

#1 hit for the Mills Brothers in 1944
[Argo 5388]
written by Allan Roberts & Doris Fisher

25.

09/1961

Bristol Stomp by The Dovells

191

2
US

7
R&B

[Parkway 827]
written by Kal Mann & Dave Appell

26.

01/1961

Apache by Jørgen Ingmann

from Apache

190

2
US

9
R&B

[instrumental]
[Atco 6184]
written by Jerry Lordan

27.

06/1961

My True Story by The Jive Five

178

3
US

✫1
R&B

[Beltone 1006]
written by Eugene Pitt, Oscar Waltzer & Phil Belmonte

28.

11/1961

I Know (You Don't Love Me No More) by Barbara George

178

3
US

✫1
R&B

[AFO 302]
written by Barbara George

29.

01/1961

Baby Sittin' Boogie by Buzz Clifford

from Baby Sittin' with Buzz Clifford

176

6
US

28
country

27
R&B

17
UK

[novelty]
[Columbia 4-41876]
written by Johnny Parker

30.

07/1961

Last Night by The Mar-Keys

from Last Night!

174

3
US

2
R&B

[instrumental]
[Satellite 107]
written by Charles Axton, Jerry Lee Smith, Floyd Newman, Chips Moman & Gil Caple

31.

01/1961

Dedicated to the One I Love by The Shirelles

from Tonight's the Night

173

3
US

2
R&B

[R]
[Scepter 1203]
written by Ralph Bass & Lowman Pauling

32.

07/1961

Hurt by Timi Yuro

from Hurt!!!!!!

168

4
US

2
AC

22
R&B

[Liberty 55343]
written by Al Jacobs & Jimmie Crane

33.

04/1961

Mama Said by The Shirelles

162

4
US

2
R&B

[Scepter 1217]
written by Luther Dixon & Willie Denson

34.

06/1961

Cupid by Sam Cooke

from The Best of Sam Cooke

161

17
US

20
R&B

7
UK

[Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #452]
[RCA Victor 7883]
written by Sam Cooke

35.

03/1961

A Hundred Pounds of Clay by Gene McDaniels

from 100 Lbs. of Clay!

161

3
US

11
R&B

[Liberty 55308]
written by Kay Rogers, Luther Dixon & Bob Elgin

36.

05/1961

The Writing on the Wall by Adam Wade

151

5
US

5
AC

21
R&B

[Coed 550]
written by Mark Barkan, Sandy Baron & George Eddy

37.

10/1961

Tower of Strength by Gene McDaniels

from Tower of Strength

145

5
US

5
R&B

[Liberty 55371]
written by Burt Bacharach & Bob Hilliard

38.

05/1961

Every Beat of My Heart by Gladys Knight & the Pips

from Letter Full of Tears

143

6
US

✫1
R&B

as The Pips
[Vee-Jay 386]
written by Johnny Otis

39.

08/1961

Mexico by Bob Moore

from Mexico

140

7
US

✫1
AC

22
R&B

as Bob Moore and his Orchestra
[instrumental]
[Monument 446]
written by Boudleaux Bryant

40.

07/1961

School Is Out by Gary U.S. Bonds

from Dance 'Til Quarter to Three

137

5
US

12
R&B

[Legrand 1009]
written by Gary U.S. Bonds (as Gary Anderson) & Gene Barge

41.

08/1961

Ya Ya by Lee Dorsey

134

7
US

✫1
R&B

[Fury 1053]
written by Lee Dorsey, Clarence Lewis, Bobby Robinson (as Morgan Robinson) & Morris Levy

42.

03/1961

Take Good Care of Her by Adam Wade

133

7
US

20
R&B

38
UK

[Coed 546]
written by Arthur Kent & Ed Warren

43.

03/1961

One Mint Julep by Ray Charles

from Genius+Soul=Jazz

124

8
US

✫1
R&B

[Impulse 200]
written by Rudy Toombs

44.

03/1961

You Can Depend on Me by Brenda Lee

from Brenda, That's All

123

6
US

25
R&B

[Decca 31231]
written by Charles Carpenter, Louis Dunlap & Earl Hines

45.

10/1961

Soothe Me by The Sims Twins

118

8
US

4
R&B

[Sar 117]
written by Sam Cooke

46.

11/1961

Unchain My Heart by Ray Charles

from Ray Charles Greatest Hits

117

9
US

✫1
R&B

[ABC-Paramount 10266]
written by Bobby Sharp & Teddy Powell (disputed credit)

47.

09/1961

The Fly by Chubby Checker

from For Teen Twisters Only

116

7
US

11
R&B

[Parkway 830]
written by John Medora (as John Madara) & David White

48.

12/1961

Baby It's You by The Shirelles

from Baby It's You

115

8
US

3
R&B

[Scepter 1227]
written by Burt Bacharach, Mack David & Luther Dixon (as Barney Williams)

49.

04/1961

What'd I Say by Jerry Lee Lewis

from Jerry Lee's Greatest

115

30
US

27
country

26
R&B

10
UK

[Sun 356]
written by Ray Charles

50.

10/1961

Heartaches by The Marcels

113

7
US

19
R&B

#1 hit for Ted Weems in 1947
[Colpix 612]
written by Al Hoffman & John Klenner

51.

07/1961

As If I Didn't Know by Adam Wade

109

10
US

4
AC

16
R&B

[Coed 553]
written by Scott David & Larry Kusik

52.

12/1961

Dear Lady Twist by Gary U.S. Bonds

107

9
US

5
R&B

[Legrand 1015]
written by Frank Guida (as Frank J. Guida)

53.

10/1961

Moon River by Jerry Butler

from Moon River

105

11
US

3
AC

14
R&B

[Vee-Jay 405]
written by Henry Mancini & Johnny Mercer

54.

08/1961

One Track Mind by Bobby Lewis

103

9
US

8
R&B

[Beltone 1012]
written by Bobby Lewis & Malou Rene

55.

06/1961

Let's Twist Again by Chubby Checker

from Let's Twist Again

102

8
US

26
R&B

[Parkway 824]
written by Kal Mann & Dave Appell

56.

10/1961

September in the Rain by Dinah Washington

from September in the Rain

100

23
US

5
AC

5
R&B

35
UK

#1 hit for Guy Lombardo in 1937
[Mercury 71876]
written by Harry Warren & Al Dubin

57.

01/1961

Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes) by Carla Thomas

from Gee Whiz

100

10
US

5
R&B

[Atlantic 2086]
written by Carla Thomas

58.

05/1961

Those Oldies but Goodies (Remind Me of You) by Little Caesar & the Romans

9
US

28
R&B

as Caesar & the Romans
[Del-Fi 4158]
written by Nick Curinga & Paul Politi

59.

01/1961

My Empty Arms by Jackie Wilson

from Jackie Wilson Sings the World's Greatest Melodies

9
US

25
R&B

[Brunswick 55201]
written by Hank Hunter & Al Kasha

60.

02/1961

Think Twice by Brook Benton

11
US

6
R&B

B side to For My Baby
[Mercury 71774]
written by Joe Shapiro, Jimmy Williams [Jimmy T. Williams] & Clyde Otis

61.

07/1961

It's Gonna Work Out Fine by Ike & Tina Turner

from Dynamite!

14
US

2
R&B

[Sue 749]
written by Rose Marie McCoy & Joe Seneca (as Sylvia McKinney)

62.

01/1961

You Can Have Her by Roy Hamilton

from You Can Have Her

12
US

6
R&B

[Epic 9434]
written by Bill Cook

63.

07/1961

Let the Four Winds Blow by Fats Domino

from Million Sellers by Fats

15
US

2
R&B

[Imperial 5764]
written by Fats Domino (as Antoine Domino) & Dave Bartholomew

64.

07/1961

A Little Bit of Soap by The Jarmels

12
US

7
R&B

[Laurie 3098]
written by Bert Russell (as Bert Berns)

65.

07/1961

Amor by Ben E. King

from Spanish Harlem

18
US

10
R&B

38
UK

[Atco 6203]
written by Gabriel Ruiz, Ricardo López Méndez & Sunny Skylar

66.

12/1961

Smoky Places by The Corsairs

12
US

10
R&B

featuring Jay "Bird" Uzzell
[Tuff 1808]
written by Abner Spector

67.

05/1961

Barbara-Ann by The Regents [American doo-wop group]

13
US

7
R&B

[Gee 1065]
written by Fred Fassert

68.

07/1961

I'll Be There by Damita Jo

12
US

15
R&B

answer-song to "stand by me"
[Mercury 71840]
written by Ben E. King, Ollie Jones, Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller

69.

08/1961

Look in My Eyes by The Chantels

from On Tour

14
US

6
R&B

[Carlton 555]
written by Richard Barrett

70.

12/1961

Tuff by Ace Cannon

from Tuff-Sax

17
US

3
R&B

[instrumental]
[Hi 2040]
written by Ace Cannon

71.

06/1961

Please Stay by The Drifters

14
US

13
R&B

[Atlantic 2105]
written by Burt Bacharach & Bob Hilliard

72.

10/1961

Gypsy Woman by The Impressions

from The Impressions

20
US

2
R&B

[ABC-Paramount 10241]
written by Curtis Mayfield

73.

11/1961

Revenge by Brook Benton

15
US

12
R&B

[Mercury 71903]
written by Brook Benton, Oliver Hall & Marnie Ewald

74.

12/1961

Letter Full of Tears by Gladys Knight & the Pips

from Letter Full of Tears

19
US

3
R&B

[Fury 1054]
written by Don Covay

75.

08/1961

Frankie and Johnny by Brook Benton

from The Boll Weevil Song and 11 Other Great Hits

20
US

6
AC

14
R&B

[Mercury 71859]
written by traditional

76.

09/1961

Just Out of Reach (Of My Two Open Arms) by Solomon Burke

24
US

6
AC

7
R&B

[Atlantic 2114]
written by Virgil Stewart

77.

09/1961

Sweets for My Sweet by The Drifters

16
US

10
R&B

[Atlantic 2117]
written by Doc Pomus & Mort Shuman

78.

10/1961

Big John by The Shirelles

from Baby It's You

21
US

2
R&B

[Scepter 1223]
written by John Patton & Amiel Sommers

79.

11/1961

There's No Other (Like My Baby) by The Crystals

from Twist Uptown

20
US

5
R&B

[Philles 100]
written by Leroy Bates & Phil Spector

80.

05/1961

It Keeps Rainin' by Fats Domino

from I Miss You So

23
US

18
R&B

49
UK

[Imperial 5753]
written by Fats Domino, Dave Bartholomew & Bobby Charles

81.

05/1961

Heart and Soul by The Cleftones

18
US

10
R&B

[Gee 1064]
written by Hoagy Carmichael & Frank Loesser

82.

06/1961

I'm Comin' On Back to You by Jackie Wilson

from By Special Request

19
US

9
R&B

[Brunswick 55216]
written by Al Kasha & Horace Ott

83.

07/1961

I'll Never Smile Again by The Platters

25
US

7
AC

17
R&B

#1 hit for Tommy Dorsey in 1940
[Mercury 71847]
written by Ruth Lowe

84.

03/1961

Funny by Maxine Brown

25
US

3
R&B

[Nomar 106]
written by S. W. Taylor & Maxine Brown

85.

01/1961

What a Price by Fats Domino

from Million Sellers by Fats

22
US

7
R&B

[Imperial 5723]
written by Fats Domino (as Antoine Domino), Jack Jessup & Pee Wee Maddux

86.

03/1961

Please Tell Me Why by Jackie Wilson

from Jackie Sings The Blues

20
US

11
R&B

[Brunswick 55208]
written by Joyce Lee

87.

12/1961

Turn On Your Love Light by Bobby Bland

from Here's the Man

28
US

2
R&B

[Duke 344]
written by Don Robey (as Deadric Malone) & Joe Scott (as Joseph Scott)

88.

06/1961

The Switch-A-Roo by The Midnighters

26
US

3
R&B

as Hank Ballard & the Midnighters
B side to The Float
[King 5510]
written by Al Kasha, Alonzo Tucker & Gordon Evans

89.

02/1961

For My Baby by Brook Benton

28
US

2
R&B

[Mercury 71774]
written by Clyde Otis & Willie Dixon

90.

11/1961

If You Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody by James Ray

22
US

10
R&B

[Caprice 110]
written by Rudy Clark

91.

02/1961

Hearts of Stone by Bill Black's Combo

20
US

22
R&B

[instrumental]
[Hi 2028]
written by Rudy Jackson

92.

04/1961

Peanut Butter by The Vibrations

20
US

25
R&B

as The Marathons
[Arvee 5027]
written by H. B. Barnum (as H.B. Barnum), Marty Cooper (as Martin J. Cooper), Cliff Goldsmith & Fred Smith

93.

06/1961

That's What Girls Are Made For by The Spinners [US band]

27
US

5
R&B

[Tri-Phi 1001]
written by Harvey Fuqua & Gwen Gordy (as Gwen Gordy Fuqua)

94.

07/1961

I'm a Telling You by Jerry Butler

from Aware of Love

25
US

8
R&B

[Vee-Jay 390]
written by Jerry Butler & Curtis Mayfield

95.

04/1961

Little Egypt (Ying-Yang) by The Coasters

from Coast Along with the Coasters

23
US

16
R&B

[novelty]
[Atco 6192]
written by Jerry Leiber & Mike Stoller

96.

04/1961

I'm a Fool to Care by Joe Barry

24
US

15
R&B

[Jin 144 / Smash 1702]
written by Ted Daffan

97.

03/1961

Hide Away by Freddy King

from Let's Hide Away and Dance Away with Freddy King

29
US

5
R&B

[Federal 12401]
written by Freddie King, Sonny Thompson & Hound Dog Taylor (uncredited)

98.

03/1961

Trust in Me by Etta James

from At Last!

30
US

4
R&B

[Argo 5385]
written by Ned Wever, Milton Ager & Jean Schwartz

99.

02/1961

The Watusi by The Vibrations

25
US

13
R&B

[Checker 969]
written by James Johnson [James E. Johnson], Shirley Hall & Leslie Temple

100.

09/1961

Foot Stomping (Part 1) by The Flares

25
US

20
R&B

[Felsted 8624]
written by Aaron Collins

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