Traditionally, radio stations do year-end countdowns of the biggest hits of the past 12 months.
Well, I’m proposing with this blog series to focus on DECADE-end countdowns.
Specifically, I’m listing the top 100 songs for four decades since rock music began topping the Billboard pop chart. This first entry compares the biggest hits from 1955-1964, from the ascent of Elvis Presley through the start of the British invasion.
And the results are very interesting, as we shall see.
The Criteria
Songs are weighted by three factors:
- Peak position in the top 10, multiplied by number of weeks at the peak
- Number of weeks in the top 10
- Number of weeks on the Hot 100 total
For the peak position, each song in the top 10 of each year received a score in reverse ranking, meaning:
- 1 point for peaking at 10
- 2 for peaking at 9 and so on… up to 10 for #1 records.
Ties are broken in that order where possible.
I feel this combination fairly accurately represents both the height and longevity of the top chart hits. Both elements should be considered when ranking songs, in my opinion.
Consider “Do You Want to Know a Secret?” by the Beatles:
Its peak of #2 in 1964 would make it seem to be a contender. But it stayed there only 1 week, just 5 weeks in the top 10, and 11 weeks total on the Hot 100, giving it a score of just 25.
To me, some songs that stayed in the top 10 and Hot 100 longer had a bigger impact, if they finished similarly high. And that’s how I’m measuring the hits.
Since the Hot 100 debuted in 1958, I’ve followed what Fred Bronson did in his The Billboard Book of Number One Hits.
I used the Best Seller chart data prior to the Hot 100. It’s not ideal, given the Best Seller had only 30 positions, but it seems the most reliable gauge to me.
It still gives much room to pre-Hot 100 hits, because a lot of them had long chart runs. In fact, I’m counting hits only when “(We’re Gonna) Rock Around The Clock” was at #1 in July 1955. Otherwise, I’d have at least five entries prior to that to include, which doesn’t sound right to me.
I’m using only one chart run for each song. Otherwise, holiday perennials would dominate the listings, skew the results and really not reflect their original popularity.
That’s why you won’t see, say, “Do You Love Me?” by the Contours, because I consider its 47 points amassed in 1962 separate from another 16 it earned in its 1988 re-release.
Enough talk. Let’s rock!
100. “Topsy II,” Cozy Cole
(1958; #3, 3 weeks, 8 weeks top 10, 21 weeks total)
The first of 13 instrumentals to appear in this listing.
99. “Limbo Rock,” Chubby Checker
(1962; #2 for 2 weeks, 12 weeks top 10, 23 weeks total
94. (tie). “Blue Velvet,” Bobby Vinton – 53
(1963; #1 3 weeks, 8 weeks top 10, 15 weeks total)
Both Chubby Checker and Bobby Vinton appear in this listing three times.
94 (tie). “Duke of Earl,” Gene Chandler – 53
(1962; #1, 3 weeks, 8 weeks top 10, 15 weeks total)
94 (tie). “Hey! Baby,” Bruce Channel – 53
(1962; #1, 3 weeks, 8 weeks top 10, 15 weeks total)
94 (tie). “Oh, Pretty Woman,” Roy Orbison – 53
(1964; #1, 3 weeks, 8 weeks top 10, 15 weeks total)
94 (tie). “The Lion Sleeps Tonight,” The Tokens – 53
(1961; 3 weeks, 8 weeks top 10, 15 weeks total)
This re-charted in 1994 with its inclusion in The Lion King soundtrack.
93. “My Boyfriend’s Back,” The Angels – 53
(1963; #1, 3 weeks, 9 weeks top 10, 14 weeks total)
One of 3 girl groups to make this listing. The others are the Supremes and the Chiffons.
92. “Banana Boat (Day-O),” Harry Belafonte – 54
(1957; #5, 5 weeks, 9 weeks top 10, 15 weeks total)
The next record to peak at the fifth position for 5 weeks was “(Sweet Sweet Baby) Since You’ve Been Gone” by Aretha Franklin in 1968.
91. “Honky Tonk (Parts 1 and 2),” Bill Doggett – 54
(1956; #2 2 weeks, 14 weeks top 10, 22 weeks total)
90. “I Almost Lost My Mind,” Pat Boone – 54
(1956; #2 3 weeks, 11 weeks top 10, 16 weeks total)
Whitebread alert: You’re going to see Pat Boone 3 more times here. Unfortunately.
89. “Twist and Shout,” The Beatles – 54
(1964; #2, 4 weeks, 7 weeks top 10, 11 weeks total)
The first of only three appearances on this listing by the Fab Four. Scored an uncounted 15 extra weeks in 1986 with its inclusion in the Ferris Beuller’s Day Off soundtrack.
88. “The Twist,” Chubby Checker – 54
(1962; #1, 2 weeks, 13 weeks top 10, 21 weeks total)
Billboard has previously ranked this as the all-time #1 song on the Hot 100 (before “Blinding Lights” surpassed it). But even if I had added its 40-week run when it first charted in 1960, The Twist would still finish only in the top 20 of this listing.
86 (tie). “Pony Time,” Chubby Checker – 54
(1961; #1, 3 weeks, 8 weeks top 10, 16 weeks total)
86 (tie). “Telstar,” The Tornadoes – 54
(1962; #1,3 weeks, 8 weeks top 10, 16 weeks total)
85. “Hey Paula,” Paul and Paula – 54
(1963; #1, 3 weeks, 9 weeks top 10, 15 weeks total)
This is the only male-female duet to make the listing.
84. “My Heart is an Open Book,” Carl Dobkins Jr. – 55
(1959; #3, 3 weeks, 7 weeks top 10, 24 weeks total)
83. “Canadian Sunset,” Hugo Winterhalter with Eddie Heywood – 56
(1956; #3, 3 weeks, 13 weeks top 10, 19 weeks total)
82. “Bobby’s Girl,” Marcie Blane – 56
(1962; #3, 4 weeks, 8 weeks top 10, 16 weeks total)
One of 6 female soloists to make this listing, along with Brenda Lee, Doris Day, Debbie Reynolds, The Singing Nun and Gogi Grant.
81. “Personality,” Lloyd Price – 56
(1959; #2, 3 weeks, 10 weeks top 10, 19 weeks total)
80. “Put Your Head on My Shoulder,” Paul Anka – 56
(1959; #2, 3 weeks, 11 weeks top 10, 18 weeks total)
Price and Anka both have one other entry on this listing.
79. “Honeycomb,” Jimmie Rodgers – 57
(1957; #1, 2 weeks, 12 weeks top 10, 25 weeks total)
78. “Save the Last Dance for Me,” The Drifters – 57
(1960; #1, 3 weeks, 9 weeks top 10, 18 weeks total)
77. “Wonderland by Night,” Bert Kaempfert – 57
(1961; #1, 3 weeks, 10 weeks top 10, 17 weeks total)
76. “The Great Pretender,” The Platters – 58
(1956; #2, 3 weeks, 14 weeks top 10, 17 weeks total)
75. “Can’t Get Used to Losing You,” Andy Williams – 58
(1963; #2, 4 weeks, 7 weeks top 10, 14 weeks total)
One of many 1950, 1960s and 1970s singles where the other side of the record (in this case, the 1962 Oscar winner for Best Song “Days of Wine and Roses”) was supposed to be the hit. “Days of Wine and Roses” wound up peaking at #26.
74. “Get a Job,” The Silhouettes – 58
(1958; #2, 4 weeks, 8 weeks top 10, 14 weeks total)
73. “Love is a Many-Splendored Thing,” The Four Aces – 58
(1955; #1, 2 weeks, 17 weeks top 10, 21 weeks total)
71 (tie). “Peppermint Twist – Part 1,” Joey Dee and the Starliters – 59
(1962; #1, 3 weeks, 11 weeks top 10, 18 weeks total)
71 (tie). “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,” The Platters – 59
(1958; #1, 3 weeks, 11 weeks top 10, 18 weeks total)
70. “The Chipmunk Song,” The Chipmunks – 59
(1958; #1, 4 weeks, 6 weeks top 10, 13 weeks total)
Including all the charted rereleases of this one would’ve put it at least in the top 40 of this listing.
69. “Silhouettes,” The Rays – 61
(1957; #4, 5 weeks, 9 weeks top 10, 17 weeks total)
68. “Baby Love,” The Supremes – 61
(1964; #1, 4 weeks, 8 weeks top 10, 13 weeks total)
The only Motown song to make this listing.
67. “He’ll Have to Go,” Jim Reeves – 62
(1960; #2, 3 weeks, 12 weeks top 10, 23 weeks total)
65 (tie). “Dominique,” The Singing Nun – 62
(1963; #1, 4 weeks, 9 weeks top 10, 13 weeks total)
65 (tie). “There! I Said It Again,” Bobby Vinton – 62
(1964; #1, 4 weeks, 9 weeks top 10, 13 weeks total)
63 (tie). To Know Him is to Love Him,” The Teddy Bears – 64
(1958; #1, 3 weeks, 11 weeks top 10, 23 weeks total)
63 (tie). “I’m Sorry,” Brenda Lee – 64
(1960; #1, 3 weeks, 11 weeks top 10, 23 weeks total)
The youngest hitmaker on this listing, Brenda was 15 when she recorded “I’m Sorry.”
62. “Come Softly to Me,” The Fleetwoods- 64
(1959; #1, 4 weeks, 8 weeks top 10, 16 weeks total)
61. “He’s So Fine,” The Chiffons – 64
(1963; #1, 4 weeks, 9 weeks top 10, 15 weeks total)
60. “So Rare,” Jimmy Dorsey – 65
(1957; #3, 3 weeks, 18 weeks top 10, 23 weeks total)
59. “Greenfields,” The Brothers Four – 65
(1960; #2, 4 weeks, 9 weeks top 10, 20 weeks total)
The only folk song to make this list.
56 (tie). “Young Love,” Tab Hunter – 65
(1957; #1, 4 weeks, 10 weeks top 10, 15 weeks total)
56 (tie). “Lonely Boy,” Paul Anka – 65
(1959; #1, 4 weeks, 10 weeks top 10, 15 weeks total)
56 (tie). “Roses Are Red (My Love),” Bobby Vinton – 65
(1964; #1, 4 weeks, 10 weeks top 10, 15 weeks total)
55. “Last Date,” Floyd Cramer – 66
(1960; #2, 4 weeks, 10 weeks top 10, 20 weeks total)
54. “Runaway,” Del Shannon – 66
(1961; #1, 4 weeks, 9 weeks top 10, 17 weeks total)
53. “Stuck on You,” Elvis Presley – 66
(1961; #1, 4 weeks, 10 weeks top 10, 16 weeks total)
Elvis, finally! This is his first of 11 entries, way ahead of other artists.
52. “Can’t Buy Me Love,” The Beatles – 66
(1964; #1, 5 weeks, 6 weeks top 10, 10 weeks total)
51. “Running Bear,” Johnny Preston – 67
(1960; #1, 3 weeks, 10 weeks top 10, 27 weeks total)
50. “The Three Bells,” The Browns – 67
(1959; #1, 4 weeks, 10 weeks top 10, 17 weeks total)
49. “All I Have to Dream,” The Everly Brothers – 69
(1958; #1, 4 weeks, 12 weeks top 10, 17 weeks total)
48. “Bye Bye Love,” The Everly Brothers – 70
(1957; #2, 4 weeks, 13 weeks top 10, 21 weeks total)
The Everly Brothers will make one more appearance later in this chart.
47. “Poor People of Paris,” Lex Baxter – 70
(1956; #1, 4 weeks, 13 weeks top 10,17 weeks total)
46. “Return to Sender,” Elvis Presley – 71
(1962; #2, 5 weeks, 10 weeks top 10, 16 weeks total)
45. “Tammy,” Debbie Reynolds – 71
(1957; #1, 3 weeks, 16 weeks top 10, 25 weeks total)
44. “Stagger Lee,” Lloyd Price – 71
(1959; #1, 4 weeks, 10 weeks top 10, 21 weeks total)
Go, Stagger Lee! (Sorry, couldn’t resist.)
43. “Sherry,” The Four Seasons – 71
(1962; #1, 5 weeks, 7 weeks top 10, 14 weeks total)
42. “Don’t Forbid Me,” Pat Boone – 74
(1957; #3, 6 weeks, 9 weeks top 10, 17 weeks total)
41.“Ain’t That a Shame,” Pat Boone – 74
(1956; #2, 6 weeks, 13 weeks top 10, 17 weeks total)
Consecutive Pat Boone entries aren’t what I expected nor wanted when compiling this list.
40. “Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom),” Perry Como – 75
(#2, 5 weeks, 13 weeks top 10, 17 weeks total)
39. “Sugar Shack,” Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs – 75
(1963; #1, 5 weeks, 10 weeks top 10, 15 weeks total)
38. “Cathy’s Clown,” The Everly Brothers – 76
(1960; #1, 5 weeks, 9 weeks top 10, 17 weeks total)
35 (tie). “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” The Four Seasons – 76
(1962; #1, 5 weeks, 10 weeks top 10, 16 weeks total)
35 (tie). “Big Bad John,” Jimmy Dean – 76
(1961; #1, 5 weeks, 10 weeks top 10, 16 weeks total)
Jimmy Dean is one of more than 25 male vocalists who made this listing.
35 (tie). “Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu),” Domenico Modugno – 76
(1958; #1, 5 weeks, 10 weeks top 10, 16 weeks total)
32 (tie). “Don’t,” Elvis Presley – 77
(1958; #1, 5 weeks, 10 weeks top 10, 17 weeks total)
32 (tie). “Tequila,” The Champs – 77
(1958; #1 5 weeks, 10 weeks top 10, 17 weeks total)
32 (tie). “Venus,” Frankie Avalon – 77
(1959; #1. 5 weeks, 10 weeks top 10, 17 weeks total)
Avalon’s disco remake of “Venus” in 1976 would’ve added 11 points if it was counted.
31. “Lisbon Antigua,” Nelson Riddle – 78
(1956; #1, 4 weeks, 16 weeks top 10, 22 weeks total)
30. “Louie Louie,” The Kingsmen – 79
(1963; #2, 6 weeks, 9 weeks top 10, 16 weeks total)
Not counted are the two weeks when this classic hit the chart again in 1966. Even if they were, that would boost this up just one notch.
29. “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” Ray Charles – 79
(1962; #1, 5 weeks, 11 weeks top 10, 18 weeks total)
28. “It’s Now or Never,” Elvis Presley – 81
(1960; #1, 5 weeks, 11 weeks top 10, 20 weeks total)
27. “At the Hop,” Danny and the Juniors – 81
(1958; #1, 5 weeks, 12 weeks top 10, 19 weeks total)
26. “Whatever Will Be, Will Be (Que Sera Sera),” Doris Day – 83
(1956; #3, 6 weeks, 15 weeks top 10, 20 weeks total)
25. “Memories Are Made of This,” Dean Martin – 83
(1956; #1, 5 weeks, 15 weeks top 10, 18 weeks total)
24. “Moonglow and Theme from Picnic,” Morris Stoloff – 84
(1956; #2, 6 weeks, 12 weeks top 10, 18 weeks total)
The only medley on this listing.
23. “Autumn Leaves,” Roger Williams – 84
(1955; #1, 4 weeks, 18 weeks top 10, 26 weeks total)
22. “Love Me Tender,” Elvis Presley – 84
(1956; #1, 5 weeks, 15 weeks top 10, 19 weeks total)
21. “The Purple People Eater,” Sheb Wooley – 84
(1958; #1, 6 weeks, 10 weeks top 10, 14 weeks total)
20. “Are You Lonesome To-night?,” Elvis Presley – 87
(1960; #1, 6 weeks, 11 weeks top 10, 16 weeks total)
19. “The Green Door,” Jim Lowe – 89
(1956; #2, 6 weeks, 16 weeks top 10, 19 weeks total)
18. “Love Letters in the Sand,” Pat Boone – 89
(1957; #1, 5 weeks, 16 weeks top 10, 23 weeks total)
The last Pat Boone song on this listing. You’re welcome.
17. “It’s All in the Game,” Tommy Edwards – 94
(1958; #1, 6 weeks, 12 weeks top 10, 22 weeks total)
16. “The Battle of New Orleans,” Johnny Horton – 94
(1959; #1, 6 weeks, 13 weeks top 10, 21 weeks total)
15. “The Wayward Wind,” Gogi Grant – 94
(1956; #1, 6 weeks, 14 weeks top 10, 20 weeks total)
14. “The Yellow Rose of Texas,” Mitch Miller – 95
(1955; #1, 6 weeks, 16 weeks top 10, 19 weeks total)
13. “I Want to Hold Your Hand,” The Beatles – 97
(1964; #1, 7 weeks, 12 weeks top 10, 15 weeks total)
This is only the second-highest placement for a 1960s song. Can you guess what scored more points from 1960-1964?
12. “(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear,” Elvis Presley – 103
(1957; #1, 7 weeks, 14 weeks top 10, 19 weeks total)
11. “Sixteen Tons,” Tennessee Ernie Ford – 103
(1955; #1, 7 weeks, 16 weeks top 10, 17 weeks total)
10. “Jailhouse Rock,” Elvis Presley – 104
(1957; #1, 7 weeks, 15 weeks top 10, 19 weeks total)
9. “Tossin’ and Turnin’,” Bobby Lewis – 105
(1960; #1, 7 weeks, 12 weeks top 10, 23 weeks total)
8. “Little Darlin’,” The Diamonds – 106
(1957; #2, 8 weeks, 14 weeks top 10, 20 weeks total)
The highest-ranking song in this listing that never topped the pop chart. This Canadian quartet beat out the Beatles here as the top group with non-American members.
7. “Heartbreak Hotel,” Elvis Presley – 114
(1956; #1, 8 weeks, 14 weeks top 10, 20 weeks total)
6. “All Shook Up,” Elvis Presley – 119
(1957; #1, 8 weeks, 14 weeks top 10, 19 weeks total)
5. “(We’re Gonna) Rock Around the Clock,” Bill Haley and the Comets – 123
(1955; #1, 8 weeks, 19 weeks top 10, 24 weeks total)
This classic also had 14 uncounted weeks on the Hot 100 in its 1974 rerelease, an accomplishment none of the other songs in the top 25 can boast.
4. “Theme from a Summer Place,” Percy Faith – 132
(1960; #1, 9 weeks, 12 weeks top 10, 21 weeks total)
The highest-ranking song for 1960-1964 as well as the top instrumental on this survey.
3. “Mack the Knife,” Bobby Darin – 132
(1959; #1, 9 weeks, 16 weeks top 10, 26 weeks total)
2. “Singing the Blues,” Guy Mitchell – 138
(1956; #1, 10 weeks, 17 weeks top 10, 21 weeks total)
1. “Don’t Be Cruel/Hound Dog,” Elvis Presley – 152
(1956; #1, 11 weeks, 20 weeks top 10, 22 weeks total)
With the #1 position and 3 others in the top 10, this listing proves they didn’t call Elvis “The King” for nothing.
For our next installment covering 1965-1974, you can expect to see more results from the Beatles. Both as a group and as soloists.
And best of all:
No Pat Boone! See you then!
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