Top 100 Songs of 1961
As Ranked by Fred Bronson in
"Billboards Hottest Hot 100 Hits," (2003 ed.)
- Tossin' and Turnin'-Bobby Lewis
- Big Bad John-Jimmy Dean
- Runaround Sue-Dion
- Wonderland By Night-Bert Kaempfert
- Runaway-Del Shannon
- Pony Time-Chubby Checker
- Calcutta-Lawrence Welk
- The Lion Sleeps Tonight-Tokens
- Will You Love Me Tomorrow?-Shirelles
- Mother-in-Law-Ernie K-Doe
- Michael-The Highwaymen
- Surrender-Elvis Presley
- Take Good Care of My Baby-Bobby Vee
- Quarter to Three-Gary U.S. Bonds
- Travelin' Man-Ricky Nelson
- Blue Moon-The Marcels
- Exodus-Ferrante and Teicher
- The Boll Weevil Song-Brook Benton
- Please Mr. Postman-Marvelettes
- Hit the Road Jack-Ray Charles
- Bristol Stomp-The Dovells
- Wooden Heart (Muss I Denn)-Joe Dowell
- Running Scared-Roy Orbison
- Moody River-Pat Boone
- Run to Him-Bobby Vee
- I Like It Like That, Part 1-Chris Kenner
- Crying-Roy Orbison
- Goodbye Cruel World-James Darren
- Apache-Jorgen Ingmann & His Guitar
- A Hundred Pounds of Clay-Gene McDaniels
- Shop Around-The Miracles
- Daddy's Home-Shep & the Limelites
- Dedicated to the One I Love-The Shirelles
- Last Night-Mar-Keys
- Raindrops-Dee Clark
- Don't Worry-Marty Robbins
- Wheels-The String-a-Longs
- The Mountain's High-Dick and Deedee
- Fool #1-Brenda Lee
- I've Told Every Little Star-Linda Scott
- Where the Boys Are-Connie Francis
- Dum Dum-Brenda Lee
- My True Story-The Jive Five
- On the Rebound-Floyd Cramer
- Stand By Me-Ben E. King
- Walk On By-Leroy Van Dyke
- Hello Mary Lou-Ricky Nelson
- Calendar Girl-Neil Sedaka
- There's a Moon Out Tonight-The Capris
- Angel Baby-Rosie & the Originals
- This Time-Troy Shondell
- Let's Twist Again-Chubby Checker
- Mama Said-The Shirelles
- Let There Be Drums-Sandy Nelson
- But I Do-Clarence "Frogman" Henry
- Yellow Bird-Arthur Lyman Group
- Wings of a Dove-Ferlin Husky
- Rubber Ball-Bobby Vee
- The Fly-Chubby Checker
- Take Good Care of Her-Adam Wade
- You Don't Know What You've Got-Ral Donner
- Hats Off to Larry-Del Shannon
- Every Beat of My Heart-The Pips
- Tower of Strength-Gene McDaniels
- Hurt-Timi Yuro
- I Love How You Love Me-The Paris Sisters
- Moon River-Henry Mancini
- Corinna, Corinna-Ray Peterson
- You Can Depend On Me-Brenda Lee
- Let's Get Together-Hayley Mills
- Walk Right Back-Everly Brothers
- Portrait of My Love-Steve Lawrence
- I Understand (Just How You Feel)-The G-Clefs
- Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes)-Carla Thomas
- Spanish Harlem-Ben E. King
- Think Twice-Brook Benton
- Hello Walls-Faron Young
- Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)-Sue Thompson
- Little Sister-Elvis Presley
- Together-Connie Francis
- Does Your Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor (On the Bedpost Over Night)-Lonnie Donegan & His Skiffle Group
- Mexico-Bob Moore
- Baby Sittin' Boogie-Buzz Clifford
- Emotions-Brenda Lee
- Ya Ya-Lee Dorsey
- Breakin' in a Brand New Broken Heart-Connie Francis
- One Mint Julep-Ray Charles
- School Is Out-Gary U.S. Bonds
- San Antonio Rose-Floyd Cramer
- Please Love Me Forever-Cathy Jean & the Roommates
- Don't Bet Money Honey-Linda Scott
- You're the Reason-Bobby Edwards
- Moon River-Jerry Butler
- The Writing on the Wall-Adam Wade
- Wonderland by Night-Louis Prima
- Baby Blue-The Echoes
- You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby-Bobby Darin
- Ebony Eyes-Everly Brothers
- Pretty Little Angel Eyes-Curtis Lee
- Those Oldies But Goodies (Remind Me of You)-Little Caesar & the Romans