Top 100 Songs of 1961: The Year-End Chart

“Tossin' And Turnin'” by Bobby Lewis was the biggest hit of 1961, finishing at No. 1 on the year-end Top 100 ahead of “I Fall To Pieces” by Patsy Cline and “Michael” by The Highwaymen. The year-end chart ranks the songs that performed best across the whole year, not just in a single week.

17 acts placed more than one song on the list, led by Elvis Presley (4), Chubby Checker (3), The Shirelles (3), Bobby Lewis (2), Roy Orbison (2). None of the 100 songs was on the 1960 year-end list.

The 1960s: the sound of the era

The 1960s charts swing from teen idols and girl groups to Motown's hit factory, surf music and, from 1964, the British Invasion led by the Beatles. By the end of the decade soul, folk-rock and psychedelia were all landing in the year-end Top 100, often side by side.

Born in 1943? This was the year you turned 18. Tune the mixer to your year, or try today’s Name That Year game.

The full 1961 year-end Top 100

Source: Billboard’s year-end singles chart, as compiled on Wikipedia. Hey DJ 4U is an independent site, not affiliated with Billboard. ▶ plays the song in Hey DJ 4U; ♪ searches for it on Apple Music. Spotted an error? Tell us.