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Number Ones 1961

Elvis opened the year at number one in the U.S. with “Are you Lonesome Tonight”  which moved to the top in late January in the U.K.

In March in the U.K., Elvis took the top spot with “Wooden Heart” his record company RCA didn’t release it as a single in the U.S. and a version by Joe Dowell took it to the top in America in August.

Elvis still had a number one in March in the U.S. with “Surrender” which topped the U.K. Charts at the start of June.

In the U.K the song written by Doc Pomus & Mort Shuman  

(Marie’s the Name of) His Latest Flame took Elvis to number one in November.

The Gerry Goffin & Carole King composition “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” went to the top for the Shirelles they were previously called the Poquellos.

The Highwaymen reached No.1 in both singles charts with 'Michael' it was the U.S. group's only UK Top 40 hit. The Highwaymen were college students who broke up when they graduated.

“Blue Moon” written by Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart was a hit both sides of the Atlantic for the Marcels as was “Runaway” recorded by Del Shannon and co-written with his keyboard player Max Crook who used a heavily modified Clavioline electronic keyboard called a "Musitron".

In October Ray Charles had a number one in the U.S. with “Hit the Road Jack” written by Percy Mayfield.

Motown had their first number one in the U.S. with “Please Mr. Postman” by the Marvelettes.

In the U.K. charts the Everly Brothers hit the top in March with “Walk Right Back” written by Sonny Curtis who was a member of Buddy Holly’s Crickets. They also topped the charts in July with the song written by Arthur Freed & Nacio Herb Brown “Temptation”.

Helen Shapiro had two number one hits in the U.K. with  “You Don’t Know” and “Walkin Back to Happiness” both written by John Shroeder & Michael Hawker.

The final number one in the U.K. of 1961 was “Moon River”

recorded by Danny Williams the song was in the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s and was written by Johnny Mercer & Henry Mancini.

The Lion Sleeps Tonight by the Tokens was the last number one

Of 1961 in the U.S. This was adapted from a Zulu folk song called “Mbube” or “Wimoweh.

Sixties Songs

1960’s Music

1961 Number Ones