Billboard Hot 100 | Top 5 – Week of February 3, 1962
By February 3, 1962, the Twist craze was still controlling the top of the Billboard Hot 100, but the chart was beginning to widen again. Joey Dee & the Starliters held #1 with “Peppermint Twist,” keeping the party atmosphere alive for another week. The record had captured the excitement of the Peppermint Lounge and turned it into a national pop hit.
At the same time, Elvis Presley was making a serious move with “Can’t Help Falling In Love,” rising to #2 and giving the chart a romantic counterweight to the dance-floor energy around it. Chubby Checker’s original “The Twist” remained strong at #3, making this one of the clearest examples of how completely the dance craze had taken over early 1962 pop culture.
The rest of the Top 10 showed plenty of variety. Sue Thompson’s “Norman” brought playful teen-pop charm, Barbara George kept rhythm and blues in the Top 5, Dion was climbing with “The Wanderer,” and Gene Chandler made a major leap with “Duke Of Earl.” The Shirelles and Brenda Lee also brought strong female voices into the upper chart, showing just how many different sounds could share space on early 1960s radio.
This was a lively, colorful week on the Hot 100. Dance music still had the spotlight, but pop ballads, R&B, girl-group records, and rock and roll were all moving together. The chart felt young, energetic, and full of personality — exactly the kind of mix that made the early 1960s such a fascinating musical turning point.
Top 5 Songs
1. Peppermint Twist – Joey Dee & the Starliters
“Peppermint Twist” remained at #1 this week, proving that Joey Dee & the Starliters had done more than catch a quick dance trend. They had captured one of the central sounds of early 1962. The song’s club-like energy made it feel immediate, exciting, and perfectly built for a nation still twisting.
The record’s connection to the Peppermint Lounge gave it a special kind of authenticity. It sounded like nightlife, movement, and teenage excitement all packed into one hit single. While Chubby Checker had made the Twist a household word, Joey Dee & the Starliters gave the craze a new setting and a fresh burst of momentum.
Its continued stay at #1 showed how powerful dance records had become. The Hot 100 was no longer just about songs people listened to quietly. It was also about records that pulled people out of their seats. “Peppermint Twist” made the chart feel like a dance floor.
2. Can’t Help Falling In Love – Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley climbed from #4 to #2 with “Can’t Help Falling In Love,” bringing one of his most graceful ballads to the edge of the top spot. In a chart filled with dance energy, Elvis delivered something quiet, romantic, and timeless.
The song’s power came from its restraint. Presley sang with warmth rather than force, allowing the melody and emotion to unfold naturally. The arrangement was gentle, but the feeling was deep, which helped the record stand apart from the louder and faster hits around it.
“Can’t Help Falling In Love” would become one of Elvis Presley’s most enduring recordings. Its rise this week showed that even in the middle of a national dance craze, listeners still had room for a beautifully delivered love song from one of the most important artists in American music.
3. The Twist – Chubby Checker
Chubby Checker slipped from #2 to #3 with “The Twist,” but the song remained one of the most important records on the chart. Its presence near the top, alongside “Peppermint Twist,” made it clear that the dance movement was still defining the national mood.
“The Twist” had already done something rare by returning to #1 after first topping the chart in 1960. Its renewed success showed how deeply the dance had entered American life. Teenagers, adults, television audiences, and nightclub crowds all helped keep the record alive.
The song’s legacy was bigger than chart position. It changed social dancing by making individual movement more acceptable and exciting. Even as it moved down slightly this week, “The Twist” remained the foundation for the entire dance craze surrounding it.
4. Norman – Sue Thompson
Sue Thompson moved from #5 to #4 with “Norman,” continuing the song’s bright and playful climb. In a chart loaded with dance hits and romantic ballads, Thompson brought a lighthearted teen-pop sound that felt charming and easy to remember.
The record worked because it had personality. Thompson’s vocal sounded cheerful and conversational, giving “Norman” the feel of a youthful story set to music. Its catchy structure and simple emotional appeal made it especially friendly for radio play.
“Norman” also showed that early 1960s pop still had plenty of room for novelty-flavored storytelling. The song may not have carried the cultural weight of “The Twist” or the timeless romance of Elvis, but it captured the fun, innocent side of the era beautifully.
5. I Know (You Don’t Love Me No More) – Barbara George
Barbara George slipped from #3 to #5 with “I Know (You Don’t Love Me No More),” but the record remained one of the strongest rhythm and blues entries in the Top 5. Its soulful feel brought a different emotional texture to a chart dominated by dance records and polished pop.
The song’s New Orleans flavor gave it a groove and character that helped it stand apart. George’s voice was direct and believable, carrying heartbreak without overstatement. That honest delivery made the record feel personal and grounded.
Its continued presence in the Top 5 showed how R&B was becoming more important to mainstream pop. The early 1960s were opening up space for a wider range of voices and styles, and Barbara George’s hit was part of that important shift.
More Weeks at #1 for “Peppermint Twist”
This song spent multiple weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Explore each chart week below:
🎂 What Was the #1 Song on Your Birthday?
If you were born during the week ending February 3, 1962, this was your birthday song:
🎵 Peppermint Twist by Joey Dee and the Starliters
▶ Watch and experience this song →
🎂 Try your own birthday:
- Peppermint Twist – Joey Dee & the Starliters
- Can’t Help Falling In Love – Elvis Presley With The Jordanaires
- The Twist – Chubby Checker
- Norman – Sue Thompson
- I Know (You Don’t Love Me No More) – Barbara George
- The Wanderer – Dion
- Duke Of Earl – Gene Chandler
- Baby It’s You – The Shirelles
- Break It To Me Gently – Brenda Lee
- The Lion Sleeps Tonight – The Tokens
Chart Movers This Week
Dance Records Still Led the Way
The February 3, 1962 Hot 100 showed the Twist craze still operating at full strength. “Peppermint Twist” held #1, while Chubby Checker’s “The Twist” remained close behind at #3. Together, the two records made the upper chart feel like a national dance party.
But the week also offered strong evidence that the chart was becoming more diverse. Elvis Presley’s romantic ballad nearly reached the top, Barbara George carried soul into the Top 5, and Sue Thompson gave teen pop a playful spotlight. Just below them, Dion, Gene Chandler, The Shirelles, and Brenda Lee were all bringing their own distinct styles into the Top 10.
That variety is what makes this week so enjoyable to revisit. The dance craze may have been the headline, but the full chart showed a much broader musical story. Early 1962 pop was energetic, emotional, charming, and increasingly open to new sounds.