Billboard Hot 100 | Top 5 – Week of July 28, 1962
The Billboard Hot 100 for July 28, 1962 kept Bobby Vinton at #1 with “Roses Are Red (My Love),” as the romantic ballad continued its strong summer run. In a season filled with dance records, novelty hits, and big crossover songs, Vinton’s gentle style still held the top position.
The Orlons remained close behind at #2 with “The Wah Watusi,” proving that the early 1960s dance craze was still one of the biggest forces in pop music. Brian Hyland also moved higher, taking “Sealed With A Kiss” from #5 to #3 and giving the Top 5 another tender teen ballad.
Ray Charles slipped to #4 with “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” but the record’s long stay near the top showed just how powerful its impact had been. David Rose and His Orchestra rounded out the Top 5 with “The Stripper,” keeping one of the year’s most unusual instrumentals in the national spotlight.
The lower half of the Top 10 showed even more movement. Pat Boone, Neil Sedaka, and Ray Stevens were all climbing, while Claude King and Dee Dee Sharp remained part of a chart that mixed pop romance, dance music, country storytelling, novelty records, and early soul-pop energy.
Top 5 Songs

1. Roses Are Red (My Love) – Bobby Vinton
Bobby Vinton held the #1 spot again this week with “Roses Are Red (My Love),” continuing one of the sweetest pop success stories of 1962. The song’s simple romantic message made it easy to remember and easy to sing along with.
Vinton’s smooth voice gave the record a warm, sincere feeling. At a time when the charts were full of dance records and novelty sounds, “Roses Are Red” offered something softer and more traditional. That contrast helped it stand out.
The song also helped define Bobby Vinton’s image as one of the decade’s leading romantic balladeers. This was the kind of record that appealed across generations, giving him a strong foundation for the many sentimental hits that would follow.
2. The Wah Watusi – The Orlons
“The Wah Watusi” stayed at #2 this week, keeping The Orlons right near the top of the Billboard Hot 100. Its lively beat and dance-floor energy made it one of the biggest party records of the summer.
The song fit perfectly into the early 1960s world of dance-craze hits. Records like this did more than entertain listeners; they helped create social moments at school dances, record hops, and backyard parties.
For The Orlons, this hit was a major breakthrough. It placed them among the bright young vocal groups bringing rhythm, fun, and movement to pop radio before the sound of the decade began to change dramatically.

3. Sealed With A Kiss – Brian Hyland
Brian Hyland climbed to #3 with “Sealed With A Kiss,” giving the week one of its most emotional moments. The song captured the sadness of summer separation with a quiet, memorable melody.
Hyland’s gentle delivery made the record feel personal. Instead of using big drama, the song leaned on longing, distance, and the promise of staying connected through letters. That feeling made it especially powerful for young listeners.
“Sealed With A Kiss” became one of the classic teen ballads of the early 1960s. Its rise into the Top 3 showed that a soft heartbreak song could compete strongly against dance hits, instrumentals, and major crossover records.

4. I Can’t Stop Loving You – Ray Charles
Ray Charles moved from #3 to #4 with “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” but the record remained one of the most important hits of 1962. Its long chart run showed how deeply it had connected with American listeners.
Charles took a country song and reshaped it with soul, gospel feeling, and pop elegance. The result was a crossover hit that sounded both familiar and completely new. Few records of the period showed his genius more clearly.
Even as newer songs moved around it, “I Can’t Stop Loving You” still carried emotional weight. It helped prove that Ray Charles could bring different musical worlds together and make them feel natural on mainstream radio.

5. The Stripper – David Rose and His Orchestra
David Rose and His Orchestra rounded out the Top 5 with “The Stripper,” which slipped from #4 to #5. Even as it moved down, the record remained one of the most distinctive hits of the year.
The song’s bold brass arrangement gave it a personality all its own. It was playful, theatrical, and instantly recognizable, proving that an instrumental could still become a major pop culture moment in 1962.
“The Stripper” also showed the wide range of the Hot 100 during this period. On the same chart as romantic ballads, dance hits, and soul-pop classics, this brassy instrumental still held its place near the top.
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More Weeks at #1 for “Roses Are Red (My Love)”
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 July 28, 1962, this was your birthday song:
🎵 Roses Are Red (My Love) by Bobby Vinton
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🎂 Try your own birthday:
- Roses Are Red (My Love) – Bobby Vinton
- The Wah Watusi – The Orlons
- Sealed With A Kiss – Brian Hyland
- I Can’t Stop Loving You – Ray Charles
- The Stripper – David Rose and His Orchestra
- Speedy Gonzales – Pat Boone
- Wolverton Mountain – Claude King
- Breaking Up Is Hard To Do – Neil Sedaka
- Gravy (For My Mashed Potatoes) – Dee Dee Sharp
- Ahab, The Arab – Ray Stevens
Chart Movers This Week
A Summer Chart With Every Kind Of Sound
The July 28, 1962 Billboard Hot 100 captured a lively moment in early 1960s pop music. Bobby Vinton’s romantic ballad stayed at #1, while The Orlons kept the dance craze alive and Brian Hyland brought teenage heartbreak into the Top 3.
Ray Charles and David Rose added even more variety, showing how wide the chart had become. Soulful country-pop and brassy instrumental music could still stand beside teen idols, vocal groups, and novelty performers.
That blend made the summer of 1962 feel especially colorful. The radio could move from sweet romance to dance-floor excitement to deep emotion in just a few songs, giving listeners a chart week that still feels rich, surprising, and full of personality.