The year 1961 continued the exciting early days of the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It was a time when teen idols, dance songs, and smooth instrumentals still ruled the airwaves, but new sounds were beginning to emerge. Girl groups started making their mark, and Motown was about to change everything with its very first number one hit.
This year saw a mix of heartfelt ballads, fun dance tracks, and powerful vocal performances. Elvis Presley remained a chart powerhouse, while new stars like Del Shannon, Bobby Lewis, and The Marvelettes began to shine. One song even stayed at number one for seven straight weeks. It was the last full year of innocence in pop music before the British Invasion exploded in 1964.
Here is the complete list of every song that reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1961.
Click on the song title to listen to the song
Click on any artist name to read their full artist bio.
Click “See the Top 5 Songs for the week” to explore the chart toppers for that specific week on our site.
Bobby Lewis’s “Tossin’ and Turnin’” had the longest run at #1 with 7 weeks.
The Marvelettes gave Motown its very first number one hit with “Please Mr. Postman” on December 11, 1961.
Ricky Nelson scored two separate runs at #1 with “Travelin’ Man.”
Elvis Presley continued his dominance with multiple chart-topping songs.
1961 was a bridge year — still rooted in the innocent teen pop of the late 1950s, but already showing signs of the bigger changes coming in the mid-1960s.
Explore More from 1961
Read the full Gary U.S. Bonds bio
Read the full The Marvelettes bio
Read the full Connie Francis bio
Read the full Elvis Presley stories from the early 1960s
Which 1961 #1 song is your favorite?
Leave a comment below and tell us why!
Next: Check out our article for All #1 Songs on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962
