Billboard Hot 100 | Top 5 – Week of July 11, 1960
The Billboard Hot 100 for the week ending July 11, 1960 saw a brand-new #1 song take over the chart as “Alley-Oop” by Hollywood Argyles climbed to the top spot. The playful prehistoric novelty record knocked Connie Francis from #1 and became one of the most memorable summer hits of 1960.
Just behind it, Brenda Lee continued her powerful rise with “I’m Sorry,” which climbed to #2. The emotional ballad was quickly becoming one of the defining records of her career and showed a mature vocal style far beyond her teenage years.
Connie Francis slipped to #3 with “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool” after her historic run at #1, while Duane Eddy held steady with the instrumental hit “Because They’re Young.” The Fendermen rounded out the Top 5 with “Mule Skinner Blues,” bringing a raw country-blues flavor into the upper chart.
The week of July 11, 1960 captured an unusually colorful Top 5: a novelty rock hit, a teenage heartbreak ballad, a historic pop ballad, a guitar instrumental, and a rough-edged country-blues rocker all competing together at the height of summer radio.
Top 5 Songs (July 11, 1960)
1. “Alley-Oop” – Hollywood Argyles
Hollywood Argyles reached #1 with “Alley-Oop,” one of the wildest and most unforgettable novelty records of the early rock-and-roll era.
Based on the comic-strip caveman character, the song combined playful lyrics, chant-like vocals, and a stomping rhythm that made it instantly memorable on radio.
Its success proved that novelty records could still become massive national hits when they had the right mix of humor, rhythm, and singalong appeal.
“Alley-Oop” became one of the signature novelty hits of 1960 and a perfect example of how unpredictable the Hot 100 could be.
2. “I’m Sorry” – Brenda Lee
Brenda Lee climbed to #2 with “I’m Sorry,” one of the most important heartbreak ballads of her career.
Although Lee was still a teenager, her vocal performance carried a level of emotion, control, and maturity that made the song stand apart from most teen-pop records of the period.
The dramatic arrangement and sincere delivery helped transform her image from energetic young rocker into one of the most powerful pop vocalists of the early 1960s.
By this week, “I’m Sorry” was clearly positioned as one of the next major challengers for the #1 spot.
3. “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool” – Connie Francis
Connie Francis slipped to #3 with “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool,” but the song remained one of the most historically important records of 1960.
Its earlier rise to #1 made Francis the first solo female artist to top the Billboard Hot 100, a major milestone in pop chart history.
The song’s emotional lyric and polished production helped showcase Francis as one of the most successful and expressive female vocalists of the era.
Even after leaving the top spot, “Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool” remained one of the defining pop ballads of the summer.
4. “Because They’re Young” – Duane Eddy And The Rebels
Duane Eddy And The Rebels held the #4 position with “Because They’re Young,” one of the strongest instrumental rock hits of 1960.
The song featured Eddy’s famous twangy guitar sound, giving the chart a cinematic and instantly recognizable instrumental voice.
Released during a period when vocal records dominated much of the Hot 100, its success showed that guitar instrumentals still had major commercial appeal.
“Because They’re Young” helped keep instrumental rock visible during a summer filled with pop ballads and novelty hits.
5. “Mule Skinner Blues” – The Fendermen
The Fendermen climbed into the Top 5 with “Mule Skinner Blues,” a raw and energetic update of a much older country-blues song.
The record had a stripped-down sound that felt rougher than many of the polished pop productions surrounding it.
Its success brought country, blues, and rockabilly energy into the Top 5 at a time when the chart was becoming increasingly polished.
“Mule Skinner Blues” gave the week’s chart a wild, rootsy edge that contrasted sharply with the smoother ballads near the top.
🎂 What Was the #1 Song on Your Birthday?
If you were born during the week ending July 16, 1960, this was your birthday song:
🎵 Alley-Oop by The Hollywood Argyles
▶ Watch and experience this song →
🎂 Try your own birthday:
Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 – Week of July 11, 1960
- Alley-Oop – Hollywood Argyles
- I’m Sorry – Brenda Lee
- Everybody’s Somebody’s Fool – Connie Francis
- Because They’re Young – Duane Eddy And The Rebels
- Mule Skinner Blues – The Fendermen
- Only The Lonely (Know How I Feel) – Roy Orbison
- That’s All You Gotta Do – Brenda Lee
- My Home Town – Paul Anka
- A Rockin’ Good Way (To Mess Around And Fall In Love) – Dinah Washington & Brook Benton
- When Will I Be Loved – The Everly Brothers
Summer 1960 Brought One of the Year’s Most Colorful Charts
The Billboard Hot 100 for July 11, 1960 showed just how wide-open American pop music had become by midsummer.
“Alley-Oop” brought novelty rock to #1, Brenda Lee had two songs in the Top 10, Connie Francis remained strong after her historic chart run, and Duane Eddy kept instrumental guitar rock near the top.
The chart also introduced important momentum from Roy Orbison, whose “Only The Lonely” had climbed to #6 and was beginning to establish him as one of the most distinctive voices of the new decade.
The week of July 11, 1960 remains a fascinating snapshot of early 1960s pop — funny, emotional, rootsy, polished, and unpredictable all at once.
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