Billboard Hot 100 | Top 5 – Week of May 16, 1960
The Billboard Hot 100 for the week ending May 16, 1960 showed Elvis Presley still holding the #1 position with “Stuck On You,” but the pressure from The Everly Brothers was growing fast. “Cathy’s Clown” climbed to #2, making it clear that one of the biggest harmony records of the year was now directly challenging Elvis for the top spot.
This week’s chart had a strong sense of movement. The Brothers Four slipped to #3 with “Greenfields,” Jackie Wilson held steady with the dramatic “Night,” and Jimmy Jones surged into the Top 5 with “Good Timin’.” The result was a chart filled with polished rock-and-roll, folk-pop harmony, vocal drama, and upbeat rhythm-driven pop.
Lower in the Top 10, Connie Stevens, Billy Bland, Johnny Preston, Johnny Horton, and Jeanne Black added even more variety. The appearance of “He’ll Have To Stay,” an answer record to Jim Reeves’ “He’ll Have To Go,” showed how popular songs could create conversations across the chart itself.
The week of May 16, 1960 captured a Billboard Hot 100 in the middle of a major shift. Elvis was still on top, but The Everly Brothers were closing in, and the rest of the chart showed just how wide and unpredictable American pop music had become.
Top 5 Songs (May 16, 1960)
1. “Stuck On You” – Elvis Presley With The Jordanaires
Elvis Presley remained at #1 with “Stuck On You,” continuing his powerful return to the Billboard Hot 100 after military service.
The song’s smooth production, confident vocal, and polished backing from The Jordanaires helped Elvis sound current for the new decade while still keeping his unmistakable personality intact.
Its continued success proved that Elvis had not simply returned to the charts — he had returned to the very top of American popular music.
By this week, “Stuck On You” was still the song to beat, even as The Everly Brothers were quickly gaining ground.
2. “Cathy’s Clown” – The Everly Brothers
The Everly Brothers climbed to #2 with “Cathy’s Clown,” one of the most powerful and distinctive records of their career.
The song’s dramatic beat, emotional lyrics, and unmistakable brotherly harmonies gave it a sound that immediately stood apart from the smoother pop records around it.
Its rapid climb showed that listeners were strongly responding to its urgency, heartbreak, and vocal intensity.
“Cathy’s Clown” was now positioned as the clearest challenger to Elvis Presley’s hold on #1.
3. “Greenfields” – The Brothers Four
The Brothers Four slipped to #3 with “Greenfields,” but the song remained one of the most important folk-pop hits of early 1960.
Its soft acoustic sound and smooth vocal blend gave the chart a reflective quality that contrasted sharply with the dramatic energy of “Cathy’s Clown.”
The record’s strong run showed that folk-inspired harmony music had a real place on mainstream radio before the larger folk boom fully arrived.
“Greenfields” continued to add a gentle and thoughtful sound to a rapidly changing Top 5.
4. “Night” – Jackie Wilson
Jackie Wilson held the #4 position with “Night,” a dramatic vocal performance that showcased his range, power, and emotional control.
The song blended pop elegance with Wilson’s rhythm-and-blues intensity, giving it a grand and almost theatrical feeling.
His vocal performance brought a level of drama that helped the record stand apart from lighter teen-pop records on the chart.
Its continued strength showed that powerful R&B-influenced vocals were becoming increasingly important within mainstream pop music.
5. “Good Timin’” – Jimmy Jones
Jimmy Jones climbed into the Top 5 with “Good Timin’,” bringing upbeat pop energy back into the upper chart.
The song’s lively rhythm, catchy melody, and Jones’ distinctive vocal style gave it a bright personality that immediately connected with radio listeners.
After the success of “Handy Man,” Jones continued proving that he could deliver records with both charm and strong pop appeal.
“Good Timin’” helped balance the week’s dramatic ballads and harmony records with a lighter, more playful sound.
More Weeks at #1 for “Stuck on You”
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 May 21, 1960, this was your birthday song:
🎵 Stuck on You by Elvis Presley
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🎂 Try your own birthday:
Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 – Week of May 16, 1960
- Stuck On You – Elvis Presley With The Jordanaires
- Cathy’s Clown – The Everly Brothers
- Greenfields – The Brothers Four
- Night – Jackie Wilson
- Good Timin’ – Jimmy Jones
- Sixteen Reasons – Connie Stevens
- Let The Little Girl Dance – Billy Bland
- Cradle Of Love – Johnny Preston
- Sink The Bismark – Johnny Horton
- He’ll Have To Stay – Jeanne Black
Chart Movers This Week
The Everly Brothers Were Ready to Take Over
The Billboard Hot 100 for May 16, 1960 felt like the final week before a major chart change.
Elvis Presley was still #1, but “Cathy’s Clown” had climbed to #2 and clearly had the momentum to challenge him. The Everly Brothers brought a sharper, more dramatic harmony sound that contrasted beautifully with Elvis’ polished comeback single.
The rest of the Top 10 showed how varied spring 1960 had become. Folk-pop harmony, dramatic R&B vocals, upbeat pop, teen romance, rhythm-and-blues dance records, historical story songs, and answer songs all shared the same chart space.
The week of May 16, 1960 remains a strong snapshot of a chart on the edge of transition — Elvis still ruled the moment, but The Everly Brothers were about to reshape the top of the Hot 100.