Billboard Hot 100 | Top 5 – Week of May 2, 1960
The Billboard Hot 100 for the week ending May 2, 1960 showed Elvis Presley firmly back in control of American popular music. “Stuck On You” remained at #1, proving that Elvis’ return from military service was not just a comeback story — it was a chart takeover.
Behind Elvis, The Brothers Four held strong at #2 with “Greenfields,” keeping folk-pop harmony near the very top of the Hot 100. Connie Stevens climbed to #3 with “Sixteen Reasons,” while Johnny Horton remained powerful with the historical story song “Sink The Bismark.”
The Browns featuring Jim Edward Brown entered the Top 5 with “The Old Lamplighter,” adding warm country-pop harmony to a chart already filled with crossover sounds. Just below the Top 5, Jackie Wilson, Johnny Preston, Billy Bland, Percy Faith, and Brenda Lee helped make this one of the most varied charts of the spring.
The week of May 2, 1960 captured a major transition. Elvis had returned to the throne, but the chart around him showed that popular music was widening fast — folk harmony, teen pop, historical storytelling, country-pop, rhythm-and-blues, and instrumentals all had a place in America’s Top 10.
Top 5 Songs (May 2, 1960)
1. “Stuck On You” – Elvis Presley With The Jordanaires
Elvis Presley remained at #1 with “Stuck On You,” continuing one of the most important comeback moments in pop music history.
The song’s polished sound, confident vocal performance, and smooth backing from The Jordanaires helped introduce Elvis to the new decade without losing the personality that made him a superstar.
After two years away in military service, Elvis returned to a very different pop landscape, but “Stuck On You” proved that his audience was still waiting.
Its continued success confirmed that Elvis Presley was not just a symbol of the 1950s — he was still a dominant force in 1960.
2. “Greenfields” – The Brothers Four
The Brothers Four held the #2 position with “Greenfields,” one of the most successful folk-pop hits of early 1960.
The song’s soft acoustic sound, smooth vocal harmonies, and reflective lyrics gave the chart a calm and thoughtful quality.
Its strong performance showed that folk-inspired music was finding a national audience before the larger folk boom fully arrived.
“Greenfields” helped prove that gentle harmony records could compete directly with Elvis, teen idols, and story songs on the Billboard Hot 100.
3. “Sixteen Reasons” – Connie Stevens
Connie Stevens climbed to #3 with “Sixteen Reasons,” a sweet teen-pop ballad that connected strongly with young listeners.
The song’s simple romantic theme and memorable structure gave it the kind of direct emotional appeal that made teen records so powerful during this period.
Stevens’ gentle vocal style helped the song stand apart from the bigger, more dramatic records around it.
Its rise showed that young female pop stars were becoming an increasingly important part of the early 1960s chart landscape.
4. “Sink The Bismark” – Johnny Horton
Johnny Horton held strong at #4 with “Sink The Bismark,” the historical story song inspired by the famous World War II naval battle.
The record continued Horton’s talent for turning dramatic historical events into memorable radio hits.
Its marching rhythm, vivid lyrics, and patriotic tone gave it a completely different personality from the romantic ballads and teen-pop records on the chart.
The song’s success showed that narrative songwriting still had strong commercial power in 1960.
5. “The Old Lamplighter” – The Browns Featuring Jim Edward Brown
The Browns featuring Jim Edward Brown climbed into the Top 5 with “The Old Lamplighter,” a warm country-pop ballad with a nostalgic mood.
The song’s gentle harmonies and sentimental imagery gave it a softer emotional style that fit comfortably alongside folk-pop and country crossover records.
Its rise showed how strong family harmony groups and traditional vocal sounds still were on early 1960 radio.
“The Old Lamplighter” added a nostalgic, old-fashioned charm to a chart that was otherwise moving quickly toward younger pop voices and modern crossover styles.
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 7, 1960, this was your birthday song:
🎵 Stuck on You by Elvis Presley
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Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 – Week of May 2, 1960
- Stuck On You – Elvis Presley With The Jordanaires
- Greenfields – The Brothers Four
- Sixteen Reasons – Connie Stevens
- Sink The Bismark – Johnny Horton
- The Old Lamplighter – The Browns Featuring Jim Edward Brown
- Night – Jackie Wilson
- Cradle Of Love – Johnny Preston
- Let The Little Girl Dance – Billy Bland
- The Theme From “A Summer Place” – Percy Faith And His Orchestra
- Sweet Nothin’s – Brenda Lee
Elvis Led a Very Diverse Spring Chart
The Billboard Hot 100 for May 2, 1960 showed Elvis Presley back at #1, but it also revealed how varied American pop music had become by the spring of the new decade.
Folk-pop harmony remained strong through The Brothers Four, teen romance climbed with Connie Stevens, historical storytelling stayed alive through Johnny Horton, and country-pop nostalgia reached the Top 5 with The Browns.
The lower half of the Top 10 widened the picture even further. Jackie Wilson brought dramatic vocal power, Billy Bland added rhythm-and-blues energy, Percy Faith’s famous instrumental remained on the chart, and Brenda Lee continued representing the new wave of young female pop stars.
The week of May 2, 1960 remains a strong example of the Hot 100’s growing range. Elvis was back on top, but the world around him was changing quickly — and the chart was becoming a true meeting place for many different sounds.