Billboard Hot 100 | Top 5 – Week of November 14, 1960
The Billboard Hot 100 for the week ending November 14, 1960 gave Ray Charles one of the defining moments of his career as “Georgia On My Mind” climbed to #1. The song was already a respected American standard, but Charles transformed it into something deeply personal, soulful, and unforgettable.
Johnny Tillotson climbed to #2 with “Poetry In Motion,” bringing bright teen-pop energy near the top of the chart. Joe Jones moved to #3 with “You Talk Too Much,” while Brenda Lee slipped to #4 with “I Want To Be Wanted” after her recent run at #1.
The Drifters rounded out the Top 5 with “Save The Last Dance For Me,” still showing remarkable staying power after topping the chart. Just below them, Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs continued rising with “Stay,” while Floyd Cramer and Kathy Young With The Innocents made major moves into the Top 10.
The week of November 14, 1960 captured a chart where soul, teen pop, rhythm-and-blues humor, female ballads, vocal-group elegance, doo-wop, country-pop piano, and Roy Orbison’s dramatic ballad style all shared the national spotlight.
Top 5 Songs (November 14, 1960)
1. “Georgia On My Mind” – Ray Charles
Ray Charles reached #1 with “Georgia On My Mind,” one of the most important recordings of his career.
Written by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell, the song had existed long before 1960, but Charles gave it a new emotional identity. His version blended pop, jazz, blues, gospel feeling, and deeply personal vocal phrasing.
The arrangement was lush and elegant, but the heart of the record was Charles’ voice. He made the song feel less like a standard and more like a memory, full of longing and warmth.
Its rise to #1 showed how powerful a great interpretation could be when the right singer brought new life to an older song.
2. “Poetry In Motion” – Johnny Tillotson
Johnny Tillotson climbed to #2 with “Poetry In Motion,” one of the brightest teen-pop hits of late 1960.
The song’s catchy title, smooth vocal, and upbeat rhythm made it a strong radio favorite during a chart period filled with ballads and rhythm-and-blues records.
Tillotson’s delivery was clean and youthful, giving the song an easy charm that fit perfectly with early 1960s pop radio.
Its rise to #2 showed that polished teen-pop still had major chart power alongside soul, vocal groups, and dramatic ballads.
3. “You Talk Too Much” – Joe Jones
Joe Jones reached #3 with “You Talk Too Much,” a sharp and catchy rhythm-and-blues flavored hit.
The record worked because its message was simple, funny, and instantly understandable. The title alone gave listeners the whole setup.
Jones’ vocal had a conversational bite, while the groove gave the song a New Orleans-flavored feel that helped it stand apart from smoother pop records.
Its strong chart run showed that witty rhythm-and-blues records could still break through in a major way on mainstream radio.
4. “I Want To Be Wanted” – Brenda Lee
Brenda Lee slipped to #4 with “I Want To Be Wanted,” but the song remained one of the strongest ballads of the fall.
The record continued the emotional style that had made Lee such a major force in 1960. Like “I’m Sorry,” it allowed her to show maturity, control, and vulnerability far beyond what many expected from a teenage singer.
The song’s longing lyric gave Lee another perfect showcase for her dramatic pop-ballad voice.
Even after moving down from #1, “I Want To Be Wanted” confirmed Brenda Lee as one of the defining female vocalists of the year.
5. “Save The Last Dance For Me” – The Drifters
The Drifters remained in the Top 5 with “Save The Last Dance For Me,” one of the most elegant vocal-group records of 1960.
The song had already reached #1, but its continued strength showed how deeply listeners connected with its mix of rhythm, romance, and emotional restraint.
Written by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman, the record carried a dance-floor setting with a deeper message about loyalty and love.
With its polished Atlantic production and graceful vocal performance, “Save The Last Dance For Me” remained one of The Drifters’ signature hits.
🎂 What Was the #1 Song on Your Birthday?
If you were born during the week ending November 19, 1960, this was your birthday song:
🎵 Georgia on My Mind by Ray Charles
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Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 – Week of November 14, 1960
- Georgia On My Mind – Ray Charles
- Poetry In Motion – Johnny Tillotson
- You Talk Too Much – Joe Jones
- I Want To Be Wanted – Brenda Lee
- Save The Last Dance For Me – The Drifters
- Stay – Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs
- Let’s Go, Let’s Go, Let’s Go – Hank Ballard And The Midnighters
- Last Date – Floyd Cramer
- A Thousand Stars – Kathy Young With The Innocents
- Blue Angel – Roy Orbison
Ray Charles Turned a Standard Into a Soul Classic
The Billboard Hot 100 for November 14, 1960 is remembered most for Ray Charles taking “Georgia On My Mind” to #1.
His version showed how older American standards could be completely reimagined through soul, blues, gospel feeling, and deeply personal interpretation. It was not simply a remake — it became the version many listeners would remember most.
The rest of the Top 10 showed how broad late-1960 pop had become. Johnny Tillotson represented clean teen pop, Joe Jones brought rhythm-and-blues humor, Brenda Lee and The Drifters kept emotional vocal performances near the top, Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs brought doo-wop urgency with “Stay,” and Floyd Cramer added country-pop piano with “Last Date.”
The week of November 14, 1960 remains a powerful snapshot of American pop at a crossroads — soul was rising, teen pop remained strong, vocal groups were still important, and timeless songwriting could still reach #1 when delivered by a once-in-a-generation voice.