Billboard Hot 100 | Top 5 – Week of November 21, 1960
The Billboard Hot 100 for the week ending November 21, 1960 gave Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs a major breakthrough as “Stay” jumped from #6 to #1. The record was short, energetic, and unforgettable, proving that a tight vocal-group performance could still cut through the increasingly polished sound of early 1960s pop radio.
Elvis Presley made the week’s most dramatic move as “Are You Lonesome To-night?” rocketed from #35 to #2 in only its second week on the chart. That huge jump showed just how powerful Elvis remained in late 1960, especially when paired with a sentimental ballad that fit his smoother post-Army style.
Johnny Tillotson held strong at #3 with “Poetry In Motion,” while Floyd Cramer climbed to #4 with the country-pop piano instrumental “Last Date.” Ray Charles slipped to #5 with “Georgia On My Mind” after reaching #1 the previous week, but the song remained one of the most important recordings of his career.
The week of November 21, 1960 captured a rich late-year chart: doo-wop, Elvis balladry, teen pop, country-pop piano, soul standards, dance-flavored R&B, and New Orleans rock-and-roll all competing inside the Top 10.
Top 5 Songs (November 21, 1960)
1. “Stay” – Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs
Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs reached #1 with “Stay,” one of the shortest and most memorable chart-topping hits of the era.
The song’s appeal came from its urgency. It did not need a long arrangement or heavy production. The vocal hook, doo-wop energy, and pleading lyric made the record immediately memorable.
Written by Maurice Williams, “Stay” captured a simple teenage request: please don’t leave yet. That direct emotional idea helped the song connect quickly with radio listeners.
Its rise to #1 showed that vocal-group records still had major power on the Hot 100 as 1960 moved toward its final weeks.
2. “Are You Lonesome To-night?” – Elvis Presley With The Jordanaires
Elvis Presley surged to #2 with “Are You Lonesome To-night?” after entering the chart only one week earlier.
The record showed Elvis in full romantic ballad mode, far removed from the raw rock-and-roll sound of his 1950s breakthrough.
Its spoken-word section, gentle arrangement, and vulnerable vocal gave the song a dramatic quality that stood apart from the faster records around it.
The jump from #35 to #2 made it clear that Elvis was about to have another major #1 contender.
3. “Poetry In Motion” – Johnny Tillotson
Johnny Tillotson held the #3 position with “Poetry In Motion,” one of the brightest teen-pop records of late 1960.
The song’s charm came from its clean vocal, catchy rhythm, and memorable title. It sounded youthful without being rough or aggressive.
Tillotson’s polished delivery helped the record fit comfortably beside soul, vocal-group, and country-pop songs on the chart.
Its continued strength showed that smooth teen pop remained a major force on the Hot 100.
4. “Last Date” – Floyd Cramer
Floyd Cramer climbed to #4 with “Last Date,” one of the most recognizable piano instrumentals of 1960.
The song featured Cramer’s famous “slip-note” piano style, giving the instrumental a graceful, emotional sound without needing lyrics.
Its success showed that instrumental records still had a strong place on pop radio when they carried a memorable melody and a distinctive musical personality.
“Last Date” also reflected the growing influence of Nashville musicians and country-pop production on the national chart.
5. “Georgia On My Mind” – Ray Charles
Ray Charles slipped to #5 with “Georgia On My Mind,” but the record remained one of the most important songs of the year.
Charles took the Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell standard and transformed it into a deeply personal soul performance.
His vocal phrasing gave the song warmth, longing, and emotional depth, while the lush arrangement helped it reach a broad pop audience.
Even after leaving #1, “Georgia On My Mind” remained one of Ray Charles’ signature recordings.
🎂 What Was the #1 Song on Your Birthday?
If you were born during the week ending November 26, 1960, this was your birthday song:
🎵 Stay by Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs
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Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 – Week of November 21, 1960
- Stay – Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs
- Are You Lonesome To-night? – Elvis Presley With The Jordanaires
- Poetry In Motion – Johnny Tillotson
- Last Date – Floyd Cramer
- Georgia On My Mind – Ray Charles
- Let’s Go, Let’s Go, Let’s Go – Hank Ballard And The Midnighters
- A Thousand Stars – Kathy Young With The Innocents
- New Orleans – U.S. Bonds
- You Talk Too Much – Joe Jones
- Save The Last Dance For Me – The Drifters
Elvis Was Charging Fast While “Stay” Hit #1
The Billboard Hot 100 for November 21, 1960 is especially interesting because it combined a new #1 hit with a massive Elvis surge.
“Stay” by Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs reached the top with a short, urgent vocal-group record, while “Are You Lonesome To-night?” jumped all the way to #2 in only its second week. That made Elvis the obvious threat to take over the chart next.
The Top 10 also showed how much variety late-1960 radio contained. Floyd Cramer brought Nashville piano into the Top 5, Ray Charles kept soul interpretation near the top, Hank Ballard brought danceable rhythm-and-blues, Kathy Young added teenage doo-wop romance, and U.S. Bonds brought “New Orleans” rock-and-roll energy into the Top 10.
The week of November 21, 1960 remains a strong snapshot of a changing chart: vocal-group hits, Elvis ballads, country-pop instrumentals, soul standards, teen pop, and New Orleans rhythm all sharing one national Top 10.