Billboard Hot 100 | Top 5 – Week of November 24, 1962
The Billboard Hot 100 for November 24, 1962 kept The 4 Seasons at #1 with “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” as the group continued one of the hottest streaks of the year. After breaking through with “Sherry,” they had quickly proven they could return to the top with another instantly recognizable hit.
Elvis Presley held steady at #2 with “Return To Sender,” keeping one of his most memorable movie-era singles close to the top. Brenda Lee moved up to #3 with “All Alone Am I,” bringing deep emotion and vocal maturity into the upper chart positions.
Marcie Blane climbed to #4 with “Bobby’s Girl,” one of the strongest teenage pop records of the season, while Neil Sedaka remained at #5 with “Next Door To An Angel.” Together, the Top 5 balanced vocal-group energy, superstar charisma, heartbreak ballads, teen romance, and polished pop songwriting.
The rest of the Top 10 showed that dance music and girl-group records were still major forces. Chubby Checker’s “Limbo Rock,” The Orlons’ “Don’t Hang Up,” The Crystals’ former #1 “He’s A Rebel,” Johnny Mathis’ “Gina,” and Dee Dee Sharp’s “Ride!” all helped keep the chart lively and varied.
Top 5 Songs
1. Big Girls Don’t Cry – The 4 Seasons
The 4 Seasons remained at #1 this week with “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” continuing their remarkable rise in 1962. The record confirmed that the group’s sound was not a one-time surprise but a major new force in American pop music.
Frankie Valli’s falsetto again gave the song its signature identity, while the group’s tight harmonies brought drive and excitement to every chorus. The record had the same youthful punch that made “Sherry” a smash, but with enough personality to stand on its own.
By holding the top spot, “Big Girls Don’t Cry” strengthened The 4 Seasons’ place as one of the defining American vocal groups of the decade. Their sound was energetic, polished, and perfectly suited for early 1960s radio.
2. Return To Sender – Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley held at #2 with “Return To Sender,” continuing a strong chart run for one of his most playful early 1960s hits. The song mixed humor, rejection, and catchy pop rhythm into a record that was easy to remember.
Elvis delivered the song with relaxed confidence. Its bouncing beat and memorable chorus made it a natural radio favorite, while his personality kept the performance from feeling lightweight.
Even as newer groups like The 4 Seasons were reshaping the charts, Elvis remained a powerful presence. “Return To Sender” showed that he could still compete with the freshest sounds of the moment.
3. All Alone Am I – Brenda Lee
Brenda Lee climbed to #3 with “All Alone Am I,” one of the most emotional ballads on the chart. The song allowed her to show the depth and control that made her one of the most impressive young vocalists of the era.
Lee’s performance carried sadness without becoming overdone. Her voice sounded vulnerable, mature, and completely believable, giving the record a powerful sense of loneliness.
The song’s success showed her remarkable versatility. Brenda Lee could deliver rock and roll energy, pop sweetness, and dramatic heartbreak with equal confidence, making her one of the standout singers of 1962.
4. Bobby’s Girl – Marcie Blane
Marcie Blane climbed to #4 this week with “Bobby’s Girl,” giving the chart one of its clearest examples of early 1960s teenage pop. The song captured the innocent romantic longing that filled many teen-centered records of the period.
Blane’s youthful vocal delivery helped make the song feel sincere and direct. It was not dramatic in the way some ballads were, but it had a simple emotional appeal that connected strongly with young listeners.
“Bobby’s Girl” became Marcie Blane’s signature hit and one of the memorable teen-pop moments of late 1962. Its rise into the Top 5 showed how powerful teenage identity and romance remained on the Hot 100.
5. Next Door To An Angel – Neil Sedaka
Neil Sedaka held at #5 with “Next Door To An Angel,” continuing his steady run as one of the most dependable pop craftsmen of the early 1960s. The song was bright, melodic, and full of Sedaka’s familiar charm.
Its appeal came from strong songwriting and a clean pop arrangement. Sedaka had a gift for creating songs that felt light and cheerful while still carrying emotional warmth.
The record’s success showed that polished mainstream pop still had a strong place beside girl groups, dance hits, and dramatic ballads. Sedaka remained one of the era’s most reliable voices for catchy, well-built pop singles.
More Weeks at #1 for “Big Girls Don’t Cry”
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 November 24, 1962, this was your birthday song:
🎵 Big Girls Don’t Cry by The Four Seasons
▶ Watch and experience this song →
🎂 Try your own birthday:
- Big Girls Don’t Cry – The 4 Seasons
- Return To Sender – Elvis Presley
- All Alone Am I – Brenda Lee
- Bobby’s Girl – Marcie Blane
- Next Door To An Angel – Neil Sedaka
- Limbo Rock – Chubby Checker
- Don’t Hang Up – The Orlons
- He’s A Rebel – The Crystals
- Gina – Johnny Mathis
- Ride! – Dee Dee Sharp
Chart Movers This Week
Late 1962 Kept Moving Fast
The November 24, 1962 Billboard Hot 100 showed The 4 Seasons firmly in control, while Elvis Presley, Brenda Lee, Marcie Blane, and Neil Sedaka kept the Top 5 filled with familiar voices and emotional variety.
Below them, the chart still had plenty of movement. Dance records from Chubby Checker, The Orlons, and Dee Dee Sharp showed that rhythm and teenage fun remained central to the sound of the year.
This week captured the excitement of a changing pop landscape. Vocal groups, teen idols, ballads, dance songs, and girl-group records all shared the same space, making late 1962 feel bright, busy, and full of momentum.