Billboard Hot 100 | Top 5 – Week of November 28, 1960
The Billboard Hot 100 for the week ending November 28, 1960 put Elvis Presley back at #1 with “Are You Lonesome To-night?” After racing from #35 to #2 the previous week, the sentimental ballad completed its climb and gave Elvis another major chart-topping record in his post-Army comeback year.
Floyd Cramer climbed to #2 with “Last Date,” giving RCA Victor both of the top two songs this week. Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs slipped to #3 with “Stay,” while Johnny Tillotson held strong at #4 with “Poetry In Motion.” Kathy Young With The Innocents reached #5 with “A Thousand Stars,” bringing teenage doo-wop romance into the upper chart.
The rest of the Top 10 showed how broad late-1960 pop had become. U.S. Bonds brought raw New Orleans energy with “New Orleans,” Johnny Horton carried country adventure into the chart with “North To Alaska,” Jackie Wilson added dramatic vocal power with “Alone At Last,” Hank Ballard kept danceable rhythm-and-blues alive, and Ray Charles remained present with “Georgia On My Mind.”
Top 5 Songs (November 28, 1960)
1. “Are You Lonesome To-night?” – Elvis Presley With The Jordanaires
Elvis Presley reached #1 with “Are You Lonesome To-night?,” one of the most memorable ballads of his early 1960s career.
The song showed Elvis in a softer and more dramatic setting than his early rock-and-roll hits. Its gentle arrangement, emotional vocal, and spoken-word bridge gave it a theatrical quality that helped it stand apart on the chart.
Coming after the success of “It’s Now Or Never,” the record confirmed that Elvis could dominate 1960 with polished romantic ballads as powerfully as he had dominated the 1950s with rock-and-roll.
Its fast rise to #1 showed just how strong Elvis’ audience remained as the year moved toward its final month.
2. “Last Date” – Floyd Cramer
Floyd Cramer climbed to #2 with “Last Date,” one of the most recognizable piano instrumentals of the year.
The record featured Cramer’s famous slip-note piano style, giving the melody a smooth, emotional feel without needing lyrics.
Its success showed the strength of Nashville musicianship on the national pop chart. Cramer was already a key session player, and this record brought his own instrumental sound into the spotlight.
“Last Date” added a graceful country-pop flavor to a chart filled with vocal records, teen pop, rhythm-and-blues, and soul.
3. “Stay” – Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs
Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs slipped to #3 with “Stay,” but the record remained one of the most memorable vocal-group hits of 1960.
The song was short, direct, and urgent. Its pleading lyric and doo-wop energy helped it connect quickly with radio listeners.
Written by Maurice Williams, “Stay” used a simple request — asking someone not to leave yet — and turned it into one of the most infectious records of the year.
Even after leaving #1, its staying power showed how strongly vocal-group records still connected with young listeners.
4. “Poetry In Motion” – Johnny Tillotson
Johnny Tillotson held the #4 position with “Poetry In Motion,” one of the brightest teen-pop hits of late 1960.
The song’s clean vocal, catchy rhythm, and memorable title made it a strong fit for radio.
Tillotson’s smooth delivery gave the record a polished teen-idol sound without losing its youthful charm.
Its continued strength in the Top 5 showed that teen pop remained a major force as the chart moved toward the end of the year.
5. “A Thousand Stars” – Kathy Young With The Innocents
Kathy Young With The Innocents climbed to #5 with “A Thousand Stars,” a romantic vocal-group ballad that brought doo-wop sweetness into the upper chart.
The record’s appeal came from its dreamy atmosphere, young vocal sound, and heartfelt teenage romance.
Its rise into the Top 5 showed that soft, sincere doo-wop ballads still had a strong place on the Hot 100 in late 1960.
“A Thousand Stars” added a tender teenage love-song quality to a Top 5 led by Elvis, Nashville piano, vocal-group urgency, and polished teen pop.
More Weeks at #1 for “Are You Lonesome Tonight?”
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?
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🎵 Are You Lonesome Tonight? by Elvis Presley
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Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 – Week of November 28, 1960
- Are You Lonesome To-night? – Elvis Presley With The Jordanaires
- Last Date – Floyd Cramer
- Stay – Maurice Williams & The Zodiacs
- Poetry In Motion – Johnny Tillotson
- A Thousand Stars – Kathy Young With The Innocents
- New Orleans – U.S. Bonds
- North To Alaska – Johnny Horton
- Alone At Last – Jackie Wilson
- Let’s Go, Let’s Go, Let’s Go – Hank Ballard And The Midnighters
- Georgia On My Mind – Ray Charles
Elvis Took Over as Nashville Piano and Doo-Wop Rose
The Billboard Hot 100 for November 28, 1960 showed Elvis Presley back at #1, but the surrounding chart was just as interesting.
Floyd Cramer’s “Last Date” rose to #2, showing the growing national impact of Nashville’s polished country-pop sound. At the same time, Kathy Young With The Innocents climbed into the Top 5 with “A Thousand Stars,” proving that romantic doo-wop ballads still had strong pop appeal.
The lower half of the Top 10 added even more variety. U.S. Bonds brought “New Orleans” rock-and-roll energy, Johnny Horton added country storytelling with “North To Alaska,” Jackie Wilson delivered dramatic vocal power, Hank Ballard kept danceable rhythm-and-blues moving, and Ray Charles remained in the Top 10 with his soulful standard “Georgia On My Mind.”
The week of November 28, 1960 remains a strong late-year snapshot of the Hot 100: Elvis at #1, Nashville piano at #2, doo-wop still rising, New Orleans rock-and-roll breaking through, country adventure climbing, and soul still firmly present.