Billboard Hot 100 | Top 5 – Week of October 20, 1962
The Billboard Hot 100 for October 20, 1962 put Halloween right at the top of American pop music as “Monster Mash” by Bobby “Boris” Pickett And The Crypt-Kickers climbed to #1. After several weeks of building momentum, the spooky novelty record finally pushed past The 4 Seasons’ “Sherry.”
It was perfect timing. With October moving toward Halloween, “Monster Mash” felt like the season’s unofficial soundtrack. Its mix of monster-movie humor, rock and roll rhythm, and playful sound effects made it one of the most distinctive hits of 1962.
The rest of the Top 5 showed how much pop music was changing. The Contours jumped to #3 with the Motown dance hit “Do You Love Me,” while The Crystals surged to #4 with “He’s A Rebel,” bringing Phil Spector’s girl-group sound closer to the top.
Frank Ifield rounded out the Top 5 with “I Remember You,” while Dickey Lee, Nat King Cole, Gene Pitney, Booker T. & The MG’s, and Chris Montez filled out a chart that blended novelty, soul, vocal harmony, classic pop, tragedy songs, and dance records all in one week.
Top 5 Songs
1. Monster Mash – Bobby “Boris” Pickett And The Crypt-Kickers
“Monster Mash” reached #1 this week, giving Bobby “Boris” Pickett And The Crypt-Kickers one of the most unforgettable novelty hits in Billboard history. The record arrived at exactly the right moment, turning Halloween fun into a national pop event.
Pickett’s theatrical vocal performance gave the song its personality. His monster-movie style, playful delivery, and comic timing made the record feel like a little horror film packed into a pop single.
What made “Monster Mash” last was its charm. Many novelty songs enjoyed a quick burst of fame and disappeared, but this one became a seasonal tradition. Its climb to #1 in 1962 was only the beginning of a much longer life in American pop culture.
2. Sherry – The 4 Seasons
The 4 Seasons slipped to #2 with “Sherry,” but the record remained one of the most important breakthrough hits of 1962. Its time at #1 had already introduced the group’s bold harmony sound to the country.
Frankie Valli’s falsetto remained the song’s most striking feature, but the full group sound gave “Sherry” its punch. It combined doo-wop roots with a sharper, more modern pop energy.
Even after leaving the top spot, “Sherry” continued to mark the arrival of a major American vocal group. The 4 Seasons would become one of the defining acts of the decade, and this record opened the door.
3. Do You Love Me – The Contours
The Contours made a major move this week as “Do You Love Me” climbed from #7 to #3. The record brought raw Motown energy into the upper part of the Billboard Hot 100.
Unlike smoother pop records on the chart, “Do You Love Me” sounded urgent and physical. It was built for dancing, with a vocal performance that felt excited, rough-edged, and full of life.
The song’s success helped show how powerful Motown was becoming in 1962. Before the label fully dominated the decade, records like this proved that Detroit soul could compete directly with the biggest pop hits in America.
4. He’s A Rebel – The Crystals
The Crystals jumped from #11 to #4 with “He’s A Rebel,” bringing one of the most important girl-group records of the year into the Top 5. The song had drama, attitude, and a strong story that made it stand apart.
Produced by Phil Spector, the record carried the emotional sweep and polished power that would soon define his famous Wall of Sound approach. It felt bigger and more cinematic than many pop singles of the time.
“He’s A Rebel” also helped push the girl-group sound further into the mainstream. Its rise showed that young female voices, strong storytelling, and dramatic production were becoming a major force in early 1960s pop music.
5. I Remember You – Frank Ifield
Frank Ifield held at #5 with “I Remember You,” continuing the song’s strong American chart run. Its smooth vocal style and distinctive delivery gave the Top 5 a different flavor from the dance and novelty records around it.
Ifield’s performance had a country-tinged quality, including the yodel-like touches that made him stand out. The song felt polished, sentimental, and unusual enough to catch listeners’ attention.
The success of “I Remember You” also showed that American radio was already open to international performers before the British Invasion fully arrived. Ifield’s hit added another layer to the wide variety of sounds on the 1962 charts.
More Weeks at #1 for “Monster Mash”
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 October 20, 1962, this was your birthday song:
🎵 Monster Mash by Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett & the Crypt-Kickers
▶ Watch and experience this song →
🎂 Try your own birthday:
- Monster Mash – Bobby “Boris” Pickett And The Crypt-Kickers
- Sherry – The 4 Seasons
- Do You Love Me – The Contours
- He’s A Rebel – The Crystals
- I Remember You – Frank Ifield
- Patches – Dickey Lee
- Ramblin’ Rose – Nat King Cole
- Only Love Can Break A Heart – Gene Pitney
- Green Onions – Booker T. & The MG’s
- Let’s Dance – Chris Montez
Chart Movers This Week
Halloween Took Over The Hot 100
The October 20, 1962 Billboard Hot 100 became one of the most memorable seasonal chart weeks of the decade. “Monster Mash” reaching #1 gave Halloween a permanent pop anthem and showed how much fun novelty records could still bring to radio.
But this chart was not just about one spooky hit. Motown was rising fast with The Contours, the girl-group sound was gaining strength with The Crystals, and The 4 Seasons were still riding the success of their breakthrough.
It was a week full of personality. The songs were funny, soulful, dramatic, romantic, and danceable, proving again that 1962 pop music could move in many directions at once while still sounding completely alive.