Billboard Hot 100 | Top 5 – Week of September 14, 1963
The Billboard Hot 100 for September 14, 1963 kept The Angels at #1 with “My Boyfriend’s Back.” The confident girl-group hit continued its strong run at the top, proving that the sound of female vocal groups remained one of the most powerful forces in American pop.
Bobby Vinton climbed to #2 with “Blue Velvet,” while Trini Lopez held at #3 with “If I Had A Hammer.” Allan Sherman’s novelty favorite remained high at #4, and Martha & The Vandellas brought Motown energy into the Top 5 with “Heat Wave.”
This week’s Top 5 captured a wide range of early 1960s radio: girl-group pop, romantic ballads, folk-pop, comedy records, and Motown soul all competing for attention at the same time.
Further down the Top 10, The Crystals, The Beach Boys, Major Lance, The Jaynetts, and Inez Foxx with Charlie Foxx added even more variety, making mid-September 1963 one of the most colorful chart weeks of the season.
Top 5 Songs
1. My Boyfriend’s Back – The Angels
The Angels remained at #1 with “My Boyfriend’s Back,” continuing one of the strongest girl-group runs of 1963. The song’s confident message and catchy chorus helped it stand apart from many of the softer romance records of the era.
The record had attitude, humor, and a memorable hook, giving teenage listeners a song that felt playful but powerful. It turned a simple story into one of the most recognizable records of the girl-group era.
Its continued success showed that girl groups were still helping shape the sound of American pop just months before the British Invasion would change the charts.
2. Blue Velvet – Bobby Vinton
Bobby Vinton climbed to #2 with “Blue Velvet,” one of the smoothest and most romantic records of the year. The song’s lush arrangement and nostalgic mood made it a perfect showcase for Vinton’s polished vocal style.
At a time when younger and more rhythm-driven records were filling the chart, “Blue Velvet” proved that traditional pop ballads still had major power. Its emotional elegance helped it connect with a wide audience.
The record’s climb suggested that it was very close to taking over the top spot.
3. If I Had A Hammer – Trini Lopez
Trini Lopez held at #3 with “If I Had A Hammer,” bringing a lively folk-pop sound into the upper chart. His version had the feel of a live performance, full of energy and audience-friendly excitement.
The song’s message of justice, freedom, and unity gave it more depth than a typical pop single, while Lopez’s upbeat delivery made it easy for radio listeners to embrace.
Its success showed how folk-influenced songs could cross over when paired with strong personality and a bright arrangement.
4. Hello Mudduh, Hello Fadduh! (A Letter From Camp) – Allan Sherman
Allan Sherman slipped to #4 with “Hello Mudduh, Hello Fadduh!,” but the novelty hit remained one of the year’s biggest surprises. Its comic story about summer camp misery had connected with families across America.
The song worked because it was funny, memorable, and easy to picture. Sherman turned childhood complaints into a national singalong.
Its strong chart run showed that novelty records could still become major pop events when the timing and humor were right.
5. Heat Wave – Martha & The Vandellas
Martha & The Vandellas climbed into the Top 5 with “Heat Wave,” bringing Motown’s energy and urgency into the heart of the chart. The record’s driving rhythm and powerful lead vocal made it one of the most exciting songs on radio.
Martha Reeves delivered the song with fire and confidence, while the Vandellas helped create a sound that was both polished and explosive. It was soul music built for pop success.
“Heat Wave” became one of Motown’s defining early hits and helped point toward the label’s growing dominance in the 1960s.
More Weeks at #1 for “My Boyfriend’s Back”
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 September 14, 1963, this was your birthday song:
🎵 My Boyfriend’s Back by The Angels
▶ Watch and experience this song →
🎂 Try your own birthday:
- My Boyfriend’s Back – The Angels
- Blue Velvet – Bobby Vinton
- If I Had A Hammer – Trini Lopez
- Hello Mudduh, Hello Fadduh! (A Letter From Camp) – Allan Sherman
- Heat Wave – Martha & The Vandellas
- Then He Kissed Me – The Crystals
- Surfer Girl – The Beach Boys
- The Monkey Time – Major Lance
- Sally, Go ’round The Roses – The Jaynetts
- Mockingbird – Inez Foxx with Charlie Foxx
Chart Movers This Week
Motown, Girl Groups, And Pop Ballads Shared The Chart
The September 14, 1963 Billboard Hot 100 showed how rich American pop music was before the British Invasion. The Angels held #1 with a girl-group classic, while Bobby Vinton, Trini Lopez, Allan Sherman, and Martha & The Vandellas each represented very different corners of the music world.
The lower half of the Top 10 added even more variety, from Phil Spector’s production style with The Crystals to surf-pop from The Beach Boys and the mysterious girl-group sound of The Jaynetts.
This week captured a chart in motion. Motown was rising, girl groups were still strong, traditional pop had not faded, and American radio was still open to almost every kind of hit record.