Billboard Hot 100 | Top 5 – Week of September 28, 1963
The Billboard Hot 100 for the week of September 28, 1963, showed a fascinating mix of romance, mystery, Motown heat, and girl-group power. Bobby Vinton remained at #1 with “Blue Velvet,” giving the chart a smooth traditional-pop centerpiece. But underneath that polished ballad, the rest of the Top 5 was full of movement.
The Jaynetts surged to #2 with the haunting “Sally, Go ’Round The Roses,” one of the most unusual records of the year. The Ronettes made an even bigger leap, jumping from #12 to #3 with “Be My Baby,” a record that would soon become one of the defining sounds of 1960s pop. Its arrival gave Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound a major place near the top of the national chart.
Motown was also holding strong. Martha & The Vandellas stayed at #4 with “Heat Wave,” a blazing record that helped push the Detroit label deeper into mainstream pop radio. Meanwhile, The Angels slipped to #5 with “My Boyfriend’s Back,” still hanging on after its earlier run at #1.
This week captured a major turning point in early 1960s pop. Traditional ballads were still powerful, but girl groups, Motown, and big studio productions were quickly reshaping the sound of American radio.
Top 5 Songs
1. Blue Velvet – Bobby Vinton
Bobby Vinton held the #1 spot for a second week with “Blue Velvet.” The song’s rich orchestration and tender vocal style made it one of the most elegant ballads of 1963. While many younger acts were pushing pop music toward louder and more rhythmic sounds, Vinton reminded listeners that a beautifully sung romantic standard could still dominate the chart.
The recording helped define Vinton’s image as one of the decade’s leading pop crooners. His version of “Blue Velvet” gave the song a dreamy, nostalgic feel that appealed across age groups. It was polished, emotional, and easy to remember.
Its continued success also showed how wide the early 1960s music audience really was. On the same chart that featured Motown, girl groups, and folk-pop, a traditional pop ballad could still stand at the very top.
2. Sally, Go ’round The Roses – The Jaynetts
The Jaynetts climbed from #5 to #2 with “Sally, Go ’Round The Roses,” one of the most mysterious hits of the year. The song did not follow the usual girl-group formula. Instead of bright teenage romance, it carried a strange, almost dreamlike mood.
Its layered vocals and unusual arrangement made it stand apart on the radio. Listeners could hear something different in the record, even if its meaning was hard to pin down. That mystery became part of its power.
Although The Jaynetts would not become long-term chart regulars, this record left a lasting mark. It remains one of the most distinctive one-of-a-kind hits from the early 1960s.
3. Be My Baby – The Ronettes
The Ronettes made the week’s most dramatic Top 5 entrance as “Be My Baby” jumped from #12 to #3. From its famous opening drumbeat to its sweeping production, the record sounded bigger than almost anything else on the chart.
Ronnie Spector’s lead vocal gave the song its emotional spark. She sounded both confident and vulnerable, which helped turn the record into more than just another teenage love song. Behind her, Phil Spector’s Wall of Sound production filled every second with drama.
“Be My Baby” would become one of the most influential pop records of the decade. Its impact stretched far beyond 1963, inspiring later artists, producers, and songwriters who wanted to capture that same sense of romance and power.
4. Heat Wave – Martha & The Vandellas
Martha & The Vandellas held steady at #4 with “Heat Wave.” The song remained one of the most exciting records in the Top 5, driven by Martha Reeves’ urgent vocal and Motown’s tight, rhythmic production.
The record helped show why Motown was becoming such a powerful force in American music. It had energy, polish, and emotional force, all packed into a sound that worked on both pop and R&B radio.
“Heat Wave” also pointed toward the future of the label. Martha & The Vandellas would remain an important part of Motown’s rise, and this hit helped establish the group as one of its most thrilling acts.
5. My Boyfriend’s Back – The Angels
The Angels slipped from #2 to #5 with “My Boyfriend’s Back,” but the song was still a major presence on the chart. After its time at #1, it continued to show the strength of the girl-group sound in 1963.
The record’s playful warning, catchy hook, and confident vocal delivery made it one of the year’s most memorable hits. It captured teenage drama with humor and attitude, which helped it connect quickly with young listeners.
Even as newer girl-group records like “Be My Baby” moved upward, “My Boyfriend’s Back” remained an important part of the moment. Together, these songs showed how central female vocal groups were to early 1960s pop.
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More Weeks at #1 for “Blue Velvet”
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 28, 1963, this was your birthday song:
🎵 Blue Velvet by Bobby Vinton
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🎂 Try your own birthday:
- Blue Velvet – Bobby Vinton
- Sally, Go ’round The Roses – The Jaynetts
- Be My Baby – The Ronettes
- Heat Wave – Martha & The Vandellas
- My Boyfriend’s Back – The Angels
- Then He Kissed Me – The Crystals
- Wonderful! Wonderful! – The Tymes
- Mickey’s Monkey – The Miracles
- Cry Baby – Garnet Mimms & The Enchanters
- If I Had A Hammer – Trini Lopez
Chart Movers This Week
The week of September 28, 1963, showed American pop music moving in several directions at once. Bobby Vinton’s “Blue Velvet” kept traditional romantic pop at #1, while The Ronettes, The Jaynetts, and Martha & The Vandellas pushed the chart toward a more modern sound.
This was also a strong week for girl groups. Four of the Top 5 records featured female vocal groups or female-led acts, showing just how important that sound had become before the British Invasion changed the landscape in 1964.
Looking back, this chart feels like one of those weeks where the future was beginning to announce itself. “Be My Baby” and “Heat Wave” would influence pop and soul for years, while “Blue Velvet” proved that classic romance still had a powerful place on the radio.