Billboard Hot 100 | Top 5 – Week of September 5, 1960
The Billboard Hot 100 for the week ending September 5, 1960 showed Elvis Presley still holding the #1 position with “It’s Now Or Never.” The dramatic pop ballad continued its powerful run at the top, proving that Elvis’ post-Army sound could be polished, romantic, and still completely dominant.
Just beneath Elvis, Chubby Checker climbed to #2 with “The Twist,” bringing one of the most important dance records in American pop history within one step of #1. The song’s simple dance concept, strong rhythm, and television-friendly appeal were quickly turning it into a national movement.
The Ventures held strong at #3 with “Walk — Don’t Run,” keeping instrumental guitar rock near the top of the chart. Bobby Rydell climbed to #4 with “Volare,” while Brenda Lee remained in the Top 5 with “I’m Sorry,” one of the year’s most enduring heartbreak ballads.
The week of September 5, 1960 captured a chart where Elvis’ romantic pop, Chubby Checker’s dance-craze energy, The Ventures’ electric guitar sound, Bobby Rydell’s teen-pop revival of an Italian standard, and Brenda Lee’s emotional ballad all competed side by side.
Top 5 Songs (September 5, 1960)
1. “It’s Now Or Never” – Elvis Presley With The Jordanaires
Elvis Presley remained at #1 with “It’s Now Or Never,” one of the most successful and ambitious singles of his early 1960s career.
The song’s melody came from “O Sole Mio,” giving Elvis a sweeping romantic setting that moved far beyond his early rock-and-roll image.
His vocal performance was controlled, dramatic, and confident, showing a more mature side of his artistry.
By this week, “It’s Now Or Never” had become one of the defining records of Elvis’ post-Army comeback and one of the biggest hits of 1960.
2. “The Twist” – Chubby Checker
Chubby Checker climbed to #2 with “The Twist,” one of the most important dance records ever to appear on the Billboard Hot 100.
Written by Hank Ballard, the song had a simple dance pattern that teenagers could easily copy at parties, on television dance shows, and in school gyms.
Checker’s version had the clean, energetic feel needed to turn the song into a national craze.
By September 5, “The Twist” was no longer just rising on the chart — it was becoming a major pop culture event.
3. “Walk — Don’t Run” – The Ventures
The Ventures held the #3 position with “Walk — Don’t Run,” one of the most influential instrumental guitar records of the early 1960s.
The song’s bright electric-guitar lead, sharp rhythm, and clean arrangement gave it a modern sound that helped point toward surf rock and garage-band guitar music.
Its success showed that instrumental rock could compete with major vocal hits when the sound was distinctive enough.
“Walk — Don’t Run” helped establish The Ventures as one of the most important instrumental groups of the decade.
4. “Volare” – Bobby Rydell
Bobby Rydell climbed to #4 with “Volare,” his youthful pop version of the Italian standard associated with Domenico Modugno.
Rydell’s recording gave the song a brighter, more teen-friendly feel while keeping its international flavor.
The record showed how early 1960s pop singers could take older or foreign-language-associated material and reshape it for American teenage radio.
Its rise kept Rydell firmly among the leading teen idols of the period.
5. “I’m Sorry” – Brenda Lee
Brenda Lee remained in the Top 5 with “I’m Sorry,” continuing the long chart life of one of 1960’s strongest ballads.
The song had already reached #1, but its continued strength showed how deeply listeners connected with Lee’s emotional delivery.
Her performance sounded mature, restrained, and sincere, helping the record stand apart from lighter teen-pop hits.
“I’m Sorry” remained one of Brenda Lee’s signature songs and one of the defining female vocal records of the year.
More Weeks at #1 for “It’s Now or Never”
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 10, 1960, this was your birthday song:
🎵 It’s Now or Never by Elvis Presley
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Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 – Week of September 5, 1960
- It’s Now Or Never – Elvis Presley With The Jordanaires
- The Twist – Chubby Checker
- Walk — Don’t Run – The Ventures
- Volare – Bobby Rydell
- I’m Sorry – Brenda Lee
- Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polkadot Bikini – Brian Hyland
- Mission Bell – Donnie Brooks
- Finger Poppin’ Time – Hank Ballard And The Midnighters
- My Heart Has A Mind Of Its Own – Connie Francis
- Theme From The Apartment – Ferrante & Teicher
The Twist Was Almost at the Top
The Billboard Hot 100 for September 5, 1960 showed Elvis Presley still ruling the chart, but Chubby Checker was now directly behind him.
“The Twist” had climbed to #2, and its momentum made it clear that America was moving toward one of the biggest dance crazes in pop history. With Hank Ballard And The Midnighters also still in the Top 10 with “Finger Poppin’ Time,” this chart had a strong dance-music thread running through it.
The Top 10 also showed how varied late-summer radio had become. The Ventures kept instrumental guitar rock near the top, Bobby Rydell brought Italian-flavored teen pop, Connie Francis returned with another rising hit, and Ferrante & Teicher added a polished movie-theme instrumental with “Theme From The Apartment.”
The week of September 5, 1960 remains a key moment because it shows Elvis still on top while “The Twist” was closing in fast — and the dance-craze era was about to fully arrive.
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