The UK Singles Chart is one of many music charts compiled by the Official Charts Company that calculates the best-selling singles of the week in the United Kingdom. Before 2004, the chart was only based on the sales of physical singles. This list shows singles that peaked in the Top 10 of the UK Singles Chart during 1961, as well as singles which peaked in 1960 and 1962 but were in the top 10 in 1961. The entry date is when the single appeared in the top 10 for the first time (week ending, as published by the Official Charts Company, which is six days after the chart is announced).
One-hundred and seven singles were in the top ten in 1961. Ten singles from 1960 remained in the top 10 for several weeks at the beginning of the year, while "Midnight in Moscow" by Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen, "Stranger on the Shore" by Mr. Acker Bilk, "Let There Be Drums" by Sandy Nelson and "Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" by Neil Sedaka were all released in 1961 but did not reach their peak until 1962. "Poetry in Motion" by John Tillotson was the only single from 1960 to reach its peak in 1961. Twenty-eight artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 1961. Bobby Vee, Del Shannon, Eden Kane, Helen Shapiro, Kenny Ball and Matt Monro were among the many artists who achieved their first UK charting top 10 single in 1961.
The 1960 Christmas number-one, "I Love You" by Cliff Richard, remained at number one for the first week of 1961. The first new number-one single of the year was "Poetry in Motion" by Johnny Tillotson. Overall, twenty-one different singles peaked at number-one in 1961, with Elvis Presley (4) having the most singles hit that position.
Background Multiple entries One-hundred and seven singles charted in the top 10 in 1961, with ninety-four singles reaching their peak this year. Three songs were recorded by several artists with each version reaching the top 10:
"Michael, Row the Boat Ashore" – The Highwaymen (version known as "Michael"), Lonnie Donegan (version known as "Michael, Row the Boat") "Rubber Ball" – Bobby Vee, Marty Wilde "Sailor" – Anne Shelton, Petula Clark
Twenty-eight artists scored multiple entries in the top 10 in 1961. The Shadows secured the record for most top 10 hits in 1961 with nine hit singles, four of which were with Cliff Richard.
The Everly Brothers was one of a number of artists with two top-ten entries, including the number-one single "Walk Right Back"/"Ebony Eyes". Craig Douglas, Eden Kane, Matt Monro, Petula Clark and The Temperance Seven were among the other artists who had multiple top 10 entries in 1961.
Chart debuts Twenty-eight artists achieved their first top 10 single in 1961, either as a lead or featured artist. Of these, seven went on to record another hit single that year: Clarence "Frogman" Henry, Del Shannon, Eden Kane, John Leyton, Karl Denver, Matt Monro and The Temperance Seven. Helen Shapiro achieved two more chart hits in 1961. Bobby Vee had three other entries in his breakthrough year.
The following table (collapsed on desktop site) does not include acts who had previously charted as part of a group and secured their first top 10 solo single.
Artist Number of top 10s First entry Chart position Other entriesMatt Monro2"Portrait of My Love"3"My Kind of Girl" (5)Bobby Vee4"Rubber Ball"4"More Than I Can Say"/"Stayin' In" (4), "How Many Tears" (10), "Take Good Care of My Baby" (3)1"Will You Love Me Tomorrow"4—1"Are You Sure?"2—1"Riders in the Sky"8—1"Wheels"8—Ferrante & Teicher1"Theme from Exodus"6—2"You're Driving Me Crazy"1"Pasadena" (4)1"Blue Moon"1—1"Warpaint"5—Helen Shapiro3"Don't Treat Me Like a Child"3"You Don't Know" (1), "Walkin' Back to Happiness" (1)Floyd Cramer1"On the Rebound"1—Del Shannon2"Runaway"1"Hats Off to Larry" (6)Clarence "Frogman" Henry"2"But I Do"3"You Always Hurt the One You Love" (6)Linda Scott1"I've Told Every Little Star"7—Eden Kane2"Well I Ask You"1"Get Lost" (10)John Leyton2"Johnny Remember Me"1"Wild Wind" (2)Gary U.S. Bonds1"Quarter to Three"7—Karl Denver2"Marcheta"8"Mexicali Rose" (8)1"Michael"1—Cleo Laine1"You'll Answer to Me" 5—Tony Orlando1"Bless You"5—1"Sucu Sucu"9 —Ray Charles1"Hit the Road Jack"6—Jimmy Dean1"Big Bad John"2—1"Take Five"6—Danny Williams1"Moon River"1—Kenny Ball and His Jazzmen1"Midnight in Moscow" 2—
Songs from films Original songs from various films entered the top 10 throughout the year. These included "Wooden Heart" (from G.I. Blues), "Theme from Exodus" (Exodus), "Where the Boys Are" (Where the Boys Are), "The Frightened City" (The Frightened City), "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" (The Sound of Music), "Wild in the Country" (Wild in the Country), "When the Girl in Your Arms Is the Girl in Your Heart" (The Young Ones) and "The Time Has Come" (What a Whopper)
Additionally, the original Spanish language version of "Perfidia" sung by Desi Arnaz featured in the 1941 film Father Takes a Wife. Duane Eddy covered the title song to the comedy film Pepe. Shirley Jones had been responsible for the version on the soundtrack. American songwriter Hoagy Carmichael's recording of "(Up a) Lazy River" (simply called "Lazy River" when released by Bobby Darin) was briefly heard in the 1946 film The Best Years of Our Lives, as well as the 1959 film Hey Boy! Hey Girl!. The Marcels' version of "Blue Moon" was referenced in the Disney animated short-film A Symposium on Popular Songs. "You'll Never Know" was first introduced in the 1943 film Hello, Frisco, Hello, sung by Alice Faye, winning the Academy Award for Best Original Song at that year's ceremony.
Elvis Presley covered "What'd I Say", originally by Ray Charles, and it featured in the 1964 film Viva Las Vegas. "Mexicali Rose" appeared in the 1939 film of the same name. Similarly, "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby" was on the soundtrack the previous year to the film Hard to Get. "Moon River" was written for Breakfast at Tiffany's to be performed by Audrey Hepburn. Johnny Burnette's song "You're Sixteen" would later feature prominently in the 1973 film American Graffiti.
Best-selling singles Until 1970 there was no universally recognised year-end best-sellers list. However, in 2011 the Official Charts Company released a list of the best-selling single of each year in chart history from 1952 to date. According to the list, "Wooden Heart" by Elvis Presley is officially recorded as the biggest-selling single of 1961.
Top-ten singles Key SymbolMeaning‡Single peaked in 1960 but still in chart in 1961.♦Single released in 1961 but peaked in 1962.(#)Year-end best-selling single.EnteredThe date that the single first appeared in the chart.PeakHighest position that the single reached in the UK Singles Chart.
Entered(week ending) Weeksintop10 Single Artist Peak Peak reached(week ending) WeeksatpeakSingles in 196012"It's Now or Never" ‡Elvis Presley1811"Rocking Goose" ‡Johnny and the Hurricanes3211"Save the Last Dance for Me" ‡249"Man of Mystery"/"The Stranger" ‡ 528"Goodness Gracious Me" ‡ Peter Sellers & Sophia Loren416"Little Donkey" ‡Nina & Frederik319"I Love You" ‡Cliff Richard & The Shadows126"Strawberry Fair" ‡Anthony Newley3210"Poetry in Motion" Johnny Tillotson124"Lonely Pup (In a Christmas Shop)" ‡Adam Faith42Singles in 19614"Perfidia" 415"Portrait of My Love" Matt Monro324"Counting Teardops" Emile Ford & The Checkmates416"Pepe" Duane Eddy217"Are You Lonesome Tonight?" Elvis Presley144"Buona Sera" Mr. Acker Bilk & His Paramount Jazz Band716"You're Sixteen" Johnny Burnette317"Sailor" Petula Clark114"Rubber Ball" Bobby Vee411"Sailor" Anne Shelton1019"FBI" 6311"Walk Right Back"/"Ebony Eyes" 131"Rubber Ball" Marty Wilde914"Who Am I?"/"This Is It!"Adam Faith517"Will You Love Me Tomorrow" 413"Calendar Girl" Neil Sedaka8110"Are You Sure?" 266"Riders in the Sky" 817"Theme for a Dream" Cliff Richard & The Shadows3311"Wooden Heart" (#1)Elvis Presley161"Wheels" 816"My Kind of Girl" Matt Monro526"Theme from Exodus" Ferrante & Teicher611"And the Heavens Cried" Anthony Newley614"Lazy River" Bobby Darin213"Where the Boys Are"/"Baby Roo" Connie Francis517"You're Driving Me Crazy" 112"Gee Whizz It's You" Cliff Richard & The Shadows417"Blue Moon" 124"Warpaint" 516"Don't Treat Me Like a Child" Helen Shapiro314"Theme from Dixie" Duane Eddy722"African Waltz" Johnny Dankworth916"More Than I Can Say"/"Stayin' In"Bobby Vee455"On the Rebound" Floyd Cramer113"A Hundred Pounds of Clay" Craig Douglas9112"Runaway" Del Shannon139"The Frightened City" 337"Surrender" Elvis Presley144"You'll Never Know" Shirley Bassey612"What'd I Say" Jerry Lee Lewis1027"But I Do" Clarence "Frogman" Henry311"Have a Drink on Me" Lonnie Donegan8115"Halfway to Paradise" Billy Fury323"I've Told Every Little Star" Linda Scott7112"Hello Mary Lou"/"Travelin' Man" Ricky Nelson221"Little Devil" Neil Sedaka919"Pasadena" 429"Temptation" 123"Running Scared" Roy Orbison916"A Girl Like You" Cliff Richard & The Shadows3111"Well I Ask You" Eden Kane1112"You Don't Know" Helen Shapiro134"Time" Craig Douglas937"Romeo" Petula Clark314"You Always Hurt the One You Love" Clarence "Frogman" Henry6110"Johnny Remember Me" John Leyton148"Reach For The Stars"/"Climb Ev'ry MountainShirley Bassey113"Quarter to Three" Gary U.S. Bonds712"Marcheta" Karl Denver822"That's My Home" Mr. Acker Bilk & His Paramount Jazz Band716"Wild in the Country"/"I Feel So Bad" Elvis Presley427"Kon-Tiki" 112"How Many Tears" Bobby Vee1021"Michael, Row the Boat"/"Lumbered" Lonnie Donegan612"Cupid" Sam Cooke715"Jealousy"Billy Fury215"Michael" 116"You'll Answer to Me" Cleo Laine514"Together" Connie Francis614"Hats Off to Larry" Del Shannon611"Get Lost" Eden Kane10111"Walkin' Back to Happiness" Helen Shapiro135"Wild Wind" John Leyton226"When the Girl in Your Arms Is the Girl in Your Heart" Cliff Richard324"Bless You" Tony Orlando513"Sucu Sucu" 928"(Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame"/"Little Sister" Elvis Presley143"Hit the Road Jack" Ray Charles612"Mexicali Rose" Karl Denver811"You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby" Bobby Darin1017"Big Bad John" Jimmy Dean216"The Time Has Come" Adam Faith415"Take Five" The Dave Brubeck Quartet617"Take Good Care of My Baby" Bobby Vee327"Tower of Strength" Frankie Vaughan139"Moon River"Danny Williams121"The Savage" 1019"Midnight in Moscow" ♦Kenny Ball & His Jazzmen212"I'll Get By (As Long as I Have You)" Shirley Bassey1023"My Friend the Sea" Petula Clark715"Johnny Will" Pat Boone4217"Stranger on the Shore" ♦ Mr. Acker Bilk236"Let There Be Drums" ♦Sandy Nelson322"Toy Balloons" Russ Conway718"Happy Birthday Sweet Sixteen" ♦Neil Sedaka32
Entries by artist
The following table shows artists who achieved two or more top 10 entries in 1961, including singles that reached their peak in 1960 or 1962. The figures include both main artists and featured artists. The total number of weeks an artist spent in the top ten in 1961 is also shown.