The post-World War II generation of children moved away from the upbeat soda-fountain rock n’ roll sound that had characterized the (white) culture of the 1950s. Instead, they were drawn to more rebellious and socially conscious music, which was edgier than the mainstream music their parents listened to.
The parents of Baby Boomers were generally in their late 30s and early 40s during this period, and consequently, many of the songs that dominated the Billboard Top 100 in the 1960s still resonated with their musical tastes. The younger generation might have been dancing to The Rolling Stones and Jimi Hendrix, but their parents were probably listening to Henry Mancini.
In determining the biggest pop hits of the 1960s, 24/7 Tempo reviewed performance data from the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Songs were ranked based on an inverse score wherein a week at No. 1 is worth 100 points, a week at No. 2 worth 99 points, and so on, up to a week at No. 100 worth one point. Chart data is current through the week of August 20, 2022. Christmas songs are excluded.
Among the 25 most prominent hits of the 1960s, based on their peak position and longevity on the Billboard Top 100 hit, eight debuted in 1960. Iconic tracks from that year include Brenda Lee’s “I’m Sorry” and Elvis Presley’s, “It’s Now or Never.” Additionally, five of these 25 hits came out in 1962.
As the decade drew to a close, The Beatles climbed to the top of the charts and stayed there for a while with the release of “Twist and Shout” in 1964 and “Hey Jude” in 1968. “Sunshine of Your Love” by the British rock band Cream reached No. 5 in 1968 and remained on the chart for 26 weeks. (These are the biggest music icons of the swinging ’60s.)
Here are the 25 biggest Billboard hits of the 1960s:
25. Hank Ballard and the Midnighters, “Finger Poppin’ Time”
- Entered Hot 100: May 16, 1960
- Peak position on Hot 100: #7 (for 2 weeks)
- Total weeks on Hot 100: 26
24. Henry Mancini and His Orchestra, “Moon River”
- Entered Hot 100: October 9, 1961
- Peak position on Hot 100: #11 (for 1 week)
- Total weeks on Hot 100: 26
23. Mr. Acker Bilk, “Stranger on the Shore”
- Entered Hot 100: March 17, 1962
- Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 1 week)
- Total weeks on Hot 100: 21
22. Elvis Presley with the Jordanaires, “It’s Now Or Never”
- Entered Hot 100: July 18, 1960
- Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 5 weeks)
- Total weeks on Hot 100: 20
21. Cream, “Sunshine of Your Love”
- Entered Hot 100: January 13, 1968
- Peak position on Hot 100: #5 (for 1 week)
- Total weeks on Hot 100: 26
20. The Beach Boys, “Surfin’ U.S.A.”
- Entered Hot 100: March 23, 1963
- Peak position on Hot 100: #3 (for 1 week)
- Total weeks on Hot 100: 25
19. Connie Stevens, “Sixteen Reasons”
- Entered Hot 100: February 1, 1960
- Peak position on Hot 100: #3 (for 1 week)
- Total weeks on Hot 100: 24
18. The Beatles, “Twist and Shout”
- Entered Hot 100: March 14, 1964
- Peak position on Hot 100: #2 (for 4 weeks)
- Total weeks on Hot 100: 26
17. Johnny Horton, “North to Alaska”
- Entered Hot 100: September 19, 1960
- Peak position on Hot 100: #4 (for 1 week)
- Total weeks on Hot 100: 23
16. Ferrante & Teicher, “Exodus”
- Entered Hot 100: November 14, 1960
- Peak position on Hot 100: #2 (for 1 week)
- Total weeks on Hot 100: 21
15. Percy Faith and His Orchestra, “The Theme From ‘A Summer Place’”
- Entered Hot 100: January 11, 1960
- Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 9 weeks)
- Total weeks on Hot 100: 21
14. Chubby Checker, “Limbo Rock”
- Entered Hot 100: September 8, 1962
- Peak position on Hot 100: #2 (for 2 weeks)
- Total weeks on Hot 100: 23
13. The Beatles, “Hey Jude”
- Entered Hot 100: September 14, 1968
- Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 9 weeks)
- Total weeks on Hot 100: 19
12. Brenda Lee, “I’m Sorry”
- Entered Hot 100: May 30, 1960
- Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 3 weeks)
- Total weeks on Hot 100: 23
11. B.J. Thomas, “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head”
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Entered Hot 100: November 1, 1969
- Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 4 weeks)
- Total weeks on Hot 100: 22
10. The Archies, “Sugar, Sugar”
- Entered Hot 100: July 26, 1969
- Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 4 weeks)
- Total weeks on Hot 100: 22
9. Bobby Lewis, “Tossin’ and Turnin’”
- Entered Hot 100: April 24, 1961
- Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 7 weeks)
- Total weeks on Hot 100: 23
8. Louis Armstrong and the All Stars, “Hello, Dolly!”
- Entered Hot 100: February 15, 1964
- Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 1 week)
- Total weeks on Hot 100: 22
7. The Surfaris, “Wipe Out”
- Entered Hot 100: June 22, 1963
- Peak position on Hot 100: #2 (for 1 week)
- Total weeks on Hot 100: 30
6. The Contours, “Do You Love Me”
- Entered Hot 100: August 11, 1962
- Peak position on Hot 100: #3 (for 3 weeks)
- Total weeks on Hot 100: 34
5. Neil Sedaka, “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do”
- Entered Hot 100: June 30, 1962
- Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 2 weeks)
- Total weeks on Hot 100: 28
4. Ben E. King, “Stand By Me”
- Entered Hot 100: May 8, 1961
- Peak position on Hot 100: #4 (for 2 weeks)
- Total weeks on Hot 100: 35
3. Bobby “Boris” Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers, “Monster Mash”
- Entered Hot 100: September 8, 1962
- Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 2 weeks)
- Total weeks on Hot 100: 38
2. Chubby Checker, “The Twist”
- Entered Hot 100: August 1, 1960
- Peak position on Hot 100: #1 (for 3 weeks)
- Total weeks on Hot 100: 39
1. The Righteous Brothers, “Unchained Melody”
- Entered Hot 100: July 17, 1965
- Peak position on Hot 100: #4 (for 2 weeks)
- Total weeks on Hot 100: 57
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