US Top 40 Singles for the Week Ending 31st December, 1961

BYTop40weekly

UPDATED:Aug 20, 2026 2:00 AM

POSTED:Apr 8, 2026 1:04 PM

These are all the US Top 40 Singles for the Week Ending December 31, 1961

US Hot 40 Singles for the Week Ending 31st December, 1961

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US Top 40 Singles – 31st December, 1961

TW LW TITLE –•– Artist (Label)-Weeks on Chart (Peak To Date)

1 1 THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT –•– The Tokens (RCA Victor)-7 (2 weeks at #1) (1)
2 3 RUN TO HIM –•– Bobby Vee (Liberty)-7 (2)
3 4 THE TWIST –•– Chubby Checker (Parkway)-25 (1)
4 6 GOODBYE CRUEL WORLD –•– James Darren (Colpix)-11 (3)
5 5 WALK ON BY –•– Leroy Van Dyke (Mercury)-9 (5)
6 10 PEPPERMINT TWIST (Part 1) –•– Joey Dee and the Starliters (Roulette)-6 (6)
7 2 PLEASE MR. POSTMAN –•– The Marvelettes (Tamla)-17 (1)
8 8 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SWEET SIXTEEN –•– Neil Sedaka (RCA Victor)-7 (8)
9 7 LET THERE BE DRUMS –•– Sandy Nelson (Imperial)-9 (7)
10 18 CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE –•– Elvis Presley (RCA Victor)-4 (10)
——
11 12 MOON RIVER –•– Henry Mancini and His Orchestra (RCA Victor)-12 (11)
12 13 I DON’T KNOW WHY –•– Linda Scott (Canadian American)-9 (12)
13 14 WHEN I FALL IN LOVE –•– The Lettermen (Capitol)-6 (13)
14 17 UNCHAIN MY HEART –•– Ray Charles (ABC-Paramount)-5 (14)
15 16 WHEN THE BOY IN YOUR ARMS (Is the Boy In Your Heart) –•– Connie Francis (MGM)-6 (15)
16 15 MOON RIVER –•– Jerry Butler (Vee-Jay)-12 (11)
17 23 ‘TIL –•– The Angels (Caprice)-10 (17)
18 11 TONIGHT –•– Ferrante and Teicher (United Artists)-11 (8)
19 9 BIG BAD JOHN –•– Jimmy Dean (Columbia)-13 (1)
20 33 WHITE CHRISTMAS –•– Bing Crosby (Decca)-73 (1)
——
21 21 GYPSY WOMAN –•– The Impressions (ABC-Paramount)-11 (20)
22 28 REVENGE –•– Brook Benton (Mercury)-6 (22)
23 26 THERE’S NO OTHER (Like My Baby) –•– The Crystals (Philles)-6 (23)
24 27 YOUR MA SAID YOU CRIED IN YOUR SLEEP LAST NIGHT –•– Kenny Dino (Musicor)-8 (24)
25 32 ROCK-A-HULA BABY (“Twist” Special) –•– Elvis Presley (RCA Victor)-4 (25)
26 38 I KNOW (You Don’t Love Me No More) –•– Barbara George (A.F.O.)-7 (26)
27 45 JINGLE BELL ROCK –•– Bobby Rydell and Chubby Checker (Cameo)-3 (27)
28 19 FOOL #1 –•– Brenda Lee (Decca)-13 (3)
29 22 LET’S TWIST AGAIN –•– Chubby Checker (Parkway)-18 (8)
30 31 JUST OUT OF REACH (Of My Two Open Arms) –•– Solomon Burke (Atlantic)-15 (24)
——
31 44 FUNNY HOW TIME SLIPS AWAY –•– Jimmy Elledge (RCA Victor)-7 (31)
32 29 WELL, I TOLD YOU –•– The Chantels (Carlton)-7 (29)
33 39 SMALL SAD SAM –•– Phil McLean (Versatile)-4 (33)
34 69 THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY –•– The Harry Simeone Chorale (20th Fox)-23 (13)
35 41 JAMBALAYA (On the Bayou) –•– Fats Domino (Imperial)-3 (35)
36 37 TOWN WITHOUT PITY –•– Gene Pitney (Musicor)-9 (36)
37 48 COTTON FIELDS –•– The Highwaymen (United Artists)-5 (37)
38 24 I UNDERSTAND (Just How You Feel) –•– The G-Clefs (Terrace)-15 (9)
39 49 IF YOU GOTTA MAKE A FOOL OF SOMEBODY –•– James Ray (Caprice)-6 (39)
40 46 JOHNNY WILL –•– Pat Boone (Dot)-7 (40)

THIS WEEK’S DROPS – 31st December, 1961

54 36 THE MAJESTIC –•– Dion (Laurie)-4 (36)
55 20 RUNAROUND SUE –•– Dion (Laurie)-14 (1)
57 25 CRAZY –•– Patsy Cline (Decca)-10 (9)
59 40 LANGUAGE OF LOVE –•– John D. Loudermilk (RCA Victor)-8 (32)
77 30 BRISTOL STOMP –•– The Dovells (Parkway)-16 (2)
79 35 HEARTACHES –•– The Marcels (Colpix)-12 (7)
80 34 TOWER OF STRENGTH –•– Gene McDaniels (Liberty)-13 (5)

POWER PLAYS – 31st December, 1961

41 56 THE WANDERER –•– Dion (Laurie)-4 (41)
42 43 THE GYPSY ROVER –•– The Highwaymen (United Artists)-8 (42)
43 54 BABY’S FIRST CHRISTMAS –•– Connie Francis (MGM)-3 (43)
44 55 HEY! LITTLE GIRL –•– Del Shannon (Big Top)-5 (44)
45 65 BABY IT’S YOU –•– The Shirelles (Scepter)-2 (45)
46 47 POOR FOOL –•– Ike and Tina Turner (Sue)-5 (46)
47 63 THE CHIPMUNK SONG (Christmas Don’t Be Late) –•– The Chipmunks with the Music Of David Seville (Liberty)-23 (1)
48 51 LITTLE ALTER BOY –•– Vic Dana (Dolton)-5 (48)
49 58 JINGLE BELL ROCK –•– Bobby Helms (Decca)-16 (6)
50 53 DEAR LADY TWIST –•– Gary (U.S.) Bonds (Legrand)-3 (50)

NEW THIS WEEK – 31st December, 1961

67 — UP A LAZY RIVER –•– Si Zentner and His Orchestra (Liberty)-6 (43)
76 — SHE’S EVERYTHING (I Wanted You To Be) –•– Ral Donner (Gone)-1 (76)
84 — ALVIN’S HARMONICA –•– David Seville and the Chipmunks (Liberty)-13 (3)
85 — PLEASE COME HOME FOR CHRISTMAS –•– Charles Brown (King)-1 (85)
87 — POP GOES THE WEASEL –•– Anthony Newley (London)-2 (87)
91 — GO ON HOME –•– Patti Page (Mercury)-1 (91)
92 — TUFF –•– Ace Cannon (Hi)-1 (92)
94 — I TOLD THE BROOK –•– Marty Robbins (Columbia)-1 (94)
95 — SMOKY PLACES –•– The Corsairs Featuring Jay “Bird” Uzzell (Tuff)-1 (95)
96 — TEARS FROM AN ANGEL –•– Troy Shondell (Liberty)-1 (96)
97 — FREE ME –•– Johnny Preston (Mercury)-1 (97)
98 — I NEED SOME ONE –•– The Belmonts (Sabrina)-1 (98)
99 — SANTA AND THE TOUCHABLES –•– Dickie Goodman (Rori)-1 (99)
100 — EV’RYBODY’S CRYIN’ –•– Jimmie Beaumont (May)-1 (100)