100 Greatest Songs From 1962

Criteria: These songs were chosen and ranked based on their initial and lasting popularity, and on their impact on the overall scope of musical history.

Note: Yearly song lists go by earliest 'release date' (Single, Album, or Country of first release). Not necessarily the year a song peaked in the U.S. charts.

1. Green Onions
Booker T. & the MG's
2. Bring It On Home To Me
Sam Cooke
3. You've Really Got A Hold On Me
Miracles
4. The Loco-Motion
Little Eva
5. Sherry
Four Seasons
6. I Can't Stop Loving You
Ray Charles
7. Up On The Roof
Drifters
8. Twist And Shout
Isley Brothers
9. These Arms Of Mine
Otis Redding
10. Do You Love Me
Contours
11. Wipe Out
Surfaris
12. Twisting The Night Away
Sam Cooke
13. He's A Rebel
Crystals
14. Surfin' Safari
Beach Boys
15. Love Me Do
Beatles
16. The One Who Really Loves You
Mary Wells
17. You Belong To Me
Duprees
18. Any Day Now
Chuck Jackson
19. Big Girls Don't Cry
Four Seasons
20. Having A Party
Sam Cooke
21. Sheila
Tommy Roe
22. Soldier Boy
Shirelles
23. Palisades Park
Freddy Cannon
24. Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
Neil Sedaka
25. Our Day Will Come
Ruby & the Romantics
26. You'll Lose A Good Thing
Barbara Lynn
27. Return To Sender
Elvis Presley
28. Tell Him
Exciters
29. Let's Dance
Chris Montez
30. Lovers Who Wander
Dion
31. Chains
Cookies
32. Cry To Me
Solomon Burke
33. Two Lovers
Mary Wells
34. Monster Mash
Bobby "Boris" Pickett
35. Papa-Oom-Mow-Mow
Rivingtons
36. Soul Twist
King Curtis & the Noble Knights
37. Ruby Baby
Dion
38. I Need Your Loving
Don Gardner & Dee Dee Ford
39. I Found A Love
Falcons
40. Uptown
Crystals
41. Don't Make Me Over
Dionne Warwick
42. 409
Beach Boys
43. Lover Please
Clyde McPhatter
44. What's A Matter Baby
Timi Yuro
45. You Don't Know Me
Ray Charles
46. You Beat Me To The Punch
Mary Wells
47. Pipeline
Chantays
48. Playboy
Marvelettes
49. Boom Boom
John Lee Hooker
50. Little Town Flirt
Del Shannon

51. Love Came To Me
Dion
52. Remember Then
Earls
53. Beechwood 4-5789
Marvelettes
54. Mashed Potato Time
Dee Dee Sharp
55. You Can't Judge A Book By The Cover
Bo Diddley
56. Party Lights
Claudine Clark
57. He's Sure The Boy I Love
Crystals
58. Hitch Hike
Marvin Gaye
59. Dream Baby
Roy Orbison
60. Rhythm Of The Rain
Cascades
61. Don't Play That Song
Ben E. King
62. Telstar
The Tornadoes
63. Slow Twistin'
Chubby Checker (with Dee Dee Sharp)
64. P.S. I Love You
Beatles
65. Something's Got A Hold On Me
Etta James
66. Stormy Monday Blues
Bobby "Blue" Bland
67. Make It Easy On Yourself
Jerry Butler
68. Stubborn Kind Of Fellow
Marvin Gaye
69. Rainbow
Gene Chandler
70. Shout
Joey Dee & the Starliters
71. Don't Hang Up
Orlons
72. Limbo Rock
Chubby Checker
73. Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah
Bob B. Soxx & the Blue Jeans
74. Let's Go (Pony)
Routers
75. Mama Didn't Lie
Jan Bradley
76. Release Me
Esther Phillips
77. Nut Rocker
B. Bumble & the Stingers
78. (The Man Who Shot) Liberty Valance
Gene Pitney
79. Shout! Shout! (Knock Yourself Out)
Ernie Maresca
80. All Alone Am I
Brenda Lee
81. Good Luck Charm
Elvis Presley
82. Call On Me
Bobby "Blue" Bland
83. Keep Your Hands Off My Baby
Little Eva
84. Lookin' For A Love
Valentinos
85. The Wah Watusi
Orlons
86. Wiggle Wobble
Les Cooper
87. She Cried
Jay & the Americans
88. Sealed With A Kiss
Brian Hyland
89. Only Love Can Break A Heart
Gene Pitney
90. I Love You
Volumes
91. Little Diane
Dion
92. My Own True Love
Duprees
93. I Wish That We Were Married
Ronnie & the Hi-Lites
94. Our Anniversary
Shep & the Limelites
95. Dancin' Party
Chubby Checker
96. I Sold My Heart To The Junkman
Blue-Belles
97. Rinky Dink
Dave "Baby" Cortez
98. Village Of Love
Nathaniel Mayer & the Fabulous Twilights
99. Anna (Go To Him)
Arthur Alexander
100. Miserlou
Dick Dale & His Del-Tones
20 more worth mentioning.
101. Down In The Valley
Solomon Burke
102. Hide & Go Seek
Bunker Hill
103. Twist, Twist Senora
Gary U.S. Bonds
104. Let's Stomp
Bobby Comstock
105. What Time Is It
Jive Five
106. What Kind Of Love Is This
Joey Dee & the Starliters
107. Oh My Angel
Bertha Tillman
108. Forever
Marvelettes
109. Trick Bag
Earl King
110. Lipstick Traces
Benny Spellman
111. It's Raining
Irma Thomas
112. The End Of The World
Skeeter Davis
113. Puff (The Magic Dragon)
Peter, Paul & Mary
114. Love Letters
Ketty Lester
115. You Are My Sunshine
Ray Charles
116. Walk Right In
Rooftop Singers
117. Hotel Happiness
Brook Benton
118. Next Door To An Angel
Neil Sedaka
119. The Gypsy Cried
Lou Christie
120. I'll Try Something New
Miracles
DigitalDreamDoor Editor Picks for 1962
An unheralded great record from 1962
Bruce's choice:
* Little Jewel of The Vieux Carre
Joe Barry
Adam's choice:
* She's My Hearts Desire
Ohio Untouchables
Brett's choice:
* Don't Ever Change
The Crickets
Lew's choice:
* Jungle Fever
The Tornados
    1961   |   1963

Edited By:
Last Updated: 2009-01-06