100 Greatest Songs From 1960

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. Will You Love Me Tomorrow
Shirelles
2. Georgia On My Mind
Ray Charles
3. Only The Lonely
Roy Orbison
4. Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go
Hank Ballard & the Midnighters
5. Stay
Maurice Williams & the Zodiacs
6. Chain Gang
Sam Cooke
7. Save The Last Dance For Me
Drifters
8. Shop Around
Miracles
9. The Twist
Chubby Checker
10. Cathy's Clown
Everly Brothers
11. Shakin' All Over
Johnny Kidd & the Pirates
12. Spoonful
Howlin' Wolf
13. Spanish Harlem
Ben E. King
14. Walk--Don't Run
Ventures
15. Wonderful World
Sam Cooke
16. New Orleans
Gary U.S. Bonds
17. At Last
Etta James
18. He Will Break Your Heart
Jerry Butler
19. It's Now Or Never
Elvis Presley
20. I'm Sorry
Brenda Lee
21. When Will I Be Loved
Everly Brothers
22. Gee Whiz
Carla Thomas
23. This Magic Moment
Drifters
24. Doggin' Around
Jackie Wilson
25. Fingerpoppin' Time
Hank Ballard & the Midnighters
26. Back Door Man
Howlin' Wolf
27. Please Come Home For Christmas
Charles Brown
28. Stuck On You
Elvis Presley
29. Are You Lonesome Tonight
Elvis Presley
30. Blue Angel
Roy Orbison
31. Baby (You've Got What It Takes)
Brook Benton & Dinah Washington
32. Big Boss Man
Jimmy Reed
33. Walking To New Orleans
Fats Domino
34. A Rockin' Good Way
Brook Benton & Dinah Washington
35. A Fool In Love
Ike & Tina Turner
36. Let It Rock
Chuck Berry
37. The Sky Is Crying
Elmore James
38. I Count The Tears
Drifters
39. True Love Ways
Buddy Holly
40. Kiddio
Brook Benton
41. Dance By The Light Of The Moon
Olympics
42. Wild Weekend
Rockin' Rebels
43. My Girl Josephine
Fats Domino
44. Big Boy Pete
Olympics
45. The Wind
Jesters
46. You Talk Too Much
Joe Jones
47. Hot Rod Lincoln
Johnny Bond
48. Mule Skinner Blues
Fendermen
49. You Can Have Her
Roy Hamilton
50. Angel Baby
Rosie & the Originals

51. Tonight's The Night
Shirelles
52. Good Timin'
Jimmy Jones
53. Bye Bye Johnny
Chuck Berry
54. Ooh Poo Pah Doo
Jessie Hill
55. Bye Bye Baby
Mary Wells
56. There Is Something On Your Mind
Bobby Marchan
57. Sleep
Little Willie John
58. Bewildered
James Brown
59. (I Don't Know Why) But I Do
Clarence "Frogman" Henry
60. That's All You Gotta Do
Brenda Lee
61. Such A Night
Elvis Presley
62. All In My Mind
Maxine Brown
63. Wang Dang Doodle
Howlin' Wolf
64. (I Wanna) Love My Life Away
Gene Pitney
65. I'll Go Crazy
James Brown
66. Wild One
Bobby Rydell
67. You're Sixteen
Johnny Burnette
68. A Woman, A Lover, A Friend
Jackie Wilson
69. Because They're Young
Duane Eddy
70. Heartbreak (It's Hurtin' Me)
Jon Thomas / Little Willie John
71. Volare
Bobby Rydell
72. Think
James Brown
73. Step By Step
Crests
74. Tell Laura I Love Her
Ray Peterson
75. I Want To Be Wanted
Brenda Lee
76. Harbor Lights
Platters
77. Lonely Teenager
Dion
78. Shoppin' For Clothes
Coasters
79. Rip Van Winkle
Devotions
80. A Thousand Stars
Kathy Young & the Innocents
81. Once In Awhile
Chimes
82. A Million To One
Jimmy Charles
83. All I Could Do Was Cry
Etta James
84. Sugar Bee
Cleveland Crochet
85. Once Upon A Time
Rochell & the Candles
86. Three Nights A Week
Fats Domino
87. I Gotta Know
Elvis Presley
88. Let The Little Girl Dance
Billy Bland
89. Lonely Weekends
Charlie Rich
90. Calendar Girl
Neil Sedaka
91. Alley Oop
Hollywood Argyles / Dante & the Evergreens
92. Reconsider Baby
Elvis Presley
93. So Sad (To Watch Good Love Go Bad)
Everly Brothers
94. The Madison Time
Ray Bryant Combo
95. I Love The Way You Love
Marv Johnson
96. Image Of A Girl
Safaris
97. Baby You're Right
James Brown
98. White Silver Sands
Bill Black's Combo
99. Diamonds And Pearls
Paradons
100. Everybody's Somebody's Fool
Connie Francis
20 more worth mentioning.
101. The Watusi
Vibrations
102. Apache
Shadows / Jørgen Ingmann
103. I Fought The Law
Crickets
104. A Mess Of Blues
Elvis Presley
105. Trouble In Paradise
Crests
106. Twistin' U.S.A.
Chubby Checker
107. Boys
Shirelles
108. Swingin' School
Bobby Rydell
109. To Be Loved (Forever)
Pentagons
110. Pennies From Heaven
Skyliners
111. Stand By Me
Little Junior Parker
112. You've Got The Power
James Brown
113. Close Together
Jimmy Reed
114. Cry, Cry, Cry
Bobby "Blue" Bland
115. This Old Heart
James Brown
116. Darling, Honey, Angel, Child
Earl King
117. I'm Shakin'
Little Willie John
118. Puppy Love
Paul Anka
119. Fools Rush In
Brook Benton
120. Corinna, Corinna
Ray Peterson
DigitalDreamDoor Editor Picks for 1960
An unheralded great record from 1960
Bruce's choice:
* Let's Do The Cha-Cha
Magnificents
Adam's choice:
* Don't Cry Baby
Phil Phillips
Brett's choice:
* Christmas (Comes Once A Year)
Amos Milburn
Lew's choice:
* Today's Teardrops
Roy Orbison
    1959   |   1961

Edited By:
Last Updated: 2009-01-02