Pick a Day

Music History Events: Charts

September 24, 1960 Hank Ballard and the Midnighters' "Let's Go, Let's Go, Let's Go" enters the Hot 100, joining their songs "Finger Poppin' Time" and "The Twist" (the original version) on the chart. It's the first time an act has had three songs on the Hot 100 at the same time.

August 15, 1960 Elvis Presley's "It's Now Or Never," with a melody based on the Italian song "O Sole Mio," hits #1 in America for the first of five weeks, bumping off "Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" by Brian Hyland.

August 8, 1960 Brian Hyland's "Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" hits #1, where it stays for one week.

July 18, 1960 Brenda Lee's "I'm Sorry," recorded when she was just 15, hits #1 for the first of three weeks. It's the first of her two chart-toppers; her next single, "I Want To Be Wanted," also goes to #1.

July 11, 1960 The Hollywood Argyles' "Alley Oop" hits #1 in America.

May 23, 1960 The Everly Brothers' "Cathy's Clown" hits #1 in America for the first of five weeks. In the UK, it has been at #1 since May 11, making it the first song to top both charts at the same time.

April 25, 1960 Elvis Presley scores his first #1 of the '60s (and 13th of his career) when "Stuck on You" hits the top spot in America.

February 22, 1960 Percy Faith's "Theme From A Summer Place" hits #1 in America for the first of nine weeks, knocking Elvis Presley's "Are You Lonesome Tonight" from the top spot.

February 8, 1960 Mark Dinning's "Teen Angel" begins a two-week run at #1.

January 18, 1960 Johnny Preston's "Running Bear" hits #1 for the first of three weeks.

January 4, 1960 Marty Robbins' "El Paso" hits #1 in the US despite running a shocking 4:40.

December 28, 1959 Frankie Avalon's "Why" hits #1.

December 14, 1959 Guy Mitchell's "Heartaches by the Number" hits #1 for the first of two weeks.

November 16, 1959 The Fleetwoods' "Mr. Blue" hits #1.

November 9, 1959 Johnny Mathis goes to #1 in America with his album Heavenly.

November 1, 1959 Elvis Presley's current stint in the Army means that for the first time in nearly five years, no Elvis single resides on the Billboard charts.

September 21, 1959 Santo and Johnny's "Sleep Walk" hits #1 for the first of two weeks.

August 24, 1959 The Browns' "The Three Bells" hits #1 for the first of four weeks.

August 10, 1959 Elvis Presley's "A Big Hunk O' Love" hits #1.

July 31, 1959 Cliff Richard charts his first UK #1 hit with "Living Doll," which becomes the top-selling single of 1959 in Britain.

July 13, 1959 Paul Anka's "Lonely Boy" hits #1 for the first of four weeks.

June 8, 1959 Bobby Darin's "Dream Lover" reaches its chart peak of #2 in America. His next single is something quite different: a song about a murderous cad called "Mack The Knife." That one goes to #1.

June 3, 1959 Billboard magazine responds to the growing popularity of stereophonic recordings by splitting its album chart in two: one chart for mono, one for stereo.

June 1, 1959 Johnny Horton's "Battle of New Orleans," about a real battle in the War of 1812, hits #1 on both the country and pop charts in the US.

May 18, 1959 Wilbert Harrison's "Kansas City," written by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, hits #1 in America.

May 11, 1959 "The Happy Organ" by Dave "Baby" Cortez goes to #1 in America, marking the first time an instrumental song featuring on organ tops the chart.

April 13, 1959 The Fleetwoods' "Come Softly To Me" hits #1.

March 9, 1959 Frankie Avalon's "Venus" hits #1 in America.

February 9, 1959 Lloyd Price's "Stagger Lee" hits #1 for the first of four weeks.

January 19, 1959 The Platters' "Smoke Gets In Your Eyes" is on top of the Billboard Pop Chart.