The 60s Official Site's Pick of the Top 100 Songs of the 60s

The Sounds that Vibrated A Nation

The 1960s had some of the best music ever recorded.  As I have mentioned before, I am an avid collector of music from all decades and I have to say that the 60s decade is my favorite for music. I must admit I have to be a little biased since I grew up during the era of the Vietnam War, drive-in theaters, crusin', and black and white TV.  It is so hard to pick the top songs of the era with so many to choose from.  These songs I have selected, were not selected primarily by the popularity and the billboard charts because a few did not even reach the top 40 on the Billboard. My home town where I grew up is Circleville, Ohio, which is about 25 miles south of Columbus.  Most of us listened to the Columbus s radio station of 1230 AM, WCOL which later broadcasted on FM as well. The AM station had only 500 watts of power so listening to it at night was nearly impossible.  We relied on drifted stations from the likes of WLS, Chicago, WABC, New York and of course,  our Buckeye station WHK in Cleveland. I started collecting music when I was in high school and of course inherited the music my mother had in her small collection.  I hope you enjoy browsing through the songs I have picked.  Let me know what you think. Email me at the60sofficialsite@verizon.net or leave a message in the guestbook.  I want to mention these are listed in no particular order.

Our Choice of the Top 100 1960s Songs

1. Theme From "A Summer Place" by Percy Faith (1960) #1  Billboard  Chart
2. Wonderland by Night by Bert Kaempfert Orchestra (1961) #1 Billboard Chart
3. The Lion Sleeps Tonight by The Tokens (1961) #1 Billboard Chart
4. Runaway by Del Shannon (1961) #1 Billboard Chart
5. Mission Bell by Donnie Brooks (1960) #7  Billboard Chart
6. Stand by Me by Ben E. King (1961) #4  Billboard Chart
7. (Marie's the Name) His Latest Flame by Elvis Presley (1961) #4  Billboard Chart
8. Hello Walls by Faron Young (1961) #12  Billboard Chart
9. I Can't Stop Loving You by Ray Charles (1962) #1 Billboard Charts
10. Stranger on the Shore by Mr. Acker Bilk (1962) #1 Billboard Charts
11. Return to Sender by Elvis Presley (1962) #2 Billboard Charts
12. Can't Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presley (1962) #2 Billboard Charts
13. I Will Follow Him by Peggy March (1963) #1 Billboard Charts
14. So Much in Love by The Tymes (1963) #1 Billboard Charts
15. Be My Baby by The Ronettes (1963) #2 Billboard Charts
16. One Fine Day by The Chiffons (1963) #5 Billboard Charts
17. Those Lazy-Hazy-Crazy Days of Summer by Nat King Cole (1963) #6 Billboard Charts
18. Tips of My Fingers by Roy Clark (1963) #45 Billboard Charts
19. Marlena by The Four Seasons (1963) #36 Billboard Charts
20. (Just Like) Romeo and Juliet by The Reflections (1964) #7 Billboard Charts
21. The Shoop Shoop Song (It's In His Kiss) by Betty Everett (1964) #6 Billboard Charts
22. Because by The Dave Clark Five (1964) #3 Billboard Charts
23. Under the Boardwalk by The Drifters (1964) #4 Billboard Charts
24. Wishin' and Hopin' by Dusty Springfield (1964) #6 Billboard Charts
25. Oh, Pretty Woman by Roy Orbison (1964) #1 Billboard Charts
26. Can't Buy Me Love by The Beatles (1964) #1 Billboard Charts
27. Rag Doll by The Four Seasons (1964) #1 Billboard Charts
28. Talk Back Trembling Lips by Johnny Tillotson (1964) #7 Billboard Charts
29. No Particular Place to Go by Chuck Berry (1964) #10 Billboard Charts
30. Everybody Loves Somebody by Dean Martin (1964) #1 Billboard Charts
31. (I Can't Get No) Satisifaction by The Rolling Stones (1965) #1 Billboard Charts
32. You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' by The Righteous Brothers (1965) #1 Billboard Charts
33. Eight Days A Week by The Beatles (1965) #1 Billboard Charts
34. I Got You (I Feel Good) by James Brown (1965) #3 Billboard Charts
35. California Girls by The Beach Boys (1965) #3 Billboard Charts
36. Unchained Melody by The Righteous Brothers (1965) #4 Billboard Charts
37. You're the One by The Vogues (1965) #4 Billboard Charts
38. Hang on Sloopy by The McCoys (1965) #1 Billboard Charts
39. I Can't Help Myself by The Four Tops (1965) #1 Billboard Charts
40. Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There is a Season) by The Byrds (1965) #1 Billboard Charts
41. Ferry Cross the Mersey by Gerry & The Pacemakers (1965) #6 Billboard Charts
42. Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me by Mel Carter (1965) #8 Billboard Charts
43. I'll Be Doggone by Marvin Gaye (1965) #8 Billboard Charts
44. Go Now! by The Moody Blues (1965) #10 Billboard Charts
45. Hurt So Bad by Little Anthony & The Imperials (1965) #10 Billboard Charts
46. Baby I'm Yours by Barbara Lewis (1965) #11 Billboard Charts
47. I Knew You When by Billy Joe Royal (1965) #14 Billboard Charts
48. Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood by The Animals (1965) #15 Billboard Charts
49. One Kiss For Old Times' Sake by Ronnie Dove (1965) #14 Billboard Charts
50. Sunday and Me by Jay and The Americans (1965) #18 Billboard Charts
51. Kiss Away by Ronnie Dove (1965) #25 Billboard Charts
52. In The Midnight Hour by Wilson Pickett (1965) #21 Billboard Charts
53. Ask the Loney by The Four Tops (1965) #24 Billboard Charts
54. I Can't Explain by The Who (1965) #93 Billboard Charts
55. (You're My) Soul and Inspiration by The Righteous Brothers (1966) #1 Billboard Charts
56. Monday, Monday by The Mamas & The Papas (1966) #1 Billboard Charts
57. We Can Work It Out by The Beatles (1966) #1 Billboard Charts
58. Summer in the City by The Lovin' Spoonful (1966) #1 Billboard Charts
59. Cherish by The Association (1966) #1 Billboard Charts
60. When A Man Loves A Woman by Percy Sledge (1966) #1 Billboard Charts
61. 96 Tears by ? & The Mysterians (1966) #1 Billboard Charts
62. Poor Side of Town by Johnny Rivers (1966) #1 Billboard Charts
63. Good Lovin' by The Young Rascals (1966) #1 Billboard Charts
64. Lightnin' Strikes by Lou Christie (1966) #1 Billboard Charts
65. A Groovy Kind of Love by The Mindbenders (1966) #2 Billboard Charts
66. See You In September by The Happenings (1966) #3 Billboard Charts
67. Time Won't Let Me by The Outsiders (1966) #5 Billboard Charts
68. What Becomes of the Brokenhearted by Jimmy Ruffin (1966) #7 Billboard Charts
69. I Couldn't Live Without Your Love by Petula Clark (1966) #9 Billboard Charts
70. Wouldn't It Be Nice by The Beach Boys (1966) #8 Billboard Charts
71. The Sun Ain't Gonna Shine (Anymore) by The Walker Brothers (1966) #13 Billboard Charts 
72. Happy by The Sunshine Company (1967) Did not Chart
73. Daydream Believer by The Monkees (1967) #1 Billboard Charts
74. Happy Together by The Turtles (1967) #1 Billboard Charts
75. All You Need is Love by The Beatles (1967) #1 Billboard Charts
76. Let's Live For Today by The Grass Roots (1967) #8 Billboard Charts
77. Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon by Neil Diamond (1967) #10 Billboard Charts
78. Sunday Will Never Be The Same by Spanky & Our Gang (1967) #9 Billboard Charts
79. Light My Fire by The Doors (1967) #1 Billboard Charts
80. Kind of a Drag by The Buckinghams (1967) #1 Billboard Charts
81. Respect by Aretha Franklin (1967) #1 Billboard Charts
82. Don't Sleep in the Subway by Petula Clark (1967) #5 Billboard Charts
83. Whiter Shade of Pale by Procol Harum (1967) #5 Billboard Charts
84. Ain't No Mountain High Enough by Marvin Gaye/Tammi Terrell (1967) #19 Billboard Charts
85. I Heard It Through The Grapevine by Marvin Gaye (1968) #1 Billboard Charts
86. (Sittin' On) The Dock of the Bay by Otis Redding (1968) #1 Billboard Charts
87. Born to be Wild by Steppenwolf (1968) #2 Billboard Charts
88. A Beautiful Morning by The Rascals (1968) #3 Billboard Charts
89. Woman, Woman by Gary Puckett & The Union Gap (1968) #4 Billboard Charts
90. Abraham, Martin and John by Dion (1968) #4 Billboard Charts
91. Slip Away by Clarence Carter (1968) #6 Billboard Charts
92. Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In by the 5th Dimension (1969) #1 Billboard Charts
93. Honky Tonk Women by The Rolling Stones (1969) #1 Billboard Charts
94. You've Made Me So Very Happy by Blood, Sweat and Tears (1969) #2 Billboard Charts
95. I'm Gonna Make You Love Me by Supremes/Temptations (1969) #2 Billboard Charts
96. Love (Can Make You Happy) by Mercy (1969) #2 Billboard Charts
97. Traces by Classics IV (1969) #2 Billboard Charts
98. Worst That Could Happen by Brooklyn Bridge (1969) #3 Billboard Charts
99. In The Ghetto by Elvis Presley (1969) #3 Billboard Charts

100. This Magic Moment by Jay and The Americans (1969) #6 Billboard Charts