CASH BOX Top 100 Singles
Red square = bullet (strong upward move)		Week ending DECEMBER 23, 1961
TW	TITLE | Artist–Label		LW	2WK	3WK	WKS
1	THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT     Tokens–RCA Victor 47-7954		1	1	14	6
2	PLEASE MR. POSTMAN     Marvelettes–Tamla 54046		3	4	2	15
3	WALK ON BY     Leroy Van Dyke–Mercury 71834		5	6	8	9
4	RUN TO HIM     Bobby Vee–Liberty 55388		6	7	11	6
5	THE TWIST     Chubby Checker–Parkway 811		7	10	15	27
6	GOODBYE CRUEL WORLD     James Darren–Colpix 609		2	2	3	9
7	CAN’T HELP FALLING IN LOVE     Elvis Presley–RCA Victor 47-7968		21	50	—	3
8	PEPPERMINT TWIST (pt. 1)     Joey Dee & Starliters–Roulette 4401		10	16	28	6
9	MOON RIVER     Henry Mancini & Orchestra–RCA Victor 47-7916     Jerry Butler–Vee-Jay 405		8	5	5	11 13
10	LET THERE BE DRUMS     Sandy Nelson–Imperial 5775		9	11	9	8
11	HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SWEET SIXTEEN     Neil Sedaka–RCA Victor 47-7957		14	17	23	6
12	BIG BAD JOHN     Jimmy Dean–Columbia 42175		4	3	1	12
13	I DON’T KNOW WHY     Linda Scott–Canadian-American 129		11	12	12	8
14	WHEN THE BOY IN YOUR ARMS (Is The Boy In Your Heart)     Connie Francis–MGM 13051		20	32	44	5
15	WHEN I FALL IN LOVE     Lettermen–Capitol 4658		22	33	64	5
16	’TIL     Angels–Caprice 107		16	19	20	14
17	GYPSY WOMAN     Impressions–ABC-Paramount 10241		19	21	24	9
18	UNCHAIN MY HEART     Ray Charles–ABC-Paramount 10266		32	46	69	4
19	TONIGHT     Ferrante & Teicher–United Artists 373     Eddie Fisher–7 Arts 719     Jay & Americans–United Artists 353		12	8	6	9
20	THERE’S NO OTHER (Like My Baby)     Crystals–Philles 100		23	30	40	8
21	REVENGE     Brook Benton–Mercury 71903		30	40	55	5
22	RUNAROUND SUE     Dion–Laurie 3110		13	9	4	14
23	I KNOW (You Don’t Love Me No More)     Barbara George–A.F.O. 302		34	49	66	5
24	FOOL #1     Brenda Lee–Decca 31309		15	14	7	12
25	CRAZY     Patsy Cline–Decca 31317		17	15	13	10
26	JUST OUT OF REACH (Of My Two Open Arms)     Solomon Burke–Atlantic 2114		26	23	21	13
27	SEPTEMBER IN THE RAIN     Dinah Washington–Mercury 71876		24	20	19	11
28	ROCK-A-HULA BABY     Elvis Presley–RCA Victor 47-7968		36	54	—	3
29	I UNDERSTAND (Just How You Feel)     G-Clefs–Terrace 7500		18	18	16	15
30	YOU’RE THE REASON     Bobby Edwards–Crest 1075		25	13	10	19
31	TOWN WITHOUT PITY     Gene Pitney–Musicor 1009		37	41	60	6
32	IN THE MIDDLE OF A HEARTACHE     Wanda Jackson–Capitol 4635		29	31	35	10
33	LANGUAGE OF LOVE     John D. Loudermilk–RCA Victor 47-7938		31	28	30	7
34	WELL, I TOLD YOU     Chantels–Carlton 564		28	35	47	5
35	IF YOU GOTTA MAKE A FOOL OF SOMEBODY     James Ray–Caprice 110		40	45	52	6
36	BRISTOL STOMP     Dovells–Parkway 827		27	22	18	15
37	LET’S TWIST AGAIN     Chubby Checker–Parkway 824		44	52	68	18
38	JOHNNY WILL     Pat Boone–Dot 16284		42	56	59	6
39	YOUR MA SAID YOU CRIED IN YOUR SLEEP LAST NIGHT     Kenny Dino–Musicor 1013		41	47	51	11
40	THE FLY     Chubby Checker–Parkway 830		33	24	17	13
41	HEARTACHES     Marcels–Colpix 612		35	27	26	10
42	SMALL SAD SAM     Phil McLean–Versatile 107		65	90	—	3
43	UP A LAZY RIVER     Si Zentner & Orchestra–Liberty 55374		38	29	33	7
44	FUNNY HOW TIME SLIPS AWAY     Jimmy Elledge–RCA Victor 47-7946		56	67	77	4
45	POOR FOOL     Ike & Tina Turner–Sue 753		53	59	70	5
46	THE MAJESTIC     Dion–Laurie 3115		59	62	72	4
47	HEY! LITTLE GIRL     Del Shannon–Big Top 3091		54	64	76	5
48	BABY IT’S YOU     Shirelles–Scepter 1227		71	—	—	2
49	TURN AROUND, LOOK AT ME     Glen Campbell–Crest 1087		52	53	57	7
50	THE WANDERER     Dion–Laurie 3115		79	—	—	2
51	MARIA     Roger Williams–Kapp 437     Clebanoff Strings–Mercury 71905     Johnny Mathis–Columbia 41684		61	71	79	4
52	LITTLE ALTAR BOY     Vic Dana–Dolton 48		63	70	78	4
53	NORMAN     Sue Thompson–Hickory 1159		77	—	—	2
54	DREAMY EYES     Johnny Tillotson–Cadence 1409		57	61	71	5
55	JAMBALAYA (On The Bayou)     Fats Domino–Imperial 5796		67	86	—	3
56	SOOTHE ME     Sims Twins–Sar 117		64	57	61	8
57	COTTON FIELDS     Highwaymen–United Artists 370		70	80	88	4
58	IT WILL STAND     Showmen–Minit 632		58	63	63	5
59	FOOT STOMPING (pt. 1)     Flares–Felsted 8624		46	44	42	17
60	THE GYPSY ROVER     Highwaymen–United Artists 370		49	55	58	8
61	JINGLE BELL ROCK     Bobby Rydell & Chubby Checker–Cameo 205     Bobby Helms–Decca 30513		87	—	—	2
62	TOWER OF STRENGTH     Gene McDaniels–Liberty 55371		39	25	22	13
63	FLYING CIRCLE     Frank Slay & Orchestra–Swan 4085		75	79	87	4
64	TWIST-HER     Bill Black’s Combo–Hi 2042		74	—	—	2
65	A WONDER LIKE YOU     Rick Nelson–Imperial 5770		43	26	25	12
66	TURN ON YOUR LOVE LIGHT     Bobby Bland–Duke 344		80	91	—	3
67	SMILE     Timi Yuro–Liberty 55375		45	39	45	7
68	SOMETIME     Gene Thomas–United Artists 338		62	68	74	7
69	I NEED SOME ONE     Belmonts–Sabina 502		72	82	86	4
70	A LITTLE BITTY TEAR     Burl Ives–Decca 31330		88	—	—	2
71	LETTER FULL OF TEARS     Gladys Knight & Pips–Fury 1054		89	—	—	2
72	DEAR LADY TWIST     Gary (U.S.) Bonds–Legrand 1015		94	—	—	2
73	THIS TIME     Troy Shondell–Liberty 55353 / Goldcrest 161		47	36	27	16
74	IT’S TOO SOON TO KNOW     Etta James–Argo 5402		60	60	65	8
75	NEVER, NEVER     Jive Five–Beltone 1014		78	75	83	5
76	IRRESISTIBLE YOU     Bobby Darin–Atco 6214		—	—	—	1
77	ROCK-A-BYE YOUR BABY WITH A DIXIE MELODY     Aretha Franklin–Columbia 42157		51	42	37	12
78	SHE’S EVERYTHING (I Wanted You To Be)     Ral Donner–Gone 5121		90	—	—	2
79	I WANNA THANK YOU     Bobby Rydell–Cameo 201		48	37	36	10
80	MULTIPLICATION     Bobby Darin–Atco 6214		—	—	—	1
81	PREVIEW OF PARADISE     Adam Wade–Coed 560		73	77	82	5
82	TUFF     Ace Cannon–Hi 2040		86	92	—	3
83	SEARCHING     Jack Eubanks & Sound Of The South–Monument 451		83	87	100	4
84	LET’S GO TRIPPIN’     Dick Dale & Del-Tones–Deltone 5017		85	89	99	4
85	BABY’S FIRST CHRISTMAS     Connie Francis–MGM 13051		100	—	—	2
86	GO ON HOME     Patti Page–Mercury 71906		100	—	—	2
87	POP GOES THE WEASEL     Anthony Newley–London 9501		55	58	62	6
88	YOU’RE RUNNING OUT OF KISSES     Chuck Foote–Soncraft 401		91	94	—	3
89	I COULD HAVE LOVED YOU SO WELL     Ray Peterson–Dunes 2009		100	—	—	2
90	IT’S ALL BECAUSE     Linda Scott–Canadian-American 129		92	72	73	7
91	LONESOME NUMBER ONE     Don Gibson–RCA Victor 47-7959		99	—	—	2
92	POCKETFUL OF MIRACLES     Frank Sinatra–Reprise 20,040		—	—	—	1
93	DO-RE-MI     Lee Dorsey–Fury 1056		—	—	—	1
94	THE COMANCHEROS     Claude King–Columbia 42196		76	78	81	6
95	HAPPY TIMES (Are Here To Stay)     Tony Orlando–Epic 9476		81	76	80	5
96	TENNESSEE FLAT-TOP BOX     Johnny Cash–Columbia 42147		95	88	93	5
97	PUSHIN’ YOUR LUCK     Sleepy King–Joy 257		84	85	85	8
98	WALKIN’ WITH MY ANGEL     Bobby Vee–Liberty 55388		—	—	89	3
99	UNSQUARE DANCE     Dave Brubeck Quartet–Columbia 42228		93	100	—	3
100	BUT ON THE OTHER HAND BABY     Ray Charles–ABC-Paramount 10266		—	—	—	1
100	ROCKIN’ AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE     Brenda Lee–Decca 30776		—	—	—	5
100	THE LITTLE DRUMMER BOY     Harry Simeone Chorale–20th Fox 121		—	—	—	19

NOTE: On the original chart, Cash Box listed the artist and label for every version in current release under each title, with a star next to the artist(s) who had the best-selling version(s). Those designated artists are listed above. In addition, Cash Box included the secondary category “other versions strongly reported,” designated by an asterisk. Artists in this category are shown above in smaller italic type. Figures in the “Weeks on Chart” (WKS) column indicate only the weeks an artist was listed as having a best-selling version.

<< GO TO PREVIOUS WEEK                GO TO FOLLOWING WEEK >>                RETURN TO 1961