Soul R&B Music Charts of 1961 - Best-Selling Soul R&B Songs of 1961 With Free MP3 Download Links and Song Lyrics

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Below is a list of the best selling Soul R&B songs from 1961, sorted by the most popular or best selling first. Place mouse on

to see information about song. Click on song title to play song and to read details about the song including lyrics (if available) and to add to playlist. Click on

to play song. . Click on label to list songs from that record label. Following on from the top 100 chart are listings of hundreds of other lesser-known Soul R&B songs from 1961, arranged in order of highest US R&B and/or UK chart position.

More Soul R&B Songs From 1961 . . .

The following songs were released in 1961 but never made it into the Top 100 Chart.
Songs with chart position "---" either never made it into the US top 100 R&B or UK charts
of 1961 or we have no details of their highest chart positions if they did.

(Songs are sorted in highest US R&B Top 100 and/or UK Top 100 chart position order)
#		Artist (click for discography and biography of artist)	Title (click song title to play it, read lyrics etc.)	Year	Label
201	recordlabel: King 5491 chartposition: RandB #12, US #33 writtenby: Don Covay and John Berry	Hank Ballard & the Midnighters	The Continental Walk	1961	King
202	recordlabel: King 5550 chartposition: Cashbox RandB #45 writtenby: Williams, Artis album: Dance Along	Hank Ballard & the Midnighters	Big Red Sunset	1961	King
203	recordlabel: King 5430 chartposition: RandB #3 (1 week), US #23 weeksinr&bchart: 7 writtenby: Billy Myles & Hank Ballard album: Spotlight on Hank Ballard	Hank Ballard & the Midnighters	The Hoochi Coochi Coo	1961	King
204	recordlabel: King 5510 chartposition: RandB #3 (1 week), US #26 weeksinr&bchart: 8 writtenby: Al Kasha, Alonzo Tucker & Gordon Evans album: Dance Along	Hank Ballard & the Midnighters	The Switch-A-Roo	1961	King
205	recordlabel: King 45 5535 chartposition: US #66 writtenby: Nathaniel Nathan and Hank Ballard comments: [B side to Nothin' But Good]	Hank Ballard & the Midnighters	Keep On Dancing	1961	King
206	recordlabel: King 5459 chartposition: RandB #17, US #39 writtenby: Billy Myles and Hank Ballard	Hank Ballard & the Midnighters	Let's Go Again (Where We Went Last Night)	1961	King
207	recordlabel: King 5535 chartposition: RandB #9, US #49 weeksinr&bchart: 8 writtenby: Hank Ballard album: Dance Along	Hank Ballard & The Midnighters	Nothing But Good	1961	King
208	recordlabel: King 5510 chartposition: RandB #10, US #92 weeksinr&bchart: 10 writtenby: Michael Cowan and Hank Ballard album: Dance Along	Hank Ballard & The Midnighters	The Float	1961	King
209	recordlabel: Eldo 111 chartposition: US #35 writtenby: H.B. Barnum	H.B. Barnum	Lost Love	1961	Eldo
210	recordlabel: Everest 19418 chartposition: RandB #16, US #95, US AC #19 writtenby: Bernie Friedman and Ollie Jones album: This Little Boy of Mine	Gloria Lynne	Impossible	1961	Everest
211	recordlabel: Everest 19428 chartposition: US #100 writtenby: Burt Bacharach and Bob Hilliard	Gloria Lynne	You Don't Have to Be a Tower of Strength	1961	Everest
212	recordlabel: Everest 19390 chartposition: US #109 writtenby: Luther Dixon and Chris Towns album: This Little Boy of Mine	Gloria Lynne	The Jazz in You	1961	Everest
213	recordlabel: Everest 19409 chartposition: Cashbox RandB #37, US #111 writtenby: Arthur Hamilton album: He Needs Me	Gloria Lynne	He Needs Me	1961	Everest
214	recordlabel: Fury 1054 chartposition: RandB #3, US #19 writtenby: Don Covay album: Letter Full of Tears	Gladys Knight & the Pips	Letter Full of Tears	1961	Fury
215	recordlabel: Vee Jay 386 chartposition: RandB #1 (1 week), US #6 weeksinr&bchart: 12 writtenby: Johnny Otis album: Letter Full Of Tears comments: [ballad]	Gladys Knight & the Pips	Every Beat of My Heart	1961	Vee Jay
216	recordlabel: Fury 1052 chartposition: Cashbox R&B #46 album: Letter Full of Tears	Gladys Knight & The Pips	Guess Who	1961	Fury
---	recordlabel: Fury 1054 writtenby: Dunn, Robinson, Williams album: Letter Full of Tears	Gladys Knight & The Pips	You Broke Your Promise	1961	Fury
---	recordlabel: Fury 1052 writtenby: W. Guest, M. Knight	Gladys Knight & The Pips	Stop Running Around	1961	Fury
1	recordlabel: Ray Star 777 chartposition: RandB #14, US #117 weeksinr&bchart: 10 writtenby: Alonzo Willis and K. Venetoulis	Gene & Wendell with the Sweethearts	The Roach	1961	Ray Star
2	recordlabel: Liberty 55405 chartposition: Cashbox RandB #15 writtenby: Barry, Crofford, Resnick album: Hit After Hit	Gene McDaniels	Chip Chip	1961	Liberty
3	recordlabel: Liberty 55308 chartposition: RandB #11, US #3 writtenby: Luther Dixon & Bob Elgin album: 100 Lbs. Of Clay!	Gene McDaniels	A Hundred Pounds of Clay	1961	Liberty
4	recordlabel: Liberty 55344 chartposition: Cashbox RandB #17, US #31 writtenby: Luther Dixon and Willie Denson album: Tower Of Strength mpcode: VliitO_La-I	Gene McDaniels	A Tear	1961	Liberty
5	recordlabel: Liberty 55371 chartposition: RandB #5, US #5 weeksinr&bchart: 8 writtenby: Burt Bacharach & Bob Hilliard album: Tower of Strength	Gene McDaniels	Tower of Strength	1961	Liberty
6	recordlabel: Legrand 1008 chartposition: RandB #3 (1 week), US #1, UK #7 weeksinr&bchart: 12 writtenby: Gene Barge, Frank Guida & Joseph Royster	Gary U.S. Bonds	Quarter to Three	1961	Legrand
7	recordlabel: Legrand 1009 chartposition: RandB #12, US #5 writtenby: Gary U.S. Bonds (as Gary Anderson) & Gene Barge	Gary U.S. Bonds	School Is Out	1961	Legrand
8	recordlabel: Legrand 1015 chartposition: RandB #5, US #9 writtenby: Frank Guida (as Frank J. Guida) album: Twist Up Calypso	Gary U.S. Bonds	Dear Lady Twist	1961	Legrand
9	recordlabel: Federal 12432 chartposition: RandB #5 weeksinr&bchart: 10 writtenby: Sonny Thompson album: Freddy King Sings comments: [blues]	Freddy King	I'm Tore Down	1961	Federal
10	recordlabel: Federal 45 12384 chartposition: Cashbox R&B #48, US #93 writtenby: Freddy King album: Freddy King Sings	Freddy King	You've Got To Love Her With A Feeling	1961	Federal
11	recordlabel: Federal 12401 chartposition: RandB #5, US #29 weeksinr&bchart: 19 writtenby: Freddie King, Sonny Thompson & Hound Dog Taylor comments: [instrumental]	Freddy King	Hide Away	1961	Federal
12	recordlabel: Federal 4512428 chartposition: RandB #21 writtenby: Freddie King and Sonny Thompson album: Freddy King Sings	Freddy King	See See Baby	1961	Federal
13	recordlabel: Federal 12428 chartposition: RandB #4, US #47 weeksinr&bchart: 8 writtenby: Freddie King and Sonny Thompson album: Let's Hide Away and Dance Away with Freddy King comments: instrumental	Freddy King	San-Ho-Zay	1961	Federal
14	recordlabel: Federal 12439 chartposition: RandB #26 writtenby: Sonny Thompson and R. C. Wilson comments: [christmas]	Freddy King	Christmas Tears	1961	Federal
15	recordlabel: Federal 12415 chartposition: RandB #8, US #88 weeksinr&bchart: 10 writtenby: Rudy Toombs, Elson Teat and Alan Moore album: Freddy King Sings comments: [blues]	Freddy King	Lonesome Whistle Blues	1961	Federal
---	recordlabel: Phillips 3574 writtenby: Ray Stevens	Freddie North	Don't Make Me Cry	1961	Phillips
1	recordlabel: RCA Victor 7840 chartposition: RandB #16, US #4, UK #1 writtenby: Floyd Cramer album: On the Rebound comments: [instrumental]	Floyd Cramer	On the Rebound	1961	RCA Victor
2	recordlabel: Imperial 5764 chartposition: RandB #2 (1 week), US #15 weeksinr&bchart: 12 writtenby: Fats Domino (as Antoine Domino) & Dave Bartholomew album: Let The Four Winds Blow	Fats Domino	Let the Four Winds Blow	1961	Imperial
3	recordlabel: Imperial 5796 chartposition: Cashbox RandB #35 writtenby: Bartholomew, King, Domino	Fats Domino	I Hear You Knocking	1961	Imperial
4	recordlabel: Imperial 5753 chartposition: RandB #18, US #23, UK #49 writtenby: Fats Domino, Dave Bartholomew & Bobby Charles album: I Miss You So	Fats Domino	It Keeps Rainin'	1961	Imperial
5	recordlabel: Imperial 5723 chartposition: RandB #7, US #22 weeksinr&bchart: 7 writtenby: Fats Domino (as Antoine Domino), Jack Jessup & Pee Wee Maddux album: Million Sellers by Fats	Fats Domino	What a Price	1961	Imperial
6	recordlabel: Imperial 5779 chartposition: Cashbox RandB #40 writtenby: A. Domino, J. Jessup, P. Maddux album: What A Party!	Fats Domino	Rockin' Bicycle	1961	Imperial
7	recordlabel: King 5545 chartposition: RandB #19 weeksinr&bchart: 5 writtenby: Eugene Church	Eugene Church	Mind Your Own Business	1961	King
8	recordlabel: King 5443 chartposition: US #115 writtenby: Carmen Lombardo and Charles Newman comments: [soul jazz]	Etta Jones	Sweethearts On Parade	1961	King
9	recordlabel: Prestige 191 chartposition: US #91 writtenby: Eddie Heywood and Norman Gimbel album: Something Nice comments: [soul jazz]	Etta Jones	Canadian Sunset	1961	Prestige
10	recordlabel: Argo 5402 chartposition: Cashbox R&B #19, US #54 writtenby: Deborah Chessler comments: US B side to Seven Day Fool	Etta James	It's Too Soon to Know	1961	Argo
11	recordlabel: Argo 5390 chartposition: Cashbox R&B #26, US #55 writtenby: Johnny Mercer comments: US B side to Fool That I Am	Etta James	Dream	1961	Argo
12	recordlabel: Argo 5402 chartposition: Cashbox R&B #19, US #95 writtenby: Billy Davis album: The Second Time Around	Etta James	Seven Day Fool	1961	Argo
13	recordlabel: Argo 5385 chartposition: RandB #4, US #30 weeksinr&bchart: 13 writtenby: Ned Wever, Milton Ager & Jean Schwartz album: At Last! comments: [ballad]	Etta James	Trust in Me	1961	Argo
14	recordlabel: Argo 5380 chartposition: RandB #2 (1 week), US #47 weeksinr&bchart: 13 writtenby: Harry Warren and Mack Gordon album: At Last! comments: [ballad]	Etta James	At Last	1961	Argo
15	recordlabel: Argo 5390 chartposition: RandB #14, US #50 writtenby: Floyd Hunt album: The Second Time Around	Etta James	Fool That I Am	1961	Argo
16	recordlabel: Argo 5393 chartposition: RandB #6, US #39 weeksinr&bchart: 12 writtenby: Stella Unger, Saul Bernie and James Price Johnson album: The Second Time Around	Etta James	Don't Cry, Baby	1961	Argo
17	recordlabel: Minit 627 chartposition: RandB #21, US #53 writtenby: Ernest Kador	Ernie K-Doe	Te-Ta-Te-Ta-Ta	1961	Minit
18	recordlabel: Minit 634 chartposition: Cashbox R&B #21, US #71 writtenby: Naomi Neville	Ernie K-Doe	A Certain Girl	1961	Minit
19	recordlabel: Minit 623 chartposition: RandB #1 (5 weeks), US #1, UK #29 weeksinr&bchart: 16 writtenby: Allen Toussaint album: Mother in Law comments: [southern soul]	Ernie K-Doe	Mother-in-Law	1961	Minit
20	recordlabel: Minit 634 chartposition: Cashbox R&B #48, US #69 writtenby: Naomi Neville	Ernie K-Doe	I Cried My Last Tear	1961	Minit
21	recordlabel: Mercury 71772 chartposition: US #98 writtenby: Benton, Williams mpcode: zmPJ0m03vlk	Ernestine Anderson	A Lover's Question	1961	Mercury
22	recordlabel: Vee Jay 61 1766 chartposition: RandB #16, US #36 writtenby: Ernest Gold album: Exodus to Jazz	Eddie Harris	Exodus	1961	Vee Jay
23	recordlabel: Ric Records 977 chartposition: Cashbox RandB #36 writtenby: D. Johnson	Eddie Bo	It Must Be Love	1961	Ric Records
---	recordlabel: Abner 7003 writtenby: Don Downing	Don Downing With Rodney & The Blazers	A Bird In The Hand	1961	Abner
1	recordlabel: Arnold 1002 chartposition: US #60 writtenby: Don Covay and John Berry	Don Covay	Pony Time	1961	Arnold
2	recordlabel: Mercury 71876 chartposition: RandB #5, US #23, UK #35, US AC #5 weeksinr&bchart: 10 writtenby: Harry Warren & Al Dubin album: September in the Rain comments: [jazz RnB]	Dinah Washington	September in the Rain	1961	Mercury
3	recordlabel: Mercury 71744 chartposition: RandB #40 (cashbox) writtenby: Clyde Otis, Brook Benton, Belford Hendricks comments: [jazz RnB]	Dinah Washington	Looking Back	1961	Mercury
4	recordlabel: Vee Jay 383 chartposition: RandB #3 (1 week), US #2 weeksinr&bchart: 11 writtenby: Dee Clark album: Hold On....It's Dee Clark	Dee Clark	Raindrops	1961	Vee Jay
5	recordlabel: Vee Jay 372 chartposition: US #105 writtenby: Dee Clark	Dee Clark	Because I Love You	1961	Vee Jay
6	recordlabel: Vee Jay 409 chartposition: US #104 writtenby: Horace Ott and Calvin Carter	Dee Clark	Don't Walk Away from Me	1961	Vee Jay
7	recordlabel: Vee Jay 372 chartposition: RandB #30, US #34 writtenby: Dee Clark and Calvin Carter	Dee Clark	Your Friends	1961	Vee Jay
8	recordlabel: Mercury 71760 chartposition: US #75 writtenby: McShann and Bowman	Damita Jo	Keep Your Hands Off of Him	1961	Mercury
9	recordlabel: Mercury 71840 chartposition: RandB #15, US #12 writtenby: Ben E. King, Glick, and Ollie Jones	Damita Jo	I'll Be There	1961	Mercury
10	recordlabel: Mercury 71783 chartposition: US #103 writtenby: Gene Pitney	Clyde McPhatter	Tomorrow Is a-Comin'	1961	Mercury
11	recordlabel: Mercury 71841 chartposition: RandB #17, US #56 writtenby: Jimmy Oliver and Clyde McPhatter	Clyde McPhatter	I Never Knew	1961	Mercury
12	recordlabel: Mercury 71783 chartposition: US #110 writtenby: Joy Kennedy	Clyde McPhatter	I'll Love You Till the Cows Come Home	1961	Mercury
13	recordlabel: Argo 5395 chartposition: RandB #19, US #57, UK #42 writtenby: Joe Bisko	Clarence Frogman Henry	Lonely Street	1961	Argo
14	recordlabel: Argo 5378 chartposition: RandB #9, US #4, UK #3 weeksinr&bchart: 11 writtenby: Robert Guidry and Paul Gayten album: You Always Hurt the One You Love	Clarence Frogman Henry	But I Do	1961	Argo
15	recordlabel: Argo 5401 chartposition: US #109 writtenby: Kennedy and Mosley	Clarence Frogman Henry	Standing in the Need of Love	1961	Argo
16	recordlabel: Argo 5388 chartposition: RandB #11, US #12, UK #6 weeksinr&bchart: 7 writtenby: Allan Roberts and Doris Fisher album: You Always Hurt the One You Love	Clarence Frogman Henry	You Always Hurt the One You Love	1961	Argo
17	recordlabel: Argo 5401 chartposition: Cashbox R&B #31, US #64 writtenby: Robert Guidry	Clarence Frogman Henry	On Bended Knees	1961	Argo
18	recordlabel: Wand 110 chartposition: RandB #13, US #59 weeksinr&bchart: 10 writtenby: Burt Bacharach and Hal David album: I Don't Want to Cry! / Chuck Jackson's Greatest Hits comments: [ballad]	Chuck Jackson	I Wake Up Crying	1961	Wand
19	recordlabel: Wand 108 chartposition: RandB #22, US #46 writtenby: Ollie Jones and Luther Dixon	Chuck Jackson	(It Never Happens) In Real Life	1961	Wand
20	recordlabel: Wand 106 chartposition: RandB #5, US #36 weeksinr&bchart: 14 writtenby: Luther Dixon and Chuck Jackson album: I Don't Want to Cry! / Chuck Jackson's Greatest Hits	Chuck Jackson	I Don't Want to Cry	1961	Wand
21	recordlabel: Beltone 1005 chartposition: US #91 writtenby: Ed Davis and Robert Head	Chuck Jackson	Mr. Pride	1961	Beltone
---	recordlabel: New Breed 501 writtenby: Chuck Bernard	Chuck Bernard	Can't Get You Off My Mind	1961	New Breed
---	recordlabel: New Breed 502 comments: [northern soul]	Chuck Bernard	Hall Of Soul	1961	New Breed
1	recordlabel: Parkway 830 chartposition: RandB #11, US #7 writtenby: Woodcrest, Mured album: For Teen Twisters Only	Chubby Checker	The Fly	1961	Parkway
2	recordlabel: Parkway 824 chartposition: UK #2. RandB #26, US #8 writtenby: Kal Mann & Dave Appel album: Let's Twist Again	Chubby Checker	Let's Twist Again	1961	Parkway
3	recordlabel: Parkway 822 chartposition: US #24 writtenby: Dave Appell and Kal Mann album: Chubby Checker's Biggest Hits	Chubby Checker	(Dance The) Mess Around	1961	Parkway
4	recordlabel: Parkway 818 chartposition: RandB #1 (2 weeks), UK #27, US #1 weeksinr&bchart: 11 writtenby: Don Covay & John Berry album: It's Pony Time	Chubby Checker	Pony Time	1961	Parkway
5	recordlabel: Parkway 822 chartposition: US #43 writtenby: James Brown and Albert Shubert album: Chubby Checker's Biggest Hits	Chubby Checker	Good, Good Lovin'	1961	Parkway
6	recordlabel: Parkway 811 chartposition: US #68 writtenby: Kal Mann album: Your Twist Party	Chubby Checker	Twistin' U.S.A.	1961	Parkway
7	recordlabel: Vee Jay 399 chartposition: Cashbox RandB #39 writtenby: C. Kittrell	Christine Kittrell	Sittin' And Drinking	1961	Vee Jay
8	recordlabel: Instant 3234 chartposition: US #103 writtenby: Chris Kenner	Chris Kenner	A Very True Story	1961	Instant
9	recordlabel: Instant 3229 chartposition: RandB #2 (1 week), US #2 weeksinr&bchart: 17 writtenby: Chris Kenner & Allen Toussaint album: Land Of 1000 Dances	Chris Kenner	I Like It Like That	1961	Instant
10	recordlabel: King 5405 chartposition: RandB #21, US #76 writtenby: Brown, Redd comments: [christmas]	Charles Brown	Please Come Home For Christmas	1961	King
11	recordlabel: Atlantic 2086 chartposition: RandB #5, US #10 weeksinr&bchart: 14 writtenby: Carla Thomas album: Gee Whiz	Carla Thomas	Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes)	1961	Atlantic
12	recordlabel: Atlantic 2101 chartposition: RandB #20, US #56 writtenby: Carla Thomas	Carla Thomas	A Love of My Own	1961	Atlantic
13	recordlabel: Riverside 45457 chartposition: RandB #21, US #41 writtenby: Galt Macdermott	Cannonball Adderley	African Waltz	1961	Riverside
---	recordlabel: Fairlane 21003 writtenby: Carter And Scott	Calvin & Clarence	I Wanna Dance (But Don't Know How)	1961	Fairlane
1	recordlabel: Seven Arts 705 chartposition: RandB #10, US #93 weeksinr&bchart: 9 writtenby: Sally Nix and Henry Glover comments: new version of 1948 hit [R]	Bull Moose Jackson	I Love You, Yes I Do	1961	Seven Arts
2	recordlabel: Mercury 71820 chartposition: RandB #2 (4 weeks), US #2, UK #30, US AC #1 weeksinr&bchart: 12 writtenby: Brook Benton, Clyde Otis album: The Boll Weevil Song and 11 Other Great Hits	Brook Benton	The Boll Weevil Song	1961	Mercury
3	recordlabel: Mercury 71774 chartposition: RandB #2 (1 week), US #28 weeksinr&bchart: 13 writtenby: Clyde Otis & Willie Dixon	Brook Benton	For My Baby	1961	Mercury
4	recordlabel: Mercury 71859 chartposition: Cashbox R&B #31, US #45, US AC #8 writtenby: Teddy Randazzo, Cirino Colacrai, Brook Benton and Clyde Otis	Brook Benton	It's Just a House Without You	1961	Mercury
5	recordlabel: Mercury 71903 chartposition: RandB #12, US #15 writtenby: Brook Benton, Oliver Hall & Marnie Ewald	Brook Benton	Revenge	1961	Mercury

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