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: Fury 1056 chartposition: RandB #22, US #27 writtenby: King	Lee Dorsey	Do-Re-Mi	1961	Fury
---	recordlabel: Fury 1054 writtenby: Dunn, Robinson, Williams album: Letter Full of Tears	Gladys Knight & The Pips	You Broke Your Promise	1961	Fury
1	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
2	recordlabel: Fury 1053 chartposition: RandB #1 (1 week), US #7 weeksinr&bchart: 19 writtenby: Lee Dorsey, Clarence Lewis, Morgan Robinson & Morris Levy	Lee Dorsey	Ya Ya	1961	Fury
3	recordlabel: Fury 1052 chartposition: Cashbox R&B #46 album: Letter Full of Tears	Gladys Knight & The Pips	Guess Who	1961	Fury
---	recordlabel: Fury 1052 writtenby: W. Guest, M. Knight	Gladys Knight & The Pips	Stop Running Around	1961	Fury
1	recordlabel: Fontana 298 chartposition: RandB #6, US #12 weeksinr&bchart: 12 writtenby: Bill Cook album: You Can Have Her	Roy Hamilton	You Can Have Her	1961	Fontana
---	recordlabel: Flip 353 writtenby: Darryl Lewis comments: [Doo Wop]	The Elgins	Uncle Sam's Man	1961	Flip
1	recordlabel: Felsted 8624 chartposition: RandB #20, US #25 writtenby: Aaron Collins	The Flares	Foot Stomping	1961	Felsted
2	recordlabel: Federal 4512428 chartposition: RandB #21 writtenby: Freddie King and Sonny Thompson album: Freddy King Sings	Freddy King	See See Baby	1961	Federal
3	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
4	recordlabel: Federal 12439 chartposition: RandB #26 writtenby: Sonny Thompson and R. C. Wilson comments: [christmas]	Freddy King	Christmas Tears	1961	Federal
---	recordlabel: Federal 12435 writtenby: S. Thompson, S. Johnson	Syl Johnson	(She's So Fine) I Just Gotta Make Her Mine	1961	Federal
1	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
2	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
3	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
4	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
---	recordlabel: Fairlane 21003 writtenby: Carter And Scott	Calvin & Clarence	I Wanna Dance (But Don't Know How)	1961	Fairlane
1	recordlabel: Excello 2194 chartposition: RandB #17, US #34 weeksinr&bchart: 9 writtenby: James Moore and Jerry West	Slim Harpo	Rainin' in My Heart	1961	Excello
2	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
3	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
4	recordlabel: Everest 19409 chartposition: Cashbox RandB #37, US #111 writtenby: Arthur Hamilton album: He Needs Me	Gloria Lynne	He Needs Me	1961	Everest
5	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
---	recordlabel: Eric 7004 writtenby: B. L. Ozen	Barbara Lynn	Dina and Patrina	1961	Eric
1	recordlabel: Epic 9449 chartposition: Cashbox RandB #27 writtenby: B. Cook	Roy Hamilton	No Substitute For Love	1961	Epic
2	recordlabel: Epic 9443 chartposition: US #80 writtenby: Bob Brass and Irwin Levine	Roy Hamilton	You're Gonna Need Magic	1961	Epic
3	recordlabel: End 1093 chartposition: US #120 writtenby: Laura Webb, Jannie Pought, Reather Dixon, Helen Gathers and Emma Pought	The Bobbettes	Mr. Johnny Q	1961	End
4	recordlabel: End 1092 chartposition: US #45 writtenby: Miguel Prado	The Flamingos	Time Was	1961	End
5	recordlabel: End 1086 chartposition: US #104 writtenby: Donald Hayes	Little Anthony & the Imperials	Please Say You Want Me	1961	End
6	recordlabel: End 1085 chartposition: US #92 writtenby: Sam Taylor	The Flamingos	Kokomo	1961	End
7	recordlabel: Eldo 111 chartposition: US #35 writtenby: H.B. Barnum	H.B. Barnum	Lost Love	1961	Eldo
---	recordlabel: Duke 74 writtenby: Malone, Agee album: Two Steps From The Blues comments: [blues soul album cut] mpcode: Id3hjC_sVfA	Bobby Bland	I've Been Wrong So Long	1961	Duke
---	recordlabel: Duke 74 writtenby: Malone album: Two Steps From The Blues comments: [soul blues] mpcode: BSv_ZLy7sqg	Bobby Bland	I've Just Got to Forget You	1961	Duke
---	recordlabel: Duke 74 writtenby: Robey album: Two Steps From The Blues comments: [blues soul album cut] mpcode: dAjlzda5U8o	Bobby Bland	I Don't Want No Woman	1961	Duke
---	recordlabel: Duke 74 writtenby: Malone, Brown album: Two Steps From The Blues comments: [blues soul album cut] mpcode: fxapugWr3gk	Bobby Bland	Two Steps From The Blues	1961	Duke
---	recordlabel: Duke 74 writtenby: Primrose album: Two Steps From The Blues comments: [soul blues] mpcode: eJoNAAWIprE	Bobby Bland	St. James Infirmary	1961	Duke
1	recordlabel: Duke 344 chartposition: RandB #2 (1 week), US #28 weeksinr&bchart: 15 writtenby: Don Robey (as Deadric Malone) & Joe Scott (as Joseph Scott) album: Here's The Man	Bobby Bland	Turn On Your Love Light	1961	Duke
2	recordlabel: Duke 341 chartposition: RandB #7 weeksinr&bchart: 9 writtenby: Little Junior Parker	Little Junior Parker	In the Dark	1961	Duke
3	recordlabel: Duke 340 chartposition: RandB #2 (1 week), US #71 weeksinr&bchart: 20 writtenby: Don Robey (as Deadric Malone) album: Two Steps from the Blues	Bobby Bland	Don't Cry No More	1961	Duke
4	recordlabel: Duke 335 chartposition: RandB #5, US #85 writtenby: Roosevelt Sykes album: Driving Wheel comments: [blues]	Little Junior Parker	Driving Wheel	1961	Duke
5	recordlabel: Duke 335 chartposition: Cashbox RandB #46 writtenby: Parker album: Driving Wheel	Little Junior Parker	Seven Days	1961	Duke
6	recordlabel: Duke 332 chartposition: RandB #1 (1 week), US #46 weeksinr&bchart: 16 writtenby: Don Robey (as Deadric Malone) album: Two Steps from the Blues Deep Soul Treasures Vol.4 (compiled by Dave Godin) comments: [deep soul]	Bobby Bland	I Pity the Fool	1961	Duke
7	recordlabel: Duke 330 chartposition: RandB #11 writtenby: Little Junior Parker	Little Junior Parker	Stand by Me	1961	Duke
8	recordlabel: Dot 16144 chartposition: RandB #15, US #72 weeksinr&bchart: 3 writtenby: Bobby Rackep and Bill Ness comments: [northern soul]	Ronnie Love & His Orchestra	Chills and Fever	1961	Dot
9	recordlabel: Donna 1333 chartposition: US #91 writtenby: Kulaga, Catalano, and Ariotta	The Van Dykes	Gift of Love	1961	Donna
10	recordlabel: Deluxe 6193 chartposition: US #99 writtenby: Thomas Rivera	The Van Dykes	The Bells Are Ringing	1961	Deluxe
11	recordlabel: Deluxe 6191 chartposition: RandB #9, US #41 weeksinr&bchart: 12 writtenby: Bud Johnson and Elliot Green	The Chanters	No, No, No	1961	Deluxe
12	recordlabel: Del Fi 4158 chartposition: RandB #28, US #9 writtenby: Nick Curinga & Paul Politi album: The Blue Jays Meet Little Caesar and The Romans	Little Caesar & the Romans	Those Oldies but Goodies (Remind Me of You)	1961	Del Fi
13	recordlabel: Decca 31231 chartposition: RandB #25, US #6 writtenby: Charles Carpenter, Louis Dunlap & Earl Hines	Brenda Lee	You Can Depend on Me	1961	Decca
14	recordlabel: DeLuxe 45 6190 chartposition: US #113 writtenby: Johnny Otis	Henry Booth And The Midnighters	Every Beat Of My Heart	1961	DeLuxe
15	recordlabel: Cub 9085 chartposition: UK #33, US #85 writtenby: Gary Geld and Peter Udell mpcode: zZVWtjqM-0Y	Jimmy Jones	I Told You So	1961	Cub
16	recordlabel: Columbia 442157 chartposition: Cashbox R&B #13, US #37 writtenby: Joe Young, Sam M. Lewis, & Jean Schwartz album: The Electrifying Aretha Franklin	Aretha Franklin	Rock-A-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody	1961	Columbia
---	recordlabel: Columbia 441985 writtenby: M. Willson album: Aretha comments: from the Broadway Prod. 'the Unsinkable Molly Brown'	Aretha Franklin	Are You Sure	1961	Columbia
1	recordlabel: Columbia 42157 chartposition: RandB #6 weeksinr&bchart: 12 writtenby: Al Kasha, Alan Thomas & Curtis Williams comments: [southern soul ballad]	Aretha Franklin	Operation Heartbreak	1961	Columbia
2	recordlabel: Columbia 41940 chartposition: RandB #22 writtenby: Julian Cannonball Adderley comments: [instrumental]	Ray Bryant Combo	Sack O' Woe	1961	Columbia
3	recordlabel: Columbia 41923 chartposition: RandB #7, US #76 weeksinr&bchart: 8 writtenby: J. Leslie McFarland album: Aretha (with the Ray Bryant Combo)	Aretha Franklin	Won't Be Long	1961	Columbia
---	recordlabel: Columbia 41793 writtenby: J. Leslie McFarland album: The First 12 Sides	Aretha Franklin	Love Is The Only Thing	1961	Columbia
1	recordlabel: Columbia 4 42156 chartposition: RandB #89 writtenby: Ruth Lyons album: Johnny's Newest Hits	Johnny Mathis	Wasn't the Summer Short?	1961	Columbia
2	recordlabel: Colpix 612 chartposition: RandB #19, US #7 writtenby: Al Hoffman & John Klenner	The Marcels	Heartaches	1961	Colpix
3	recordlabel: Colpix 608 chartposition: US #113 writtenby: Henry Troy and Fletcher Henderson	Nina Simone	Gin House Blues	1961	Colpix
4	recordlabel: Colpix 196 chartposition: Cashbox RandB #50, UK #46, US #78 writtenby: Gershwin, Heyward	The Marcels	Summertime	1961	Colpix
5	recordlabel: Colpix 186 chartposition: RandB #1 (2 weeks), US #1, UK #1 weeksinr&bchart: 11 writtenby: Richard Rodgers & Lorenz Hart	The Marcels	Blue Moon	1961	Colpix
6	recordlabel: Colpix 175 chartposition: RandB #11, US #93 weeksinr&bchart: 6 writtenby: Richard M. Jones	Nina Simone	Trouble in Mind	1961	Colpix
7	recordlabel: Coed 550 chartposition: RandB #21, US #5, US AC #5 writtenby: Mark Barkan, Sandy Baron & George Eddy	Adam Wade	The Writing on the Wall	1961	Coed
---	recordlabel: Chess 1791 writtenby: Lloyd Reese	Mitty Collier	I Got To Get Away From It All	1961	Chess
---	recordlabel: Chess 1791 writtenby: Lloyd Reese	Mitty Collier	I've Got Love	1961	Chess
1	recordlabel: Chess 1787 chartposition: RandB #26 weeksinr&bchart: 3 writtenby: William Davis and Viola Watkins	The Hollywood Flames	Gee	1961	Chess
---	recordlabel: Checker 982 writtenby: J. Johnson, E. Smith	The Vibrations	Don't Say Goodbye	1961	Checker
1	recordlabel: Checker 974 chartposition: US #112 writtenby: Hall and The Vibrations	The Vibrations	The Junkernoo	1961	Checker
2	recordlabel: Checker 969 chartposition: RandB #13, US #25 writtenby: James Johnson [James E. Johnson], Shirley Hall and Leslie Temple	The Vibrations	The Watusi	1961	Checker
3	recordlabel: Challenge 9109 chartposition: US #79 writtenby: Dave Burgess and Jerry Fuller	The Blossoms	Son-In-Law	1961	Challenge
4	recordlabel: Carlton 564 chartposition: Cashbox R&B #7, US #29 writtenby: Richard Barrett comments: answer song to ray charles'	The Chantels	Well, I Told You	1961	Carlton
5	recordlabel: Carlton 555 chartposition: RandB #6, US #14 weeksinr&bchart: 12 writtenby: Richard Barrett album: On Tour	The Chantels	Look in My Eyes	1961	Carlton
6	recordlabel: Caprice 110 chartposition: RandB #10, US #22 writtenby: Rudy Clark album: James Ray	James Ray	If You Gotta Make a Fool of Somebody	1961	Caprice
7	recordlabel: Brunswick 9 55201 chartposition: RandB #10, US #32 weeksinr&bchart: 7 writtenby: Peter Udell and Gary Geld	Jackie Wilson	The Tear of the Year	1961	Brunswick
8	recordlabel: Brunswick 55220 chartposition: Cashbox R&B #34, US #58 writtenby: Gary Geld and Peter Udell	Jackie Wilson	The Way I Am	1961	Brunswick
9	recordlabel: Brunswick 55220 chartposition: US #65 writtenby: Dorothy Daniels and Frank Daniels	Jackie Wilson	My Heart Belongs to Only You	1961	Brunswick
10	recordlabel: Brunswick 55219 chartposition: RandB #19, US #79 writtenby: Alonzo Tucker, Jackie Wilson and Morris Levy	Jackie Wilson	You Don't Know What It Means	1961	Brunswick
11	recordlabel: Brunswick 55219 chartposition: RandB #25, US #37 writtenby: Alonzo Tucker, Robert Adams and Horace Ott	Jackie Wilson	Years from Now	1961	Brunswick
12	recordlabel: Brunswick 55216 chartposition: Cashbox R&B #49, US #80 writtenby: Al Kasha and Alan Thomas	Jackie Wilson	Lonely Life	1961	Brunswick
13	recordlabel: Brunswick 55216 chartposition: RandB #9, US #19 weeksinr&bchart: 5 writtenby: Al Kasha & Horace Ott	Jackie Wilson	I'm Comin' On Back to You	1961	Brunswick
14	recordlabel: Brunswick 55208 chartposition: Cashbox R&B #48, US #40 writtenby: Billy Myles and Jackie Wilson	Jackie Wilson	Your One and Only Love	1961	Brunswick
15	recordlabel: Brunswick 55208 chartposition: RandB #11, US #20 weeksinr&bchart: 6 writtenby: Joyce Lee	Jackie Wilson	Please Tell Me Why	1961	Brunswick
16	recordlabel: Brunswick 55201 chartposition: RandB #25, US #9 writtenby: Hank Hunter & Al Kasha	Jackie Wilson	My Empty Arms	1961	Brunswick
17	recordlabel: Boyd 3398 chartposition: Cashbox RandB #10, US #29 writtenby: Clarke, Upchurch, Muldrow comments: [instrumental]	Phil Upchurch Combo	You Can't Sit Down (Part 2)	1961	Boyd
---	recordlabel: Bobbin 143 writtenby: Albert King	Albert King	Old Blue Ribbon	1961	Bobbin
1	recordlabel: Beltone 1014 chartposition: Cashbox R&B #29, US #74 writtenby: Eugene Pitt and Rene	The Jive Five	Never, Never	1961	Beltone
2	recordlabel: Beltone 1012 chartposition: RandB #8, US #9 weeksinr&bchart: 11 writtenby: Bobby Lewis & Malou Rene album: Tossin' & Turnin'	Bobby Lewis	One Track Mind	1961	Beltone
3	recordlabel: Beltone 1006 chartposition: RandB #1 (3 weeks), US #3 weeksinr&bchart: 20 writtenby: Eugene Pitt, Oscar Waltzer & Phil Belmonte	The Jive Five	My True Story	1961	Beltone
4	recordlabel: Beltone 1005 chartposition: US #91 writtenby: Ed Davis and Robert Head	Chuck Jackson	Mr. Pride	1961	Beltone
5	recordlabel: Beltone 1002 chartposition: RandB #1 (10 weeks), US #1 weeksinr&bchart: 19 writtenby: Ritchie Adams & Malou Rene album: Tossin' & Turnin'	Bobby Lewis	Tossin' and Turnin	1961	Beltone
---	recordlabel: Bandy 1494 writtenby: Naomi Neville	Aaron Neville	I'm Waiting At The Station	1961	Bandy
1	recordlabel: Atlantic 2127 chartposition: Cashbox R&B #45, US #72 writtenby: Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman	The Drifters	Room Full of Tears	1961	Atlantic
2	recordlabel: Atlantic 2117 chartposition: RandB #10, US #16 weeksinr&bchart: 10 writtenby: Doc Pomus & Mort Shuman album: Save The Last Dance For Me comments: [pop soul]	The Drifters	Sweets for My Sweet	1961	Atlantic
3	recordlabel: Atlantic 2114 chartposition: RandB #7, US #24, US AC #6 weeksinr&bchart: 19 writtenby: Virgil Stewart album: Rock and Soul comments: [ballad]	Solomon Burke	Just Out of Reach	1961	Atlantic
4	recordlabel: Atlantic 2105 chartposition: RandB #13, US #14 writtenby: Burt Bacharach & Bob Hilliard album: Save The Last Dance For Me	The Drifters	Please Stay	1961	Atlantic
5	recordlabel: Atlantic 2101 chartposition: RandB #20, US #56 writtenby: Carla Thomas	Carla Thomas	A Love of My Own	1961	Atlantic
6	recordlabel: Atlantic 2099 chartposition: RandB #17, US #35 writtenby: Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller album: Saved	LaVern Baker	Saved	1961	Atlantic
7	recordlabel: Atlantic 2096 chartposition: RandB #6, US #32 weeksinr&bchart: 7 writtenby: Gerry Goffin and Carole King album: Save The Last Dance For Me	The Drifters	Some Kind of Wonderful	1961	Atlantic
8	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

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