List Of Billboard Easy Listening Number Ones Of 1961
The number one song on the first Easy Listening chart was "The Boll Weevil Song" by Brook Benton, which was at number 2 on the Hot 100 that week. Benton had achieved six chart-toppers on the R&B chart since 1959, but "The Boll Weevil Song" would prove to be his only Easy Listening number one. The song held the top spot on the new chart for three weeks before being replaced by "Together" by Connie Francis.
The longest-running Easy Listening number one of 1961 was "Big Bad John" by Jimmy Dean, which spent the final ten weeks of the year in the top spot. The song was a multi-genre chart-topper, also reaching number one on the country chart as well as the Hot 100. It was one of three songs to top the Hot 100 as well as the Easy Listening chart during the year, along with "Wooden Heart" by Joe Dowell and "Michael" by the Highwaymen. "Mexico" by Bob Moore and his Orchestra, which topped the Easy Listening chart for a single week, would prove to be the only track by Moore to appear on either that listing or the Hot 100. Moore, whose primary instrument was the bass guitar, was better known as a backing musician for other artists, including Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan.
Chart history
Issue date | Title | Artist(s) | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|
July 17 | "The Boll Weevil Song" | Brook Benton | |
July 24 | |||
July 31 | |||
August 7 | "Together" | Connie Francis | |
August 14 | "Wooden Heart" | Joe Dowell | |
August 21 | |||
August 28 | |||
September 4 | "Michael" | The Highwaymen | |
September 11 | |||
September 18 | |||
September 25 | |||
October 2 | |||
October 9 | "Mexico" | Bob Moore and his orchestra | |
October 16 | "Sad Movies (Make Me Cry)" | Sue Thompson | |
October 23 | "Big Bad John" | Jimmy Dean | |
October 30 | |||
November 6 | |||
November 13 | |||
November 20 | |||
November 27 | |||
December 4 | |||
December 11 | |||
December 18 | |||
December 25 |