Top 20 Song Chart for December 16, 1961 |
| LW | TW | peak |
| 1 | 1 | The Lion Sleeps Tonight | ▲ |
| The Tokens |
 |  |
| 2 | 2 | The Twist | 1 |
| Chubby Checker |
| | |
| 9 | 3 | Run To Him | ▲ |
| Bobby Vee |
| | |
| 3 | 4 | Big Bad John | 1 |
| Jimmy Dean |
| | |
| 4 | 5 | Goodbye Cruel World | 4 |
| James Darren |
| | |
| 10 | 6 | There's No Other (Like My Baby) | ▲ |
| The Crystals |
| | |
| 17 | 7 | Peppermint Twist - Part I | 1 |
| Joey Dee & The Starliters |
| | |
| 6 | 8 | Heartaches | 5 |
| The Marcels |
| | |
| 8 | 9 | Moon River | 8 |
| Jerry Butler |
| | |
| 14 | 10 | Walk On By | 4 |
| Leroy Van Dyke |
| | |
| 16 | 11 | I Don't Know Why | 6 |
| Linda Scott |
| |
| 20 | 12 | When I Fall In Love | 4 |
| The Lettermen |
| | |
| 18 | 13 | Let There Be Drums | 9 |
| Sandy Nelson |
| | |
| - | 14 | Happy Birthday, Sweet Sixteen | 8 |
| Neil Sedaka |
| | |
| 5 | 15 | Please Mr. Postman | 1 |
| The Marvelettes |
| | |
| 11 | 16 | Hit The Road Jack | 1 |
| Ray Charles |
| | |
| 19 | 17 | Gypsy Woman | ▲ |
| The Impressions |
| | |
| - | 18 | When The Boy In Your Arms (Is The Boy In Your Heart) | 9 |
| Connie Francis |
| | |
| - | 19 | Moon River | 16 |
| Henry Mancini And His Orchestra |
| | |
| - | 20 | Til | 9 |
| The Angels |
| | |
| Prior Week | Next Week |