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All Instrumental Top 20 Songs since 1960, page 1 of 4

EVERY Top 20 Popular Instrumental Song since 1960, December 1959 - June 1962, page 1 of 4
Here are the best instrumental songs since 1960. These are the most popular instrumentals since 1960. All top instrumental songs are here, with samples, song links, information on the best instrumentals, and chart data, on four pages.
Dec 1959
Jun 1962

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    Dec 1959
    4
    5
  1. In The Mood

    Ernie Field's Orchestra
     
     
     
    In The Mood was originally made popular in 1940 by Glenn Miller And His Orchestra. Ernie Fields followed-up his version with other instrumental remakes, but his version of In The Mood was a top 20 one hit wonder.
    Jan 1960
    17
  2. Smokie - Part 2

    Bill Black's Combo
     
     
     
    William P. Black wrote Smokie - Part 2.
    Feb 1960
    1
  3. The Theme From A Summer Place

    Percy Faith And His Orchestra
     
     
     
    Instrumental song The Theme From A Summer Place won the Grammy Award for Record Of The Year and became the top song of the year and the top song of the 1960s. Percy Faith and others recorded various instrumental and vocal versions. Max Steiner wrote the song. This song was from the movie A Summer Place.
    Feb 1960
    13
  4. Tracy's Theme

    Spencer Ross
     
     
     
    The instrumental song Tracy's Theme was the only top 20 song for Spencer Ross and a one hit wonder. He did not receive mentionable radio airplay with any other solo song. Robert Ascher wrote the song.
    Mar 1960
    15
  5. Beatnik Fly

    Johnny And The Hurricanes
     
     
     
     
    Beatnik Fly was a rock and instrumental adaptation of Blue Tail Fly.
    Apr 1960
    9
  6. White Silver Sands

    Bill Black's Combo
     
     
     
     
    Bill Black took his instrumental remake of White Silver Sands to number 13. The vocal version of White Silver Sands was a 1957 number 11 hit for Don Rondo.
    Jul 1960
    4
  7. Because They're Young

    Duane Eddy
     
     
     
    The writers of Because They're Young were: Don Costa, Wally Gold, Aaron Schroeder. The song was from the movie Because They're Young.
    Jul 1960
    18
  8. Josephine

    Bill Black's Combo
     
     
     
    The writers of Josephine were: Burke Bivens, Gus Kahn, Wayne King.
    Jul 1960
    19
  9. Look For A Star

    Billy Vaughn And His Orchestra
     
     
     
    Tony Hatch wrote Look For A Star. The song was from the movie Circus Of Horrors.
    Sep 1960
    2
  10. Walk--Don't Run

    The Ventures
     
     
     
    Instrumental song Walk--Don't Run was released in 1959. It became popular the next year. John Smith wrote the song.
    Sep 1960
    10
  11. Theme From The Apartment

    Ferrante & Teicher
     
     
     
    Theme From The Apartment was originally titled Jealous Lover. The name was changed when the instrumental song was used for the movie The Apartment. Charles Williams wrote the song.
    Oct 1960
    19
  12. Never On Sunday

    Don Costa
     
     
     
    Never On Sunday was an instrumental from the movie Never On Sunday. It was a top 20 one hit wonder. A few weeks earlier, Don Costa had a top 20 near miss with another instrumental movie score, Theme From The Unforgiven (The Need For Love).
    Nov 1960
    11
  13. Don't Be Cruel

    Bill Black's Combo
     
     
     
    Don't Be Cruel was an instrumental remake of the 1956 song by Elvis Presley. Otis Blackwell wrote the song.
    Dec 1960
    2
  14. Last Date

    Floyd Cramer
     
     
     
    Floyd Cramer wrote Last Date.
    Dec 1960
    1
  15. Wonderland By Night

    Bert Kaempfert And His Orchestra
     
     
     
    Dec 1960
    16
  16. Blue Tango

    Bill Black's Combo
     
     
     
     
    Blue Tango was a popular 1952 song by Leroy Anderson And His Orchestra. The writers of this song were Leroy Anderson and Mitchell Parrish.
    Jan 1961
    2
  17. Exodus

    Ferrante & Teicher
     
     
    Ernest Gold wrote Exodus. The song was from the movie Exodus.
    Jan 1961
    15
  18. Wonderland By Night

    Louis Prima
     
     
     
    Louis Prima and Bert Kaempfert both had top 20 versions of Wonderland By Night in 1961. Wonderland By Night was written by: Klaus, Gunter, Neumann.
    Jan 1961
    1
  19. Calcutta

    Lawrence Welk
     
     
    The full artist title for Calcutta was Lawrence Welk And His Orchestra Featuring Frank Scott On Harpsichord. The song was performed on the popular TV program The Lawrence Welk Show. Calcutta was written by: Hans Bradtke, Heino Gazel, Lee Pockriss, Paul Vance.
    Feb 1961
    18
  20. Pepe

    Duane Eddy
     
     
     
    The writers of Pepe were Daniel Langdon and Hans Wittstatt.
    Mar 1961
    3
  21. Wheels

    The String-A-Longs
     
     
     
    Number 7 hit instrumental song Wheels was a top 20 one hit wonder for The String-A-Longs. The group followed-up with other instrumentals that received moderate airplay. Wheels was written by Richard Stephens and Jimmy Torres.
    Mar 1961
    20
  22. Hearts Of Stone

    Bill Black's Combo
     
     
     
     
    The writers of Hearts Of Stone were Rudy Jackson and Eddy Ray.
    Apr 1961
    2
  23. Apache

    Jorgen Ingmann & His Guitar
     
     
     
    In 1960, The Shadows had a UK number one instrumental song with Apache. Jordan Ingmann brought the song to the US, and reached number 2. He became a top 20 one hit wonder, but followed up with many instrumentals that received airplay, including Anna. Apache was written by Jerry Lorden.
    Apr 1961
    4
  24. On The Rebound

    Floyd Cramer
     
     
     
    Floyd Cramer wrote On The Rebound.
    Apr 1961
    8
  25. Asia Minor

    Kokomo
     
     
     
    Instrumental song Asia Minor was based on Piano Concerto in A Minor by Edvard Grieg.
    Kokomo was actually Jimmy Wisner, hiding his identity from other classically trained musicians. Kokomo was a top 20 one hit wonder, but Jimmy Wisner received some airplay with other songs as Jimmy Wisner Trio also. The 1970s group Kokomo was unrelated.
    Apr 1961
    8
  26. One Mint Julep

    Ray Charles
     
     
     
    The link to listen to One Mint Julep here is an alternate from the hit recording. Rudy Toombs wrote the song.
    May 1961
    19
  27. Bonanza

    Al Caiola
     
     
     
     
    The writers of Bonanza were Ray Evans and Jay Livingston. The song was from the TV show Bonanza.
    Jul 1961
    4
  28. Yellow Bird

    Arthur Lyman Group
     
     
     
    The writers of Yellow Bird were: Alan Bergman, Marilyn Keith, Norman Luboff.
    Jul 1961
    8
  29. San Antonio Rose

    Floyd Cramer
     
     
     
    Bob Wills wrote San Antonio Rose.
    Jul 1961
    29
  30. You Can't Sit Down

    Philip Upchurch Combo
     
     
     
    You Can't Sit Down was an instrumental top 20 one hit wonder. The 45 RPM single had parts one and two on its sides. Part two was more famous. This was the most popular song by Philip Upchurch Combo, later known as Phil Upchurch. He received slight radio airplay with other songs, like Softly, and played guitar on many records for decades to come.
    Aug 1961
    3
  31. Last Night

    The Mar-Keys
     
     
     
    The Mar-Keys were a Memphis instrumental band who had a top 20 one hit wonder with Last Night. A few other songs by the group received some airplay.
    Oct 1961
    7
  32. Mexico

    Bob Moore And His Orchestra
     
     
     
    Although instrumental song Mexico was a top 20 one hit wonder hit for Bob Moore, he received some airplay in 1963 for another instrumental, Kentucky. Mexico was written by Boudleaux Bryant.
    Oct 1961
    25
  33. Take Five

    Dave Brubeck Quartet
     
     
    Paul Desmond wrote Take Five.
    Dec 1961
    8
  34. Tonight

    Ferrante & Teicher
     
     
     
    The Ferrante & Teicher version of Tonight was mostly instrumental. The writers of this song were Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim.
    Dec 1961
    7
  35. Let There Be Drums

    Sandy Nelson
     
     
     
    The writers of Let There Be Drums were Sandy Nelson and Richard Podolor.
    Dec 1961
    11
  36. Moon River

    Henry Mancini And His Orchestra
     
     
     
    This instrumental version of Moon River won the Grammy Award for Record Of The Year. The song was from the album Moon River & Other Great Movie Themes, and from the movie Breakfast At Tiffany's. The writers of this song were Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer.
    Mar 1962
  37. Afrikaan Beat

    Bert Kaempfert And His Orchestra
     
     
    Bert Kaempfert wrote Afrikaan Beat.
    Mar 1962
    17
  38. Tuff

    Ace Cannon
     
     
     
    Tuff was a top 20 one hit wonder instrumental for Ace Cannon. The follow-up, Blues (Stay Away From Me) was fairly popular too.
    Ace Cannon was a saxophone player for Bill Black's Combo, whose group played on solo records by Ace Cannon too. Tuff was written by Ace Cannon.
    Mar 1962
    2
  39. Midnight In Moscow

    Kenny Ball And His Jazzmen
     
     
     
    Midnight In Moscow was an instrumental adaptation of a famous Russian vocal tune.
    Mar 1962
    10
  40. Percolator (Twist)

    Billy Joe & The Checkmates
     
     
     
    Instrumental song Percolator (Twist) was a top 20 one hit wonder for Billy Joe And The Checkmates. He followed-up with Rocky's Theme, which received slight play.
    Billy Joe was actually Lew Bedell, a record producer, a New York radio and TV star, and comedian. The Checkmates here are not related to the Emile Ford Checkmates nor to The Checkmates, Ltd. The writers of this song were Lou Bideu and Ernie Freeman.
    May 1962
    17
  41. Soul Twist

    King Curtis And The Noble Knights
     
     
     
    Curtis Ousley wrote Soul Twist.
    May 1962
    1
  42. Stranger On The Shore

    Mr. Acker Bilk
     
     
     
    Stranger On The Shore was originally named Jenny after Acker Bilk's daughter. The writers of this song were Acker Bilk and Robert Mellin.
    Jun 1962
    1
  43. The Stripper

    David Rose And His Orchestra
     
     
     
    The Stripper lived for years in Noxema commercials. The song was from the album The Stripper And Other Fun Songs For The Family. David Rose wrote the song.

Click the picture above to stream top instrumental song samples

Download these great instrumental songs albums at amazon.com now. Click on pictures to go there.
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Tunecaster's best instrumental songs section includes all top 20 best instrumental songs from 1960. Top instrumental songs include 170 best instrumental songs that made the top 20. Of those, 23 became number one best of the best instrumental songs. Charts were less and less likely to have top instrumental songs as time went on. In fact, since Auld Lang Syne by Kenny G made number 10 in 1999, there have been no best instrumental songs on the top 20 whatsoever. Enjoy looking back in tunetimeline order at the chart history of the best instrumental songs. The era of best instrumental songs making the top 20 charts regularly appears to be over. Find a song! Find your best instrumental song! Find a song!

Smokie Part Two Smoky Part Two Smokey Part Two, Walk Don't Run, Never On A Sunday, Hearts Made Of Stone, African Beat, Tough, Percolator Twist,