Tunecaster® The Interactive Pop And Rock Music Encyclopedia™
1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s Artist Listings One Hit Wonders Top Songs of the Years Instrumentals



 
The Ultimate One Hit Wonders Site

One Hit Wonders 1961

Over 800 One Hit Wonders with audio samples here, at the ultimate One Hit Wonders site. Find a different One Hit Wonder year directly below, or
use the One Hit Wonder song index, or One Hit Wonder artist and group index.
Return to the One Hit Wonder Home Page here.
Scroll down to the bottom to search this entire site.

The One Hit Wonder Controversy. Each song has a note to explain why may be considered a One Hit Wonder. You get to decide if it is.



early play
peak play
hear
US
NY
#
title
artist
Dec 1960
Jan 1961
5
4
1
Rosie & The Originals
Rosie Hamlin wrote Angel Baby when she was 14, and the song became famous when she was 15. She was not listed as the writer on the record. Although Angel Baby was the only top 20 hit for Rosie & The Originals, Rosie followed-up with Lonely Blue Nights, which received minor radio airplay.
Jan 1961
Feb 1961
2
Thelma Carpenter
Yes, I'm Lonesome Tonight was an answer song to 1960 number one song Are You Lonesome Tonight by Elvis Presley. Vaughn Deleath originally popularized Are You Lonesome Tonight in 1924. Thelma Carpenter was a popular singer during the big band era, and sang with many top groups. She also was an actress.
Jan 1961
Mar 1961
6
6
3
Buzz Clifford
Baby Sittin' Boogie was the only top 20 hit for Buzz Clifford. He received some airplay for other songs too, like Three Little Fishes.
Mar 1961
Apr 1961
14
4
The Bob Knight Four
Good Goodbye (So So Long) was the only top 20 hit for The Bob Knight Four. The group received minor radio airplay with other songs too, like Two Friends.
Feb 1961
Apr 1961
8
10
5
Kokomo
The instrumental song Asia Minor was based on Piano Concerto in A Minor by Edvard Grieg. Jimmy Wisner recorded under the name Kokomo because he wanted to hide his identity from other classically trained musicians that he knew. Although Asia Minor was the only top 20 hit for Kokomo, he received some airplay for other songs like Theme From A Silent Movie, and also recorded as The Jimmy Wisner Trio. This Kokomo is unrelated to the group Kokomo that received some airplay in the 1970s with songs like Kitty Sittin' Pretty.
May 1961
Jun 1961
6
The Timetones
In My Heart was also released as Here In My Heart. The Timetones received moderate radio airplay with In My Heart, and slight airplay with I've Got A Feeling.
May 1961
Jun 1961
21
11
7
The Edsels
Rama Lama Ding Dong was the only top 20 hit for The Edsels. The group received minor airplay for other songs, like Bone Shaker Joe.
Apr 1961
Jun 1961
20
16
8
The Marathons
The Marathons was actually The Vibrations under a pseudonym. The record company wanted a group that sounded like The Olympics, so they secretly borrowed The Vibrations. When the record company for The Vibrations found out, it took the song and released it as by Vibrations Recorded As Marathons. The Vibrations, under its correct name, had other songs that were near top 20 misses, like The Watusi. Peanut Butter was written by: Bill Barnum, Martin Cooper, Cliff Goldsmith, Fred Smith.
Jun 1961
Jul 1961
29
9
Philip Upchurch Combo
You Can't Sit Down Part 2 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. Cornell Muldrow wrote the song.
Jul 1961
Aug 1961
7
1
10
Curtis Lee
Pretty Little Angel Eyes was the only top 20 hit for Curtis Lee. He had other songs that received radio airplay including Under The Moon Of Love. Pretty Little Angel Eyes was written by: Tommy Boyce, Curtis Lee.
Jul 1961
Sep 1961
17
11
Ann-Margret
I Just Don't Understand was the most popular song by actress and performer Ann-Margret. She had a few other songs that received radio airplay too, like It Do Me So Good.
Aug 1961
Sep 1961
12
8
12
The Jarmels
A Little Bit Of Soap was the only top 20 hit for The Jarmels. The group received some airplay with other songs too, like Little Lonely One, a regional east coast song.
Aug 1961
Sep 1961
16
13
The Blue Jays
Lover's Island was the only to 20 hit for The Blue Jays. The group received minor radio airplay with other songs like Tears Are Falling too. In the 1950s, there was another group with the same name.
Jul 1961
Sep 1961
25
14
The Halos
Nag was the greatest hit and a top 20 near miss for The Halos. The group received slight radio airplay with other songs, including Come Softly To Me.
Aug 1961
Sep 1961
7
10
15
Barry Mann
Who Put The Bomp (In The Bomp, Bomp, Bomp) was the only top 20 hit for Barry Mann. He had a string of songs that received minor airplay, including The Princess And The Punk in 1976.
Aug 1961
Sep 1961
8
16
The Ly-Dells
Although Wizard Of Love was the only to 20 hit for The Ly-Dells, the group received minor radio airplay with other songs like Genie Of The Lamp.
Aug 1961
Oct 1961
7
13
17
Bob Moore And His Orchestra
Although Mexico was the only top 20 hit for Bob Moore, he received some airplay in 1963 for another instrumental song, Kentucky.
Sep 1961
Oct 1961
6
5
18
Troy Shondell
Although This Time was the only top 20 hit for Troy Shondell, some others songs received minor radio airplay like Tears From An Angel. Singer Tommy James named his backup band The Shondells after Troy Shondell.
Sep 1961
Oct 1961
29
15
19
The Stereos
I Really Love You was originally released in monophonic sound. This was the only top 20 song for The Stereos, which received no measurable radio airplay with any other song.
Nov 1961
Dec 1961
24
20
Kenny Dino
Your Ma Said You Cried In Your Sleep Last Night was later performed by Led Zeppelin member Robert Plant. His version of the song reached number 8 on the rock chart. Kenny Dino was actually Kenny Doino. He received slight airplay with other songs too, like Betty Jean.

< Prior Year