© All rights reserved SixtiesMusic.org

1960’s Music

60’s Music

Number Ones 1963

In America Steve Lawrence took the top spot over from the Tornados with the Goffin & King composition “Go Away Little Girl”.

In March the Four Seasons continued with their success taking “Walk Like A Man” to the top written by group member Bob Gaudio and producer Bob Crewe.

Ronnie Mack’s composition “He’s So Fine” took the Chiffons who came from Brooklyn to number one.

In July Jan & Dean reached number one with “Surf City” written by Jan Berry and Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys.

The 13 year old Little Stevie Wonder had his first hit with “Fingertips Part 2”.

Finishing the year in the U.S. the Belgian born Jeanine Deckers The Singing Nun went to the top with her self penned record “Dominique” she later committed suicide.

Opening the year in Britain Cliff Richard & the Shadows  peaked with “The Next Time” and in March the title song from the film “Summer Holiday” written by two of his backing group the Shadows Bruce Welch and Brian Bennet reached the top.

The Shadows had two solo instrumental number ones with “Dance On” in January written by the Avons a U.K. group and in March with “Foot Tapper” written by group members Hank Marvin & Bruce Welch.

Two former Shadows members, Jet Harris and Tony Meehan reached number one in the UK single charts in January with 'Diamonds'.

In April Gerry & the Pacemakers with their first record release “How Do You Do It” and in June with their second release  “I Like It” both written by Mitch Murray went to the top of the hit parade. With their third release the Rogers & Hammerstein composition taken from the musical Carousel, “You’ll Never Walk Alone” they reached number one in October making them the first act to have their first three released singles go to number one.

The Beatles first record to top all of the U.K. charts was “From Me To You” and had the song writing credits as (McCartney – Lennon) as did the earlier singles released on EMI Parlophone and the songs they had written and recorded on the first Beatles album “Please Please Me”.

“She Loves You” went to number one in September and “I Want To Hold Your Hand” was the last number one of the year. These two singles were listed as being written by (Lennon – McCartney) as were the songs they composed on the album they released in November “With The Beatles”.

Elvis had a number one in August with “Devil in Disguise” and he was the only American act to reach the top in the U.K. charts in 1963.

Brian Poole and the Tremeloes went to the top in October with “Do You Love Me”, the song was a hit for the Contours and written by Gordy Berry the Motown Boss.

Music Charts 1963