The year 1962 was a remarkable chapter in music history, bringing together timeless ballads, infectious dance crazes, soulful performances, and the early sounds that would help shape the decade to come. From smooth instrumentals and heartfelt love songs to energetic rock & roll and emerging Motown favorites, America’s radios were filled with music that continues to resonate more than sixty years later.
Artists like Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke, Dion, Chubby Checker, Mary Wells, and The Shirelles delivered unforgettable performances that became part of the soundtrack of everyday life. Their music filled America’s airwaves, echoed from jukeboxes, spun on living room record players, and brought families together around their favorite hometown radio stations. More than sixty years later, these timeless recordings continue to remind us why great music never goes out of style.
Here at WTSG-DB, we believe great music deserves to be remembered and shared. Join us as we take another trip back through the Billboard Year-End Charts and revisit the songs that made 1962 one of the most memorable years in popular music.
🎶 Top 10 Hits of 1962
- Stranger On The Shore — Mr. Acker Bilk
- I Can’t Stop Loving You — Ray Charles
- Mashed Potato Time — Dee Dee Sharp
- Roses Are Red — Bobby Vinton
- The Stripper — David Rose
- Johnny Angel — Shelley Fabares
- The Loco-Motion — Little Eva
- Let Me In — Sensations
- The Twist — Chubby Checker
- Soldier Boy — The Shirelles
📻 WTSG-DB Reflection
The music of 1962 reminds us that great songs don’t need flashy production or elaborate effects to leave a lasting impression. Many of these recordings were built around unforgettable melodies, heartfelt lyrics, and remarkable performances that continue to sound fresh decades later.
This was also a year of transition. Rock & roll continued to evolve, soul music gained momentum, dance records filled the airwaves, and artists from many different genres found success together on the Billboard charts. Long before playlists and streaming services, these songs brought listeners together through the shared experience of radio.
Whether you remember hearing these classics when they first debuted or you’re discovering them for the very first time, 1962 remains a wonderful reminder that great music truly stands the test of time.
🎶 Complete Billboard Top 100 of 1962
🎵 #1–10
- Mr. Acker Bilk — Stranger On The Shore
- Ray Charles — I Can’t Stop Loving You
- Dee Dee Sharp — Mashed Potato Time
- Bobby Vinton — Roses Are Red
- David Rose — The Stripper
- Shelley Fabares — Johnny Angel
- Little Eva — The Loco-Motion
- Sensations — Let Me In
- Chubby Checker — The Twist
- The Shirelles — Soldier Boy
🎵 #11–20
- Bruce Channel — Hey! Baby
- Dion — The Wanderer
- Gene Chandler — Duke Of Earl
- Freddy Cannon — Palisades Park
- Neil Sedaka — Breaking Up Is Hard To Do
- Claude King — Wolverton Mountain
- Chubby Checker — Slow Twistin’
- Johnny Tillotson — It Keeps Right On A-Hurtin’
- Mary Wells — The One Who Really Loves You
- Elvis Presley — Good Luck Charm
🎵 #21–30
- Kenny Ball — Midnight In Moscow
- Tommy Roe — Sheila
- Sam Cooke — Twistin’ The Night Away
- The Orlons — Wah-Watusi
- Joey Dee and The Starlighters — Peppermint Twist
- Brenda Lee — Break It To Me Gently
- The Marvelettes — Playboy
- Nat King Cole — Ramblin’ Rose
- Brian Hyland — Sealed With A Kiss
- Jay and The Americans — She Cried
🎵 #31–40
- Connie Francis — Don’t Break The Heart That Loves You
- Gary U.S. Bonds — Dear Lady Twist
- Sue Thompson — Norman
- Ketty Lester — Love Letters
- Claudine Clark — Party Lights
- The Highwaymen — Cotton Fields
- Bent Fabric — Alley Cat
- The Isley Brothers — Twist And Shout
- Richard Chamberlain — Theme From Dr. Kildare
- Ace Cannon — Tuff
🎵 #41–50
- Clyde McPhatter — Lover, Please
- Barbara George — I Know
- Rick Nelson — Young World
- The Shirelles — Baby It’s You
- Pat Boone — Speedy Gonzales
- Burl Ives — A Little Bitty Tear
- The Everly Brothers — Crying In The Rain
- Emilio Pericoli — Al Di La’
- Ernie Maresca — Shout! Shout! (Knock Yourself Out)
- Don and Juan — What’s Your Name
🎵 #51–60
- The Corsairs — Smoky Places
- Sam Cooke — Having A Party
- Booker T. and The M.G.’s — Green Onions
- Ray Charles — You Don’t Know Me
- The Four Seasons — Sherry
- Joanie Sommers — Johnny Get Angry
- Elvis Presley — Can’t Help Falling In Love
- Joey Dee — Shout
- Dave “Baby” Cortez — Rinky Dink
- Henry Mancini — Moon River
🎵 #61–70
- Ray Stevens — Ahab The Arab
- Bobby Darin — Things
- Gene Pitney — The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
- The Duprees — You Belong To Me
- Roy Orbison — Dream Baby
- Joe Henderson — Snap Your Fingers
- Dion — Lovers Who Wander
- Chris Montez — Let’s Dance
- Johnny Crawford — Cindy’s Birthday
- Mary Wells — You Beat Me To The Punch
🎵 #71–80
- Barbara Lynn — You’ll Lose A Good Thing
- The Crystals — Uptown
- Brenda Lee — Everybody Loves Me But You
- Dickey Lee — Patches
- Jimmy Clanton — Venus In Blue Jeans
- Paul Anka — Love Me Warm And Tender
- Rick Nelson — Teen Age Idol
- Patsy Cline — She’s Got You
- Larry Finnegan — Dear One
- James Darren — Her Royal Majesty
🎵 #81–90
- Walter Brennan — Old Rivers
- Burl Ives — Funny Way Of Laughin’
- Billy Vaughn — A Swingin’ Safari
- Dick and Dee Dee — Tell Me
- Jimmy Dean — P.T. 109
- Dion — Little Diane
- Billy Joe and The Checkmates — Percolator (Twist)
- Gary U.S. Bonds — Twist, Twist Senora
- Jimmy Soul — Twistin’ Matilda
- Dee Dee Sharp — Gravy
🎵 #91–100
- Jimmy Smith — Walk On The Wild Side
- King Curtis — Soul Twist
- Bobby Rydell — I’ll Never Dance Again
- The Ikettes — I’m Blue
- The Kingston Trio — Where Have All The Flowers Gone
- Eddie Hodges — (Girls, Girls, Girls) Were Made To Love
- Gene Pitney — Town Without Pity
- Peter, Paul and Mary — If I Had A Hammer
- Ronnie and The Hi-Lites — I Wish That We Were Married
- The Beach Boys — Surfin’ Safari
🎶 What were your favorite hits from 1962?
Did your favorite song land in the Top 10, or was it one of the hidden gems further down the list? We’d love to hear your memories! Share your favorite songs from 1962 in the comments below and join the conversation with fellow music lovers here at WTSG-DB.
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