The Essential Songs of 1961 reflect the end of an era. By 1962, a producer named Phil Spector started working with The Crystals and a band in England solidified their line-up by putting Ringo Starr behind the drum kit. In the meantime, Ben E. King had two chart toppers after leaving the Drifters, Patsy Cline added another classic to her repertoire, and Etta James continued her string of Top 5 R&B hits.
At Last, Etta James
Baby It’s You, The Shirelles
Blue Moon, The Marcels
Can’t Help Falling in Love, Elvis Presley
Come On – Chuck Berry
Crying, Roy Orbison
Cupid, Sam Cooke
Dedicated to the One I Love, The Shirelles
Diggy Liggy Lo, Rusty and Doug
Hello Walls, Faron Young
Hit the Road Jack, Ray Charles
I Fall to Pieces, Patsy Cline
It Will Stand, The Showmen
Little Sister, Elvis Presley
The Lion Sleeps Tonight, The Tokens
Mama Said, The Shirelles
My Favorite Things, John Coltrane
Please Mr. Postman, The Marvalettes
Quarter to Three, Gary U.S. Bonds
Runaround Sue, Dion
Runaway, Del Shannon
Running Scared, Roy Orbison
Spanish Harlem, Ben E. King
Stand by Me, Ben E. King
Take Five, Dave Brubeck
Tender Years, George Jones
Travelin’ Man, Ricky Nelson
Trust in Me, Etta James
Turn on Your Love Light, Bobby Bland
Walk on By, Leroy Van Dyke
Walk Right Back, The Everly Brothers
The Wanderer, Dion
Ya Ya, Lee Dorsey
You Don’t Miss Your Water, William Bell
The Essential Songs Of An Essential Decade: 1961
