Wikipedia

List of Billboard Hot 100 number ones of 1962

The Billboard Hot 100 is a chart published since August 1958 by Billboard magazine which ranks the best-performing singles in the United States.[1] In 1962, it was compiled based on a combination of sales and airplay data sourced from surveys of retail outlets and playlists submitted by radio stations respectively,[1] and 21 different singles spent time at number one.

The singer Chubby Checker at an airport with his wife
Chubby Checker (pictured with his wife Catharina Lodders in 1964) took his song "The Twist", a number one in 1960, back to the top spot in 1962.

On the chart dated January 6, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" by the Tokens was at number one, retaining its position from the previous week.[2] A week later, Chubby Checker took the top spot with "The Twist". The single had topped the Hot 100 in September 1960,[3] but had been re-released following a fresh surge in the popularity of the twist, the dance craze for which it was named.[4] It was the first time that a single which had previously reached number one returned to the top spot as part of a second distinct chart run;[5] this did not occur again until 2020.[6] Two weeks later, Checker's song was displaced from the top spot by another twist-related song, "Peppermint Twist" by Joey Dee and the Starliters. Dee's single was followed in the top spot by "Duke of Earl" by Gene Chandler and "Hey! Baby" by Bruce Channel; all three were the first and only number one for their act.[7] Shelley Fabares, one of the stars of TV's The Donna Reed Show, gained her sole number one in April with "Johnny Angel",[8] which was featured on an episode of the ABC show.[9] In May, the jazz clarinettist Mr. Acker Bilk topped the chart with "Stranger on the Shore"; it was his first U.S number one[10] and the first Hot 100 chart-topper by a British act.[11][a] A second British act, the Tornados, reached number one for the first time in December with "Telstar".[13]

Eight consecutive number ones between July and November were by first time chart-toppers. In July, the composer and orchestra leader David Rose, who had charted in the pre-Hot 100 era as early as 1944, gained his first number one with "The Stripper", his final chart entry;[14] in contrast Bobby Vinton reached number one with his first charting single, "Roses Are Red (My Love)".[15] Neil Sedaka, Little Eva, and Tommy Roe all topped the chart for the first time in August and September.[16] The Four Seasons had their first number one in September with "Sherry",[17] which spent five weeks at number one. Just a month after the song exited the top spot, they were back at number one with "Big Girls Don't Cry", which also spent five weeks atop the Hot 100. The two songs tied with "I Can't Stop Loving You" by Ray Charles for the year's longest-running number one. The Four Seasons were the only act with more than one number one in 1962 and their total of 10 weeks in the top spot was the most achieved by any act. Between the Four Seasons' two number ones, Bobby "Boris" Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers gained their only chart-topper with the Halloween-themed novelty song "Monster Mash" and the Crystals topped the chart for the first time with "He's a Rebel".[18] Despite the credit on the label, none of the members of the Crystals actually performed on the song.[19] Their producer, Phil Spector, decided to rush-release a version of the song after learning of the impending release of a competing version but, with the group unavailable, used session singers the Blossoms while still crediting the single to the Crystals.[20] Both "I Can't Stop Loving You" and "He's a Rebel" have been included in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[21][22]

Chart history

edit
The singer Neil Sedaka
Neil Sedaka (pictured in 1971) had his first chart-topper with "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do".
The singer Gene Chandler
"Duke of Earl" was the first number one for Gene Chandler (pictured in 1997).
The singer Shelley Fabares
Shelley Fabares (pictured in 1991) reached number one with "Johnny Angel".
Chart history
No.[b] Issue date Title Artist(s) Ref.
63 January 6 "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" The Tokens [2]
35 (re) January 13 "The Twist" Chubby Checker [23]
January 20 [24]
64 January 27 "Peppermint Twist" Joey Dee and the Starliters [25]
February 3 [26]
February 10 [27]
65 February 17 "Duke of Earl" Gene Chandler [28]
February 24 [29]
March 3 [30]
66 March 10 "Hey! Baby" Bruce Channel [31]
March 17 [32]
March 24 [33]
67 March 31 "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You" Connie Francis [34]
68 April 7 "Johnny Angel" Shelley Fabares [35]
April 14 [36]
69 April 21 "Good Luck Charm" Elvis Presley [37]
April 28 [38]
70 May 5 "Soldier Boy" The Shirelles [39]
May 12 [40]
May 19 [41]
71 May 26 "Stranger on the Shore" Mr. Acker Bilk [42]
72 June 2 "I Can't Stop Loving You" Ray Charles [43]
June 9 [44]
June 16 [45]
June 23 [46]
June 30 [47]
73 July 7 "The Stripper" David Rose [48]
74 July 14 "Roses Are Red (My Love)" Bobby Vinton [49]
July 21 [50]
July 28 [51]
August 4 [52]
75 August 11 "Breaking Up Is Hard to Do" Neil Sedaka [53]
August 18 [54]
76 August 25 "The Loco-Motion" Little Eva [55]
77 September 1 "Sheila" Tommy Roe [56]
September 8 [57]
78 September 15 "Sherry" The Four Seasons [58]
September 22 [59]
September 29 [60]
October 6 [61]
October 13 [62]
79 October 20 "Monster Mash" Bobby "Boris" Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers [63]
October 27 [64]
80 November 3 "He's a Rebel" The Crystals [65]
November 10 [66]
81 November 17 "Big Girls Don't Cry" The Four Seasons [67]
November 24 [68]
December 1 [69]
December 8 [70]
December 15 [71]
82 December 22 "Telstar" The Tornados [72]
December 29 [73]

Number-one artists

edit

See also

edit

Notes

edit
  1. ↑ In the pre-rock and roll era, the British singer Vera Lynn (accompanied by the Soldiers and Airmen of Her Majesty's Forces and the Johnny Johnston Singers) reached number one in 1952 on the separate sales, airplay, and jukebox play charts published by Billboard before the creation of the Hot 100.[12]
  2. ↑ The "No." column indicates the numerical sequence of number ones in Hot 100 history. "Re" indicates a single returning to number one.[3]

References

edit
  1. 1 2 Whitburn 2005, p. xii.
  2. 1 2 "Hot 100: January 6, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  3. 1 2 Whitburn 2005, p. 987.
  4. ↑ Hoffmann 2016, p. 225.
  5. ↑ Whitburn 2005, p. 124.
  6. ↑ Pedersen, Erik (December 21, 2021). "'All I Want For Christmas' Is A No. 1 Single: Mariah Carey Gets Her Wish – Again". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  7. ↑ Whitburn 2005, pp. 118, 119, 182.
  8. ↑ Whitburn 2005, p. 234.
  9. ↑ Breihan, Tom (April 19, 2018). "The Number Ones: Shelly Fabares' "Johnny Angel"". Stereogum. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  10. ↑ Whitburn 2005, p. 58.
  11. ↑ Dalla Riva 2025, p. 139.
  12. ↑ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". The Billboard. August 9, 1952. pp. 26, 30, 32, 36. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  13. ↑ Whitburn 2005, p. 718.
  14. ↑ Whitburn 2005, p. 606.
  15. ↑ Whitburn 2005, p. 745.
  16. ↑ Whitburn 2005, pp. 416, 600, 626.
  17. ↑ Whitburn 2005, p. 258.
  18. ↑ Whitburn 2005, pp. 164, 547.
  19. ↑ Browne, David (June 20, 2013). "Darlene Love: Let Love Rule". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on November 14, 2025. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  20. ↑ Breihan, Tom (May 7, 2018). "The Number Ones: The Crystals' "He's A Rebel"". Stereogum. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  21. ↑ "500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 300 –251". Rolling Stone. December 11, 2003. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  22. ↑ "500 Greatest Songs of All Time: 200 –151". Rolling Stone. December 11, 2003. Archived from the original on June 22, 2008. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  23. ↑ "Hot 100: January 13, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 5, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  24. ↑ "Hot 100: January 20, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  25. ↑ "Hot 100: January 27, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  26. ↑ "Hot 100: February 3, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  27. ↑ "Hot 100: February 10, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  28. ↑ "Hot 100: February 17, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Hot 100: February 24, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  30. ↑ "Hot 100: March 3, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  31. ↑ "Hot 100: March 10, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  32. ↑ "Hot 100: March 17, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  33. ↑ "Hot 100: March 24, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  34. ↑ "Hot 100: March 31, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  35. ↑ "Hot 100: April 7, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  36. ↑ "Hot 100: April 14, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  37. ↑ "Hot 100: April 21, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  38. ↑ "Hot 100: April 28, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  39. ↑ "Hot 100: May 5, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  40. ↑ "Hot 100: May 12, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  41. ↑ "Hot 100: May 19, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  42. ↑ "Hot 100: May 26, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  43. ↑ "Hot 100: June 2, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  44. ↑ "Hot 100: June 9, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  45. ↑ "Hot 100: June 16, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  46. ↑ "Hot 100: June 23, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  47. ↑ "Hot 100: June 30, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  48. ↑ "Hot 100: July 7, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  49. ↑ "Hot 100: July 14, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  50. ↑ "Hot 100: July 21, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  51. ↑ "Hot 100: July 28, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  52. ↑ "Hot 100: August 4, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  53. ↑ "Hot 100: August 11, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  54. ↑ "Hot 100: August 18, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  55. ↑ "Hot 100: August 25, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  56. ↑ "Hot 100: September 1, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  57. ↑ "Hot 100: September 8, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  58. ↑ "Hot 100: September 15, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  59. ↑ "Hot 100: September 22, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  60. ↑ "Hot 100: September 29, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  61. ↑ "Hot 100: October 6, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  62. ↑ "Hot 100: October 13, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  63. ↑ "Hot 100: October 20, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  64. ↑ "Hot 100: October 27, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  65. ↑ "Hot 100: November 3, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  66. ↑ "Hot 100: November 10, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  67. ↑ "Hot 100: November 17, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  68. ↑ "Hot 100: November 24, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  69. ↑ "Hot 100: December 1, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  70. ↑ "Hot 100: December 8, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  71. ↑ "Hot 100: December 15, 1962". Billboard. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  72. ↑ "Hot 100: December 22, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on December 28, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.
  73. ↑ "Hot 100: December 29, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 19, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2026.

Works cited

edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Billboard_Hot_100_number_ones_of_1962&oldid=1354719738"