1960s #1 Singles #1 Albums

1960s #1 Singles #1 Albums

1960s #1 Singles #1 Albums

The following lists and examples show how popular music evolved during the 1960s. More artists began to write and sing their own songs and, of course, the style and content of popular music changed.

Having said that, notice the lack of Grammy awards for the new voices, the new perspectives, particularly of those who would go on to play at the Woodstock Music and Art Fair. They are seldom seen on top lists and rarely recognized with a Grammy.

To view a list, click the green link and a new page will appear. An asterisk (*) next to a song writer indicates the performer wrote the song as well.

1960

List of 1960 #1 songs: 3 of 20 [15%] were written/co-written by the artist.

Grammy Record of the Year and top selling single of the year. The Theme From A Summer Place Percy Faith

Grammy Song of the Year Theme From Exodus Ernest Gold, songwriter.
Grammy Album of the Year The Button-Down Mind Of Bob Newhart Bob Newhart

Billboard #1 album of 1960: Original Cast, The Sound of Music

1960s #1 Singles #1 Albums

1961

List of 1961 #1 songs: 4 of 22 (18%) were written/co-written by the artist.

Grammy Record of the Year & Grammy Song of the Year Moon River Henry Mancini

Top selling single of 1961: Tossin’ and Turnin’  by Bobby Lewis

List of 1961 #1 albums

Grammy Album of the Year Judy At Carnegie Hall Judy Garland

Billboard #1 album of 1961: Original Cast, Camelot

1961 other important albums

1960s #1 Singles #1 Albums

1962

List of 1962 #1 songs: 5 of 21 (24%) were written/co-written by the artist.

Grammy Record of the Year I Left My Heart In San Francisco Tony Bennett

Grammy Song of the Year What Kind Of Fool Am I Anthony Newley & Leslie Bricusse, songwriters.

Top-selling single of  1962: Acker Bilk, Stranger on the Shore

List of 1962 #1 albums

Grammy Album of the Year  The First Family Vaughn Meader

Billboard #1 album of 1962: Soundtrack, West Side Story

1962 other important albums

1960s #1 Singles #1 Albums

1963

List of 1963 #1 songs1 of 21(4%) were written/co-written by the  artist.

Grammy Record of the Year & Grammy Song of the Year Days Of Wine And Roses Henry Mancini

Top-selling single of 1963: Jimmy Gillmer and the Fireballs, Sugar Shack

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHzjfGF6MiU

List of 1963 #1 albums

Grammy Album of the  Year The Barbra Streisand Album Barbra Streisand

Billboard #1 album of 1963: Soundtrack, West Side Story

1963 other important albums:

1960s #1 Singles #1 Albums

1964

List of 1964 #1 songs9 of 24 (37.5 %) were written/co-written by the artist

Grammy Record of the Year The Girl From Ipanema Astrud Gilberto & Stan Getz

Grammy Song of the Year Hello, Dolly! Jerry Herman, songwriter.

Top-selling single of 1964: The Beatles, I Want to Hold Your Hand

List of Billboard #1 albums 1964

Grammy  Album of the Year Getz/Gilberto João Gilberto & Stan Getz

Billboard #1 album of 1964:  Original Cast, Hello Dolly

1964 other important albums

1960s #1 Singles #1 Albums

1965

List of 1965 #1 songs9 of 27 (33.3 %) were written/co-written by the artist.

Grammy Record of the Year A Taste Of Honey Herb Alpert

Grammy Song of the Year The Shadow Of Your Smile (Love Theme From “The Sandpiper”) Johnny Mandel & Paul Francis Webster, songwriters.

Top-selling single of 1965 (even though it never reached #1): Sam the Sham and the PharaohsWooly Bully

List of 1965 #1 albums

Grammy Album of the Year September Of My Years Frank Sinatra

Billboard #1 album of 1965: Soundtrack, Mary Poppins

1965 other important albums

1960s #1 Singles #1 Albums

1966

List of 1966 #1 songs10 of 26 (38%) were written/co-written by the artist.

Grammy Record of the Year Strangers In The Night Frank Sinatra

Grammy Song of the Year Michelle John Lennon & Paul McCartney

Top-selling single of 1966: Barry Sadler, Balled of the Green Berets

List of 1966 #1 albums

Grammy Album of the Year A Man And His Music Frank Sinatra

Billboard #1 album of 1966: Herb Albert & the Tijuana Brass, Whipped Cream and Other Delights.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VGSzdftTI4

1966 other important albums

1960s #1 Singles #1 Albums

1967

List of 1967 #1 songs: 8 of 19 (44%) were written/co-written by the artist.

Grammy Record of the Year & Grammy Song of the Year Up, Up And Away 5th Dimension

Top-selling single of 1967: Lulu, To Sir With Love

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTapoA5RQyo

List of 1967 #1 albums

Grammy Album of the Year Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band Beatles

Billboard #1 album of 1967: The Monkees, More of the Monkees

1967 other important albums

1960s #1 Singles #1 Albums

1968

List of 1968 #1 songs8 of 16 (50%) were written/co-written by the artist.

Grammy Record of the Year Mrs. Robinson Simon And Garfunkel

Grammy Song of the Year Little Green Apples Bobby Russell, songwriter.

Top-selling single of 1968: The Beatles, Hey Jude

List of 1968 #1 albums

Grammy Album of the Year By The Time I Get To Phoenix Glen Campbell

Billboard #1 album of 1968:  Jimi Hendrix Experience, Are You Experienced?

1968 other important albums

1960s #1 Singles #1 Albums

1969

List of 1969 #1 songs: 8 of 17 (47%) were written/co-written by the artist.

Grammy Record of the Year Aquarius/Let The Sunshine In (the Flesh Failures) 5th Dimension

Grammy Song of the Year Games People Play Joe South

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5znh58WITU8

Top-selling single of 1969: The Archies, Sugar, Sugar

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRenOZQMbHo

List of 1969 #1 albums

Grammy Album of the Year Blood, Sweat And Tears Blood, Sweat And Tears

Billboard #1 album of 1969: Iron Butterfly, In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida 

1969 other important albums

1960s #1 Singles #1 Albums