Top 100 songs for November 6, 1961
This weekly snapshot follows the songs and artists competing across the Billboard Hot 100. Open any entry for its full chart history, or explore 1961 and the 1960s.
This week’s No. 1 is “Big Bad John” by Jimmy Dean. Meanwhile, “In The Middle Of A Heartache” by Wanda Jackson rises from No. 82 to No. 54. 11 songs are listed in their first chart week.
See debuts and biggest movers
This week’s chart highlights
Biggest climbers
- In The Middle Of A Heartache — Wanda Jacksonup 28 places, No. 82 → No. 54
- Let There Be Drums — Sandy Nelsonup 25 places, No. 94 → No. 69
- Goodbye Cruel World — James Darrenup 21 places, No. 48 → No. 27
New to this week’s Top 10
- Fool #1 — Brenda LeeNo. 5
- Tower Of Strength — Gene McDanielsNo. 10
New to this week’s Top 40
- Crazy — Patsy ClineNo. 26
- Goodbye Cruel World — James DarrenNo. 27
- School Is In — Gary U.S. BondsNo. 32
- September In The Rain — Dinah WashingtonNo. 38
- I Wanna Thank You — Bobby RydellNo. 39
- God, Country And My Baby — Johnny BurnetteNo. 40
First-week entries
- Your Ma Said You Cried In Your Sleep Last Night — Kenny DinoNo. 77
- Smile — Timi YuroNo. 80
- Tonight — Eddie FisherNo. 82
- Fly By Night — Andy WilliamsNo. 88
- Language Of Love — John D. LoudermilkNo. 92
- I Cried My Last Tear — Ernie K-DoeNo. 93
- It's Too Soon To Know — Etta JamesNo. 94
- The Gypsy Rover — The HighwaymenNo. 95
- Steps 1 And 2 — Jack ScottNo. 98
- Just Because — The McGuire SistersNo. 99
- Losing Your Love — Jim ReevesNo. 100
First-week entries have one recorded chart week. Climbs and Top 10/Top 40 arrivals use recorded previous positions for consecutive chart weeks; returning songs without a previous position are not classified as debuts.