1961

The following is a list of the number-one singles (main sides only) in the U.S. in 1961, based on a comparison between its three main charts at the time, from Billboard, Cash Box and Music Vendor magazines.
Issue date 	Song 	Artist(s)
January 2 	"Wonderland by Night" 	Bert Kaempfert
January 9 	"Wonderland by Night" 	Bert Kaempfert
January 16 	"Exodus" 	Ferrante & Teicher
January 23 	"Calcutta" 	Lawrence Welk
January 30 	"Will You Love Me Tomorrow"	The Shirelles
February 6 	"Calcutta" 	Lawrence Welk
February 13 	"Calcutta" 	Lawrence Welk
February 20 	"Calcutta" 	Lawrence Welk
February 27 	"Calcutta" 	Lawrence Welk
March 6 	"Pony Time" 	Chubby Checker
March 13 	"Surrender" 	Elvis Presley
March 20 	"Surrender" 	Elvis Presley
March 27 	"Blue Moon" 	The Marcels
April 3 	"Blue Moon" 	The Marcels
April 10 	"Blue Moon" 	The Marcels
April 17 	"Runaway" 	Del Shannon
April 24 	"Runaway" 	Del Shannon
May 1 	"Runaway" 	Del Shannon
May 8 	"Runaway" 	Del Shannon
May 15 	"Runaway" 	Del Shannon
May 22 	"Mother-in-Law" 	Ernie K-Doe
May 29 	"Travelin' Man" 	Ricky Nelson
June 5 	"Travelin' Man" 	Ricky Nelson
June 12 	"Travelin' Man" 	Ricky Nelson
June 19 	"Travelin' Man" 	Ricky Nelson
June 26 	"Quarter to Three" 	Gary U.S. Bonds
July 3 	"Quarter to Three" 	Gary U.S. Bonds
July 10 	"Quarter to Three" 	Gary U.S. Bonds
July 17 	"Tossin' and Turnin'" 	Bobby Lewis
July 24 	"Tossin' and Turnin'" 	Bobby Lewis
July 31 	"Tossin' and Turnin'" 	Bobby Lewis
August 7 	"Tossin' and Turnin'" 	Bobby Lewis
August 14 	"Tossin' and Turnin'" 	Bobby Lewis
August 21 	"Michael" 	The Highwaymen
August 28 	"Michael" 	The Highwaymen
September 4 	"Michael" 	The Highwaymen
September 11	"Michael" 	The Highwaymen
September 18	"Take Good Care of My Baby"	Bobby Vee
September 25	"Take Good Care of My Baby"	Bobby Vee
October 2 	"Crying" 	Roy Orbison
October 9 	"Hit the Road Jack" 	Ray Charles
October 16 	"Runaround Sue" 	Dion
October 23 	"Runaround Sue" 	Dion
October 30 	"Big Bad John" 	Jimmy Dean
November 6 	"Big Bad John" 	Jimmy Dean
November 13 	"Big Bad John" 	Jimmy Dean
November 20 	"Big Bad John" 	Jimmy Dean
November 27 	"Big Bad John" 	Jimmy Dean
December 4 	"Big Bad John" 	Jimmy Dean
December 11 	"The Lion Sleeps Tonight" 	The Tokens
December 18 	"The Lion Sleeps Tonight" 	The Tokens
December 25 	"The Lion Sleeps Tonight" 	The Tokens