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List of Billboard Middle-Road Singles number ones of 1962

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A dark-skinned man wearing dark glasses playing the piano
Ray Charles had two number ones in 1962, both from his album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music.

In 1962, Billboard magazine published a chart ranking the top-performing songs in the United States which were considered to be "easy listening" or "middle of the road". The chart has undergone various name changes and since 1996 has been published under the title Adult Contemporary.[1] Until 1965, the listing was compiled simply by extracting from Billboard's pop music chart, the Hot 100, those songs which were deemed by the magazine's staff to be of an appropriate style, and ranking them according to their positions on the Hot 100.[2] In 1962, 15 different songs topped the chart in 52 issues of the magazine. The chart was published under the title Easy Listening through the issue of Billboard dated October 27, after which it was renamed Middle-Road Singles.[1]

Ray Charles was the only artist with more than one number one in 1962. He reached the top with two tracks from his album Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music, which is considered to have been an innovative and highly influential record for its fusion of genres.[3][4][5] "I Can't Stop Loving You" and "You Don't Know Me" spent a total of eight weeks in the top spot, the most for any artist. The former song also reached number one on the Hot 100,[6] as well as the Hot R&B Sides chart.[7] When Connie Francis reached number one with "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You" in March, she became the first act to top the Easy Listening chart twice, having spent a single week in the top spot in 1961 with "Together".[8]

The longest unbroken run at number one on the Easy Listening/Middle-Road chart in 1962 was achieved by Acker Bilk, who spent seven consecutive weeks atop the listing with the instrumental "Stranger on the Shore". The track also reached number one on the Hot 100, the first time this feat had been achieved by a British artist.[9] Bilk was one of two British band leaders associated with an early 1960s revival in the popularity of trad jazz to top the Easy Listening/Middle-Road chart in 1962;[10] his number one came a month after Kenny Ball spent three weeks at number one with "Midnight in Moscow". Ball was one of a number of acts with an Easy Listening/Middle-Road number one in 1962 who never topped the Hot 100 during their careers,[11] along with the Lettermen, Burl Ives, Frank Ifield and Gene Pitney.[12] In addition to "I Can't Stop Loving You" and "Stranger on the Shore", three other songs which topped the Easy Listening/Middle-Road chart in 1962 also reached the peak position on the Hot 100. "The Stripper" by David Rose and "Roses Are Red (My Love)" by Bobby Vinton achieved the feat during July and August.[13] The final Middle-Road number one of the year, "Go Away Little Girl" by Steve Lawrence, topped the Hot 100 early the following year.[13]

Chart history

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A bearded man wearing a bowler hat and waistcoat playing a clarinet under a spotlight
British clarinet player Acker Bilk reached number one with "Stranger on the Shore", which also topped the Hot 100.
A dark-haired young man
"Roses Are Red (My Love)" was a chart-topper for Bobby Vinton.
A dark-haired man and a dark-haired woman, both smiling broadly
Steve Lawrence (pictured with Eydie Gormé) ended the year at number one.
Chart history
Issue date Title Artist(s) Ref.
January 6 "When I Fall in Love" The Lettermen [14]
January 13 "Can't Help Falling in Love" Elvis Presley [15]
January 20 [16]
January 27 [17]
February 3 [18]
February 10 [19]
February 17 [20]
February 24 "A Little Bitty Tear" Burl Ives [21]
March 3 "Midnight in Moscow" Kenny Ball and his Jazzmen [22]
March 10 [23]
March 17 [24]
March 24 "Don't Break the Heart That Loves You" Connie Francis [25]
March 31 [26]
April 7 [27]
April 14 [28]
April 21 "Stranger on the Shore" Acker Bilk [29]
April 28 [30]
May 5 [31]
May 12 [32]
May 19 [33]
May 26 [34]
June 2 [35]
June 9 "I Can't Stop Loving You" Ray Charles [36]
June 16 [37]
June 23 [38]
June 30 [39]
July 7 "The Stripper" David Rose [40]
July 14 [41]
July 21 "I Can't Stop Loving You" Ray Charles [42]
July 28 "Roses Are Red (My Love)" Bobby Vinton [43]
August 4 [44]
August 11 [45]
August 18 [46]
August 25 "You Don't Know Me" Ray Charles [47]
September 1 [48]
September 8 [49]
September 15 "Ramblin' Rose" Nat King Cole [50]
September 22 [51]
September 29 [52]
October 6 [53]
October 13 [54]
October 20 "I Remember You" Frank Ifield [55]
October 27 "Only Love Can Break a Heart" Gene Pitney [56]
November 3 [57]
November 10 "All Alone Am I" Brenda Lee [58]
November 17 [59]
November 24 [60]
December 1 [61]
December 8 [62]
December 15 "Go Away Little Girl" Steve Lawrence [63]
December 22 [64]
December 29 [65]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Whitburn 2002, p. 6.
  2. ^ Whitburn 2007, p. vi.
  3. ^ Cook, Stephen. "Modern Sounds in Country and Western Music". AllMusic. Archived from the original on November 9, 2018. Retrieved November 9, 2018.
  4. ^ Hughes 2015, p. 36.
  5. ^ Weiner, Natalie (February 23, 2019). "Modern Sounds in Country & Western Music Volumes 1 & 2". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on January 23, 2024. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
  6. ^ Whitburn 2005, p. 121.
  7. ^ Whitburn 2004, p. 113.
  8. ^ Whitburn 2002, p. 341.
  9. ^ Breihan, Tom (April 24, 2018). "The Number Ones: Mr. Acker Bilk's "Stranger On The Shore"". Stereogum. Archived from the original on November 12, 2018. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
  10. ^ Byrnes, Sholto (January 28, 2005). "Talking Jazz". The Independent. Archived from the original on November 12, 2018. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
  11. ^ Whitburn 2005, p. 36.
  12. ^ Whitburn 2005, pp. 332, 340, 407, 549.
  13. ^ a b Whitburn 2005, p. 988.
  14. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 6, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 8, 2018.
  15. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 13, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 21, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  16. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 20, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  17. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for January 27, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  18. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 3, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  19. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 10, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  20. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 17, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  21. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for February 24, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  22. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 3, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  23. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 10, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  24. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 17, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  25. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 24, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  26. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for March 31, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  27. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 7, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  28. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 14, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  29. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 21, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  30. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for April 28, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 26, 2020. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  31. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 5, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  32. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 12, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  33. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 19, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  34. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for May 26, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  35. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 2, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  36. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 9, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  37. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 16, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  38. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 23, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  39. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for June 30, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
  40. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 7, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  41. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 14, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  42. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 21, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  43. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for July 28, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  44. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 4, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  45. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 11, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  46. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 18, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  47. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for August 25, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  48. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 1, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  49. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 8, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  50. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 15, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  51. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 22, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  52. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for September 29, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  53. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 6, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  54. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 13, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  55. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 20, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  56. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for October 27, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  57. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 3, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  58. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 10, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  59. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 17, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  60. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for November 24, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  61. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 1, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  62. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 8, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  63. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 15, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on October 23, 2020. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  64. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 22, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2018.
  65. ^ "Adult Contemporary chart for December 29, 1962". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 27, 2019. Retrieved November 13, 2018.

Works cited

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