Top 100 Instrumentals 1960-1969

The Decade With The Most Instrumentals

Percy Faith Theme From A Summer Place #1 Single For Decade
Percy Faith Theme From A Summer Place #1 Single For Decade

The top 100 instrumentals 1960-1969, will bring some surprises on the songs that made this chart. This decade saw the most instrumentals to chart in history with 559 songs that made the charts in this era. Some of these songs were background music for some famous TV commercials.

Music fans of all eras would be interested is discovering the most popular instrumental of this decade.

You can review the other top 100 instrumental charts for 1940’s, 1950’s, and 1970’s.

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We have just completed the best-selling instrumentals of the sixties where you can learn more about the top ten songs and the artists that recording them.

Interesting Facts & Trends of This Decade

  • In 1960, John F. Kennedy is elected president in a close election. Trampolines become a popular plaything, with jump centers opening in many cities. Two all-time comedy series debut: “The Andy Griffith Show”, and “The Dick Van Dyke Show”.  The Flintstones is the first cartoon series to run in prime time. The Xerox 914 copier begins a revolution in paperwork reproduction.
  • In 1961, The Peace Corps is created. Yo-yos are the year’s biggest selling toy. The most popular TV shows: “Wagon Train”, “Bonanza”, “Gunsmoke”, “Perry Mason” & “The Red Skelton Show”.
  • In 1962, John Glenn becomes the first American to orbit the earth. Telstar I is launched. Prayer is unconstitutional in schools. Walter Cronkite becomes anchorman of the CBS Evening News. Johnny Carson begins to reign as host of “The Tonight Show” on NBC.
  • 45 RPM Paul Mauriat Love Is Blue #2 Single of Decade
    45 RPM Paul Mauriat Love Is Blue #2 Single of Decade

    In 1963, John F. Kennedy is assassinated in Dallas. Gordon Cooper makes 22 orbits of the earth for a record. Polaroid introduces 60-second color prints. CBS and NBC expand nightly news telecasts to 30 minutes.

  • In 1964, Lyndon Johnson wins the election in a landslide over Barry Goldwater. The Warren Commission concludes that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone in the assassination of JFK. The Surgeon General finds conclusive link between cigarette smoking and lung cancer. Beatlemaina sweeps America and the world. See-through blouses and topless swimsuits are scandalous new fashions. The Ford Mustang is the most popular car of the era.
  • In 1965, The Voting Rights Act is approved by congress. Malcolm X is shot to death in New York. The Medicare program for seniors becomes law. The ultra-resilient Super Ball is the biggest toy fad since the Hula Hoop. Skateboarding is in the midst of its first wave of national popularity.
  • In 1966, The use of LSD becomes a national concern. A sniper atop the tower at the University of Texas kills 12 and wounds 31. Mini-skirts are the fashion rage in the US. Colorful mod clothes for men become fashionable. Star Trek debuts in the fall.
  • In 1967, Thurgood Marshall becomes the first black U.S. Supreme Court Justice. Gus Grissom, Edward White & Roger Chaffee die when their Apollo spacecraft burns in a simulated launch. Posters—ranging from pop art, humor and movie stars to political protest—burst into national popularity.
  • In 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. is assassinated in Memphis. Senator RFK is fatally shot in Los Angeles after winning the California Democratic primary. Nixon wins the election. Apollo 8 flight to the moon and around it is successful.
  • In 1969, Neil Armstrong is the first human to set foot on the moon. The sale of birth control pills rises to 1.5 billion from 9 million in 1960. Protests against the Vietnam War are spreading throughout the country. Charles Manson murders Sharon Tate and six others. Sesame Street sets a new standard for children’s programming.
Bill Black's Combo Artist With Most Charted Singles
Bill Black’s Combo Artist With Most Charted Singles

Trivia Notes About The Top 100 Songs

  • The year of 1961 has the most songs on the chart with 19.
  • The year of 1967 has the least number of songs on the chart with 5.
  • There were only 9 songs that peaked at the #1 position.
  • The artist with the most songs on the chart is Bill Black’s Combo with 6.
  • There were a total of 73 different artists that have a song on the chart.
  • There were three songs that tied for longevity Exodus #14, Stranger On The Shore #8, with 21 weeks on the chart.
  • For a song to make the top 10, it had to peak at position #2 or higher.
  • For a song to make the top 40, it had to peak at Position #7 or higher.
  • For a song to make the top 100 chart, it had to peak at position #22 or higher.
  • There were a total of 559 instrumentals to make the charts from 1960-1969, which is the most of any decade.

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The Top 100 Instrumentals 1960-1969

Below are the top 100 instrumentals for the sixties. We have provided the rank, title, artist, peak position #, peak weeks (), year of release.

Rank  Title/Artist /Peak Position / Peak Weeks / Year Released

  1. The Theme From A Summer Place / Percy Faith #1 (9) 1960
  2. Love Is Blue / Paul Maurit #1 (5) 1968
  3. Wonderland By Night / Bert Keampfert #1 (3) 1961
  4. Telstar / Tornadoes #1 (3) 1962
  5. Calcutta / Lawrence Welk #1 (2) 1961
  6. Love Theme From Romeo & Juliet / Henry Mancini #1 (2) 1969
  7. Grazing In The Grass / Hugh Masekela #1 (2) 1968
  8. Stranger On The Shore / Acker Bilk #1 (1) 1962
  9. The Stripper / David Rose #1 (1) 1962
  10. Last Date / Floyd Cramer #2 (4) 1960
  11. The Horse / Cliff Nobles & Co. #2 (3) 1968
  12. Classical Gas / Mason Williams #2 (2) 1968
  13. 60's Instrumental Hits Album CoverApache / Jorgen Ingmann #2 (2) 1961
  14. Exodus / Ferrante & Teicher #2 (1) 1961
  15. Walk Don’t Run / The Ventures #2 (1) 1960
  16. The Good, The Bad, The Ugly / Hugo Monenegro #2 (1) 1968
  17. Midnight In Moscow / Kenny Ball #2 (1) 1962
  18. Washington Square / The Village Stompers #2 (1) 1963
  19. Wipeout / The Surfaris #2 (1) 1963
  20. Wheels / The String-A-Longs #3 (2) 1961
  21. Last Night / The Mar-Keys #3 (2) 1961
  22. Out Of Limits / The Marketts #3 (2) 1964
  23. Green Onions / Booker T. & The MG’s #3 (1) 1962
  24. No Matter What Shape / The T-Bones #3 (1) 1966
  25. Soulful Strut / Young-Holt Limited #3 (1) 1969
  26. Pipeline / The Chanty’s #4 (2) 1963
  27. Because They’re Young / Duane Eddy #4 (2) 1960
  28. Java / Al Hurt #4 (1) 1964
  29. On The Rebound / Floyd Cramer #4 (1) 1961
  30. Yellow Bird / Arthur Lyman #4 (1) 1961
  31. Hawaii Five-O / The Ventures #4 (1) 1969
  32. The “In” Crowd / Ramsey Lewis Trio #5 (1) 1965
  33. Memphis / Lonnie Mack #5 (1) 1963
  34. Time Is Tight / Booker T. & The MG’s #6 (2) 1969
  35. Maria Elena / Los Indois Tabajaras #6 (1) 1963
  36. The Lonely Bull / Herb Alpert #6 (1) 1962
  37. Taste Of Honey / Herb Alpert #7 (2) 1965
  38. Alley Cat / Bent Fabric #7 (1) 1962
  39. Let There Be Drums / Sandy Nelson #7 (1) 1961
  40. Mexico / Bob Moore #7 (1) 1961
  41. One Mint Julep / Ray Charles #7 (1) 1961
  42. Walk Don’t Run 64 / The Ventures #8 (2) 1964
  43. More / Kai Winding #8 (1) 1963
  44. Wild Weekend / The Rebels #8 (1) 1963
  45. Asia Minor / Kokomo #8 (1) 1961
  46. Tonight / Ferrante & Teicher #8 (1) 1961
  47. San Antonio Rose / Floyd Cramer #8 (1) 1961
  48. Hang ‘Em High / Booker T. & The MG’s #9 (2) 1969
  49. White Silver Sands / Bill Black’s Combo #9 (1) 1960
  50. Our Winter Love / Bill Pursell #9 (1) 1963
  51. Theme From The Apartment / Ferrante & Teicher #10 (3) 1960
  52. Watermelon Man / Mongo Santamaria #10 (2) 1963
  53. Caste Your Fate To The Wind / Sounds Orchestra #10 (1) 1965
  54. Rinky Dink / Dave “Baby” Cortez #10 (1) 1962
  55. Percolator (Twist) / Billy Joel & The Checkmates #10 (1) 1962
  56. Red Roses For A Blue Lady / Bert Keampfert #11 (2) 1965
  57. Mercy, Mercy, Mercy / Cannonball Adderley #11 (2) 1967
  58. Hang On Sloopy / Ramsey Lewis Trio #11 (2) 1965
  59. Don’t Be Cruel / Bill Black’s Combo #11 (1) 1960
  60. Zorba The Greek / Herb Alpert #11 (1) 1966
  61. A Walk Through The Black Forest / Horst Jankowski #12 (1) 1965
  62. Quentin’s Theme / Charles Randolph Grean Sounde #13  (2) 1969
  63. Tracy’s Theme / Spencer Ross #13 (1) 1960
  64. A Swingin’ Safari / Billy Vaughn #13 (1) 1962
  65. Twine Time / Alvin Cash & The Crawlers #14 (2) 1965
  66. Fly Me To The Moon-Bossa Nova / Joe Harnell #14 (1) 1963
  67. Shangri-La / Robert Maxwell #15 (3) 1964
  68. Desafinado / Stan Getz #15 (2) 1962
  69. Wonderland By Night / Louis Prima #15 (2) 1961
  70. Cotton Candy / Al Hurt #15 (2) 1964
  71. Beatnik Fly / Johnny & The Hurricanes #15 (1) 1960
  72. Perfidia / Ventures #15 (1) 1960
  73. Music To Watch Girls By / Bob Crewe Generation #15 (1) 1967
  74. Baby Scratch My Back / Slim Harpo #16 (2) 1966
  75. Keem-O-Sabe / Electric Indian #16 (2) 1969
  76. Blue Tango / Bill Black’s Combo #16 (1) 1960
  77. Tuff / Ace Cannon #17 (2) 1962
  78. Soul Twist / King Curtis #17 (2) 1962
  79. Smokie Part 2 / Bill Black’s Combo #17 (2) 1960
  80. Batman Theme / The Marketts #17 (2) 1966
  81. Soul Finger / Bar-Kays #17 (1) 1967
  82. Soul Limbo / Booker T. & The MG’s #17 (1) 1968
  83. The Work Song / Herb Alpert #18 (2) 1966
  84. Josephine / Bill Black’s Combo #18 (1) 1960
  85. Pepe / Duane Eddy #18 (1) 1961
  86. Penetration / The Pyramids #18 (1) 1964
  87. Wade In The Water / Ramsey Lewis Trio #19 (2) 1966
  88. Never On Sunday / Don Costa #19 (1) 1960
  89. Let’s Go / The Routers #19 (1) 1962
  90. Look For A Star / Billy Vaughn #19 (1) 1960
  91. Bonanza / Al Caiola #19 (1) 1961
  92. I’ve Got A Woman Part 1 / Jimmy McGriff #20 (1) 1962
  93. I Was Kaiser Bill’s Batman / Whistling Jack Smith #20 (1) 1967
  94. Hearts Of Stone / Bill Black’s Combo #20 (1) 1961
  95. Groovin’ / Booker T. & The MG’s #21 (3) 1967
  96. Mr. Lucky / Henry Mancini #21 (1) 1960
  97. Walk On The Wild Side Part 1 / Jimmy Smith #21 (1) 1962
  98. Bumble Boogie / B. Bumble & The Stingers #21 (1) 1961
  99. Last Date / Lawrence Welk #21 (1) 1960
  100. Wiggle Wobble / Les Cooper #22 (1) 1963

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