mostly for my own reference: Billboard Number One Hits 1955-1973

[metaphorge]

Here's a list of Billboard's Number One hits, all the way back to 1955, which is where I consider that the era of "Rock & Roll" really began (with the chart ascendancy of "Rock Around the Clock". 1955, 1956,1957 and 1958 prior to August are from the "Top 100" chart, which presaged Billboard's invention of the "Hot 100" to determine what was "the Number One hit".


1955
"Mr. Sandman" The Chordettes
"Sincerely" McGuire Sisters
"The Ballad of Davy Crockett" Bill Hayes
"Dance With Me Henry (Wallflower)" Georgia Gibbs
"Cherry Pink (and Apple Blossom White)" Perez Prado
"Rock Around the Clock" Bill Haley & His Comets
"Ain't That a Shame" Pat Boone
"The Yellow Rose of Texas" Mitch Miller
"Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing" Four Aces
"Sixteen Tons" Tennessee Ernie Ford

1956
"Memories Are Made of This" Dean Martin
"The Great Pretender" The Platters
"Rock and Roll Waltz" Kay Stair
"The Poor People of Paris" Les Baxter
"Heartbreak Hotel" Elvis Presley
"The Wayward Wind" Gogi Grant
"I Almost Lost My Mind" Pat Boone
"My Prayer" The Platters
"Don't Be Cruel" Elvis Presley
"Green Door" Jim Lowe
"Love Me Tender" Elvis Presley
"Singing the Blues" Guy Mitchell

1957
"Don't Forbid Me" Pat Boone
"Young Love" Tab Hunter
"Butterfly" Andy Williams
"All Shook Up" Elvis Presley
"Love Letters in the Sand" Pat Boone
"(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" Elvis Presley
"Tammy" Debbie Reynolds
"Honeycomb" Jimmie Rodgers
"Wake Up Little Susie" Everly Brothers
"Jailhouse Rock" Elvis Presley
"You Send Me" Sam Cooke
"April Love" Pat Boone

1958
"At the Hop" Danny & the Juniors
"Get a Job" The Silhouettes
"Tequila" The Champs
"Twilight Time" The Platters
"Witch Doctor" David Seville
"All I Have To Do Is Dream" Everly Brothers
"The Purple People Eater" Sheb Wooley
"Yakety Yak" The Coasters
"Patricia" Perez Prado
"Don't" Elvis Presley
"Poor Little Fool" Ricky Nelson
"Little Star" The Elegants
"Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blu (Volare)" Domenico Modugno
"It's All in the Game" Tommy Edwards
"It's Only Make Believe" Conway Twitty
"Tom Dooley" The Kingston Trio
"To Know Him Is to Love Him" Teddy Bears
"The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don't Be Late)" David Seville and The Chipmunks

1959
January 19 "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" The Platters
"Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" The Platters
"Stagger Lee" Lloyd Price
"Venus" Frankie Avalon
"Come Softly to Me" The Fleetwoods
"The Happy Organ" Dave "Baby" Cortez
"Kansas City" Wilbert Harrison
"The Battle of New Orleans" Johnny Horton
"Lonely Boy" Paul Anka
"A Big Hunk o' Love" Elvis Presley
"The Three Bells" The Browns
"Sleep Walk" Santo & Johnny
"Mr. Blue" The Fleetwoods
"Mack the Knife" Bobby Darin
"Heartaches by the Number" Guy Mitchell
"Why" Frankie Avalon

1960
"El Paso" Marty Robbins
"Running Bear" Johnny Preston
"Teen Angel" Mark Dinning
"Theme from A Summer Place" Percy Faith
"Stuck on You" Elvis Presley
"Cathy's Clown" The Everly Brothers
"Everybody's Somebody's Fool" Connie Francis
"Alley Oop" Hollywood Argyles
"I'm Sorry" Brenda Lee
"Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini" Brian Hyland
"It's Now or Never" Elvis Presley
"The Twist" Chubby Checker
"My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own" Connie Francis
"Mr. Custer" Larry Verne
"I Want to Be Wanted" Brenda Lee
"Save the Last Dance for Me" The Drifters
"Georgia on My Mind" Ray Charles
"Stay" Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs
"Are You Lonesome Tonight?" Elvis Presley

1961
"Wonderland by Night" Bert Kaempfert
"Will You Love Me Tomorrow" The Shirelles
"Calcutta" Lawrence Welk
"Pony Time" Chubby Checker
"Surrender" Elvis Presley
"Blue Moon" The Marcels
"Runaway" Del Shannon
"Mother-in-Law" Ernie K-Doe
"Running Scared" Roy Orbison
"Travelin' Man" Ricky Nelson
"Moody River" Pat Boone
"Quarter to Three" Gary U.S. Bonds
"Tossin' and Turnin'" Bobby Lewis
"Wooden Heart (Muss I Denn)" Joe Dowell
"Michael" The Highwaymen
"Take Good Care of My Baby" Bobby Vee
"Hit the Road Jack" Ray Charles
"Runaround Sue" Dion
"Big Bad John" Jimmy Dean
"Please Mr. Postman" The Marvelettes
"The Lion Sleeps Tonight" The Tokens

1962
"The Twist" Chubby Checker
"Peppermint Twist - Part I" Joey Dee and the Starliters
"Duke of Earl" Gene Chandler
"Hey! Baby" Bruce Channel
"Don't Break the Heart That Loves You" Connie Francis
"Johnny Angel" Shelley Fabares
"Good Luck Charm" Elvis Presley
"Soldier Boy" The Shirelles
"Stranger on the Shore" Mr. Acker Bilk
"I Can't Stop Loving You" Ray Charles
"The Stripper" David Rose
July 14 "Roses Are Red (My Love)" Bobby Vinton
"Breaking Up is Hard to Do" Neil Sedaka
"The Loco-Motion" Little Eva
"Sheila" Tommy Roe
"Sherry" The Four Seasons
"Monster Mash" Bobby "Boris" Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers
"He's a Rebel" The Crystals
"Big Girls Don't Cry" The Four Seasons
"Telstar" The Tornados

1963
"Go Away Little Girl" Steve Lawrence
"Walk Right In" The Rooftop Singers
"Hey Paula" Paul & Paula
"Walk Like a Man" The Four Seasons
"Our Day Will Come" Ruby & the Romantics
"He's So Fine" The Chiffons
"I Will Follow Him" Little Peggy March
"If You Wanna Be Happy" Jimmy Soul
"It's My Party " Lesley Gore
"Sukiyaki" Kyu Sakamoto
"Easier Said Than Done" The Essex
"Surf City" Jan and Dean
"So Much in Love" The Tymes
"Fingertips Pt. 2" Little Stevie Wonder
"My Boyfriend's Back" The Angels
"Blue Velvet" Bobby Vinton
"Sugar Shack" Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs
"Deep Purple" Nino Tempo and April Stevens
"I'm Leaving It Up to You" Dale & Grace
"Dominique" The Singing Nun

1964
"There! I've Said It Again" Bobby Vinton
"I Want to Hold Your Hand" The Beatles
"She Loves You" The Beatles
"Can't Buy Me Love" The Beatles
"Hello, Dolly!" Louis Armstrong
"My Guy" Mary Wells
"Love Me Do" The Beatles
"Chapel of Love" The Dixie Cups
"A World Without Love" Peter & Gordon
"I Get Around" The Beach Boys
"Rag Doll" The Four Seasons
"A Hard Day's Night" The Beatles
"Everybody Loves Somebody" Dean Martin
"Where Did Our Love Go" The Supremes
"The House of the Rising Sun" The Animals
"Oh, Pretty Woman" Roy Orbison
"Do Wah Diddy Diddy" Manfred Mann
"Baby Love" The Supremes
"Leader of the Pack" The Shangri-Las
"Ringo" Lorne Greene
"Mr. Lonely" Bobby Vinton
"Come See About Me" The Supremes
"I Feel Fine" The Beatles

1965
"Downtown" Petula Clark
"You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'" The Righteous Brothers
"This Diamond Ring" Gary Lewis & The Playboys
"My Girl" The Temptations
"Eight Days a Week" The Beatles
"Stop! In the Name of Love" The Supremes
"I'm Telling You Now" Freddie and the Dreamers
"Game of Love" Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders
"Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter" Herman's Hermits
"Ticket to Ride" The Beatles
"Help Me Rhonda" The Beach Boys
"Back in My Arms Again" The Supremes
"Mr. Tambourine Man" The Byrds
"I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch)" The Four Tops
"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" The Rolling Stones
"I'm Henry VIII, I Am" Herman's Hermits
"I Got You Babe" Sonny and Cher
"Help!" The Beatles
"Eve of Destruction" Barry McGuire
" Hang on Sloopy" The McCoys
"Yesterday" The Beatles
"Get Off of My Cloud" The Rolling Stones
"I Hear a Symphony" The Supremes
"Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)" The Byrds
"Over and Over" The Dave Clark Five

1966
"The Sound of Silence" Simon and Garfunkel
"We Can Work It Out" The Beatles
"My Love" Petula Clark
"Lightnin' Strikes" Lou Christie
"These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" Nancy Sinatra
"Ballad of the Green Berets" SSgt Barry Sadler
"(You're My) Soul and Inspiration" The Righteous Brothers
"Good Lovin'" The Young Rascals
"Monday, Monday" The Mamas & the Papas
"When a Man Loves a Woman" Percy Sledge
"Paint It Black" The Rolling Stones
"Paperback Writer" The Beatles
"Strangers in the Night" Frank Sinatra
"Hanky Panky" Tommy James and the Shondells
J"Wild Thing" The Troggs
"Summer in the City" The Lovin' Spoonful
"Sunshine Superman" Donovan
"You Can't Hurry Love" The Supremes
"Cherish" The Association
"Reach Out I'll Be There" The Four Tops
"96 Tears" ? & the Mysterians
"Last Train to Clarksville" The Monkees
"Poor Side of Town" Johnny Rivers
"You Keep Me Hangin' On" The Supremes
"Good Vibrations" The Beach Boys
"Winchester Cathedral" The New Vaudeville Band
"I'm a Believer" The Monkees

1967
"I'm a Believer" The Monkees
"Kind of a Drag" The Buckinghams
"Ruby Tuesday" The Rolling Stones
"Love Is Here and Now You're Gone" The Supremes
"Penny Lane" The Beatles
"Happy Together" The Turtles
"Somethin' Stupid" Nancy Sinatra and Frank Sinatra
"The Happening" The Supremes
"Groovin'" The Young Rascals
"Respect" Aretha Franklin
"Respect" Aretha Franklin
"Windy" The Association
"Light My Fire" The Doors
"All You Need Is Love" The Beatles
"Ode to Billie Joe" Bobbie Gentry
"The Letter" Box Tops
"To Sir, with Love" Lulu
"Incense and Peppermints" Strawberry Alarm Clock
"Daydream Believer" The Monkees
"Hello, Goodbye" The Beatles

1968
"Judy in Disguise (with Glasses)" John Fred and His Playboy Band
"Green Tambourine" The Lemon Pipers
"Love is Blue" Paul Mauriat
"(Sittin' on) the Dock of the Bay" Otis Redding
"Honey" Bobby Goldsboro
"Tighten Up" Archie Bell & the Drells
"Mrs. Robinson" Simon and Garfunkel
J"This Guy's in Love with You" Herb Alpert
"Grazing in the Grass" Hugh Masekela
"Hello, I Love You" The Doors
"People Got to Be Free" The Rascals
"Harper Valley PTA" Jeannie C. Riley
"Hey Jude" The Beatles
"Love Child" Diana Ross & the Supremes
"I Heard It through the Grapevine" Marvin Gaye

1969
"Crimson and Clover" Tommy James & the Shondells
"Everyday People" Sly & the Family Stone
"Dizzy" Tommy Roe
"Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In (The Flesh Failures)" The Fifth Dimension
"Get Back" The Beatles with Billy Preston
"Love Theme from Romeo and Juliet" Henry Mancini
"In the Year 2525 (Exordium and Terminus)" Zager and Evans
"Honky Tonk Women" The Rolling Stones
"Sugar, Sugar" The Archies
"I Can't Get Next to You" The Temptations
"Suspicious Minds" Elvis Presley
"Wedding Bell Blues" The Fifth Dimension
"Come Together" The Beatles
"Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye" Steam
"Leaving on a Jet Plane" Peter, Paul and Mary
"Someday We'll Be Together" Diana Ross & The Supremes

1970
"Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head" B. J. Thomas
"I Want You Back" The Jackson 5
"Venus" The Shocking Blue
"Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)" Sly & the Family Stone
"Bridge over Troubled Water" Simon and Garfunkel
"Let It Be" The Beatles
"ABC" The Jackson 5
"American Woman" The Guess Who
"Everything is Beautiful" Ray Stevens
"The Long and Winding Road" The Beatles
"The Love You Save" The Jackson 5
"Mama Told Me (Not to Come)" Three Dog Night
"(They Long to Be) Close to You" Carpenters
"Make It With You" Bread
"War" Edwin Starr
"Ain't No Mountain High Enough" Diana Ross
"Cracklin' Rosie" Neil Diamond
"I'll Be There" The Jackson 5
"I Think I Love You" The Partridge Family
"The Tears of a Clown" Smokey Robinson & the Miracles
"My Sweet Lord" George Harrison

1971
"Knock Three Times" Dawn
"One Bad Apple" The Osmonds
"Me and Bobby McGee" Janis Joplin
"Just My Imagination (Running Away with Me)" The Temptations
"Joy to the World" Three Dog Night
"Brown Sugar" The Rolling Stones
"Want Ads" The Honey Cone
"I Feel the Earth Move" Carole King
"Indian Reservation (The Lament of the Cherokee Reservation Indian)" The Raiders
"You've Got a Friend" James Taylor
"How Can You Mend a Broken Heart?" Bee Gees
"Uncle Albert" Paul McCartney and Linda McCartney
"Go Away Little Girl" Donny Osmond
"Maggie May" / "Reason to Believe" Rod Stewart
"Gypsys, Tramps & Thieves" Cher
"Theme from Shaft" Isaac Hayes
"Family Affair Sly & the Family Stone
"Brand New Key" Melanie

1972
"American Pie" Don McLean
"Let's Stay Together" Al Green
"Without You" Nilsson
"Heart of Gold" Neil Young
"A Horse With No Name" America
"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" Roberta Flack
"Oh Girl" The Chi-Lites
"I'll Take You There" The Staple Singers
"The Candy Man" Sammy Davis, Jr.
"Song Sung Blue" Neil Diamond
"Lean on Me" Bill Withers
"Alone Again (Naturally)" Gilbert O'Sullivan
"Brandy (You're a Fine Girl)" Looking Glass
"Black and White" Three Dog Night
"Baby, Don't Get Hooked on Me" Mac Davis
"Ben" Michael Jackson
"My Ding-a-Ling" Chuck Berry
"I Can See Clearly Now" Johnny Nash
"Papa Was a Rollin' Stone" The Temptations
"I Am Woman" Helen Reddy
"Me and Mrs. Jones" Billy Paul
"You're So Vain" Carly Simon

1973
"Superstition" Stevie Wonder
"Crocodile Rock" Elton John
"Killing Me Softly with His Song" Roberta Flack
"Love Train" The O'Jays
"The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia" Vicki Lawrence
"Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Ole Oak Tree" Dawn featuring Tony Orlando
"You Are the Sunshine of My Life" Stevie Wonder
"Frankenstein" The Edgar Winter Group
"My Love" Paul McCartney and Wings
"Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)" George Harrison
"Will It Go Round in Circles" Billy Preston
"Bad, Bad Leroy Brown" Jim Croce
"The Morning After" Maureen McGovern
"Touch Me in the Morning" Diana Ross
"Brother Louie" Stories
"Let's Get It On" Marvin Gaye
"Delta Dawn" Helen Reddy
"Let's Get It On" Marvin Gaye
"We're an American Band" Grand Funk
"Half-Breed" Cher
"Angie" The Rolling Stones
"Midnight Train to Georgia" Gladys Knight & the Pips
"Keep on Truckin' (Part 1)" Eddie Kendricks
"Photograph" Ringo Starr
"Top of the World" Carpenters
"The Most Beautiful Girl" Charlie Rich
"Time in a Bottle" Jim Croce


(Billboard Number Ones through the present day are continuedhere)

Comments

[pharminatrix.livejournal.com]

Um, what happened to 1973? Was there just no music that year? ;)

[metaphorge.livejournal.com]

Fixed.