1. Dominique – The Singing Nun (1963)
Who would’ve thought a nun with an acoustic guitar would top the American charts? Yet here we were, with Dominique, a charming (but terribly repetitive) French song about Saint Dominic, ringing out of radios across the country. Sure, it was catchy, and Sister Luc-Gabrielle (aka the Singing Nun) was certainly a novelty. But looking back, Dominique was a baffling #1. It felt like a lullaby that overstayed its welcome, and once the charm wore off, the song’s lack of depth really showed.
2. Ringo – Lorne Greene (1964)
Who knew Lorne Greene, the patriarch of Bonanza, would score a #1 hit? And with a song that isn’t even sung, but spoken! Ringo tells the tale of a Wild West outlaw and comes off more like a campfire story than a hit single. Greene’s deep, commanding voice was popular on TV, but it’s strange to imagine people rushing to the store for this oddball record. The Western obsession of the early ‘60s was real, but Ringo feels more like a gimmick that got lucky than a song that should’ve been a hit.
3. Honey – Bobby Goldsboro (1968)
Bobby Goldsboro’s Honey is either incredibly touching or unbearably sappy, depending on who you ask. This melodramatic ballad tells the story of a man mourning his “Honey,” who passed away under somewhat unclear circumstances. Though it struck a chord with listeners and climbed to #1, the song is hard to revisit without cringing at its saccharine lyrics and syrupy strings. It feels almost like emotional manipulation, tugging so forcefully at the heartstrings that it loses sincerity.
4. Winchester Cathedral – The New Vaudeville Band (1966)
This song was a throwback even when it was new. With a 1920s flapper-era vibe, complete with a megaphone sound effect and a honky-tonk piano, Winchester Cathedral felt out of place in a decade defined by rock, folk, and soul. It was whimsical, yes, but it was also incredibly dated, almost like a novelty track. The fact that it became a #1 hit is a testament to the quirky side of the ‘60s, but it’s also one of those songs we’re okay leaving in the past.
5. Ballad of the Green Berets – Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler (1966)
Patriotic and militant, Ballad of the Green Berets was written and performed by Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler, and it topped the charts during the Vietnam War. It’s stirring, to be sure, but also uncharacteristically somber for a decade that was starting to lean toward peace and love. It’s almost a folk anthem to the armed forces, yet it feels strangely out of place in the context of the ‘60s music landscape. The song quickly became a cultural artifact rather than a timeless tune.
6. Sukiyaki – Kyu Sakamoto (1963)
As a song, Sukiyaki is actually quite beautiful, but the fact that it was a #1 hit is surprising when you consider it’s sung entirely in Japanese! The track is mournful and nostalgic, yet it had an upbeat charm that resonated with American audiences. But its title was only changed to “Sukiyaki” (after the Japanese dish) because it was easier to pronounce than the original. A bit gimmicky? Maybe. And as much as people enjoyed it, the novelty factor definitely played a role in its success.
7. This Diamond Ring – Gary Lewis & The Playboys (1965)
Gary Lewis, son of comedian Jerry Lewis, hit #1 with This Diamond Ring, a song that falls squarely in the bubblegum pop category. While it’s a cute tune, it’s a bit hollow and almost laughably dramatic as a breakup song. It was safe, repetitive, and straightforward—the kind of song you could play for your parents without risking raised eyebrows. But let’s be honest: it’s far from groundbreaking, and listening to it now, it’s hard to see what all the fuss was about.
8. Harper Valley P.T.A. – Jeannie C. Riley (1968)
Jeannie C. Riley’s Harper Valley P.T.A. tells the scandalous story of a mom confronting her town’s hypocritical school board. It’s entertaining, but with a heavy dose of soap opera-style drama that can feel over-the-top. It tapped into a rebellious spirit, but the lyrics are as campy as they are cathartic. For all its sass, it’s a bit much for today’s tastes—and seems more like a country satire than a song meant for #1 status.
9. Indian Reservation – The Raiders (1971)
Yes, this was technically in 1971, but it was a product of the ‘60s music scene. Indian Reservation is supposed to be a sympathetic protest song about Native Americans, but the lyrics are clunky and well-meaning at best, awkward and exploitative at worst. The Raiders’ attempt to be socially conscious unfortunately lacks nuance, and today, it reads more like a strange cultural appropriation than a respectful tribute.
10. Snoopy vs. the Red Baron – The Royal Guardsmen (1966)
This novelty song, based on the Peanuts comic strip, tells the fictional tale of Snoopy’s aerial battle against the Red Baron. While it’s cute, it’s also a bit silly for a #1 hit. The fact that a song about a cartoon dog’s WWI adventures topped the charts in the same era as songs by the Beatles and the Supremes feels like a pop culture fluke. It’s catchy, sure, but it’s definitely more suited to a kids’ album than the top of the Billboard charts.
11. Sugar Shack – Jimmy Gilmer and The Fireballs (1963)
With its repetitive lyrics and bubbly melody, Sugar Shack was a sweet song about a hangout spot, but it quickly became cloying. It’s cheerful, yes, but in a way that makes you feel like you’re trapped in an endless loop of sugary pop. Listening to it today, it sounds like a lightweight tune that’s trying too hard to be memorable, and it’s hard to imagine it in heavy rotation alongside true classics.
12. They’re Coming to Take Me Away, Ha-Haaa! – Napoleon XIV (1966)
This bizarre novelty song, with a manic laugh track and drumbeat, is about a man being driven to insanity after a breakup. It’s quirky and slightly unnerving, and it doesn’t really seem like something that would top any chart. Yet, here it is, forever cemented as one of the weirdest #1 songs of the ‘60s. Today, it’s the kind of song you listen to once and then maybe never again.
13. Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter – Herman’s Hermits (1965)
Herman’s Hermits were incredibly popular in the mid-‘60s, but Mrs. Brown, You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter was one of their biggest (and strangest) hits. It’s a sad, British, working-class love song with a lilting music hall vibe that made it sound like it belonged in another era altogether. The song is sung from the perspective of a young man sadly lamenting a lost love to his ex-girlfriend’s mother, of all people. It was charming, sure, but also downright odd. Looking back, it’s surprising that this little ditty not only caught on but shot to the top of the U.S. charts!
14. Green Tambourine – The Lemon Pipers (1968)
Green Tambourine is a trippy little tune by The Lemon Pipers that capitalized on the psychedelic sounds and themes of the late ‘60s. With its sitar-like sounds and echoing vocals, it’s a classic example of “bubblegum pop psychedelia,” but it also feels more like a novelty than an earnest attempt at the genre. While it may have captured the groovy vibes of the moment, the song feels like a lighthearted, almost cartoonish take on psychedelia. In retrospect, it’s a fun reminder of the era but also a bit cringe-worthy compared to the more powerful music coming out at the time.
Though these songs may seem out of place in the annals of the ‘60s music, they capture the quirks, fads, and eccentricities of the era perfectly. They might not be timeless, but they’re unforgettable in their own way—and are sure to bring a smile, an eye-roll, or even a laugh at just how unique and surprising the decade’s music scene really was.
