M-R

Mabellene Chuck Berry 1955 (#5) Chuck Berry, Russell Fratto (also by Johnny Rivers, #12 in 1964)
MacArthur Park Richard Harris 1968 (#2) Jim Webb (also rec. by Donna Summer, 1978)
Macho Man Village People. The 1978 (#25)
Mack the Knife (Moritat)   Bobby Darin 1959 (#1 for 9 wks) Bertolt Brecht (E. Marc Blitzstein) & Kurt Weill; in The Three Penny Opera; Grammy, ‘59 (best record)
Madiera Limelighters, The    
Maggie May Rod Stewart 1971 (#1 for 5 weeks) Martin Quittenton, Rod Stewart
Magic Carpet Ride Steppenwolf 1968 (#3)
Magic Man Heart 1976 Ann Wilson, Nancy Wilson
Magic Moments Perry Como 1958 Hal David, Bert Bacharach
Magic Touch, The Platters, The 1956 (#4) Buck Ram (inst version by Hugo Winterhalter #22 in 1954)
Magical Mystery Tour   Beatles, The   John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Main Event, The Barbra Streisand 1979 (#3) Paul Jabara, Bob Esty, Bruce Roberts; from the movie of the same name
Mairzy Doats Burl Ives 1964 Milton Drake, Al Hoffman & Jerry Livingston, 1943
Make Believe Jimmy Lunceford 1936 Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerome Kern; from the musical "Showboat," 1927
Make Her Mine Nat "King" Cole 1954 (#19) Sammy Gallop, Chester Conn
Make It Easy on Yourself Walker Brothers, The 1965 (#16) Hal David, Bert Bacharach (also Jerry Butler, #20 in 1962)
Make Love to Me! Jo Stafford 1954 (#1) Bill Norvas, Leon Roppolo, et al
Make Me Your Baby Barbara Lewis 1965 (#11)
Make the World Go Away Eddy Arnold 1965 (#6) Hank Cochran
Makin’ Whooppee   1928 Gus Cahn, Walter Donaldson
Making Love Out Of Nothing At All Air Supply 1983 (#2) Graham Russell
Mama Don’t Allow Rooftop Singers, The 1963 (#55) Charles Davenport, 1929 (also by The Limelighters)
Mama Said Shirelles, The 1961 (#3)
Mama Told Me Not To Come Three Dog Night 1970 (#1 for 2 weeeks) Randy Newman
Mama Tried Merle Haggard 1965 Merle Haggard
Mamas, Don’t Let Your Babies Waylon Jennings 1978 (#42)
Mambo Italiano Rosemary Clooney 1954 (#10) Bob Merrill
Mambo Rock Bill Haley & His Comets 1955 (#18)
Man of La Mancha   1965 Joe Darien, Mitch Leigh
Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Gene Pitney 1962 (#4) Hal David, Bert Bacharach
Mañana (Is Soon Enough for Me) Peggy Lee 1948 Peggy Lee, Dave Barbour
Mandy Barry Manilow 1974 (#1) Scott English, Richard Kerr
Maneater Hall & Oates 1982 (#1)
Manhattan Ella Fitzgerald 1956 Lorenz Hart & Richard Rodgers
Manhattan Serenade Jo Stafford 1943 Harold Adamson & Louis Alter
Manhattan Spiritual Reg Owen & His Orchestra 1958 (#10) (instrumental)
Margaritaville Jimmy Buffettt 1977 (#8) Jimmy Buffett
Margie   Benny Goodman 1938 Bennie Davis, Con Conrad & J.R. Robinson, 1920
Maria Elena   Los Indios Trabajares 1963 (#6) Eng. S.K. Russell, Lorenzo Barcelata; recorded earlier by Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, Helen O'Connell vocal, 1941
Maria Johnny Mathis 1960 (#18) Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, from the Broadway play Westside Story
Maria Elena Los Indios Trabajares 1963 (#22) Lorenzo Barcelata
Marianne   Terry Gilkyson & The Easy Riders 1957 (#4) Terry Gilkeyson (on charts 19 weeks) Pos. adapted from "Mary Ann" by Jamie Yamin (E. Joe Davis), 1945
Marie   Bachelors, The 1965 (#15) Irving Berlin, 1928 (also by The Four Tunes, #13 in 1953)
Marvelous Toy, The Chad Mitchell Trio, The 1963 (#43) also by Peter, Paul & Mary
Mary In the Morning Al Martino 1967 Johnny Cymbal, Mike Lendell
Mary’s A Grand Old Name   1906 George M. Cohan
Massachusetts Bee Gees, The 1969 Barry Gibb, Robin Gibb, Maurice Gibb
Matter of Trust, A Billy Joel 1986 (#18)
May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose Li’l Jimmy Dickens 1965 (#15) (named because he’s only 4’11")
May You Always   McGuire Sisters, The 1959 (#11) Larry Markes & Dick Charles
Maybe Baby Buddy Holly 1958 (#17)
Maybe It Was Memphis Pam Tillis   Michael Anderson
Maybe You’ll Be There   Jane Morgan 1958? Sammy Gallop, Rube Bloom, 1947; rec. 1948 by Gordon Jenkins Orchestra, Charles Levere vocal
Maybe Perry Como and Eddie Fisher 1952 (#3) Allan Flynn, Frank Maddem
McNamara’s Band   1917 John Stanford, m Shamus O’Connor
Me & Julio Down By the Schoolyard Paul Simon 1972 (#22) Paul Simon
Me & You & A Dog Named Boo   1971 Kent LaVoie
Me and Bobby McGee Janis Joplin 1971 (#1) Kris Kristopherson, Fred L. Foster, 1969
Me And My Shadow Frank Sinatra 1961 Billy Rose, Dave Dreyer, 1925; initially plugged by Al Jolson; identified with Ted Lewis
Mean to Me Linda Ronstadt 1984 Roy Turk, Fred Ahlert, 1929; previously recorded by Billie Holiday, 1937
Meet Me at Midnight Mary Joey Powers 1963 (#10)
Melancholy Me Eddy Howard 1954 (#16)
Melancholy Serenade Jackie Gleason 1953 Jackie Gleason; vocal version rec. by Connie Francis, 1959
Mellow Yellow Donovan 1966 (#2) Donovan; Paul McCartney sang backup
Memories Are Made of This   Dean Martin 1955 (#1 for 6 weeks) Terry Gilkeyson, Richard Dehr & Frank Miller
Memories Of You Four Coins, The 1955 (#22) Andy Razaf, Eubie Blake, 1930
Memory     Trevor Nunn (after T.S. Eliot), Andrew Lloyd Weber; from the musical "Cats"
Memphis Johnny Rivers 1964 (#2) Chuck Berry; previously by Lonnie Mack, 1963
Mercy Mercy Mercy Buckinghams, The 1967 (#5) Joe Zawinul
Mermaid, The Limelighters, The    
Merry Minuet, The Kingston Trio, The 1959 Sheldon Harnick (lyricist for "Fiddler on the Roof") song is from musical theater, but where?
Message of Our Love Association, The   Curt Boettcher, Tandyn Almer
Michael Row The Boat Ashore Highwaymen, The 1961 (#1) adapted from a 19th century slave song by Tony Saletan & The Weavers; also Trini Lopez ‘64 (#42)
Michelle Beatles, The 1966 John Lennon, Paul McCartney; Grammy winner 1966 (song)
Midnight at the Oasis Maria Muldaur 1974 (#6)
Midnight Blue Melissa Manchester 1975 (#6) Melissa Muldaur, Carole Bayer Sager
Midnight Confession Grass Roots, The 1968 (#5)
Midnight In Moscow Kenny Ball 1962 (#3) Vassili Soloview-Sedoi; adapted by Kenny Ball
Midnight Rider   Allman Brothers, The    
Midnight Special Limelighters, The   adapted by Huddie Ledbetter (Leadbelly) from traditional
Midnight Train to Georgia Gladys Knight & The Pips 1973 Jim Weatherly
Mighty Mississippi      
Minute By Minute Doobie Brothers, The 1978 (#1) Abrams & Michael McDonald
Mission Bell Donnie Brooks 1960 (#7)
Mississippi Squirel Revival Ray Stevens   Ray Stevens
Misty   Johnny Mathis 1959 (#12) Erroll Garner (#30, 1954) & Johnny Burke
Mixed Emotions Rosemary Clooney 1951 (#22)
Mockin’bird Hill Les Paul & Mary Ford 1950 Vaughn Horton (also by Patti Page, #2 in 1951)
Mocking Bird, The Four Lads, The 1958 (#32)
Mockingbird   James Taylor/Carly Simon 1974 (#5) Carly Simon is daughter of publisher Simon & Schuster
Moments to Remember   Four Lads, The 1955 (#1 for 6 wks, charted 25) Robert Allen & Al Stillman
Mona Lisa   Nat "King" Cole 1950 (#1) Jay Livingston, Ray Evans; in Neptune’s Daughter; Oscar winner, 1950 (their 2nd)
Monday Monday Mamas & Papas 1966 (#1 for 3 weeks) John Phillips
Money (That’s What I Want) Barrett Strong 1960 (#23)
Money Burns a Hole in My Pocket Dean Martin 1954 (#23)
Money Kingsmen, The 1964 (#16)
Monster Mash Bobby "Boris" Pickett 1962 (#1) Bobby Pickett, Leonard Capizzi
Montego Bay Bobby Bloom 1970 (#8)
Mony Mony Tommy James 1968 (#3)
Mood Indigo   Duke Ellington 1931 Duke Ellington, Irving Mills (Mitchell Parish?) & Albany Bigard; possibly by Parrish - Bigard only
Moody River Pat Boone 1961 (#1) Gary Bruce
Moon Over Miami Ray Charles 1956 Edgar Leslie, Joe Burke, 1935
Moon River   Henry Mancini 1961 (#11) Johnny Mercer, Henry Mancini; in Breakfast at Tiffany’s; Oscar & 2 Grammies (song, record) 1961
Moon Shadow Cat Stevens 1971 (#30)
Moonglow and Theme from "Picnic" Morris Stoloff & His Orchestra 1956 (#1) "Moonglow" by Will Hudson, Eddie De Lange, & Irving Mills (‘34); DeLange dead 10 years before song hit
Moonlight and Roses (Bring Mem'ries of You) Three Suns, The 1954 (#24) Ben Black, Neil Moret, 1925
Moonlight And Roses Ray Coniff 1962 Charles Daniels, 1904? Or (Black/Leamre/Moret) as per Platters, et al?
Moonlight Bay   1912 Edward Madden, Percy Wenrich
Moonlight Becomes You   Bing Crosby 1942 Johnny Burke, Jimmy Van Heusen; written especially for Crosby in "Road to Morocco"
Moonlight Feels Right Starbuck 1976 (#3) Michael Blackman
Moonlight Gambler Frankie Laine 1956 (#3) Bob Hilliard, Philip Springer; Laine's last big hit
Moonlight In Vermont   Margaret Whiting 1944 John Blackburn, Karl Suessdorf (also by Willie Nelson, 1978)
Moonlight Serenade   Glenn Miller 1939 Mitchell Parish (Later), Glenn Miller
Moonshiner, The     Traditional
More I See You, The   Chris Montez 1966 Mack Gordon, Harry Warren; previously recorded by Harry James (with Dick Haymes), 1945
More Than A Feeling Boston 1976 Tom Scholz
More Than I Can Say Leo Sayer 1980 (#2) Sonny Curtiss (formerly of The Cricketts), Jerry Allison
More Than You Know   Woody Herman 1948 Billy Rose, Edward Eliscu, Vincent Youmans
More   Kai Winding 1963 (#8) Norman Newell, Riz Ortolani, from the movie Mondo Cane
More Perry Como 1956 (#4) Tom Glazer, Alex Alstone
Morning Has Broken Cat Stevens 1972 (#6) Eleanor Farjeon, to traditional melody; arr.Cat Stevens
Morning Side Of the Mountain, The Tommy Edwards 1959 (#27) Dick Manning, Larry Stock
Morning Train Sheena Easton 1981 (#21) (on charts 21 weeks)
Most of All Don Cornell 1955 (#14)
Mostly Martha Crew-Cuts, The 1955 (#31)
Mother and Child Reunion Paul Simon 1972 (#4) Paul Simon
Mother-in-Law Ernie K-Doe 1961 (#1) Allen Toussaint
Mountain Dew Lulu Belle & Scoty Wiseman 1939 Orig. by Bascomb Lunsford, mid 1930s; Lulu Belle & Scoty Wiseman re-lyric, 1939
Mountain Music Alabama   Randy Owen
Mountain of Love, A Johnny Rivers 1964 (#9) Harold Dorman (also by Harold Dorman, #21 in 1960)
Mountain’s High, The Dick & DeeDee 1961 (#2) Dick St. John
Mountains of Mourn, The Kingston Trio, The 1960 Traditional Irish, ca 1910
Move It On Over Hank Williams 1947 Hank Williams
Movin' On Merle Haggard 1975 Merle Haggard
Movin’ Out Billy Joel 1978 (#17)
Mr. Bass Man Johnny Cymbal 1963 Written about Fred Johnson of the Marcels, alluding to their "Blue Moon"
Mr. Blue Fleetwoods, The 1959 (#1) DeWayne Blackwell (on charts 20 weeks)
Mr. Bojangles Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The 1970 (#9) Jerry Jeff Walker, 1968 (his version #77 in 1968)
Mr. Grinch     Theodoe (Dr. Seuss) Geisel, Albert Hague; from "How the Grinch Stole Christmas"
Mr. Lee Bobbettes, The 1957 (#6) 1st women's group to have a #1 R&B song and top 10 (#6) pop; they were 11-14 years old at the time
Mr. Lonely Bobby Vinton 1964 (#1) Gene Allen, Bobby Vinton
Mr. Lucky Henry Mancini 1960 (#21) Ray Evans, Jay Livingston, Henry Mancini
Mr. Sandman   Chordettes, The 1954 (#1) Pat Ballard
Mr. Tambourine Man Byrds, The 1965 (#1) Bob Dylan; hit number one on 5/15/65
Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter Herman's Hermits 1965 (#1) Trevor Peacock
Mrs. Robinson Simon & Garfunkel 1968 (#1 for 3 weeks) Paul Simon; from the movie The Graduate; Grammy winner 1968 (record)
M-T-A, The Kingston Trio, The 1959 (#15) Jacquiline Steiner, Bess Hawes (A.Lomax’s sis, of Almanac Singers), to "Ship That Never Returned" by Harry C.Work
Mule Skinner Blues Fendermen, The 1960 (#5) Jimmie Rodgers, George Vaughn, 1931
Music to Watch Girls By Andy Williams 1966 Sid Kamin, Tony Velona
Music! Music! Music! Teresa Brewer 1951 (#1) Stephen Weiss, Bernie Baum
Muskrat Ramble McGuire Sisters, The 1954 (#10) Ray Bilbert, Eduard Ory, 1926
Must to Avoid, A Herman's Hermits 1965 (#8)
Mutual Admiration Society Teresa Brewer 1956 (#21) Matt Dubey, Harold Kerr
My Back Pages Byrds, The 1967 (#30)
My Blue Heaven Fats Domino 1956 (#19) Walter Donaldson & George Whiting, 1927; Gene Austin’s version was top seller all time til White Christmas
My Bonnie Lassie Ames Brothers, The 1955 (#11)
My Boomerang Won’t Come Back Charlie Drake 1962 (#21) Max Diamond, Charlie Drake
My Boy Lollipop Millie Small 1964 (#2) Johnny Roberts, Robert Spenser, Morris Levy
My Boyfriend’s Back Angels, The 1963 (#1) Robert Feldman, Gerald Goldstein
My Coloring Book   Kitty Kallen 1962 (#18) John Kander, Fred Ebb
My Cup Runneth Over Ed Ames 1967 (#8) Tom Jones, Harvey Schmidt; from the musical "I Do, I Do"
My Dad Paul Petersen 1962 (#6)
My Ding-A-Ling Chuck Berry    
My Eyes Adored You Frankie Valli 1974 (#1) Bob Crewe, Kenny Nolan
My Friend Eddie Fisher 1954 (#15)
My Funny Valentine   Frank Sinatra 1954 Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart, 1937; the first track on Sinatra's first LP album
My Generation Who, The 1965 Peter Townshend
My Girl Temptations, The 1965 (#1)
My Guy Mary Wells 1964 (#1) Smokie Robinson
My Happiness   Connie Francis 1958 (#2 for 3 weeks, on charts 18) Betty Peterson, Barney Bergantine, 1933
My Heart Belongs to Me   Barbra Streisand 1977 (#4) Alan Gordon, Charlie Calello
My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own Connie Francis 1960 (#1) Howard Greenfield, Jack Keller
My Heart Is an Open Book Carl Dobkins, Jr. 1959 (#3) Hal David, Lee Pockriss
My Heart Reminds Me Kay Starr 1957 (#9) Al Stillman, Camillo Bartoni
My Heart Will Go On (Theme from "Titanic")   Celine Dion 1998  
My Ideal Jimmy Dorsey 1944 (#5) Richard Whiting & Newell Chase; vocal by Bob Eberle
My Kind of Town Frank Sinatra 1964 Sammy Cahn, Jimmy Van Heusen
My Last Date With You Floyd Cramer 1960 (#2) Boudleaux Bryant & Skeeter Davis, Floyd Cramer
My Life Billy Joel 1978 (#3)
My Little Town Simon & Garfunkel 1975 (#9) Paul Simon
My Love and Devotion Perry Como 1952 (#22) Milton Carson
My Love, Forgive Me (Amore Scusami) Robert Goulet 1964 (#16)
My Mama Don’t Know Ray Stevens    
My Maria   1973 Daniel Moore
My Old Flame Linda Ronstadt 1984 Arthur Johnston, Sam Coslow, from the movie Belle of the Nineties, 1934
My Old Man’s A Dustman Anthony "Lonnie" Donegan 1960 Lonnie Donegan; revived by The Smothers Brothers
My One and Only Heart Perry Como 1953 (#11) Al Stillman, Robert Allen
My One And Only Love Rick Nelson 1953 Guy Wood, Robert Mellin
My One Sin Nat "King" Cole 1955 (#24)
My Prayer   Platters, The 1956 (#1 for 5 weeks) Jimmy Kennedy, Georges Boulanger, 1939; based on Boulanger’s "Avant de Mourir", 1926
My Restless Lover Patti Page 1954 (#21)
My Romance Frank Sinatra 1943 Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers, in Jumbo
My Sharona   1979 Berton Averre, Douglas Fieger
My Shy Violet Mills Brothers, The 1968 (#73)
My Special Angel Bobby Helms 1957 (#7) Jimmy Duncan (also #7 for The Vogues in 1968)
My Sweet Gypsy Rose Tony Orlando & Dawn 1973 Irwin Levine, L. Russell Brown
My Sweet Lady   John Denver 1970 John Denver
My Sweet Lord George Harrison 1971 George Harrison; found guilty of unintentional copyright infringement vs. Ronald Mack’s "He’s So Fine" (Chiffons)
My Tani Brothers Four, The 1960 (#50)
My Treasure Hilltoppers, The 1955 (#31)
My Way   Elvis Presley 1977 (#22) Paul Anka & Jacques Revaux (Sinatra version 1969 #27) original title "Comme d'Habitude"
My Wild Irish Rose Chauncey Olcott 1899 Chauncey Olcott
My Woman, My Woman, My Wife Marty Robbins 1970 Marty Robbins; Grammy winner, 1970
My World Is Empty Without You Supremes, The 1966 (#5)
Nadia’s Theme   1976 Perry Botkin, Jr. & Barry De Vorzon; from the TV show The Young And The Restless
Nadine (Is It You?) Chuck Berry 1964 (#23) Chuck Berry
Name Game, The Shirley Ellis 1964 (#3) Lincoln Chase, Shirley Elliston
Nancy (With the Laughing Face)   Frank Sinatra 1944 Phil Silvers, Jimmy Van Heusen
Nature Boy Nat "King" Cole 1948 Eden Ahbez
Naughty Lady of Shady Lane, The   Ames Brothers, The 1954 (#3) Sid Tepper, Roy Bennett
Navy Blue Diane Renay 1964 (#6)
Ne Me Quitte Pas       Jacques Brel; see "If You Go Away"
Near You   Roger Williams 1958 (#10) Kermit Goell, Francis Craig, 1947; Craig's recording was Nashville's 1st major hit
Nearness of You, The   Hoagy Carmichael 1938 Hoagy Carmichael, Ned Washington
Needles and Pins Searchers, The 1964 (#13) Sony Bono, Jack Nitzsche; 1st by Jackie DeShannon; Searchers got name from John Wayne movie
Neither One of Us (Wants to be the First) Roberta Flack 1973 Jim Weatherly
Nel Blu Never Can Say Goodbye Jackson Five, The 1971 Clifton Davis
Never My Love Association, The 1967 (#2) (on charts 14 weeks) Don & Dick Addrissi; also 5th Dimension (‘71) also Blue Swede (‘71)
Never on Sunday Chordettes, The 1961 (#13) (also Don Costa, 1960 #19) Manos Hadjidakis, Bill Towne; in movie of same name, Oscar winner 1960
Never-Ending Song Of Love Delaney & Bonnie 1971 (#13) Delaney Bramlett
Nevertheless (I’m In Love With You)   Frank Sinatra 1950 Bert Kalmer, Harry Ruby
Night   Jackie Wilson 1960 (#4) Johnny Lehman, Herb Miller; Wilson d 1975 of a stroke at age 34
Night And Day   Frank Sinatra 1942 Cole Porter, in The Gay DivorceÈ
Night Before Christmas, The Rosemary Clooney 1952 (#9)
Night Chicago Died, The   1974 Mitch Murray, Peter Callander
Night Has A Thousand Eyes, The Bobby Vee 1962 (#3) Marilyn Garrett, Dottie Wayne, Ben Weisman
Night Life Ray Price 1963 Willie Nelson
Night Moves Bob Seger 1976 (#4) Bob Seger; inspired by American Graffitti
Night On Bald Mountain Fantasia 1887 Modeste Mussorgsky
Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia Vicki Lawrence 1973 (#1) Bobby Russell (her only hit -- she was on Carol Burnett Show)
Night They Drove Ol’ Dixie Down, The   Joan Baez 1971 (#3) Jaime Robbie Robertson
Night Train Jimmy Smith 1962 Jimmy Forrest, Oscar Washington & Lewis Simpkins, 1952
Nightengale Sang In Berkley Square, A Nat "King" Cole 1943 Eric Maschwitz & Manning Sherwin; also rec. by Tony Bennett, 1992
Nights Are Forever Without You England Dan & John Ford Coley 1976 (#10)
Nights In White Satin Moody Blues, The 1972 (#2) Justin Hayward
Nine to Five Dolly Parton 1980 (#1)
Nineteenth Nervous Breakdown Rolling Stones, The 1966 Mick Jagger, Keith Richard
Ninety-Six Tears Question Mark And the Mysterions 1966 Rudy Martins
No Arms Can Ever Hold You Bachelors, The 1964 (#27) (also by Georgie Shaw, #23 in 1955)
No Chemise, Please Gerry Granahan 1958 (#23)
No Matter What Shape Your Stomach Is In T-Bones, The 1965 (#3) from an Alka Seltzer commercial
No More McGuire Sisters, The 1955 (#17) Leo DeJohn, Julie DeJohn, Dux DeJohn
No No Song, The Ringo Starr 1975 (#3) Hoyt Axton, David Jackson
No Not Much Four Lads, The 1956 (#2 for 4 weeks, on charts 24) Al Stillman & Robert Allen
No Other Arms (No Arms Can Ever Hold You) Pat Boone 1955 (#26)
No Other Love Perry Como 1953 (#1) Bob Russell, Paul Weston (Jo Stafford version #8 1950)
No Other Name Peter, Paul & Mary 1967 arr. Paul Stookey
No Particular Place To Go Chuck Berry 1964 (#10)
No Time Guess Who, The 1969 (#5)
Nobody Does It Better Carly Simon 1977 Carole Bayer Sager, Marvin Hamlisch; Carly Simon is daughter of Simon & Schuster
Nobody Knows You (When You’re Down & Out) Eric Clapton 1992 Jimmy Cox, 1923; on Unplugged; Bessie Smith’s last hit (1929); used in the movie "Me And Bessie"
Nola   1916 m. Felix Arndt; lyrics added later by Sunny Skylar, and another version by James Burns
Noodlin' Rag Perry Como 1952 (#23) Allan Roberts, Robert Allen
Norman Sue Thompson 1961 (#3)
North to Alaska Johnny Horton 1960 (#4) Mike Phillips; Horton married Hank Williams’ widow, then died young himself in a plane crash
Norwegian Wood Beatles, The   John Lennon & Paul McCartney
Nothing from Nothing Billy Preston 1974 (#1) Billy Preston
Nothing’s Real Anymore Shel Silverstein   Shel Silverstein
Now the Day Is Over   1869 Sabine Baring-Goiuld, Joseph Barnby
Nowhere Man Beatles, The 1966 John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Nowhere to Run Martha & The Vandellas 1965 (#8)
Nuttin' for Christmas Barry Gordon & Art Mooney 1955 (#6)
O Come All Ye Faithful Traditional   F. Oakeley, J. Reading, pub. 1751
O Holy Night Traditional   J.S. Dwight, A.C. Adam, 19th century
O Little Town of Bethlehem Traditional   Phillip Brooks, Lewis H. Redner, pub. 1868
Ode to Billie Joe Bobbie Gentry 1967 (1 for 4 weeks, on charts for 14) Bobbie Gentry (Gentry married Jim Stafford, 1978, and retired)
Oh Carol Neal Sedaka 1959 (#9) Neil Sedaka; written for Carole King
Oh Donna Ritchie Valens 1958 (#2) Ritchie Valens
Oh Girl Paul Young 1990 (#8) Eugene Record
Oh Happy Day Edwin Hawkins Singers 1969 (#4) Adapted from trad. Negro spiritual by Nancy Reed, Don Koplow
Oh Holy Night     John Sullivan Dwight, Adolph Adam, 1858
Oh Lord, Have Mercy On My Soul      
Oh Lord, It’s Hard to be Humble Mac Davis 1980 Mac Davis
Oh Susanna Traditional   Stephen Foster, 1848
Oh Very Young Cat Stevens 1974 (#10)
Oh You Crazy Moon Mel Torme 1960 Johnny Burkey & Jimmy Van Heusen
Oh! My Papa (O Mein Papa) Eddie Fisher 1953 (#4) Eng. John Turner, Geoffrey Parsons, Paul Burkhard
Oh, Boy! Buddy Holly & The Crickets 1957 (#10)
Oh, Girl Chi-Lites, The 1972 (#1)
Oh, Lonesome Me   Don Gibson 1958 (#7) Don Gibson (on charts 21 weeks)
Oh, What A Beautiful Mornin’   1943 Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II
Oh, What a Night Dells 1956 (#4)
Ohio Crosby, Stills & Nash    
Oh-Oh, I’m Falling in Love Again Jimmie Rodgers 1958 (#7)
Okie From Muskogie Merle Haggard 1969 (#13) Merle Haggard, Roy Edward Burris
Oklahoma! Gordon MacRae 1943 Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II
Old Age Song      
Old Black Joe Al Jolson 1860 Stephen Collins Foster
Old Black Magic Sammy Davis, Jr. 1955 (#13)
Old Buttermilk Sky Hoagy Carmichael    
Old Cape Cod   Patti Page 1957 (#3) Claire Rothrock, Milt Yakus, Allen Jeffrey
Old Chishold Trail     Traditional
Old Devil Moon Frank Sinatra 1955 E.Y. Harburg & Burton Lane
Old Hippie   Bellamy Brothers, The    
Old Home Filler-Up Cafe C.W. McCall 1974 (#54)
Old Lamplighter, The   Three Browns, The 1960 (#5) Charles Tobias, Nat Simon
Old Man River   1927 Jerome Kern & Oscar Hammerstein II, in Showboat
Old Man Neil Young 1973 Neil Young
Old Piano Roll Blues, The   1950 Cy Coben
Old Time Religion (Parody) Pete Seeger   Pete Seeger, based on traditional song dating from ca 1865
Old Time Rock ‘n’ Roll Bob Seger    
Old Buttermilk Sky      
Omaha   1919 Horatio Nicholls, Worton David
On A Carousel Hollies, The   A. Clarke, T. Hicks, G. Nash
On A Clear Day   Robert Goulet 1965 Alan Jay Lerner & Burton Lane; from the movie of the same name
On A Country Road James Taylor 1970 James Taylor
On A Slow Boat To China Kay Kyser Orchestra 1948 Frank Loesser
On And On Stephen Bishop 1977 (#11) Stephen Bishop
On Broadway Drifters, The 1963 (#9) Barry Mann, Cynthia Weil, Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller (also George Benson #7 in 1978)
On the Alamo The Norman Petty Trio 1954 (#29) (instrumental)
On the Atcheson, Topeka, And the Santa Fe Johnny Mercer?    
On the Rebound Floyd Cramer 1961 (#4) (instrumental)
On the Road Again Willie Nelson    
On the Street Where You Live Vic Damone 1956 (#4) Alan Jay Lerner & Frederick Loewe, in My Fair Lady
On the Sunny Side of the Street Jo Stafford 1945 (#17) Dorothy Fields & Jimmy McHugh, 1929
On the Wings of a Dove Ferlin Husky 1957 (#47)
On Top of Old Smokie Weavers, The 1951 Traditional, adapted by The Weavers, based on "Little Mohee" ca 1916
On Top of Spaghetti Tom Glaser 1963 (#14) Tom Glazer
Once In A While   Chimes, The 1960 (#11) Bud Green, Michael Edwards (Tommy Dorsey #1 in 1937) Bud Green, Michael Edwards, 1937; from "I’ll Get By"
Once Upon A Time   Tony Bennett 1962 Lee Adams, Charles Strouse; from the musical "All American"
One Dyin' and a Buryin' Roger Miller 1965 (#34)
One Fine Day Chiffons, The 1963 (#5)
One for My Baby (& One for the Road) Frank Sinatra 1943 Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen
One Hand, One Heart   1957 Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein; from West Side Story
One Has My Name (The Other Has My Heart) Barry Young 1965 (#13)
One in a Million Platters, The 1956 (#20)
One Kind Favor Peter, Paul & Mary 1964 based on "Blind Lemon" Jefferson’s "See That My Grave is Kept Clean, " ca 1927 & Bob Dylan's 1962 version
One Less Bell to Answer Marilyn McCoo 1970 Hal David, Burt Bacharach
One Less Set of Footsteps Jim Croce 1972 Jim Croce
One Little Candle Perry Como 1952 (#18) Joseph Roach, George Mysels
One More Minute   "Weird Al" Yankovic   "Weird Al" Yankovic
One More Town Kingston Trio, The 1962 (#97) Scott Weisman
One of These Nights Eagles, The 1975 (#1) Glenn Frey, Don Henley
One Step At A Time Brenda Lee 1957 (#43)
One Tin Solder Coven 1969 Dennis Lambert, Brian Potter; theme from the movie Billy Jack
One Toke Over the Line Brewer & Shipley 1971 (#10)
One Track Mind Bobby Lewis 1961 (#9)
One Three Dog Night 1969 (#5)
One-Two-Three Len Barry 1965 (#2)
Only In America Jay & The Americans 1963 (#25)
Only Love Can Break A Heart Gene Pitney 1962 (#2) Hal David, Burt Bacharach
Only the Lonely Roy Orbison 1960 (#2) Roy Orbison, Joe Melson
Only the Strong Survive Jerry Butler 1960 (#8) Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff, Jerry Butler
Only Yesterday Carpenters, The 1975 John Bettis, Richard Carpenter; Karen died 2/4/83
Only You   Platters, The 1955 (#5) Buck Ram, Ande Rand
Ooh Baby Baby Miracles, The 1965 (#16)
Oop-Shoop Crew-Cuts, The 1954 (#13)
Open Up Your Heart (and Let the Sunshine In) Cowboy Church Sunday School, The 1955 (#8) Stuart Hamblen
Operator Jim Croce 1971 Jim Croce
Opus One   Mills Brothers, The 1944 Sy Oliver
Orange Blossum Special Johnny Cash 1965 (#80)
Our Day Will Come   Ruby & The Romantics 1963 (#1) Mort Garson, Bob Hilliard
Our Heartbreaking Waltz Teresa Brewer 1954 (#23)
Our House Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young 1970 Graham Nash (about a house he & Joni Mitchell had owned in Laurel Canyon on Lookout Mountain Road)
Our Love Is Here to Stay   Nat "King" Cole 1950 George Gershwin (and Vernon Duke), & Ira Gershwin; George’s last song; intro’d in Goldwin Follies, 1938)
Our Way Penny Marshall & ?   Theme from LaVerne & Shirley
Our Winter Love Bill Pursell 1963 (#9) taught music at Vanderbilt
Out And About Tommy Boyce & Bobby Hart 1967 (#39) Tommy Boyce, Bobby Hart
Out of Nowhere Lena Horne 1941 Edward Heyman, Johnny Green
Out Of Sight James Brown & His Orchestra 1964 (#24)
Over and Over Dave Clark Five, The 1965 (#1) Robert Byrd
Over The Rainbow   Judy Garland 1939 E.Y. Harburg, Harold Arlen; in The Wizard of Oz; Oscar winner, 1939 (nearly dropped from film)
Over There Nora Bayes 1918 George M. Cohan, William Jerome
Over Under Sideways Down Yardbirds, The 1966 (#13) Jeff Beck, Chris Dreja
Overs   Simon & Garfunkel 1968 Paul Simon; on Bookends
Oyé Como Va Santana 1971 (#13) Tito Puente
P.S. I Love You Beatles, The 1964 (#10) John Lennon, Paul McCartney
P.S. I Love You Hilltoppers, The 1953 Johnny Mercer, Gordon Jenkins
P.T. 109 Jimmy Dean 1962 (#8) Marijohn Wilkin, Fred Burch
Paint It Black Rolling Stones, The 1966 Mick Jagger, Keith Richard
Painted Tainted Rose Al Martino 1963 Peter DeAngelis, Jean Sawyer
Palisades Park Freddy Cannon 1962 (#3) Words & Music by George Barris (The Gong Show)
Papa Loves Mambo Perry Como 1954 (#4) Al Hoffman, Dick Manning, Bix Reichner
Papa Was A Rolling Stone Temptations, The 1972 (#1) Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield; Grammy winner 1972 (R&B)
Papa's Got a Brand New Bag (Part 1) James Brown 1965 (#8) Grammy winner 1965 (R&B)
Pa-Paya Mama Perry Como 1953 (#11) Larry Coleman, Norman Gimbel & George Sandler
Paper Doll   Mills Brothers, The 1942 Johnny Black, 1930; not published until 1942
Paper Roses   Anita Bryant 1960 (#5) Janice Torre, Fred Spielman, 1955 (also Marie Osmond, #5 in 1973)
Paperback Writer Beatles, The 1966 John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Party Doll Buddy Knox 1957 (#1) James Bowen, Buddy Knox
Party Lights Claudine Clark 1962 (#5) Claudine Clark
Party’s Over, The Willie Nelson 1967 Betty Comden, Adolph Green, Jule Styne
Patches (I’m Depending on You)   1970 General Johnson, Ronald Dunbar; Grammy winner 1970 (R&B)
Patches Dickey Lee 1962 (#6) Larry Kolber, Barry Mann
Patricia Perez Prado 1958 (#1) Perez Prado; in the movie La Dolce Vita
Pay Me My Money Down Weavers, The   Lydia A. Parish (adapted from a Georgia Sea Islands slave song)
Peace in the Valley Red Foley 1951 Rev. Thomas A Dorsey; also recorded by Elvis Presley, 1957 (#25)
Peace Train Cat Stevens 1971 (#7) Cat Stevens
Peaceful Easy Feeling Eagles, The 1973 (#22) Jack Tempchin? Don Henley & Glenn Frey?
Peg 'o My Heart Jerry Murad & the Harmonicats   Alfred Bryan & Fischer
Peggy Sue Buddy Holly 1957 (#3) Jerry Allison, Norman Petty, Buddy Holly
Pennies From Heaven   Bing Crosby 1936 John Burke, Arthur Johnston; from the movie of the same name
Pennsylvania 6-5000 Glenn Miller Orchestra 1940 Jerry Gray
Penny Lane   Beatles, The 1967 John Lennon, Paul McCartney
People Got to be Free Rascals, The 1968 (#1 for 5 weeks) Edward Briganti, Jr. & Felix Cavaliere (3/4’s of Joey Dee’s "starlighters")
People Will Say We’re In Love Gordon MacRae 1943 Oscar Hammerstein II, Richard Rodgers; from the musical "Oklahome"
People Barbra Streisand 1964 (#5) Bob Merrill & Jule Styne; from the movie "Funny Girl"
Peppermint Twist Joey Dee & The Starlighters 1961 (#1) Joey Dee, Harry Glover
Perfidia Ventures, The 1960 (#15) Alberto dominguez & Milton Leeds, 1941; originally in the movie "Stardust on the Stage"
Personality Lloyd Price 1959 (#2) Harold Logan, Lloyd Price
Peter And the Wolf   1937 Serge Prokofieff
Peter Cottontail Gene Autry 1949 Steven Nelson, Walter E. Rollins
Peter Gunn Ray Anthony & His Orchestra 1959 (#8) Henry Mancini (his first big hit); Grammy winner 1959
Petite Fleur Chris Barber’s Jazz Band 1959 (#5) (instrumental) Sidney Bechet, 1952; clarinet solo by Monty Sunshine
Photograph Ringo Starr 1973 (#1) George Harrison, Ringo Starr
Piano Man, The Billy Joel 1974 (#25) Billy Joel; song was actually true & autobiographical as "Bill Martin" in L.A.
Picnic McGuire Sisters, The 1956 (#13) Steve Allen, George Dunning
Piece of My Heart Janis Joplin 1968 Previously rec. by Erma Franklin, 1967
Pied Piper, The Crispain St. Peter 1965 A. Kernfeld, Steve Duboff
Pinball Wizard, The Who, The 1975 Peter Townshend; from the rock opera "Tommy"
Pink Shoe Laces Dodie Stevens 1959 (#3) Mickie Grant
Pipeline Chantay’s, The 1963 (#4)
Pirate Looks At 40, A   Jimmy Buffettt 1974 Jimmy Buffett
Pittsburg, Pennsylvania Guy Mitchell 1959 Bob Merrill
Plastic Jesus   1967 George Cromarty, Ed Rush; from the movie Cool Hand Luke
Play A Simple Melody Bing Crosby 1931 Irving Berlin, 1914; from the Broadway show "Watch Your Step"
Play Me Hearts and Flowers Johnny Desmond 1955 (#6) Mann Curtis, Sanford Green
Play Me Neil Diamond   Neil Diamond
Play That Funky Music, White Boy Wild Cherry 1976 (#1 for 3 weeks) Robert Parissi
Pleasant Valley Sunday Monkees, The    
Please Come to Boston David Allan Coe   David Loggins
Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone   Arlo Guthrie 1982 Clare & Palmer
Please Help Me, I’m Falling Hank Locklin 1960 (#8) Hal Blair, Don Robertson
Please Mister Please Olivia Newton-John 1975 (#3) John Rostill, Bruce Welch
Please Mr. Custer Larry Verne 1960 (#1) Fred Darien, Al DeLory, Joseph Van Winkle
Please Mr. Postman Marvelettes, The 1961 (#1) Brian Holland, Robert Bateman, Fred Garman
Please Please Me Beatles, The 1964 (#3) John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Please Release Me Engelbert Humperdink 1967 (#4) Eddie Miller, W.S. Stevenson
Please Stay Drifters, The 1961 (#14) Maurice Williams
Poems, Prayers & Promises John Denver 1971 John Denver
Poetry In Motion Johnny Tillotson 1960 (#2) Mike Anthony, Paul Kaufman
Poetry Man Phoebe Snow 1975 (#5) Phoebe Snow
Poison Ivy Coasters, The 1959 (#7) Jerry Lieber, Mike Stoller
Polk Salad Annie Tony Joe White 1969 (#8) Tony Joe White
Pony Time Chubby Checker 1961 (#1) Don Covey, John Barry; artist real name Ernest Evans
Poor Butterfly Hilltoppers, The 1954 (#12) Johnny Golden, Raymond Hubbell, 1916
Poor Little Fool Ricky Nelson 1958 (#1) Sharon Sheeley (Eddie Cochran’s girlfriend)
Poor People of Paris, The Les Baxter with His Chorus & Orchestra 1956 (#1) Eng. Jack Lawrence, Marguerite Monnot
Poor Side of Town Johnny Rivers 1966 Johnny Rivers, Lou Adler
Popcicles, Icicles Mermaids, The 1963 (#3) David Gates (later of Bread)
Portrait of My Love   Steve Lawrence 1961 (#9) Cyril Ornadel, Norman Newell
Positively 4th Street Bob Dylan 1965 (#7) Bob Dylan
Preacher And The Bear, The Phil Harris 1947 George Fairman; arr Arthur Longbrake for Arthur Collins(1904)
Pretend   Nat "King" Cole 1953 Lew Douglas, Cliff Parman, Frank Levere
Pretty Ballerina Left Banke, The 1967 (#15) Mike Brown
Pretty Blue Eyes Steve Lawrence 1959 (#9) Teddy Randazzo
Pretty Boy Floyd Byrds, The 1968 Woody Guthrie
Pretty Girl Is Like A Melody, A   1919 Irving Berlin
Pretty Little Angel Eyes Curtis Lee 1961 (#7)
Pretty Woman Roy Orbison 1964 (#1 for 3 weeks) Roy Orbison, William Dees
Primrose Lane Jerry Wallace with The Jewels 1959 (#8)
Prisoner of Love Billy Eckstine 1945 Russ Columboa (first recorded), Leo Robin, Clarence Gaskill
Private Dancer Tina Turner 1985 (#7)
Private Eyes Hall & Oates 1981 (#1)
Problems Everly Brothers, The 1958 (#2)
Promise Her Anything Dean Martin 1957 Roy Alfred
Promises Eric Clapton    
Promises, Promises Dionne Warwick 1968 Hal David, Burt Bacharach; from the musical of the same name
Proud Mary Credence Clearwater Revival 1969 (#2 for 3 weeks) John Fogarty (Ike & Tina Turner 1971 #4)
Puff the Magic Dragon Peter, Paul & Mary 1963 (#2) Leonard Lipton, Peter Yarrow; Yarrow credited lyricist Lipton, who’d forgotten he wrote the 3-minute poem!
Puppy Love Paul Anka 1960 (#2) Paul Anka
Purple People Eater, The Sheb Wooley 1958 (#1 for 6 weeks) Sheb Wooley
Pusher, The Steppenwolf 1969 Hoyt Axton; used in the movie "Easy Rider"
Pussycat Tom Jones 1965 (#3)
Put A Little Love In Your Heart Jackie DeShannon 1969 Randy James Myers, Jackie DeShannon, Jimmy Holiday
Put Another Log On The Fire      
Put On Your Old Grey Bonnet   1910 Percy Wenrich, Stanley Murphy
Put Your Arms Around Me   1910 Junie McCree, Albert Von Tilzer
Put Your Hand in the Hand   1971 Gene MacLellan
Put Your Head on My Shoulder Paul Anka 1959 (#2) Paul Anka
Puttin’ On the Ritz Taco 1983 (#4) Irving Berlin (#1 for Harry Richman, 1930)
Quarter To Three Gary "U.S." Bonds 1961 (#1)
Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be) Doris Day 1956 (#2) Jay Livingston, Ray Evans; in The Man Who Knew Too Much; Oscar winner, 1956
Queen of the House Jody Miller 1965 (#12)
Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars   Tony Bennett 1962 Antonio Carlos Jobim (Eng. Gene Lees)
Quiet Village Martin Denny & His Orchestra 1959 (#4) Les Baxter
Race Is On, The Jack Jones 1965 (#15) Don Rollins
Racing With the Moon Vaughn Monroe 1941 Vaughn Monroe, Pauline Pope, Johnny Watson
Rag Doll Four Seasons, The 1964 (#1) Robert Crewe, Robert Gaudio
Rag Mop Ames Brothers, The 1951 (#1) Johnny Lee Wills, Deacon Anderson
Rags to Riches Tony Bennett 1953 (#1) Richard Adler, Jerry Ross; backed by Percy Faith's orchestra
Ragtime Cowboy Joe   1911 Lewis Muir, Grant Clarke, Maurice Abrahams
Rain, Rain, Rain Frankie Laine & Four Lads 1954 (#21)
Rain, The Park & Other Things, The   Cowsills, The 1967 (#2) Artie Kornfield, Steve Duboff
Rainbow Connection, The Kermit (aka Don Henson) 1979 Paul Williams, Kenneth Ascher
Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head B.J. Thomas 1969 (#1 for 4 wks) Bert Bacharach & Hal David, in Burtch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid, Oscar winner 1969
Raindrops Dee Clark 1961 (#2) Dee Clark
Raining In My Heart Buddy Holly 1959 (#88) (charted poshumously)
Rainy Day People Gordon Lightfoot 1975 (#26) Gordon Lightfoot
Rainy Day Woman Bob Dylan 1966 (#2) Bob Dylan
Rainy Days & Mondays Carpenters, The 1972 (#2) Paul Williams, Roger Nichols; Karen died 2/4/83
Rama Lama Ding Dong Edsels, The 1961 (#21)
Ramblin’ Man Allman Brothers, The 1973 (#2) Dickey Betts
Ramblin’ Rose Nat "King" Cole 1962 Joe & Noel Sherman
Ramona      
Ramrod Duane Eddy 1958 (#27) (instrumental)
Raspberries, Strawberries Kingston Trio, The 1959 (#70)
Raunchy Bill Justis & His Orchestra 1957 (#2) William Justis, Sidney Manker (also Billy Vaughn #10)
Rave On Buddy Holly & The Crickets 1958 (#37)
Razzle-Dazzle Bill Haley & His Comets 1955 (#15) Fred Ebb, John Kander
Reach Out for Me Dionne Warwick 1964 (#20) Hal David, Burt Bacharach
Reason to Believe Carpenters, The 1970 Tim Hardin (Hardin died in 1980 at 39) ; Karen died 2/4/83
Rebel Rouser Duane Eddy 1958 (#6)
Red Red Wine UB40 1988 (#1)
Red River Rock Johnny & The Hurricanes 1959 (#5) Based on Red River Valley, 1896
Red River Valley   1896 Based on James Kerrigan’s "In the Bright Mohawk Valley" and that in turn on a Canadian folk song
Red Roses For A Blue Lady Bert Kaempfert 1965 (#11) Sid Tepper, Roy Brodsky, 1948; also Vaughn Monroe, 1948
Red Rubber Ball Cyrckle, The 1966 (#2) Paul Simon, Bruce Woodley
Red Sails In the Sunset   Platters, The 1960 (#36) Jimmy Kennedy, Hugh Williams, 1935 (two #1s in 1936, #2 on Hit Parade, 1935)
Reflections Supremes, The 1967 (#2) Eddie Holland, Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier
Remember (Walkin’ in the Sand) Shangri-Las, The 1964 (#5)
Remember Me, I'm the One Who Loves You Dean Martin 1965 (#32) Al Dubin, Harry Warren (1937?)
Remember Association, The   Gary Alexander
Requiem For the Masses Association, The   Terry Kirkman
Rescue Me Fontella Bass 1965 (#4)
Respect Aretha Franklin 1966 Grammy winner 1966 (R&B)
Restroom Door Said Gentlemen, The      
Return to Me Dean Martin 1958 (#4) Danny DiMinno, Carmen Lombardo
Reuben James Kenny Rogers 1969 (#26) Barry Etris, Alex Harvey
Reveille Rock Johnny & The Hurricanes 1959 (#25) (instrumental)
Reverand Mr. Black, The Kingston Trio, The 1963 (#8) Billy Ed Wheeler, J. Peters
Rhapsody in Blue   1924 George Gershwin
Rhiannon Fleetwood Mac 1976 Stephanie "Stevie" Nicks
Rhinestone Cowboy Glen Campbell 1975 (#1) Larry Weiss
Rhythm of the Rain   Cascades, The 1963 (#3) John Gummoc
Rich Girl Hall & Oates 1977 (#1) Daryl Hall
Ricochet (Rick-O-Shay) Teresa Brewer 1953 (#2) Larry Coleman, Joe Darion, Norman Gimbel
Ride, The   David Allan Coe   David Allan Coe
Ride Captain Ride   Blues Image 1970 (#4) Frank Konte, Carlos Pibnera
Ride Like the Wind Christopher Cross 1980 (#2) Christopher Cross
Riders In the Sky Vaughn Monroe 1949 Stan Jones, from movie same name; also by Burl Ives, 1949; losely based on "When Johnny Comes Marching Home"
Right Down the Line   Gerry Rafferty 1978 (#12)
Right Field   Peter, Paul & Mary 1986  
Right Or Wrong Patsy Cline    
Right Time of the Night   Jennifer Warnes    
Rikki Don’t Lose That Number Steely Dan 1974 (#4)
Ring of Fire Johnny Cash 1963 (#17) Merle Kilgore, June Carter
Ringo Lorne Green 1964 (#1) Hal Blair, Don Robertson
Rip It Up Little Richard 1956 (#17)
Rise Herb Alpert 1979 (#1) Andy Armor, Randy Alpert (on charts 25 weeks, Alpert’s only #1)
River Is Wide, The   Kingston Trio, The   Traditional English folk tune, new lyric by Ovid Young
River of No Return Tennessee Ernie Ford 1954 (#30) in the Marilyn Monroe movie River of No Return
River Stay Away From My Door   1931 Harry Woods, Mort Dixon
Rock and Roll Is Here to Stay Danny & The Juniors 1958 (#19)
Rock And Roll Music Chuck Berry 1957 (#2) Chuck Berry
Rock And Roll Waltz Kay Starr 1955 (#1 for 5 weeks) Dick Ware, Shorty Allen
Rock Around the Clock Bill Haley 1955 (#1 for 8 weeks) Mac Freedman & Jimmy DeKnight
Rock Island Line Anthony "Lonnie" Donegan 1956 (#8) Arr/Adapt by Lonnie Donegan from Huddie Ledbetter & The Weavers
Rock Love Fontane Sisters, The 1955 (#13) Henry Glover
Rock Me Gently Andy Kim 1974 Andy Kim
Rock On David Essex 1973 David Essex
Rock the Boat Hues Corporation, The 1974 (#1) Waldo Holmes
Rock-a-Beatin' Boogie Bill Haley & His Comets 1955 (#23)
Rock-A-Bye Your Baby With A Dixie Melody Jerry Lewis 1956 (#10) Sam Lewis, Joe Young, Jean Schwartz (Al Jolsen #1 in 1918)
Rocka-Conga Applejacks, The 1958 (#38)
Rocket Man Elton John 1972 (#6)
Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree Brenda Lee 1960 (#14)
Rockin’ Robin Bobby Day 1958 (#2) Jimmie Thomas did NOT write--Leon & Irma Rene did; later #2 for Michael Jackson, 1972
Rocky Mountain High John Denver 1972 (#9) (on charts 19 weeks) John Denver & Michael Taylor
Rocky Raccoon Beatles, The   John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Roland, The Headless Thompson Gunner Warren Zevon   Warren Zevon
Roll Over Beethoven Chuck Berry 1956 (#29) Chuck Berry
Rollin’ Around Up In Heaven      
Room Without Windows, A Frank Sinatra 1964 Ervin Drake, in the movie What Makes Sammy Run
Rosanna Toto 1982 (#2 for 5 weeks)
Rose Marie Nelson Eddy 1924 Otto Harbach, Oscar Hammerstein II, Rudolf Friml
Rose of Washington Square   1920 Janes Hanley, Ballard MacDonald
Rose, The Bette Midler 1980 (#3) Linda Bloom, 1977; from the movie The Rose
Roses Are Red, My Love Bobby Vinton 1962 (#4) Al Byron, Paul Evans
Round And Round   Perry Como 1957 (#1 - on charts 7 months) Leo Stallman, Joe Shapiro
Route 66 Nat "King" Cole Trio 1946 Bob Troup
Rovin’ Gambler Brothers Four, The   arr & adp by Ron Green
Row, Row, Row Your Boat   1852 earliest published words 1852, earliest published music 1881
Rubber Ball Bobby Vee 1960 (#6) Anne Orlowski, Aaron Schroeder
Rubber Duckie Jim Henson (as Ernie) 1970 Jeffrey Moss
Ruby (Don’t Take Your Love to Town) Kenny Rogers 1969 (#6) Mel Tillis
Ruby (It’s You)   Ray Charles 1960 (#28) Mitchell Parrish, Heinz Roenheld (earlier instrumentals by Richard Hayman Orch., 1953 and by Les Baxter)
Ruby Baby Dion 1963 (#2) Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
Rudolph The Red-Nosed Raindeer Gene Autry 1949 Johnny Marks
Rum And Coca-Cola   1945 Sp. w.Clotilde Arias, Eng. Morrie Amsterdam, m. Jeri Sullavan, Paul Baron; based on a Lionel Belasco tune of 1906
Rumble Link Wray & His Ray Men 1958 (#16) (instrumental) Link Wray, Mel Grant; Wray pioneered tremelo, distortion and feedback
Run For the Roses Dan Fogelberg 1982 (#18)
Run For Your Life Beatles, The 1965 John Lennon, Paul McCartney
Run to Him Bobby Vee 1961 (#2) Gerry Goffin, Jack Keller
Runaround Sue Dion 1961 (#1) Ernie Maresca, Dion DiMucci
Runaway Del Shannon 1961 (#1 for 4 weeks) Max Crook, Charles Westover; Shannon committed suicide 2/90
Running Bear Johnny Preston 1959 (#1 for 3 weeks) J. P. "Big Bopper" Richard, also sang backup
Running Scared Roy Orbison 1961 (#1) Roy Orbison, Joe Melson