The following lists the top 25 (end of year) charting singles on the Australian Singles Charts, for the year of 1961. These were the best charting singles in Australia for 1961. The source for this year is the "Kent Music Report

Kent Music Report

The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998...

", known from 1987 onwards as the "Australian Music Report".

#	I'm Gonna Knock on Your Door I'm Gonna Knock on Your Door "I'm Gonna Knock on Your Door", written by Aaron Schroeder and Sid Wayne, is a song that was an originally released by The Isley Brothers in 1959 and became hit for teenage actor Eddie Hodges in 1961... "	Eddie Hodges Eddie Hodges Eddie Hodges is a United States former child actor and recording artist who left show business as an adult.-Early life and career:Hodges was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, U.S. Hodges traveled to New York City with his family in 1952...	1	7
2.	"Runaway Runaway (Del Shannon song) "Runaway" was a number-one Billboard Hot 100 song made famous by Del Shannon in 1961. It was written by Shannon and keyboardist Max Crook, and became a major international hit... "	Del Shannon Del Shannon Del Shannon was an American rock and roll singer-songwriter who had a No. 1 hit, "Runaway", in 1961.- Biography :...	1	6
3.	"Wooden Heart Wooden Heart "Wooden Heart " is a song best known for its use in the 1960 Elvis Presley film G.I. Blues. The song was a hit for Presley in the United Kingdom, making number one for six weeks, but wasn't released as a single in the United States until November 1964 as the B-side to "Blue Christmas"... "	Elvis Presley Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....	1	4
4.	"Hello Mary Lou Hello Mary Lou "Hello Mary Lou" is a song written by U.S. singer Gene Pitney and Cayet Mangiaracina and performed by Ricky Nelson in English and German in 1961. It reached #9 on the Billboard music charts on May 28, 1961, although the other side of the single, "Travelin' Man", hit #1... "	Ricky Nelson Ricky Nelson Eric Hilliard Nelson , better known as Ricky Nelson or Rick Nelson, was an American singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, and actor...	1	5
5.	"My Boomerang Won't Come Back My Boomerang Won't Come Back "My Boomerang Won't Come Back" was a novelty record by British comedian Charlie Drake which became a surprise hit on both sides of the Atlantic in 1961.... "	Charlie Drake Charlie Drake Charlie Drake was an English comedian, actor, writer and singer.With his small stature , curly red hair and liking for slapstick he was a popular comedian with children in his early years, becoming nationally-known for his "Hello, my darlings" catchphrase...	1	6 (pkd #1 in 1960 & 61)
6.	"A Scottish Soldier A Scottish Soldier "A Scottish soldier" is a Scottish folk song.The lyrics were written by Andy Stewart. The song is about a dying Scottish soldier, wishing to return to the hills of his homeland rather than die in Tyrol. The song was one of two US chart entries by Andy Stewart. "A Scottish Soldier" reached no... "	Andy Stewart Andy Stewart (musician) Andrew "Andy" Stewart MBE was a Scottish singer and entertainer.-Career:The use of tartan patriotism and stereotypical Scottish humour goes back to Sir Harry Lauder and music hall songs. In the 1960s this strand was continued by the entertainer Andy Stewart.He was born in Glasgow, Scotland in...	1	1
7.	"I'm Counting on You"	Johnny O'Keefe Johnny O'Keefe John Michael O'Keefe, known as Johnny O'Keefe was an Australian rock and roll singer whose career began in the 1950s. Some of his hits include "Wild One" , "Shout!" and "She's My Baby"...	1	3
8.	"Wonderland by Night Wonderland by Night "Wonderland by Night" is a popular song by Bert Kaempfert that was a Billboard number one hit for three weeks, starting January 9, 1961. It was Kaempfert's first hit with his orchestra. Another cover, recorded and released by Louis Prima, also charted in the same year, reaching #15 on the... "	Bert Kaempfert and His Orchestra Bert Kaempfert Bert Kaempfert was a German orchestra leader and songwriter. He made easy listening and jazz-oriented records, and wrote the music for a number of well-known songs, such as "Strangers in the Night" and "Spanish Eyes".-Biography:He was born in Hamburg, Germany - where he received his lifelong...	1	3
9.	"Theme from Exodus"	Ferrante and Teicher	2
10.	"Crying Crying Crying is shedding tears as a response to an emotional state in humans. The act of crying has been defined as "a complex secretomotor phenomenon characterized by the shedding of tears from the lacrimal apparatus, without any irritation of the ocular structures"... " / "Candy Man"	Roy Orbison Roy Orbison Roy Kelton Orbison was an American singer-songwriter, well known for his distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads. Orbison grew up in Texas and began singing in a rockabilly/country & western band in high school until he was signed by Sun Records in Memphis...	1	3
11.	"Goodbye Cruel World Goodbye Cruel World (James Darren song) "Goodbye Cruel World" is a song written by Gloria Shayne Baker, who also wrote the well-known Christmas carol, "Do You Hear What I Hear?" and several songs for singer Lesley Gore. The most famous recording of this song is by James Darren. Released as a single in 1961, Darren scored his first top... "	James Darren James Darren James William Ercolani , known by his stage name James Darren, is an American television and film actor, television director, and singer.-Career:...	1	2
12.	"Rubber Ball Rubber Ball (song) "Rubber Ball" was an early 1961 hit for Bobby Vee on Liberty Records. In fact, it was the record which made Vee an international star. The song was recorded on August 12, 1960 in a four-song, 3-hour session at United in Hollywood... "	Bobby Vee Bobby Vee Robert Thomas Velline , known as Bobby Vee, is an American pop music singer. According to Billboard magazine, Vee has had 38 Hot 100 chart hits, 10 of which hit the Top 20.-Career:...	1	3
13.	"Mexico Mexico (Bob Moore song) "Mexico" is the title of a 1961 instrumental recording by American bassist, orchestra leader and Rockabilly Hall of Fame member Bob Moore. Moore was a noted session musician in the 1950s and 1960s who worked with Elvis Presley, Pat Boone, Roy Orbison and Brenda Lee, among others... "	Bob Moore and His Orchestra Bob Moore Bob Loyce Moore is an American session musician, orchestra leader, and bassist who was a member of the legendary Nashville A-Team during the 1950s and 60s.-Biography:...	1	2
14.	"Surrender Surrender (Elvis Presley song) "Surrender" is a #1 song recorded by Elvis Presley and published by Elvis Presley Music in 1961. It is an adaptation by Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman of the music of a 1902 Neapolitan ballad by Giambattista and Ernesto de Curtis entitled "Torna a Surriento" . It hit number one in the US and UK in 1961... "	Elvis Presley Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....	1	3
15.	"One Last Kiss"	Crash Craddock	1	1
16.	"Wheels Wheels (The String-A-Longs song) Wheels is The String-A-Longs' biggest hit single , in 1961 . The tune peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was the number 8 single of 1961 according to Billboard. The track reached number 8 in the UK Singles Chart... "	The String-A-Longs The String-A-Longs The String-A-Longs were an instrumental group from Plainview, Texas, produced by Norman Petty on Warwick Records. They consisted of Richard Stephens, lead guitar, Keith McCormack and Jimmy Torres, rhythm guitars, Aubrey de Cordova, bass guitar and Don Allen, drums.Their biggest hit single was...	2
17.	"Michael Michael Row the Boat Ashore Michael, Row the Boat Ashore is an African-American spiritual. It was first noted during the American Civil War at St. Helena Island, one of the Sea Islands of South Carolina.... "	The Highwaymen The Highwaymen (folk band) The Highwaymen were a circa 1960 "collegiate folk" group, which originated at Wesleyan University and had a Billboard number-one hit in 1961 with "Michael" and another Top 20 hit in 1962 with "Cottonfields"...	1	1
18.	"Take Good Care of My Baby Take Good Care of My Baby "Take Good Care of My Baby" is a song written by Carole King and Gerry Goffin and made famous by Bobby Vee, when it was released in 1961. It quickly became popular, reaching #1 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 in September. The song was covered by The Beatles during their audition at Decca Records on... "	Bobby Vee Bobby Vee Robert Thomas Velline , known as Bobby Vee, is an American pop music singer. According to Billboard magazine, Vee has had 38 Hot 100 chart hits, 10 of which hit the Top 20.-Career:...	3
19.	"(Marie's the Name of) His Latest Flame" / "Little Sister Little Sister (Pomus/Shuman song) "Little Sister" is a rock and roll song written by Doc Pomus & Mort Shuman. It was originally released as a single in 1961 by American singer Elvis Presley, who turned it into a #5 hit on the Billboard Hot 100... "	Elvis Presley Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....	2
20.	"Baby Face Baby Face (1926 song) Baby Face is a popular song. The music was written by Harry Akst, the lyrics by Benny Davis. The song was published in 1926. That same year, Jan Garber had a number one hit with the song.... " / "How Many Tears"	Bobby Vee Bobby Vee Robert Thomas Velline , known as Bobby Vee, is an American pop music singer. According to Billboard magazine, Vee has had 38 Hot 100 chart hits, 10 of which hit the Top 20.-Career:...	3
21.	"Sad Movies (Make Me Cry) Sad Movies (Make Me Cry) "Sad Movies " is a 1961 pop song by the American singer Sue Thompson. The song was written by John D. Loudermilk and appears on Thompson's 1962 Hickory Records album Meet Sue Thompson.... "	Sue Thompson Sue Thompson Sue Thompson is an American pop and country music singer. She is best known for the million selling hits "Sad Movies " and "Norman", both pop hits for her in the 1960s.-Early life:...	6
22.	"Sailor (Seeman) Sailor (Song) Sailor is a song written by Werner Scharfenberger and Fini Busch which via a 1960 recording by Lolita became an international hit, with its #5 peak on the Hot 100 chart in Billboard making "Sailor" the most successful American hit sung in German until 99 Luftballons by Nena in 1984.With English... "	Lolita	6
23.	"Together Together (1928 song) "Together" is a 1928 popular song with music by Ray Henderson and lyrics by Buddy G. DeSylva and Lew Brown. The most popular 1928 recording of the song, by Paul Whiteman, with Bix Beiderbecke on cornet, was a #1 hit for two weeks.... "	Connie Francis Connie Francis Connie Francis is an American pop singer of Italian heritage and the top-charting female vocalist of the 1950s and 1960s. Although her chart success waned in the second half of the 1960s, Francis remained a top concert draw...	2
24.	"Hit the Road Jack Hit the Road Jack "Hit the Road Jack" is a song written by rhythm and bluesman Percy Mayfield and first recorded in 1960 as an a capella demo sent to Art Rupe, available on the Memory Pain CD vol. 2, Specialty Records SPCD-7027-2. It became famous after it was recorded by singer-pianist Ray Charles. It hit number... "	Ray Charles Ray Charles Ray Charles Robinson , known by his shortened stage name Ray Charles, was an American musician. He was a pioneer in the genre of soul music during the 1950s by fusing rhythm and blues, gospel, and blues styles into his early recordings with Atlantic Records...	3
25.	"Little Devil Little Devil "Little Devil" is a song written by Neil Sedaka and Howard Greenfield and sung by Neil Sedaka. It was the title track of Sedaka's 1961 album Neil Sedaka Sings Little Devil and His Other Hits. It was released in 1961 and became a hit for him reaching #11 in the US Billboard Charts."Little Devil" was... "	Neil Sedaka Neil Sedaka Neil Sedaka is an American pop/rock singer, pianist, and composer. His career has spanned nearly 55 years, during which time he has sold millions of records as an artist and has written or co-written over 500 songs for himself and other artists, collaborating mostly with lyricists Howard...	3

These charts are calculated by David Kent of the Kent Music Report

Kent Music Report

The Kent Music Report was a weekly record chart of Australian music singles and albums which was compiled by music enthusiast David Kent from May 1974 through to 1998...

and they are based on the number of weeks and position the records reach within the top 100 singles for each week.

source: David Kent's "Australian Chart Book 1940-1969"