Billboard Top R&B Records of 1961 is the year-end chart compiled by Billboard magazine ranking the top rhythm and blues singles of 1961.[1]
| R&B<br>rank | Pop rank[2] | Title | Artist(s) | Label | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | "Tossin' and Turnin'" | Beltone | ||
| 2 | 65 | "It's Gonna Work Out Fine" | Sue | ||
| 3 | NR | "Don't Cry No More" | Duke | ||
| 4 | NR | "Hide Away" | Federal | ||
| 5 | 24 | "Shop Around" | Tamla | ||
| 6 | 6 | "My True Story" | Beltone | ||
| 7 | 34 | "I Like It Like That" | Instant | ||
| 8 | 63 | "Stand by Me" | Atco | ||
| 9 | 21 | "Mother-in-Law" | Minit | ||
| 10 | NR | "All in My Mind" | Nomar | ||
| 11 | NR | "I Pity the Fool" | Bobby Bland | Duke | |
| 12 | NR | "Every Beat of My Heart" | Vee Jay | ||
| 13 | NR | "Baby You're Right" | King | ||
| 14 | 15 | "Last Night" | Satellite | ||
| 15 | NR | "For My Baby" | Mercury | ||
| 16 | 25 | "Boll Weevil Song" | Brook Benton | Mercury | |
| 17 | 19 | "Hit the Road Jack" | ABC-Paramount | ||
| 18 | NR | "I Don't Mind" | James Brown | King | |
| 19 | 53 | "Ya Ya" | Fury | ||
| 20 | 16 | "Will You Love Me Tomorrow" | Scepter | ||
| 21 | 60 | "One Mint Julep" | Ray Charles | Impulse | |
| 22 | 40 | "Blue Moon" | Colpix | ||
| 23 | 31 | "Quarter to Three" | Le Grand | ||
| 24 | NR | "At Last" | Argo | ||
| 25 | 9 | "Raindrops" | Vee Jay | ||
| 26 | 7 | "Pony Time" | Parkway | ||
| 27 | NR | "Bright Lights, Big City" | Vee Jay | ||
| 28 | 41 | "Daddy's Home" | Hull | ||
| 29 | 78 | "Think Twice" | Brook Benton | Mercury | |
| 30 | NR | "Please Mr. Postman" | Tamla | ||
| 31 | NR | "I Don't Want to Cry!" | Wand | ||
| 32 | 62 | "Gee Whiz (Look at His Eyes)" | Atlantic | ||
| 33 | NR | "You Can Have Her" | Epic | ||
| 34 | NR | "A Little Bit of Soap" | Laurie | ||
| 35 | NR | "Trust in Me" | Etta James | Argo | |
| 36 | 46 | "Runaround Sue" | Laurie | ||
| 37 | NR | "Driving Wheel" | Duke | ||
| 38 | 82 | "Let the Four Winds Blow" | Imperial | ||
| 39 | 81 | "Mama Said" | The Shirelles | Scepter | |
| 40 | NR | "Exodus" | Vee Jay | ||
| 41 | NR | "Lonesome Whistle Blues" | Freddy King | Federal | |
| 42 | NR | "Take My Love" | King | ||
| 43 | NR | "The Switch-a-Roo" | King | ||
| 44 | 22 | "Bristol Stomp" | Parkway | ||
| 45 | NR | "Look in My Eyes" | Carlton | ||
| 46 | 14 | "Dedicated to the One I Love" | The Shirelles | Scepter | |
| 47 | NR | "San-Ho-Zay" | Freddy King | Federal | |
| 48 | NR | "Don't Cry Baby" | Etta James | Argo | |
| 49 | NR | "Find Another Girl" | Vee Jay | ||
| 50 | NR | "That's What Girls Are Made For" | Tri-Phi |