Top 100 Best Selling R&B Soul Songs of 1959

Below is a list of the best selling Soul R&B songs from 1959, sorted by the most popular or best selling first. Click "year" to sort by year. Place mouse on to see information about song. Click song title to play song and to read details about the song including lyrics (if available). Click checkbox to add song to playlist. Click checkbox at top of column to add all songs below it to playlist. Click label to list songs from that record label. Following on from the top 100 chart are listings of hundreds of other lesser-known Soul R&B songs from 1959.

(Songs are sorted in highest US R&B Top 100 and/or UK Top 100 chart position order)

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1 record label: ABC 9972
chart position: RandB #1, US #1, UK #7
written by: traditional, Harold Logan and Lloyd Price
comments: [Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #456]
 		Lloyd Price Stagger Lee
1959 ABC
2 record label: Fury 1023
chart position: RandB #1, US #1
written by: Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
album: Kansas City
 		Wilbert Harrison Kansas City
1959 Fury
3 record label: ABC Paramount 10018
chart position: RandB #1, US #2, UK #9
written by: Harold Logan and Lloyd Price
album: Mr. 'Personality'
 		Lloyd Price Personality
1959 ABC Paramount
4 record label: Mercury 71394
chart position: RandB #1, US #3
written by: Brook Benton, Belford Hendricks and Clyde Otis
album: It's Just a Matter of Time
comments: [ballad]
 		Brook Benton It's Just a Matter of Time
1959 Mercury
5 record label: Atlantic 2025
chart position: RandB #1, US #2
written by: Benjamin Nelson, Lover Patterson and George Treadwell
comments: [Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #193]
 		The Drifters There Goes My Baby
1959 Atlantic
6 record label: Atco 6146
chart position: RandB #1, US #7, UK #15
written by: Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
comments: [Double sided hit.]
 		The Coasters Poison Ivy -- I'm a Hog for You
1959 Atco
7 record label: Brunswick 55105
chart position: RandB #1, US #7
written by: Berry Gordy and Billy Davis [Roquel Davis] (as Tyran Carlo)
album: Lonely Teardrops
comments: [Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs #308]
 		Jackie Wilson Lonely Teardrops
1959 Brunswick
8 record label: Mercury 71478
chart position: RandB #1, US #16
written by: Brook Benton and Clyde Otis
 		Brook Benton Thank You Pretty Baby
1959 Mercury
9 record label: ABC Paramount 10032
chart position: RandB #1, US #3, UK #23
written by: Harold Logan and Lloyd Price
album: Mr. 'Personality'
comments: Double sided hit.
 		Lloyd Price I'm Gonna Get Married -- Three Little Pigs
1959 ABC Paramount
10 record label: Cub 9049
chart position: RandB #3, US #2, UK #3
written by: Otis Blackwell, Jimmy Jones and Charles Merenstein
album: Good Timin'
 		Jimmy Jones Handy Man
1959 Cub
11 record label: Alton 254
chart position: RandB #1, US #46
written by: Julius Dixon
comments: [instrumental]
 		The Spacemen The Clouds
1959 Alton
12 record label: Atco 6132
chart position: RandB #2, US #2, UK #6
written by: Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
album: That Is Rock & Roll
 		The Coasters Charlie Brown
1959 Atco
13 record label: Clock 1009
chart position: RandB #5, US #1
written by: Dave Baby Cortez and Kurt Wood
comments: [instrumental]
 		Dave Baby Cortez The Happy Organ
1959 Clock
14 record label: MGM 9022
chart position: RandB #14, US #2, UK #28
written by: Artie Zwirn and Garry Giosasi
album: Sorry (I Ran All the Way Home)
 		The Impalas Sorry (I Ran All the Way Home)
1959 MGM
15 record label: Mercury 71465
chart position: RandB #1, US #2
written by: Phil Phillips and George Khoury
 		Phil Phillips & the Twilights Sea of Love
1959 Mercury
16 record label: RCA 47 7591
chart position: RandB #1, US #2
written by: Bobby Worth
album: Della
comments: [ballad]
 		Della Reese Don't You Know
1959 RCA
17 record label: Brunswick 55165
chart position: RandB #3, US #34
written by: Sid Wyche
album: So Much
 		Jackie Wilson Talk That Talk
1959 Brunswick
18 record label: Mercury 71477
chart position: RandB #5, US #7, UK #7
written by: Sherman Edwards and Hal David
album: The Magic Of Sarah Vaughan
comments: [jazz RnB]
 		Sarah Vaughan Broken-Hearted Melody
1959 Mercury
19 record label: London 9013
chart position: RandB #2, US #10, UK #7
written by: Billy Davis [Roquel Davis] (as Tyran Carlo), Gwen Gordy ,Berry Gordy and Marv Johnson
album: Marvelous Marv Johnson
 		Marv Johnson You Got What It Takes
1959 London
20 record label: Coed 506
chart position: RandB #4, US #2
weeksinr&bchart: 11
written by: Luther Dixon and Allyson Khent (as Allyson R. Khent)
album: The Crests Sing All Biggies
 		The Crests Sixteen Candles
1959 Coed
21 record label: Brunswick 55149
chart position: RandB #1, US #37
written by: Jackie Wilson and Norman Henry
album: Lonely Teardrops
 		Jackie Wilson You Better Know It
1959 Brunswick
22 record label: Imperial 5629
chart position: RandB #2, US #8, UK #11
written by: Fats Domino (as Antoine Domino), John Marascalco and Tommy Boyce
album: Sings Million Record Hits
 		Fats Domino Be My Guest
1959 Imperial
23 record label: Imperial 5606
chart position: RandB #1, US #8, UK #14
written by: Fats Domino (as Antoine Domino)
album: Lets Play Fats Domino
 		Fats Domino I Want to Walk You Home
1959 Imperial
24 record label: Brunswick 55136
chart position: RandB #6, US #20
written by: Berry Gordy (as Berry Gordy Jr.) and Billy Davis [Roquel Davis] (as Tyran Carlo)
album: So Much
 		Jackie Wilson I'll Be Satisfied
1959 Brunswick
25 record label: Big Top 45 3016
chart position: RandB #14, US #3
written by: Eliot Daniel and Larry Morey (traditional)
album: Lavender Blue Moods
comments: [ballad]
 		Sammy Turner Lavender Blue
1959 Big Top
26 record label: Mercury 71512
chart position: RandB #1, US #6
written by: Bobby Stevenson
album: I Love You In So Many Ways
 		Brook Benton So Many Ways
1959 Mercury
27 record label: Atlantic 2031
chart position: RandB #1, US #6
written by: Ray Charles
album: What'd I Say
 		Ray Charles What'd I Say (Part I)
1959 Atlantic
28 record label: Mercury 71435
chart position: RandB #4, US #8
written by: Grever and Adams
album: What a Diff'rence a Day Makes!
comments: [jazz RnB]
 		Dinah Washington What a Diff'rence a Day Makes
1959 Mercury
29 record label: Federal 12337
chart position: RandB #1, US #48
written by: James Brown
album: Please Please Please
comments: [ballad]
 		James Brown & The Famous Flames Try Me
1959 Federal
30 record label: Atco 6141
chart position: RandB #14, US #9
written by: Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
album: That Is Rock & Roll
 		The Coasters Along Came Jones
1959 Atco
31 record label: Atlantic 2040
chart position: RandB #2, US #15, UK #17
written by: George Treadwell, Irving Nahan, Jerry Leiber, Lewis Lebish and Mike Stoller
comments: B side to True Love, True Love
 		The Drifters Dance with Me
1959 Atlantic
32 record label: Mercury 71443
chart position: RandB #3, US #12, UK #28
written by: Brook Benton and Clyde Otis
album: Endlessly
 		Brook Benton Endlessly
1959 Mercury
33 record label: Big Top 45 3029
chart position: RandB #2, US #19, UK #26
written by: Irving Berlin
album: Lavender Blue Moods
 		Sammy Turner Always
1959 Big Top
34 record label: Old Town 1062
chart position: RandB #3, US #11
written by: Jim Gribble and Jesse Belvin (uncredited)
 		The Fiestas So Fine
1959 Old Town
35 record label: Calico 103
chart position: RandB #3, US #12
written by: Joe Rock, Jimmy Beaumont and Lennie Martin
album: The Skyliners
 		The Skyliners Since I Don't Have You
1959 Calico
36 record label: End 1046
chart position: RandB #3, US #11
written by: Harry Warren and Al Dubin
album: Flamingo Serenade
 		The Flamingos I Only Have Eyes for You
1959 End
37 record label: ABC Paramount 9997
chart position: RandB #4, US #23, UK #15
written by: Harold Logan, Lloyd Price and Patton
album: The Exciting Lloyd Price
 		Lloyd Price Where Were You (on Our Wedding Day)?
1959 ABC Paramount
38 record label: Abner 1026
chart position: RandB #9, US #18, UK #26
written by: Otis Blackwell
album: Dee Clark
 		Dee Clark Just Keep It Up
1959 Abner
39 record label: Brunswick 55121
chart position: RandB #2, US #13
written by: Berry Gordy (as Berry Gordy Jr.) and Billy Davis [Roquel Davis] (as Tyran Carlo)
album: Lonely Teardrops
 		Jackie Wilson That's Why (I Love You So)
1959 Brunswick
40 record label: Unart 2013
chart position: RandB #2, US #17
written by: Lance Finney, Willie Schofield and Bob West
 		The Falcons You're So Fine
1959 Unart
41 record label: Mercury 71427
chart position: RandB #9, US #12
written by: Buck Ram
album: Come Sing With Us
 		The Platters Enchanted
1959 Mercury
42 record label: Hi 2018
chart position: RandB #1, US #17
written by: Bill Black
comments: [instrumental]
 		Bill Blacks Combo Smokie (Part 2)
1959 Hi
43 record label: Bethlehem 11021
chart position: RandB #2, US #18
written by: George Gershwin and DuBose Heyward
comments: [soul jazz]
 		Nina Simone I Loves You, Porgy
1959 Bethlehem
44 record label: Abner 1029
chart position: RandB #2, US #20
written by: Bobby Stevenson and Otis Blackwell
album: Dee Clark
 		Dee Clark Hey Little Girl
1959 Abner
45 record label: ABC Paramount 45 10062
chart position: RandB #2, US #20
written by: Harold Logan and Lloyd Price
album: Mr Personality's 15 Hits
 		Lloyd Price Come into My Heart
1959 ABC Paramount
46 record label: Swingin 614
chart position: RandB #5, US #44
written by: Big Jay McNeely
 		Big Jay McNeely & Band There Is Something On Your Mind
1959 Swingin
47 record label: Imperial 5585
chart position: RandB #7, US #16
written by: Al Lewis, Fats Domino (as Antoine Domino) and Sylvester Bradford
 		Fats Domino I'm Ready
1959 Imperial
48 record label: Duke 314
chart position: RandB #2, US #89
weeksinr&bchart: 18
written by: Brook Benton
album: Two Steps from the Blues
comments: [ballad]
 		Bobby Bland I'll Take Care of You
1959 Duke
49 record label: Checker 931
chart position: RandB #3, US 20
weeksinr&bchart: 15
written by: Bo Diddley (as Ellas McDaniel)
album: Go Bo Diddley
 		Bo Diddley Say Man
1959 Checker
50 record label: Atlantic 2035
chart position: RandB #5, US #64
weeksinr&bchart: 11
written by: Brook Benton and Bobby Stevenson
album: The Best Of Ruth Brown
 		Ruth Brown I Don't Know
1959 Atlantic
51 record label: King 5171
chart position: RandB #4, US #87
weeksinr&bchart: 8
written by: Henry Glover
comments: [ballad]
 		Hank Ballard & the Midnighters Teardrops on Your Letter
1959 King
52 record label: Keen 32018
chart position: RandB #2, US #31
written by: Barbara Campbell
album: Hit Kit / The Best of Sam Cooke
 		Sam Cooke Everybody Likes to Cha Cha Cha
1959 Keen
53 record label: Atlantic 2021
chart position: RandB #5, US #33
written by: Howard Greenfield and Neil Sedaka
album: Blues Ballads
comments: [ballad]
 		LaVern Baker I Waited Too Long
1959 Atlantic
54 record label: RCA Victor 47 8040
chart position: RandB #7, US #31
weeksinr&bchart: 10
written by: Jesse Belvin, Jo Ann Belvin
album: Just Jesse Belvin
comments: [ballad]
 		Jesse Belvin Guess Who
1959 RCA Victor
55 record label: Chess 1722
chart position: RandB #3, US #32
weeksinr&bchart: 13
written by: Chuck Berry
album: Chuck Berry Is on Top
 		Chuck Berry Almost Grown
1959 Chess
56 record label: Tamla 160
chart position: RandB #6, US #30
written by: Berry Gordy and Marv Johnson
album: Marvelous Marv Johnson
comments: [Motown Sound] [berry gordy's (motown) first release]
 		Marv Johnson Come to Me
1959 Tamla
57 record label: Columbia 41483
chart position: RandB #10, UK #12
weeksinr&bchart: 7
written by: Erroll Garner, Johnny Burke
album: Heavenly
comments: [ballad]
 		Johnny Mathis Misty
1959 Columbia
58 record label: Keen 32022
chart position: RandB #13, US #28, UK #23
written by: Barbara Campbell
album: Hit Kit / The Best of Sam Cooke
 		Sam Cooke Only Sixteen
1959 Keen
59 record label: Atlantic 2040
chart position: RandB #5, US #63
written by: Doc Pomus and Mort Shuman
 		The Drifters (If You Cry) True Love, True Love
1959 Atlantic
60 record label: Atlantic 2010
chart position: RandB #5, US #95
written by: Lew Herman, Ozzie Cadena and Napoleon Brown
album: Ray Charles In Person
 		Ray Charles (Night Time Is) The Right Time
1959 Atlantic
61 record label: Specialty 660
chart position: UK #17
written by: Gus Edwards, Edward Madden
 		Little Richard By the Light of the Silvery Moon
1959 Specialty
62 record label: Mercury 71508
chart position: RandB #15, US #17
written by: Irving Gordon
album: Unforgettable
comments: [jazz RnB ballad]
 		Dinah Washington Unforgettable
1959 Mercury
63 record label: Atlantic 2033
chart position: RandB #12, US #52
written by: LaVern Baker
album: Blues Ballads
 		LaVern Baker So High, So Low
1959 Atlantic
64 record label: Imperial 5569
chart position: RandB #13, US #50
written by: Earl Palmer and Fats Domino (as Antoine Domino)
 		Fats Domino Telling Lies
1959 Imperial
65 record label: London 8985
chart position: RandB #7, US #4, UK #13
written by: Joe Garland and Andy Razaf
comments: [instrumental]
 		Ernie Fields In the Mood
1959 London
66 record label: Atlantic 2018
chart position: RandB #12, US #49
weeksinr&bchart: 6
written by: Eddie Curtis (as Memphis Edward Curtis), Ahmet Ertegun
album: Clyde
 		Clyde McPhatter Lovey Dovey
1959 Atlantic
67 record label: Atlantic 2028
chart position: RandB #14, US #38
weeksinr&bchart: 12
written by: Neil Sedaka, Howard Greenfield
album: Clyde
 		Clyde McPhatter Since You've Been Gone
1959 Atlantic
68 record label: London 8949
chart position: RandB #23, US #23
weeksinr&bchart: 3
written by: Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
album: Love Potion Number 9
 		The Clovers Love Potion Number 9
1959 London
69 record label: Capitol 15056
chart position: RandB #12, US #51, UK #23
weeksinr&bchart: 9
written by: Mayme Watts and Robert Mosely
album: Looking Back
 		Nat King Cole Midnight Flyer
1959 Capitol
70 record label: Coed 515
chart position: RandB #14, US #22
weeksinr&bchart: 8
written by: Billy Smith (as Billy Dawn Smith) and Sid Faust
album: The Crests Sing All Biggies
 		The Crests The Angels Listened In
1959 Coed
71 record label: Atlantic 2038
chart position: RandB #13, US #72
weeksinr&bchart: 6
written by: Brook Benton, Bobby Stevenson
 		Clyde McPhatter You Went Back on Your Word
1959 Atlantic
72 record label: Specialty 664
chart position: US #95, UK #26
written by: Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
album: The Fabulous Little Richard
 		Little Richard Kansas City
1959 Specialty
73 record label: Chess 1729
chart position: RandB #16, US #37
weeksinr&bchart: 8
written by: Chuck Berry
album: Twist
 		Chuck Berry Back in the U.S.A.
1959 Chess
74 record label: Mercury 71467
chart position: UK #25
written by: Buck Ram and Mickey Addy
album: Remember When?
comments: [ballad]
 		The Platters Remember When
1959 Mercury
75 record label: Checker 924
chart position: RandB #14, US #62
weeksinr&bchart: 5
written by: Bo Diddley (as Ellas McDaniel)
album: Go Bo Diddley
 		Bo Diddley Crackin' Up
1959 Checker
76 record label: Class 254
chart position: RandB #14, US #67
weeksinr&bchart: 4
written by: Paul Clifton and Eugene Church
 		Eugene Church Miami
1959 Class
77 record label: Coed 509
chart position: RandB #17, US #28
weeksinr&bchart: 4
written by: Alicia Evelyn and Billy Smith (as Billy Dawn Smith)
album: The Crests Sing All Biggies
comments: [ballad]
 		The Crests Six Nights A Week
1959 Coed
78 record label: Coral 72351
chart position: RandB #16, US #51
weeksinr&bchart: 6
written by: Robert Draper Jr.
 		The Accents Wiggle, Wiggle
1959 Coral
79 record label: Gibraltar 101
chart position: RandB #14, US #90
weeksinr&bchart: 9
written by: Otis Blackwell
comments: [ballad]
 		Jimmy Barnes No Regrets
1959 Gibraltar
80 record label: Atco 6153
chart position: RandB #17, US #47
weeksinr&bchart: 6
written by: Jerry Leiber, Mike Stoller
album: Coast Along With The Coasters
 		The Coasters What About Us
1959 Atco
81 record label: Norgolde 103
chart position: RandB #20, US #35
weeksinr&bchart: 3
written by: Bill Jackson
comments: originally released as "dead man's stroll"
 		The Revels Midnight Stroll
1959 Norgolde
82 record label: Atlantic 2043
chart position: RandB #11, US #40
written by: Hank Snow (as Clarence E. Snow)
album: The Genius Sings The Blues
 		Ray Charles I'm Movin' On
1959 Atlantic
83 record label: Decca 30967
chart position: RandB #12, US #4, UK #4
written by: Ronnie Self
album: Miss Dynamite
 		Brenda Lee Sweet Nothin's
1959 Decca
84 record label: Atlantic 2041
chart position: RandB #18, US #63
written by: Alex Bradford and LaVern Baker
 		LaVern Baker Tiny Tim
1959 Atlantic
85 record label: Checker 837
chart position: RandB #12
weeksinr&bchart: 2
written by: Billy Davis [Roquel Davis] (as Roquel Davis) and Russ Fratto
album: Flamingos
comments: [ballad]
 		The Flamingos A Kiss from Your Lips
1959 Checker
86 record label: King 5195
chart position: RandB #16, US #72
written by: Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller
album: The One And Only
 		Hank Ballard & the Midnighters Kansas City
1959 King
87 record label: Parkway 804
chart position: US #38
written by: Kal Mann
 		Chubby Checker The Class
1959 Parkway
88 record label: London 8843
chart position: US #36
written by: Dick Hyman
album: Cozy Cole Hits!
comments: [instrumental]
 		Cozy Cole Turvy II
1959 London
89 record label: Duke 303
chart position: RandB #13
weeksinr&bchart: 11
written by: Don Robey (as Deadric Malone)
album: Two Steps from the Blues
 		Bobby Bland I'm Not Ashamed
1959 Duke
90 record label: End 1039
chart position: Cashbox R&B #17, US #79
written by: Robin, Ranger
 		Little Anthony & the Imperials Wishful Thinking
1959 End
91 record label: Duke 306
chart position: RandB #13
written by: Eddie Boyd
album: You Don't Have To Be Black To Love The Blues
comments: [blues]
 		Little Junior Parker Five Long Years
1959 Duke
92 record label: Mercury 71502
chart position: US #44
written by: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Buck Ram (as Lynn Paul)
 		The Platters Where
1959 Mercury
93 record label: King 5159
chart position: RandB #15
weeksinr&bchart: 5
written by: Andy Gibson and Angelyn Carlington
album: Hold It
comments: instrumental
 		Bill Doggett Rainbow Riot (Part 1)
1959 King
94 record label: End 1035
chart position: RandB #25, US #52
written by: Paul Wilson and Terry Johnson
album: Their Hits Then And Now
comments: [ballad]
 		The Flamingos Lovers Never Say Goodbye
1959 End
95 record label: Coed 508
chart position: US #47
written by: Glenn Miller and Mitchell Parish
comments: [ballad]
 		The Rivieras Moonlight Serenade
1959 Coed
96 record label: Judd 1002
chart position: US #47
written by: George Khoury and Huey Thierry
 		Cookie & the Cupcakes Matilda
1959 Judd
97 record label: Deb 506
chart position: RandB #17
weeksinr&bchart: 3
written by: Julius Dixon
 		Beverly Ann Gibson Love's Burning Fire
1959 Deb
98 record label: Checker 914
chart position: RandB #17
weeksinr&bchart: 5
written by: Bo Diddley (as Ellas McDaniel)
 		Bo Diddley I'm Sorry
1959 Checker
99 record label: Atlantic 2044
chart position: US #53
written by: Joe Turner
album: The Best Of Joe Turner
 		Joe Turner Honey Hush
1959 Atlantic
100 record label: Abner 1024
chart position: RandB #17
written by: A. Tucker, T. Twiggs, C. Batenza
 		Jerry Butler Lost
1959 Abner


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