The music played at The Music Box changed throughout the years the Box operated from 1946 to its final closing in the early 2000s. However, there were several records that were played most frequently during the 1960s and 1970s that were just “great dance tunes” regardless of when they were released. Shirley Kelly, who along with her husband Lee owned The Box, was the one who spun the records for most of the years. She had an innate ability to select the best dance tunes, whether they were major hit records or not. That’s why dancers often referred to songs as “Music Box tunes” because they only heard them at The Box, and not necessarily on radio. These are the playlists of the songs played most frequently. The lists are in no particular order but are divided by Fast tunes, Slow tunes and the Closing Set which were the ones most often played in the final 20 minutes or so of an evening. These have been carefully compiled directly from the files of The Music Box and the lists are copyrighted by the Music Box Historical Society. We present them here for your enjoyment and for those who may want to compile their own playlists on services such as Spotify.

Music Box Fast Songs:

1. You Keep Me Hangin’ On Diana Ross & The Supremes

2. Back In My Arms Again Diana Ross & The Supremes

3. Dirty Water The Standells

4. Good Lovin’ The Young Rascals

5. Gloria The Shadows of Knight

6. Java Al Hirt

7. Think Aretha Franklin

8. I Know (You Don’t Love Me) Barbara George

9. Little Darlin’ Diamonds

10. Do You Want To Dance Bobby Freeman

11. Let’s Dance Chris Montez

12. Devil With The Blue Dress/

Good Golly Miss Molly Mitch Ryder & Detroit Wheels

13. My Special Angel The Vogues

14. Double Shot (of Baby’s Love) Swinging’ Medallions

15, The Locomotion Little Eva

16. Groovin’ with Mr. Bloe Wind

17. Mony Mony Tommy James & Shondells

18. Sweet Little Sixteen Chuck Berry

19. Rock and Roll, Part 2 Gary Glitter

20. The Twist Chubby Checker

21. Loddy Lo Chubby Checker

22. The Night Has a 1000 Eyes Bobby Lee

23. Rockin’ Robin Bobby Day

24. Old Time Rock and Roll Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band

25. Party Lights Claudine Clark

26. Wooly Bully Sam the Sham & Pharaohs

27. The Boy From NYC The Ad Libs

28. My Sharona The Knack

29. Shot Gun Jr. Walker & All Stars

30. Dream Baby Roy Orbison

31. Green Onions Booker T & The Mrs

32. Dancing in the Street Martha Reeves & Vandellas

33. It’s All Right The Impressions

34. (Dance with) The Guitar Man Duane Eddy

35. Long Cool Woman The Hollies

36. Ride Your Pony Lee Dorsey

37. The Hunch Paul Gayten

38. Hey Baby Bruce Channel

39. Rock and Roll Music Chuck Berry

40. Nadine Chuck Berry

41. Listen To The Music The Doobie Bros.

42. Dance to the Music Sly & the Family Stone

43. Money Richard “Popcorn” Wylie

44. Wing Ding Joey Dee & Starlighters

45. Quarter to Three Gary U.S. Bonds

46. Bumble Boogie B. Bumble & the Stingers

47. Come On Train Johnny and the Hurricanes

48. Little Latin Lupe Lu Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels

49. Nobody But Me The Human Beinz

50. She’s About A Mover Sir Douglas Quintet

51. Sugar Sugar The Archies

52. Saturday Night The New Christy Minstrels

53. Little Egypt The Coasters

54. I’m Lookin’ for Someone Buddy Holly

55. Windy and Warm Boots Randolph

56. Johnny B. Goode Chuck Berry

57. Queen of the Hop Bobby Darin

58. Sugar Blues Don Costa and his orchestra

59. Baker Street Gerry Rafferty

60. All Right Now Free

61. Grounded Jimmy Seals

62. Swing the Mood Jive Bunny & The Mixmasters

63. Believe What You Say Ricky Nelson

64. Mean Woman Blues Roy Orbison

65. Bony Maronie The Appalachians

66. Holly Gully Baby The Dovells

67. Heartbroken Bopper The Guess Who

68. Shimmy Shimmy Bobby Freeman

69. No Particular Place To Go Chuck Berry

70. Gimme Gimme Good Lovin’ Crazy Elephant

71. Rebel Rouser Duane Eddy

72. Honky Tonk Ernie Fields Orchestra

73. Palisades Park Freddy Cannon

74. American Band Grand Funk Railroad

75. Jump Into the Fire (short ver) Harry Nillson

76. Searching Jack Eubanks

77. Lady Marmalade Labelle

78. Hit the Road Jack Ray Charles

79. Candy Man Roy Orbison

80. Peppermint Twist, Pt. 1 Joey Dee & The Starlight’s

81. Ooh Poo Pah Doo, Pt. 1 Jesse Hill

82. Baby, What You Want Me Jimmy Reed

83. Long Tall Sally Little Richard

84. It’s Late Ricky Nelson

85. Waitin’ in School Ricky Nelson

86. Be-Bop Baby Ricky Nelson

87. La Bamba Ritchie Valens

88. Hold On, I’m Comin’ Sam & Dave

89. Land of 1000 Dances Wilson Pickett

90. Cool Jerk The Capitols

91. I’m a Believer The Monkees

92. Hanky Panky Tommy James & Shondells

93. Sherry The Four Seasons

94. Baby It’s You The Shirelles

95. Twist and Shout The Isley Brothers

96. Louie Louie The Kinsmen

97. Where Did Our Love Go Diane Ross & The Supremes

98. Shout The Isley Brothers

99. Chantilly Lace The Big Bopper

100. Bread and Butter Newbeats

101. The Hunch Mad Mike & The Maniacs

102. Quarter to Four Mad Mike & The Maniacs

103. Last Night The Mar-Keys

104. I Feel Fine Beatles

105. Be My Baby The Ronettes

106. (The Best Part of) Breakin’ Up The Ronettes

107. Shortnin’ Bread Paul Chaplain

108. Shake a Tail Feather James & Bobby Purifoy

109. Dancing in the Moonlight King Harvest

110. Gimme Some Lovin’ The Spencer Davis Group

111. Tighter, Tighter Alive ’n Kickin’

112. Rock Around the Clock Bill Haley & his Comets

113. At the Hop Danny & the Juniors

114. Wake Up Little Susie The Everly Brothers

115. The Cha-Cha-Cha Bobby Rydell

116. Dance, Dance, Dance The Beach Boys

117. Twistin’ the Night Away Sam Cooke

118. Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man Bob Seger System

119. Mickey’s Monkey The Miracles

120. Heavy Music, Pt. 1 Bob Seger and the Last Heard

Music Box Slow Songs:

Tell It Like It Is Aaron Neville
2. Red Sails in the Sunset Billy Vaughn
3. You Don’t Have To Say You Love Me Dusty Springfield
4. When A Man Loves A Woman Percy Sledge
5. Monday, Monday Mamas & Papas
6. I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry B. J. Thomas
7. Reach Out, I’ll Be There Four Tops
8. California Dreamin’ Mamas & Papas
9. Love Is Blue Paul Mauriat
10. Moonglow (Theme from Picnic) Morris Stoloff
11. Maria Elena Los Indios Tabajaras
12. Daydream The Lovin’ Spoonful
13. Stranger On the Shore Mr. Acker Bilk
14. Take Good Care of Her Adam Wade
15. I Can’t Get Started Al Hirt
16. Al-Di-La Al Hirt
17. Painted, Tainted Rose Al Martino
18. Hello Stranger Barbara Lewis
19. Baby, I’m Yours Barbara Lewis
20. Now and Forever Bert Kaempfert
21. Wonderland By Night Bert Kaempfert
22. Only Those In Love Bert Kaempfert
23. Our Winter Love Bill Pursell
24. Crying Bill Pursell
25. How Long Has This Been Going On Billy Maxted Orchestra
26. So Rare Jimmy Dorsey
27. Canadian Sunset Eddie Heywood
28. Soft Summer Breeze Eddie Heywood
29. Forever Pete Drake
30. Theme from “A Summer Place” Percy Faith & Orchestra
31. Blue Velvet Bobby Vinton
32. It’s All In the Game Tommy Edwards
33. Hello Out There Carl Belew
34. Turn Around, Look At Me The Vogues
35. The Long Ships, Part 2 Charles Albertine
36. Just As Much As Ever Bob Beckham
37. Wasn’t the Summer Short Johnny Mathis
38. Ruby Les Baxter & Orchestra
39. Midnight Mood Richard Maltby
40. The Way You Look Tonight The Lettermen
41. Twilight Time The Platters
42. I Really Don’t Want To Know Boots Randolph
43. La Mer Trade Martin
44. Above the Stars Mr. Acker Bilk
45. Turn Around, Look at Me Glen Campbell
46. Song for a Summer Night Jack Niztsche
47. Sleepwalk Santo & Johnny
48. Theme from “A Summer Place” The Lettermen
49. You Don’t Know Me Jerry Vale
50. Crying Roy Orbison
51. Our Faded Love The Royalties
52. I Found My World In You Neil Sedaka
53. It’s Only the Good Times Tommy Edwards
54. Shortnin’ Bread Paul Chaplain & orchestra
55. Lonely Mr. Acker Bilk
56. The Shadow of Your Smile Boots Randolph
57. I’m Sorry Billy Vaughn
58. My Special Angel The Vogues
59. In The Still of the Night Dion & The Belmonts
60. The Sound of Love Don Costa & orchestra
61. What Will My Mary Say Johnny Mathis
62. Small World Johnny Mathis
63. The Twelfth of Never Johnny Mathis
64. Always In My Heart Los Indios Tabajaras
65. Mona Lisa Nat King Cole
66. That’s the Way With Love Piero Soffici
67. Georgia On My Mind Ray Charles
68. Midnight Lace Ray Ellis & orchestra
69. The Old Lamplighter The Browns
70. Old Cape Cod The Four Freshmen
71. Smile The Lettermen
72. To Each His Own The Types
73. My Melancholy Baby Tommy Edwards
74. Vaya Con Dios Tommy Edwards
75. Ruby Adam Wade
76. Venus Frankie Avalon
77. Ebb Tide Lenny Welch
78. Since I Fell For You Lenny Welach
79. Peg O’ My Heart Jerry Murad’s Harmonica’s
80. Hey Girl Freddie Scott
81. Scotch and Soda Henry Thome
82. Funny How Time Slips Away Jimmy Elledge
83. Where Are You Frankie Avalon
84. Time Has A Way Jerry Keller
85. I’m a Fool To Care Joe Barry
86. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes Lenny Druss
87. Sea of Love Phil Phillips
88. A Whiter Shade of Pale Procol Harum
89. Beautiful Obsession Sir Chauncey
90. Only You (And You Alone) The Platters
91. The Green Leaves of Summer The Brothers Four
92. Sax 5th Avenue Johnny Beecher
93. Theme From “The Sundowners” Billy Vaughn
94. What’s Your Name Don and Juan
95. Old Cape Cod Patti Page
96. Chapel Of Love The Dixie Cups
97. You Belong To Me The Dupree’s
98. Red Sails In the Sunset The Platters
99. (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman Aretha Franklin
100. A Groovy Kind of Love Wayne Fontana & Mindbenders
101. Crimson and Clover Tommy James & Shondells
102. Love Is All Around The Trigs
103. Your Precious Love Marvin Gaye
104. Up On The Roof The Drifters
105. Our Day Will Come Ruby & Romantics
106. It’s Over Roy Orbison
107. How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) Marvin Gaye
108. Goin’ Out of My Head Little Anthony & Imperials
109. My Guy Mary Wells
110. Only Love Can Break A Heart Gene Pitney
111. Tell Him The Exzciters
112. Disney Girls Mr. Acker Bilk
113. Dommage, Dommage (Too Bad, Too Bad) Paul Vance
114. At Last Etta James
115. Angel Face Jimmy Darren
116. Come Saturday Morning The Sandpipers
117 Les Bicyclettes de Belsize Engelbert Humperdinck
118. For Your Love Ed Townsend
119. Green Leaves of Summer Frank Chacksfield
120. Happy, Happy Birthday Baby The Tune Weavers
121. Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me Mel Carter
122. I Really Don’t Want To Know Tommy Edwards
123. I Wish I Was Eighteen Again George Burns
124. Night Life Rusty Draper
125. Old Cape Cod Billy Vaughn
126. The Song Of Raintree County Nat King Cole
127. Unchained Melody Jerry Keller
128. This Is The Night for Love The Valiants
129 San Francisco Scott McKenzie
130. (Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay Otis Redding
131. Shirley Tony Orlando
132. I Only Have Eyes For You The Flamingos
133. Today The New Christy Minstrels
.
Playlist is copyrighted by The Music Box Historical Society, all rights reserved.

Music Box Closing Songs:

1. Bon Voyage Janice Harper

2. Till Then The Classics

3. The Little Music Box Skeeter Davis

4. Have a Good Time Sue Thompson

5. Good Night Sweetheart The Four Preps

6. Goodnight Sweetheart Goodnight The Spaniels

7. Goodnight My Love Ray Peterson

8. Aue Wiedersehen Sweetheart Vera Lynn

And concluding with:

God Bless America Kate Smith (up until 1961)

God Bless America Connie Francis (after 1961)