Standard Bridge Chord Structure

An overwhelming number of pop songs of the late '50s and early '60s feature bridges that exhibit standard bridge chord structure, beginning on IV and ending on V. Below is a list of such songs that made it into the Billboard Top 40 in 1961. Those marked with asterisks exhibit a "strong" version of the pattern in which the final V chord is preceded by its own dominant, V/V.

All in My Mind - Maxine Brown  *

Baby Blue - The Echoes 

Baby Sittin' Boogie - Buzz Clifford  *

Bewildered - James Brown & The Famous Flames *
Better Tell Him No - The Starlets  *

Big Cold Wind - Pat Boone *

Blue Moon - The Marcels  *  

Bristol Stomp - The Dovells  
The Continental Walk - Hank Ballard & The Midnighters  

Crazy - Patsy Cline *

Daddy's Home - Shep & The Limelites   *

(Dance the) Mess Around - Chubby Checker  *

Don't Bet Money Honey - Linda Scott

Don't Blame Me - The Everly Brothers  *

Don't Worry - Marty Robbins

Dreamy Eyes - Johnny Tillotson *

Every Beat of My Heart - Gladys Knight & The Pips *
Everlovin' - Rick Nelson *

Fell in Love on Monday - Fats Domino  *
Fool #1 - Brenda Lee

Funny - Maxine Brown  *

Gee Whiz (Look At His Eyes) - Carla Thomas     
Girl of My Best Friend - Ral Donner & The Starfires *
Good Time Baby - Bobby Rydell  *
Happy Birthday Blues - Kathy Young with The Innocents   * 

Heart and Soul - The Cleftones  
(He's My) Dreamboat - Connie Francis  *

The Hoochi Coochi Coo - Hank Ballard & The Midnighters (I Don't Know Why) But I Do - Clarence "Frogman" Henry *
I Don't Want to Cry - Chuck Jackson *
I Don't Want to Take a Chance - Mary Wells *
I Really Love You - The Stereos *
I Understand (Just How You Feel) - G-Clefs
(I Wanna) Love My Life Away - Gene Pitney *
I'm Gonna Knock on Your Door - Eddie Hodges *
I'm in the Mood for Love - The Chimes *
I'm Learning About Love - Brenda Lee *
In the Middle of a Heartache - Wanda Jackson 
It's Gonna Work Out Fine - Ike & Tina Turner   
Jimmy's Girl - Johnny Tillotson *
Let's Get Together - Hayley Mills *
Let's Twist Again - Chubby Checker
Letter Full of Tears - Gladys Knight & The Pips  *
Look in My Eyes - The Chantels *
Lovers' Island - The Blue Jays 
Lullaby of Love - Frank Gari  *
Mama Said - The Shirelles *
Missing You - Ray Peterson * 
Model Girl - Johnny Maestro, The Voice of The Crests 
My Kind of Girl - Matt Monro *
My Last Date (with You) - Skeeter Davis 
My True Story - The Jive Five 
Nag - The Halos *
Ole Buttermilk Sky - Bill Black's Combo  *
On the Rebound - Floyd Cramer 
Once Upon A Time - Rochell & The Candles with Johnny Wyatt 
One Track Mind - Bobby Lewis  *
Please Don't Go - Ral Donner 
Please Stay - The Drifters   
Pretty Little Angel Eyes - Curtis Lee *
Quarter To Three - Gary "U.S." Bonds  Rama Lama Ding Dong - The Edsels 
Right or Wrong - Wanda Jackson *
Runaround Sue - Dion  *
Running Scared - Roy Orbison
Sad Movies (Make Me Cry) - Sue Thompson 
The Story of My Love - Paul Anka * 

Take Good Care Of Her - Adam Wade *

Take Good Care Of My Baby - Bobby Vee

A Tear - Gene McDaniels *

Tell Me Why - The Belmonts 
That's It - I Quit - I'm Movin' On - Sam Cooke  *
That's What Girls Are Made For - Spinners *
There She Goes - Jerry Wallace * 

Travelin' Man - Ricky Nelson *
Utopia - Frank Gari   *

Where the Boys Are - Connie Francis  *
Wild in the Country - Elvis Presley *
Will You Love Me Tomorrow? - The Shirelles *    
A Wonder Like You - Rick Nelson  *
You Don't Know What You've Got (Until You Lose It) - Ral Donner *
You're the Reason - Bobby Edwards