Showing posts with label Music Vendor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Music Vendor. Show all posts

Wednesday, August 9, 2023

USA: #1 Pop Songs, 1890-2023

USA’s #1 Pop Songs:

1890-2022

These are the #1 pop songs in the history of the United States pop charts from 1890 to present. Songs could have hit #1 on any of the following charts:

Billboard Charts:
Non-Billboard Charts:

Links go to specific lists of the biggest songs of all time for that chart.

See other chart-based lists here.

Because this list includes more than 3000 songs, it has been broken up into pages by decades:

Resources/Related Links:


First posted 2/24/2021; last updated 8/9/2023.

Friday, August 4, 2023

USA: #1 Pop Songs, 1950-1959

USA’s #1 Pop Songs:

1950-1959

These are the #1 pop songs on the United States pop charts from 1950 to 1959. Songs could have hit #1 on any of the following charts:

Numbers following the letter codes indicate how many weeks the song spent at #1 on that chart. Links go to specific lists of the biggest songs of all time for that chart. Your Hit Parade charts and early Cash Box charts did not indicate specific artists, so the artists identified here are those which also hit #1 on another chart or are the highest-ranked version according to Dave’s Music Database.

Also, when “BB” appears in blue it indicates a link to the Stereogum.com series on Billboard #1 songs.

Click here to access a full list of #1 songs from 1890 to present. See other chart-based lists here.


1950:

  1. 1/7: Gene Autry & the Pinafores “Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer” (BS: 1, HP: 2)
  2. 1/7: The Andrews Sisters with Gordon Jenkin’s Orchestra “I Can Dream, Can’t I?” (BS: 4, DJ: 5, JB: 3, CB: 6)
  3. 1/7: Bing Crosby with Perry Botkin’s Orchestra “Dear Hearts and Gentle People” (CB: 1, HP: 7)
  4. 2/11: The Ames Brothers “Rag Mop” (BS: 1, DJ: 2)
  5. 2/11: Red Foley “Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy” (BS: 4, DJ: 2, JB: 8, CB: 4, HP: 6)
  6. 3/11: Frankie Laine with Harry Geller’s Orchestra “The Cry of the Wild Goose’ (DJ: 2)
  7. 3/18: Teresa Brewer & the Dixieland All Stars “Music! Music! Music!” (BS: 4, JB: 1, CB: 4)
  8. 3/25: Eileen Barton & the New Yorkers “If I Knew You Were Comin’ I’d’ve Baked a Cake” (BS: 2, DJ: 10, JB: 3)
  9. 4/22: Anton Karas “The Third Man Theme” (BS: 11, CB: 10)
  10. 4/22: Guy Lombardo “The Third Man Theme” (JB: 11, CB: 10)
  11. 4/29: Gordon Jenkins with Eileen Wilson “My Foolish Heart” (HP: 9)
  12. 6/3: Perry Como & the Fontane Sisters with Mitchell Ayres’ Orchestra “Hoop-Dee-Doo” (DJ: 2)
  13. 6/10: The Ames Brothers “Sentimental Me” (DJ: 1)
  14. 6/24: The Andrews Sisters with Gordon Jenkins’ Orchestra “I Wanna Be Loved by You” (DJ: 2)
  15. 6/24: Bill Synder “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered” (CB: 4, HP: 5)

  16. 7/8: Nat “King” Cole “Mona Lisa” (BS: 5, DJ: 8, JB: 5, CB: 4, HP: 8)
  17. 8/19: The Weavers with Gordon Jenkins’ Orchestra “Goodnight Irene” (BS: 13, DJ: 8, JB: 12, CB: 10, HP: 4)

  18. 10/7: Edith Piaf “La Vie En Rose” (HP: 1)
  19. 10/28: Patti Page with Harry Geller’s Orchestra “All My Love (Bolero)” (DJ: 5, HP: 3)
  20. 11/11: Sammy Kaye with Troy Alamo “Harbor Lights” (BS: 2, JB: 4, CB: 6, HP: 2)
  21. 12/2: Phil Harris with Walter Scharf’s Orchestra “The Thing” (BS: 4, DJ: 5, JB: 2, CB: 1)
  22. 12/9: Paul Weston with Norman Luboff Choir “Nevertheless I’m in Love with You” (HP: 1)

  23. 12/13: Patti Page “Tennessee Waltz” (BS: 9, DJ: 8, JB: 13, CB: 6, HP: 6)
  24. 12/16: Perry Como with Betty Hutton & Mitchell Ayres’ Orchestra “A Bushel and a Peck” (HP: 1)

1951:

  1. 1/27: Guy Mitchell “My Heart Cries for You” (CB: 3, HP: 2)
  2. 2/24: Perry Como with Mitchell Ayres’ Orchestra “If (They Made Me a King)” (BS: 6, DJ: 8, JB: 5, CB: 2, HP: 10)
  3. 3/3: Mario Lanza “Be My Love” (CB: 5)
  4. 3/10: Les Paul & Mary Ford “How High the Moon” (BS: 9, DJ: 9, JB: 9, CB: 2)

  5. 4/14: Les Paul & Mary Ford “Mockin’ Bird Hill” (CB: 5, HP: 2)
  6. 5/19: The Weavers with Terry Gilkyson “On Top of Old Smoky” (CB: 2, HP: 2)
  7. 6/2: Nat “King” Cole “Too Young” (BS: 5, DJ: 4, JB: 4, CB: 7, HP: 12)
  8. 7/28: Rosemary Clooney “Come on-a My House” (BS: 6, DJ: 8, JB: 8, CB: 3)
  9. 8/25: Tony Bennett with Percy Faith’s Orchestra “Because of You” (BS: 8, DJ: 8, JB: 10, CB: 8, HP: 11)
  10. 9/1: Dinah Shore “Sweet Violets” (CB: 1)
  11. 11/3: Tony Bennett “Cold, Cold Heart” (BS: 6, JB: 3)
  12. 11/3: Eddy Howard “Sin (It’s No Sin)” (BS: 2, DJ: 8, JB: 1, CB: 9, HP: 7)
  13. 12/15: Del Wood “Down Yonder” (CB: 1)
  14. 12/27: Pee Wee King & His Golden West Cowboys “Slow Poke” (JB: 3, CB: 3, HP: 9)
  15. 12/29: Johnnie Ray & the Four Lads “Cry” (BS: 11, DJ: 10, JB: 9, CB: 8, HP: 5)

1952:

  1. 3/5: Kay Starr “Wheel of Fortune” (BS: 9, DJ: 9, JB: 10, CB: 4, HP; 6)
  2. 4/19: Leroy Anderson & His “Pops” Concert Orchestra “Blue Tango” (BS: 5, CB: 5, HP: 2)
  3. 5/17: Georgia Gibbs “Kiss of Fire” (DJ: 7, JB: 6, CB: 8, HP: 7)
  4. 5/24: Doris Day “A Guy Is a Guy” (JB: 1)
  5. 6/7: Al Martino “Here in My Heart” (BS: 3, DJ: 3)
  6. 7/3: Don Cornell with Norman Leyden’s Orchestra “I’m Yours” (HP: 3)
  7. 7/5: Percy Faith “Delicado” (BS: 1)
  8. 7/12: Vera Lynn with Ronald Shaw’s Orchestra “Auf Wiederseh’n Sweetheart” (BS: 9, DJ: 6, JB: 4, CB: 9, HP: 3)
  9. 7/24: Johnnie Ray “Walking My Baby Back Home” (HP: 3)
  10. 7/26: Rosemary Clooney with Percy Faith’s Orchestra “Half as Much” (JB: 3)
  11. 9/6: Eddie Fisher with Hugo Winterhalter’s Orchestra “Wish You Were Here” (DJ: 1, HP: 3)

  12. 9/13: Jo Stafford “You Belong to Me” (BS: 5, DJ: 12, JB: 2, CB: 4, HP: 9)
  13. 9/27: The Mills Brothers “The Glow-Worm” (JB: 3, CB: 1, HP: 2)
  14. 10/18: Patti Page “I Went to Your Wedding” (BS: 5, DJ: 1, JB: 10, CB: 6)
  15. 11/22: Johnny Standley “It’s in the Book” (BS: 2)
  16. 11/29: Joni James with Lew Douglas’ Orchestra “Why Don’t You Believe Me?” (BS: 4, DJ: 6, JB: 3, CB: 6, HP: 5)
  17. 12/27: Jimmy Boyd with Norman Luboff’s Orchestra “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus” (BS: 2, CB: 1, HP: 1)

1953:

  1. 1/10: Perry Como with the Ramblers & Mitchell Ayres’ Orchestra “Don’t Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes” (BS: 5, DJ: 3, JB: 4, CB: 3, HP: 5)
  2. 2/7: Teresa Brewer with Jack Pleis’ Orchestra “Till I Waltz Again with You” (BS: 5, DJ: 6, JB: 7, CB: 6, HP: 4)
  3. 3/21: Patti Page “The Doggie in the Window” (BS: 8, DJ: 7, JB: 7, CB: 7, HP: 1)
  4. 4/4: Nat “King” Cole with Nelson Riddle’s Orchestra “Pretend” (HP: 3)
  5. 4/11: Frankie Laine “I Believe” (HP: 3)
  6. 5/9: Percy Faith’s Orchestra with Felicia Sanders “Where Is Your Heart? (Theme from Moulin Rouge)” (BS: 10, DJ: 9, JB: 6, CB: 8, HP: 8)

  7. 6/13: Les Baxter “April in Portugal” (HP: 2)
  8. 7/4: Eddie Fisher with Sally Sweetland & Hugo Winterhalter’s Orchestra “I’m Walking Behind You” (BS: 2, DJ: 3, JB: 7, CB: 6, HP: 3)
  9. 8/8: Les Paul with Mary Ford “Vaya Con Dios (May God Be with You)” (BS: 11, DJ: 3, JB: 9, CB: 5, HP: 5)
  10. 8/15: Perry Como with Henri Rene’s Orchestra “No Other Love” (DJ: 4, CB: 1, HP: 3)
  11. 9/5: The Orioles “Crying in the Chapel” (CB: 3)
  12. 9/19: The Ames Brothers with Hugo Winterhalter’s Orchestra “You You You” (DJ: 8, JB: 6, CB: 1, HP: 4)
  13. 10/10: Stan Freberg with Daws Butler & June Foray “St. George and the Dragonet” (BS: 4, DJ: 1, CB: 3)
  14. 11/7: Frank Chacksfield “Ebb Tide” (HP: 5)
  15. 11/14: Tony Bennett with Percy Faith’s Orchestra “Rags to Riches” (BS: 6, DJ: 7, JB: 8, CB: 5, HP: 2)
  16. 11/21: Julius LaRosa “Eh Cumpari” (CB: 1)
  17. 12/26: Eddie Fisher with Hugo Winterhalter’s Orchestra & Chorus “O Mein Papa (Oh My Papa)” (BS: 8, DJ: 7, JB: 6, CB: 8)
  18. 12/26: Teresa Brewer with Jack Pleis’ Orchestra “Ricochet (Rick-O-Shay)” (HP: 1)

1954:

  1. 1/9: Tony Bennett with Percy Faith’s Orchestra “Stranger in Paradise” (CB: 2, HP: 6)
  2. 2/13: Doris Day “Secret Love” (BS: 3, DJ: 4, CB: 5, HP: 7)
  3. 3/13: Jo Stafford “Make Love to Me!” (BS: 3, DJ: 3, JB: 7)
  4. 4/10: Perry Como with Hugo Winterhalter’s Orchestra “Wanted” (BS: 8, DJ: 7, JB: 8, CB: 8, HP: 7)
  5. 4/17: Frank Sinatra “Young at Heart” (HP: 2)
  6. 6/5: Kitty Kallen with Jack Plies’ Orchestra “Little Things Mean a Lot” (BS: 9, DJ: 8, JB: 7, CB: 7, HP: 6)
  7. 6/19: The Four Aces with Jack Pleis’ Orchestra “Three Coins in the Fountain” (JB: 1, CB: 2, HP: 4)
  8. 8/7: The Crew-Cuts “Sh-Boom” (BS: 7, DJ: 9, JB: 8, CB: 7)
  9. 8/7: The Chords “Sh-Boom” (CB: 7)

  10. 8/14: Archie Bleyer “Hernando’s Hideaway” (HP: 1)
  11. 8/28: Rosemary Clooney with Buddy Cole “Hey There” (BS: 6, DJ: 4, JB: 5, CB: 8, HP: 10, HR: 3)
  12. 10/25: Doris Day & the Mellomen “If I Give My Heart to You” (HP: 2, HR: 3)
  13. 10/30: Eddie Fisher with Hugo Winterhalter’s Orchestra “I Need You Now” (BS: 3, DJ: 2, JB: 2, CB: 2, HP: 1, HR: 1)
  14. 11/6: Rosemary Clooney “This Ole House” (BS: 1, JB: 3)
  15. 11/22: Perry Como with Mitchell Ayres’ Orchestra “Papa Loves Mambo” (HR: 1)
  16. 11/27: The Chordettes “Mr. Sandman” (BS: 7, DJ: 7, JB: 4, CB: 7, HP: 8, HR: 3)
  17. 12/11: Dinah Washington “Teach Me Tonight’ (HP: 1)
  18. 12/18: Joan Weber “Let Me Go, Lover!” (BS: 2, DJ: 4, JB: 4, CB: 2, HP: 2, HR: 3)

1955:

  1. 1/10: The Fontane Sisters with Billy Vaughn’s Orchestra “Hearts of Stone” (BS: 1, JB: 3, HR: 6)
  2. 2/5: Billy Vaughn “Melody of Love” (CB: 7, HP: 6)
  3. 2/12: The McGuire Sisters “Sincerely” (BS: 6, DJ: 10, JB: 7, HR: 5)
  4. 3/19: LaVern Baker “Tweedle Dee” (HP: 1)
  5. 3/26: Bill Hayes “The Ballad of Davy Crocket” (BS: 5, DJ: 3, JB: 3, CB: 8, HP: 9, HR: 1)
  6. 3/28: Johnny Maddox & the Rhythmmasters “The Crazy Otto” (HR: 3)
  7. 4/25: Georgia Gibbs “Dance with Me, Henry (Wallflower)” (JB: 3, HR: 1)
  8. 5/14: Les Baxter “Unchained Melody” (DJ: 2, CB: 7, HP: 7, HR: 3)
  9. 5/2: Perez “Prez” Prado “Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White” (BS: 10, DJ: 5, JB: 8, HP: 1, HR: 8)
  10. 7/9: Bill Haley & His Comets “We’re Gonna Rock Around the Clock” (BS: 8, DJ: 5, JB: 7, CB: 8, HP: 2, HR: 4)

  11. 7/23: The McGuire Sisters “Something’s Gotta Give” (HP: 1)
  12. 7/30: Frank Sinatra “Learning the Blues” (DJ: 1, HP: 1)
  13. 8/15: Pat Boone “Ain’t That a Shame” (JB: 2, HR: 2)
  14. 8/27: Mitch Miller “The Yellow Rose of Texas” (BS: 6, DJ: 6, JB: 6, CB: 7, HP: 9, HR: 7)
  15. 10/8: The Four Aces “Love Is a Many Splendored Thing” (BS: 2, DJ: 6, JB: 3, CB: 3, HP: 2, HR: 2)
  16. 10/29: Roger Williams “Autumn Leaves” (BS: 4, CB: 3, HP: 3, HR: 3)
  17. 11/21: Tennessee Ernie Ford “Sixteen Tons” (BS: 7, DJ: 6, JB: 7, CB: 7, HP: 5, HR: 7)

1956:

  1. 1/7: Dean Martin “Memories Are Made of This” (BS: 5, DJ: 6, JB: 4, CB: 3, HP: 4, HR: 5)
  2. 2/4: The Platters “The Great Pretender” (DJ: 2, JB: 1, CB: 3, HR: 3)
  3. 2/18: Kay Starr with Hugo Winterhalter’s Orchestra “Rock and Roll Waltz” (BS: 1, DJ: 1, JB: 6, CB: 2, HP: 3, HR: 2)
  4. 2/25: Nelson Riddle’s Orchestra “Lisbon Antigua” (BS: 4, DJ: 2, CB: 2, HP: 4)
  5. 3/17: Les Baxter “The Poor People of Paris” (BS: 4, DJ: 5, JB: 2, CB: 4, HP: 5, HR: 4)
  6. 4/20: Carl Perkins “Blue Suede Shoes” (HR: 1)
  7. 4/21: Elvis Presley “Heartbreak Hotel” (BS: 8, DJ: 3, JB: 8, CB: 6, HP: 2, HR: 7)

  8. 5/5: Perry Como “Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom)” (DJ: 1)
  9. 6/2: Morris Stoloff’s Orchestra “Moonglow and Theme from Picnic” (DJ: 3, CB: 2, HP: 3)
  10. 6/9: The McGuire Sisters “Picnic” (HP: 3)
  11. 6/15: Gogi Grant “The Wayward Wind” (BS: 6, DJ: 8, JB: 4, CB: 5, HP: 3, HR: 8)
  12. 7/14: Pat Boone “I Almost Lost My Mind” (JB: 4, CB: 2)
  13. 7/28: Elvis Presley “I Want You, I Need You, I Love You” (BS: 1)
  14. 8/4: The Platters “My Prayer (Avant de Mourir)” (BS: 2, DJ: 3, JB: 1, CB: 2, HP: 1, HR: 3)
  15. 8/4: Vic Damone “On the Street Where You Live” (HP: 1)
  16. 8/11: Doris Day “Whatever Will Be Will Be (Que Sera Sera)” (HP: 4)
  17. 8/18: Elvis Presley “Don’t Be Cruel” (BS: 11, DJ: 8, JB: 9, CB: 6, HR: 8)
  18. 8/18: Elvis Presley “Hound Dog” (BS: 11, JB: 1, CB: 4)
  19. 9/1: Hugo Winterhalter’s Orchestra with Eddie Heywood “Canadian Sunset” (HP: 7, HR: 1)
  20. 10/27: Elvis Presley “Love Me Tender” (BS: 5, DJ: 5, JB: 1, CB: 5, HP: 5, HR: 1)
  21. 11/3: Johnnie Ray “Just Walkin’ in the Rain” (HP: 1, HR: 4)
  22. 11/17: Jim Lowe “The Green Door” (JB: 3)
  23. 12/8: Guy Mitchell “Singing the Blues” (BS: 9, DJ: 9, JB: 10, CB: 9, HP: 7, HR: 7)


1957:

  1. 1/26: Sonny James “Young Love” (DJ: 1, CB: 7, HP: 5, HR: 7)
  2. 2/2: Tab Hunter “Young Love” (BS: 5, DJ: 6, JB: 5, CB: 7, HR: 7)
  3. 2/2: Harry Belafonte “The Banana Boat Song (Day-O)” (HP: 1)
  4. 2/9: Elvis Presley “Too Much” (BS: 3, JB: 1, CB: 3)
  5. 2/23: Pat Boone “Don’t Forbid Me” (JB: 1)
  6. 3/16: Terry Gilkyson & the Easy Riders “Marianne” (HP: 3, HR: 2)
  7. 3/30: Buddy Knox “Party Doll” (BS: 1, CB: 1, HR: 1)
  8. 3/30: Andy Williams “Butterfly” (DJ: 2)
  9. 4/6: Perry Como “Round and Round” (BS: 1, DJ: 2, HR: 5)
  10. 4/6: Tommy Sands “Teen-Age Crush” (HR: 1)
  11. 4/13: Charlie Gracie “Butterfly” (JB: 2, HR: 1)
  12. 4/13: Elvis Presley “All Shook Up” (BS: 8, DJ: 7, JB: 9, CB: 7, HP: 3, HR: 6)
  13. 4/20: The Diamonds “Little Darlin’” (HP: 1, HR: 1)
  14. 6/8: Pat Boone “Love Letters in the Sand” (BS: 5, DJ: 7, CB: 6, HP: 10, HR: 7)
  15. 7/8: Elvis Presley “Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear” (BS: 7, DJ: 3, CB: 6, HR: 4)
  16. 7/20: The Everly Brothers “Bye Bye Love” (CB: 1, HR: 1)
  17. 8/17: Debbie Reynolds “Tammy” (BS: 3, DJ: 5, CB: 7, HP: 10, HR: 3)
  18. 8/17: Nat “King” Cole “Around the World” (HP: 1)
  19. 9/9: Paul Anka “Diana” (BS: 1, HR: 3)
  20. 9/23: Buddy Holly & the Crickets “That’ll Be the Day” (BS: 1)

  21. 9/23: Jimmie Rodgers “Honeycomb” (BS: 2, DJ: 4, CB: 1, HR: 2)
  22. 10/12: Johnny Mathis “Chances Are” (DJ: 1, CB: 2, HP: 3)
  23. 10/14: The Everly Brothers “Wake Up Little Susie” (BS: 1, DJ: 4, CB: 2, HR: 5)
  24. 10/21: Elvis Presley “Jailhouse Rock” (BS: 7, DJ: 2, CB: 3)
  25. 11/2: Jane Morgan “Fascination” (HP: 1)
  26. 11/30: Sam Cooke “You Send Me” (BS: 2, DJ: 1, CB: 3, HR: 4)
  27. 11/30: Pat Boone “April Love” (BS: 2, DJ: 6, HP: 7)
  28. 12/14: Frank Sinatra “All the Way” (HP: 1)
  29. 12/21: Bill Justis “Raunchy” (CB: 2, HR: 1)
  30. 12/30: Danny & The Juniors “At the Hop” (BS: 5, DJ: 3, CB: 5, HP: 3, HR: 6)

1958:

  1. 2/8: The Diamonds “The Stroll” (CB: 2, HR: 2)
  2. 2/10: Elvis Presley “Don’t” (BS: 5, DJ: 1, CB: 1)
  3. 2/15: Perry Como “Catch a Falling Star” (DJ: 1, HP: 4, HR: 2)
  4. 2/17: The McGuire Sisters “Sugartime” (DJ: 4, HP: 2, HR: 1)
  5. 2/22: The Silhouettes “Get a Job” (JB: 2, CB: 2)
  6. 3/15: The Champs “Tequila” (BS: 5, DJ: 2, CB: 5, HP: 3, HR: 4)
  7. 4/14: Laurie London “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” (DJ: 4, CB: 2, HP: 3, HR: 2)
  8. 4/21: The Platters “Twilight Time” (BS: 1, DJ: 1, CB: 1, HP: 1, HR: 3)
  9. 4/28: David Seville “Witch Doctor” (BS: 2, CB: 1)
  10. 5/12: The Everly Brothers “All I Have to Do Is Dream” (BS: 4, DJ: 5, CB: 4, HP: 3, HR: 4)

  11. 5/17: Art Todd & Dotty “Chanson D’Amour” (HP: 1)
  12. 5/20: Sheb Wooley “The Purple People Eater” (BS: 6, DJ: 1, CB: 5, GR: 4, HR: 3)
  13. 6/9: Elvis Presley “Hard Headed Woman” (BS: 2, DJ: 1, GR: 4)
  14. 7/1: Bobby Darin “Splish Splash” (GR: 1)
  15. 7/7: The Coasters “Yakety Yak” (JB: 1, CB: 1, HR: 1)
  16. 7/8: Duane Eddy “Rebel Rouser” (GR: 1)

  17. 7/12: Domenico Modugno “Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blue)” (BB: 5, BS: 5, CB: 6, GR, 7, HR: 6)
  18. 7/14: Perez “Prez” Prado “Patricia” (DJ: 1, CB: 4, HR: 4)
  19. 7/19: Elvis Presley “King Creole” (GR: 1)

    August 4, 1958: “The Billboard Hot 100 Is Introduced”

  20. 8/4: Ricky Nelson “Poor Little Fool” (BB: 2, BS: 2)
  21. 8/6: The Elegants “Little Star” (BB: 1, GR: 2)
  22. 8/15: Jimmy Clanton & His Rockets “Just a Dream” (GR: 1)
  23. 8/25: The Everly Brothers “Bird Dog” (BS: 1)
  24. 9/2: Tommy Edwards “It’s All in the Game” (BB: 6, BS: 3, CB: 5, GR: 4, HR: 6)
  25. 9/15: Little Anthony & the Imperials “Tears on My Pillow” (GR: 1)
  26. 9/22: Conway Twitty “It’s Only Make Believe” (BB: 2, CB: 1, GR: 1, HR: 3)
  27. 10/3: The Kingston Trio “Tom Dooley” (BB: 1, CB: 3, GR: 4, HR: 1)
  28. 10/24: Cozy Cole “Topsy II” (CB: 1, GR: 1)
  29. 10/31: The Teddy Bears “To Know Him Is to Love Him” (BB: 3, CB: 1, GR: 1, HR: 3)
  30. 11/19: David Seville & The Chipmunks “The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late)” (BB: 4, CB: 4, GR: 4, HR: 3)
  31. 12/30: The Platters “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” (BB: 3, CB: 4, GR: 1, HR: 4)


1959:

  1. 1/6: The Crests “16 Candles” (GR: 1)
  2. 1/9: Ritchie Valens “Donna” (GR: 2, HR: 1)
  3. 1/14: Lloyd Price “Stagger Lee” (BB: 4, CB: 3, GR: 3, HR: 3)
  4. 1/30: Chris Barber’s Jazz Band “Petite Fleur (Little Flower)” (GR: 1)
  5. 2/4: The Chipmunks “Alvin’s Harmonica” (GR: 3)
  6. 2/6: Thomas Wayne “Tragedy” (GR: 1)
  7. 2/11: Frankie Avalon “Venus” (BB: 5, CB: 5, GR: 4, HR: 4)
  8. 2/27: Connie Francis “If I Didn’t Care” (GR: 1)
  9. 3/6: The Fleetwoods “Come Softly to Me” (BB: 4, CB: 4, GR: 1, HR: 3)
  10. 3/13: The Virtues “Guitar Boogie Shufle” (GR: 1)
  11. 3/20: The Impalas “Sorry (I Ran All the Way Home)” (GR: 1)
  12. 3/27: Elvis Presley & the Jordanaires “Now and Then There’s a Fool Such As I” (GR: 1, HR: 2)
  13. 4/3: Dave “Baby” Cortez “The Happy Organ” (BB: 1, CB: 2, GR: 1, HR: 1)
  14. 4/10: The Everly Brothers “Take a Message to Mary” (GR: 1)
  15. 4/17: Edward Byrnes & Connie Stevens “Kookie Kookie, Lend Me Your Comb” (GR: 1)
  16. 5/1: Dion & the Belmonts “A Teenager in Love” (GR: 1)
  17. 5/8: Johnny Horton “The Battle of New Orleans” (BB: 6, CB: 9, GR: 1, HR: 6)

  18. 5/15: Lloyd Price “Personality” (GR: 1)
  19. 5/18: Wilbert Harrison “Kansas City” (BB: 2, CB: 1, HR: 2)
  20. 5/22: Bobby Darin “Dream Lover” (GR: 2)
  21. 6/5: Paul Anka “Lonely Boy” (BB: 4, CB: 2, GR: 1, HR: 3)
  22. 6/12: The Coasters “Along Came Jones” (GR: 1)
  23. 6/19: Frankie Avalon “Bobby Sox to Stockings” (GR: 1)
  24. 6/26: The Drifters “There Goes My Baby” (CB: 2, GR: 2)
  25. 7/10: Elvis Presley “Big Hunk O’ Love” (BB: 2, GR: 1)
  26. 7/17: Floyd Robinson “Makin’ Love” (GR: 1)
  27. 7/24: The Browns “The Three Bells” (BB: 4, CB: 2, GR: 1, HR: 5)
  28. 7/31: Jan & Dean “Baby Talk” (GR: 1)
  29. 8/3: Carl Dobkins Jr. “My Heart Is an Open Book” (HR: 3)
  30. 8/7: Bob McFadden & Dor “The Mummy” (GR: 1)
  31. 8/14: Lloyd Price “I’m Gonna Get Married” (GR: 1)
  32. 8/21: The Everly Brothers “Til I Kissed You” (GR: 1)
  33. 8/28: Paul Anka “Put Your Head on My Shoulder” (GR: 1)
  34. 9/4: The Crests “The Angels Listened In” (GR: 1)
  35. 9/11: The Fleetwoods “Mr. Blue” (BB: 1, CB: 2, GR: 2, HR: 2)
  36. 9/21: Santo & Johnny “Sleep Walk” (BB: 2)
  37. 9/25: Wink Martindale “Deck of Cards” (GR: 1)

  38. 9/26: Bobby Darin “Mack the Knife” (BB: 9, CB: 8, HR: 6)
  39. 10/2: Della Reese “Don’t You Know” (CB: 2, GR: 1, HR: 2)
  40. 10/9: The Islanders “The Enchanted Sea” (GR: 1)
  41. 10/16: Bobby Rydell “We Got Love” (GR: 1)
  42. 10/23: Fats Domino “Be My Guest” (GR: 1)
  43. 10/30: The Browns “Scarlet Ribbons for Her Hair” (GR: 1)
  44. 11/6: Nutty Squirrels “Uh! Oh! Part 2” (GR: 1)
  45. 11/13: Marty Robbins “El Paso” (BB: 2, GR: , HR: 2)
  46. 11/20: Fabian “Hound Dog Man” (GR: 1)
  47. 11/27: Freddy Cannon “Way Down Yonder in New Orleans” (GR: 1)
  48. 12/4: Frankie Avalon “Why” (BB: 1, CB: 3, GR: 1, HR: 1)
  49. 12/7: Guy Mitchell “Heartaches by the Number” (BB: 2, CB: 2, HR: 3)
  50. 12/11: Andy Williams “The Village of St. Bernadette” (GR: 2)
  51. 12/25: Johnny Preston “Running Bear” (BB: 3, CB: 3, GR: 1, HR: 3)

Resources/Related Links:

  • Dave’s Music Database: “USA: #1 Pop Songs, 1890-Present”
  • Dave’s Music Database: “United States: Biggest #1 Songs”
  • Dave’s Music Database: “Top 100 Songs for Each Decade”
  • Bruce C. Elrod (editor) (1994). Your Hit Parade & American Top 10 Hits: A Week-by-Week Guide to the Nation’s Favorite Music, 1935-1994. Popular Culture, Ink.: Ann Arbor, MI.
  • Stereogum.com: “The Number Ones” (column by Tom Breihan)
  • Joel Whitburn (1986). Pop Memories 1890-1954. Menomonee Falls, WI; Record Research, Inc. Pages 642-657.
  • Joel Whitburn (2016). Billboard Top Pop Singles 1955-2015 Record Research: Menomonee Falls, WI. Pages 1161-1170.
  • Joel Whitburn (2014). Cash Box Pop Hits 1952-1996. Record Research: Menomonee Falls, WI. Pages 514-522.
  • Joel Whitburn (2022). The Gavin Report 1958-2000. Record Research: Menomonee Falls, WI. Pages 341-48.
  • Joel Whitburn (2012). Hit Records 1954-1982 Record Research: Menomonee Falls, WI. Pages 406-411.
  • Wikipedia: “List of Billboard Number-One Singles” (1940s – present)


First posted 8/4/2023.

Saturday, April 10, 1982

Hit Records: Songs of the Year, 1954-1981

First posted 3/8/2021; updated 3/16/2021.

Hit Records (Music Vendor/Record World):

Songs of the Year, 1954-1981

Hit Records was the name of the book from Record Research which covered the music charts from Music Vendor and Record World from October 4, 1954 to April 10, 1982. Based on a top 100 list from that book, these are the songs of the year from 1954 to 1981. In a few cases, a year wasn’t represented on the top 100 list. Then the song with the most weeks at #1 from that year was named song of the year with ties broken by overall Dave’s Music Database points.

Check out other “songs of the year” lists here.


Resources and Related Links:

The Top 100 Songs According to Hit Records 1954-1982

First posted 9/25/2012; updated 3/16/2021.

Hit Records (Music Vendor/Record World):

Top 100 Songs, 1954-1982

This list is from a book published by Record Research, the company Joel Whitburn founded which packages books based on music chart data. As Whitburn says in the introduction, this is his “first research work that is entirely outside the covers of Billboard magazine.” This covers charts from Music Vendor and Record World from October 4, 1954 to April 10, 1982. It is, While the charts are very similar, there are some differences of interest to chart aficionados. Here’s the list of the top 100 songs according to the book (pages 403-4).

See other chart-based lists here.

  1. Debby Boone “You Light Up My Life” (1977)
  2. Olivia Newton-John “Physical” (1981)
  3. Lionel Richie & Diana Ross “Endless Love” (1981)
  4. The Beatles “I Want to Hold Your Hand” (1963)
  5. Perez “Prez” Prado “Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White” (1955)
  6. Elvis Presley “Don’t Be Cruel” (1956)
  7. Andy Gibb “Shadow Dancing” (1978)
  8. Gogi Grant “The Wayward Wind” (1956)
  9. Bee Gees “Night Fever” (1977)
  10. Chic “Le Freak” (1978)

  11. Guy Mitchell “Singing the Blues” (1956)
  12. Tennessee Ernie Ford “Sixteen Tons” (1955)
  13. Elvis Presley “Heartbreak Hotel” (1956)
  14. Pat Boone “Love Letters in the Sand” (1957)
  15. Mitch Miller “The Yellow Rose of Texas” (1955)
  16. Sonny James “Young Love” (1956)
  17. Queen “Another One Bites the Dust” (1980)
  18. Bee Gees “Stayin’ Alive” (1977)
  19. Fontane Sisters “Hearts of Stone” (1954)
  20. Blondie “Call Me” (1980)

  21. Johnny Horton “The Battle of New Orleans” (1959)
  22. Bobby Darin “Mack the Knife” (1959)
  23. Tommy Edwards “It’s All in the Game” (1951/1958)
  24. Domenico Modugno “Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blue)” (1958)
  25. Elvis Presley “All Shook Up” (1957)
  26. Jimmy Dean “Big Bad John” (1961)
  27. Rod Stewart “Tonight’s the Night (Gonna Be Alright)” (1976)
  28. Danny & The Juniors “At the Hop” (1957)
  29. The Four Seasons “Big Girls Don’t Cry” (1962)
  30. Lawrence Welk “Calcutta” (1960)

  31. Andy Gibb “I Just Want to Be Your Everything” (1977)
  32. Kim Carnes “Bette Davis Eyes” (1981)
  33. Pink Floyd “Another Brick in the Wall Part II” (1979)
  34. Donna Summer “Hot Stuff” (1979)
  35. Kenny Rogers “Lady” (1980)
  36. J. Geils Band “Centerfold” (1981)
  37. Dolly Parton “9 to 5” (1980)
  38. Commodores “Three Times a Lady” (1978)
  39. The McGuire Sisters “Sincerely” (1954)
  40. Elton John & Kiki Dee “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” (1976)

  41. John Lennon “Just Like Starting Over” (1980)
  42. Dean Martin “Memories Are Made of This” (1955)
  43. Percy Faith “Theme from ‘A Summer Place’” (1960)
  44. The Monkees “I’m a Believer” (1966)
  45. Rod Stewart “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” (1978)
  46. The Knack “My Sharona” (1979)
  47. Bobby Vinton “Roses Are Red My Love” (1962)
  48. Don McLean “American Pie” (1971)
  49. Ray Charles “I Can’t Stop Loving You” (1962)
  50. Three Dog Night “Joy to the World” (1971)

  51. Robert John “Sad Eyes” (1979)
  52. The Browns “The Three Bells” (1959)
  53. Jimmy Gilmer & The Fireballs “Sugar Shack” (1963)
  54. Roberta Flack “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face” (1969)
  55. The Four Seasons “Sherry” (1962)
  56. The Everly Brothers “Wake Up Little Susie” (1957)
  57. The Drifters “Save the Last Dance for Me” (1960)
  58. Gene Chandler “Duke of Earl” (1962)
  59. Bobby Goldsboro “Honey” (1968)
  60. Paul McCartney & Wings “My Love” (1973)

  61. Joan Jett & the Blackhearts “I Love Rock and Roll” (1981)
  62. Johnnie Ray “Just Walkin’ in the Rain” (1956)
  63. Alan O’Day “Undercover Angel” (1977)
  64. Perez “Prez” Prado “Patricia” (1958)
  65. Lipps Inc. “Funky Town” (1980)
  66. Bill Haley & the Comets “We’re Gonna Rock Around the Clock” (1954)
  67. Les Baxter “The Poor People of Paris” (1956)
  68. Donna Summer “Bad Girls” (1979)
  69. The Platters “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” (1958)
  70. Nick Gilder “Hot Child in the City” (1978)

  71. Mary MacGregor “Torn Between Two Lovers” (1976)
  72. Paul McCartney & Wings “Silly Love Songs” (1976)
  73. Billy Joel “It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me” (1980)
  74. Peaches & Herb “Reunited” (1979)
  75. The Beatles “Hey Jude” (1968)
  76. Sam Cooke “You Send Me” (1957)
  77. Rupert Holmes “Escape (The Pina Coloda Song)” (1979)
  78. Elvis Presley “Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear” (1957)
  79. Bobby Lewis “Tossin’ and Turnin’” (1961)
  80. Ricky Nelson “Travelin’ Man” (1961)

  81. The Everly Brothers “All I Have to Do Is Dream” (1958)
  82. Frankie Avalon “Venus” (1959)
  83. Tony Orlando & Dawn “Knock Three Times” (1970)
  84. Connie Francis “My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own” (1960)
  85. The Highwaymen “Michael” (1961)
  86. The Box Tops “The Letter” (1967)
  87. Gilbert O’Sullivan “Alone Again Naturally” (1972)
  88. The Singing Nun “Dominique” (1963)
  89. Elvis Presley “Are You Lonesome Tonight?” (1960)
  90. The Champs “Tequila” (1958)

  91. The Everly Brothers “Cathy’s Clown” (1960)
  92. Bobbie Gentry “Ode to Billie Joe” (1967)
  93. Del Shannon “Runaway” (1961)
  94. The Supremes “Baby Love” (1964)
  95. The Tokens “The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Wimoweh)” (1961)
  96. The Dixie Cups “Chapel of Love” (1964)
  97. Mary Hopkin “Those Were the Days” (1968)
  98. The Fifth Dimension “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In” (1969)
  99. Paul & Paula “Hey Paula” (1962)
  100. Sonny & Cher “I Got You Babe” (1965)

Resources and Related Links: