United States: Biggest #1 Songs

USA’s Biggest #1 Pop Songs: 1890-2026

These are the biggest #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’s pre-Hot 100 pop charts (1890-1958) (BB) Billboard Best Sellers chart (1940-1958) (BS) Billboard Juke Box Hits (1940-1957) (JB) Billboard Disc Jockey Hits (1944-1958) (DJ) Billboard Hot 100 chart (1958-present) (BB) Billboard Airplay (1984-present) (BA) Billboard Digital (2005-present) (DG) Billboard Streaming (2013-present) (ST) Edward Foote Gardner Popular Songs of the Twentieth Century (1900-1949) (GA) Your Hit Parade (1935-1959) (HP) Cashbox (1950-1996) (CB) Music Vendor/Record World (1954-1982) (HR) Radio & Records/Mediabase (1973-present) (RR) Links go to specific lists of the biggest songs of all time for that chart. All songs with 10 or more weeks on any of these charts are listed. If a song hit #1 on more than chart, only the chart where the song had the most weeks is noted. However, at times Hit Parade and Cashbox did not designate a specific artist with the #1 song. For example, “Some Enchanted Evening” was a #1 song on Hit Parade in 1949, but because there were multiple versions of the song out at the time, it wasn’t credited to any specific artist. In such cases, this list attributes the song only to an artist if that artist also hit #1 on another of the noted charts. One last note – in the event of ties, songs are ranked according to most overall points in Dave’s Music Database. For songs which hit #1 multiple times, the version which accumulated the most points is used. See other chart-based lists here. Spotify Podcast: Check out Dave’s Music Database podcast: The Biggest #1 Songs in Billboard Hot 100 History based on this list. It debuts September 7, 2021 at 7pm CST. New episodes based on Dave’s Music Database lists are posted every Tuesday at 7pm CST. 26 weeks: The Weeknd “Blinding Lights” (BA: 2020) 23 weeks: Alex Warren “Ordinary” (BA: 2025) 22 weeks: Mariah Carey “All I Want for Christmas Is You” (BB: 1994) 20 weeks: Lil Nas X with Billy Ray Cyrus “Old Town Road” (ST: 2018) Shaboozey “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” (BA: 2024) 19 weeks: Morgan Wallen “Last Night” (ST: 2023) 18 weeks: Goo Goo Dolls “Iris” (BA, 1998) BTS “Dynamite” (DG: 2020) Miley Cyrus “Flowers” (BA: 2023) 17 weeks: Luis Fonsi with Daddy Yankee & Justin Bieber “Despacito” (DG: 2017) Francis Craig with Bob Lamm “Near You” (BB: 1947) 16 weeks: Mariah Carey “We Belong Together” (BA: 2005) Mariah Carey with Boyz II Men “One Sweet Day” (BB: 1995) No Doubt “Don’t Speak” (BA: 1996) Maroon 5 with Cardi B “Girls Like You” (BA: 2017) Ella Langley “Choosin’ Texas” (BB: 2026) 15 weeks: Harry Styles “As It Was” (BB: 2022) 14 weeks: Bing Crosby with the Ken Darby Singers “White Christmas” (BB: 1942) Whitney Houston “I Will Always Love You” (BB: 1992) Mark Ronson with Bruno Mars “Uptown Funk!” (BB: 2014) Black Eyed Peas “I Gotta Feeling” (BB: 2009) Elton John “Candle in the Wind 1997 (Goodbye England’s Rose)” (BB: 1997) Los Del Rio “Macarena (Bayside Boys Mix)” (BB: 1995) Boyz II Men “I’ll Make Love to You” (BB: 1994) Celine Dion “Because You Loved Me” (BA: 1996) Alicia Keys “No One” (BA: 2001) Iggy Azalea with Charli XCX “Fancy” (ST: 2014) Post Malone with 21 Savage “Rockstar” (ST: 2017) Panic! At the Disco “High Hopes” (BA: 2018) Desiigner “Panda” (ST: 2015) 13 weeks: Glenn Miller “In the Mood” (BB: 1939) Gene Austin “My Blue Heaven” (BB: 1927) Patti Page “Tennessee Waltz” (BB: 1950) The Chainsmokers with Halsey “Closer” (DG: 2016) Debby Boone “You Light Up My Life” (HR: 1977) Ben Selvin “Dardanella” (BB: 1920) Artie Shaw “Frenesi” (BB: 1940) The Weavers with Gordon Jenkins’ Orchestra “Goodnight Irene” (BB: 1950) Harry James with Helen Forrest “I’ve Heard That Song Before” (BB: 1943) The Ink Spots “The Gypsy” (BB: 1946) Boyz II Men “End of the Road” (BB: 1992) Ted Weems with Elmo Tanner “Heartaches” (BB: 1947) Ace of Base “The Sign” (BA: 1994) TLC “No Scrubs” (BA: 1999) Donna Lewis “I Love You Always Forever” (BA: 1996) Brandy with Monica “The Boy Is Mine” (BB: 1998) Miley Cyrus “Wrecking Ball” (ST: 2013) Roddy Rich “The Box” (ST: 2019) BTS “Butter” (DG: 2021) Encanto Cast “We Don’t Talk About Bruno” (ST: 2022) Kendrick Lamar with SZA “Luther” (BB: 2024) 12 weeks: Ed Sheeran “Shape of You” (BB: 2017) Eminem “Lose Yourself” (BB: 2002) Usher with Lil’ Jon & Ludacris “Yeah!” (BB: 2004) Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra with Frank Sinatra & the Pied Pipers “I’ll Never Smile Again” (BB: 1940) Robin Thicke with T.I. & Pharrell Williams “Blurred Lines” (BB: 2013) Santana with Rob Thomas “Smooth” (BB: 1999) Rihanna with Calvin Harris “We Found Love” (BA: 2011) The Mills Brothers “Paper Doll” (BB: 1943) Wiz Khalifa with Charlie Puth “See You Again” (BB: 2015) Black Eyed Peas “Boom Boom Pow” (BB: 2009) Vernon Dalhart “The Prisoner’s Song” (BB: 1925) Vaughn Monroe “Ghost Riders in the Sky (A Cowboy Legend)” (BB:1949) Jo Stafford “You Belong to Me” (BB: 1952) Al Jolson “Sonny Boy” (BB: 1928) Nelly with Kelly Rowland “Dilemma” (BA: 2002) Nat “King” Cole “Too Young” (HP: 1951) Huntr/x “Golden” (ST: 2025) Taylor Swift “Cruel Summer” (BA: 2023) 11 weeks: Elvis Presley “Don’t Be Cruel” (BB: 1956) / Elvis Presley “Hound Dog” (BB: 1956) Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers with Leo Reisman’s Orchestra “Cheek to Cheek” (BB: 1935) Pharrell Williams “Happy” (DG: 2013) Paul Whiteman’s Orchestra “Whispering” (BB: 1920) Al Jolson “April Showers” (BB: 1922) Adele “Hello” (BA: 2015) Bryon G. Harlan “School Days (When We Were a Couple of Kids)” (BB: 1907) Drake “God’s Plan” (BB: 2018) American Quartet with Billy Murray “Casey Jones” (BB: 1910) Puff Daddy with Faith Evans & 112 “I’ll Be Missing You” (BB: 1997) Beyoncé “Irreplaceable” (BA: 2006) Justin Bieber “Love Yourself” (BA: 2015) Haydn Quartet “Put on Your Old Grey Bonnet” (BB: 1909) Natalie Imbruglia “Torn” (BA: 1997) Toni Braxton “Un-Break My Heart” (BB: 1996) All-4-One “I Swear” (BB: 1994) Johnnie Ray & the Four Lads “Cry” (BB: 1951) Arthur Collins “The Preacher and the Bear” (BB: 1905) Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra with Franklyn Baur “Valencia (A Song of Spain)” (BB: 1926) Destiny’s Child “Independent Women” (BB: 2000) Les Paul with Mary Ford “Vaya Con Dios (May God Be with You)” (BB: 1953) Henry Burr “Just a Baby’s Prayer at Twilight (For Her Daddy Over There)” (BB: 1918) Anton Karas “The Third Man Theme” (BB: 1950), also by Guy Lombardo Tony Bennett “Because of You” (HP: 1951) Mariah Carey “Dreamlover” (BB: 1993) Frankie Carle & Marjorie Hughes “Oh What It Seemed to Be” (BB: 1946) Len Spencer “The Arkansaw Traveler” (BB: 1902) Post Malone “Circles” (BA: 2019) Mario “Let Me Love You” (BA: 2004) Boyz II Men “On Bended Knee” (BA: 1994) 24K Goldn with Iann Dior “Mood” (BA: 2020) Khalid “Talk” (BA: 2019) Miley Cyrus “We Can’t Stop” (ST: 2013) 10 weeks: Arthur Collins & Bryon G. Harlan “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” (BB: 1911) Fred Astaire with Leo Reisman’s Orchestra “Night and Day” (BB: 1932) Celine Dion “My Heart Will Go On” (BA: 1997) Billy Murray “You’re a Grand Old Flag (aka “The Grand Old Rag”)” (BB: 1906) Ella Fitzgerald with Chick Webb & His Orchestra “A-Tisket, A-Tasket” (BB: 1938) Haydn Quartet “Sweet Adeline (You’re the Flower of My Heart)” (BB: 1904) Flo Rida with T-Pain “Low” (BB: 2007) Bing Crosby with George Stoll’s Orchestra “Pennies from Heaven” (BB: 1936) Kanye West with Jamie Foxx “Gold Digger” (BB: 2005) Bing Crosby with John Scott Trotter’s Orchestra “I’ll Be Seeing You” (HP: 1944), also by Tommy Dorsey with Frank Sinatra George J. Gaskin “After the Ball” (BB: 1893) Olivia Newton-John “Physical” (BB: 1981) Dinah Shore & Her Harper Valley Boys “Buttons and Bows” (BB/HP: 1948) Macklemore & Ryan Lewis with Wanz “Thrift Shop” (DG: 2012) Leona Lewis “Bleeding Love” (RR: 2007) The Harmonicats “Peg O’ My Heart” (HP: 1947) Drake with Wizkid & Kyla “One Dance” (BB: 2016) Justin Timberlake “Can’t Stop the Feeling!” (DG: 2016) Bryon G. Harlan “My Gal Sal” (BB: 1907) Meghan Trainor “All About That Bass” (ST: 2014) Perry Como “Some Enchanted Evening” (HP: 1949) Nick Lucas “Tip Toe Through the Tulips” (BB: 1929) The Andrews Sisters with Vic Schoen’s Orchestra “Rum and Coca Cola” (BB: 1945) Seal “Kiss from a Rose” (BA: 1994) Bing Crosby with Lani McIntire & His Hawaiians “Sweet Leilani” (BB: 1937) Perry Como “Till the End of Time” (BB: 1945) Lady Gaga with Bradley Cooper “Shallow” (DG: 2018) Rudy Vallee & His Connecticut Yankees “Stein Song (University of Maine)” (BB: 1930) Drake “In My Feelings” (BB: 2018) Ted Lewis & His Band “In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town” (BB: 1932) Guy Mitchell “Singing the Blues” (BB: 1956) Pat Boone “Love Letters in the Sand” (HP: 1957) Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra with Bob Eberly & Helen O’Connell “Amapola (Pretty Little Poppy)” (BB: 1941) Janet Jackson “That’s the Way Love Goes” (BA: 1993) George J. Gaskin “On the Banks of the Wabash” (BB: 1897) Dan Quinn “The Band Played On” (BB: 1895) Vaughn Monroe’s Orchestra “Ballerina” (BB: 1947) Percy Faith with Felicia Sanders “Where Is Your Heart (Song from “Moulin Rouge”)” (BB: 1953) The McGuire Sisters “Sincerely” (BB: 1955) N Sync “Bye Bye Bye” (RR: 2000) Lil Wayne with Static Major “Lollipop” (BA: 2008) Perez “Prez” Prado “Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White” (BB: 1955) Silentó “Watch Me (Whip/Nae Nae)” (ST: 2015) Glenn Miller Orchestra with Ray Eberle & The Modernaires “Moonlight Cocktail” (BB: 1942) Mariah Carey “Hero” (BA: 1993) Kay Starr “Wheel of Fortune” (BB: 1952) Ashanti with Ja Rule “Foolish” (BB: 2002) Bing Crosby with the Ken Darby Singers “Now Is the Hour (Maori Farewell Song)” (HP: 1948) Rosemary Clooney “Hey There” (HP: 1954) George W. Johnson “The Laughing Song” (BB: 1891) Margaret Whiting “A Tree in the Meadow” (HP: 1948) George J. Gaskin “My Old New Hampshire Home” (BB: 1898) Santana with the Product G&B “Maria Maria” (BB: 2000) Debbie Reynolds “Tammy” (HP: 1957) Eileen Barton “If I Knew You Were Comin’ I’d’ve Baked a Cake” (BB: 1950) Perry Como “If (They Made Me a King)” (HP: 1951) Patti Page “I Went to Your Wedding” (BB: 1952) Mariah Carey “Someday” (BA: 1990) Usher “U Got It Bad” (BA: 2001) Jimmy Dorsey with Bob Eberly “I Hear a Rhapsody” (HP: 1941), also by Charlie Barnet with Bob Carroll DaBaby with Roddy Rich “Rockstar” (ST: 2020) Migos with Lil Uzi Vert “Bad and Boujee” (ST: 2016) Cardi B with Megan Thee Stallion “WAP” (ST: 2020) Bruno Mars with Anderson.Paak as Silk Sonic “Leave the Door Open” (BA: 2021) Adele “Easy on Me” (BB: 2021) Taylor Swift “The Fate of Ophelia” (BB: 2026) Rema with Selena Gomez “Calm Down” (BA: 2023) Resources/Related Links: Dave’s Music Database: “Other Chart-Based Lists” Dave’s Music Database: “USA: #1 Pop Songs, 1890-present” First posted 10/29/2017; last updated 8/7/2026.

Billboard: Jukebox Hits, 1940-1957

Billboard’s Jukebox Hits: 1940-1957

Billboard magazine launched its jukebox hits chart on January 6, 1940. It only ran until July 20, 1940, but then resumed on November 6, 1943 and ran until June 17, 1957. It tracked which songs were played most in jukeboxes across the country. The chart ran until 1957. These were the biggest #1 songs on that chart. All songs which spent three weeks or more at #1 are listed here. Ties are broken by songs’ overall Dave’s Music Database points. See other chart-based lists here and specific Billboard lists here. 13 weeks: Glenn Miller “In the Mood” (1939) Patti Page “Tennessee Waltz” (1950) Francis Craig with Bob Lamm “Near You” (1947) The Ink Spots “The Gypsy” (1946) Ted Weems with Elmo Tanner “Heartaches” (1947) 12 weeks: The Weavers with Gordon Jenkins’ Orchestra “Goodnight Irene” (1950) 11 weeks: Frankie Carle & Marjorie Hughes “Oh What It Seemed to Be” (1946) Guy Lombardo “The Third Man Theme” (1950) 10 weeks: Vaughn Monroe “Riders in the Sky (A Cowboy Legend)” (1949) The Andrews Sisters with Vic Schoen’s Orchestra “Rum and Coca-Cola” (1945) Guy Mitchell “Singing the Blues” (1956) Tony Bennett with Percy Faith’s Orchestra “Because of You” (1951) Kay Starr “Wheel of Fortune” (1952) Patti Page “I Went to Your Wedding” (1952) 9 weeks: Elvis Presley “Don’t Be Cruel” (1956) / Elvis Presley “Hound Dog” (1956) Elvis Presley “All Shook Up” (1957) Dinah Shore & Her Harper Valley Boys “Buttons and Bows” (1948) Les Paul & Mary Ford “How High the Moon” (1951) Glenn Miller “Tuxedo Junction” (1940) Perry Como “Till the End of Time” (1945) Johnnie Ray & the Four Lads “Cry” (1951) Les Paul with Mary Ford “Vaya Con Dios (May God Be with You)” (1953) Andrews Sisters with Vic Shoen’s Orchestra “Shoo-Shoo Baby” (1943) 8 weeks: Elvis Presley “Heartbreak Hotel” (1956) Bing Crosby with John Scottt Trotter’s Orchestra “Swinging on a Star” (1944) The Harmonicats “Peg O’ My Heart” (1947) Bing Crosby & the Andrews Sisters “Don’t Fence Me In” (1944) Johnny Mercer with the Pied Pipers “On the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe” (1945) Perez “Prez” Prado “Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White” (1955) Perry Como with Hugo Winterhalter’s Orchestra “Wanted” (1954) Red Foley “Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy” (1950) The Crew-Cuts “Sh-Boom” (1954) Frankie Carle with Marjorie Hughes “Rumors Are Flying” (1946) Tony Bennett with Percy Faith’s Orchestra “Rags to Riches” (1953) Rosemary Clooney “Come on-a My House” (1951) 7 weeks: Bill Haley & the Comets “We’re Gonna Rock Around the Clock” (1954) Les Brown with Doris Day “Sentimental Journey” (1945) Tennessee Ernie Ford “Sixteen Tons” (1955) Vaughn Monroe’s Orchestra “Ballerina” (1947) The McGuire Sisters “Sincerely” (1954) Patti Page “The Doggie in the Window” (1953) Kitty Kallen with Jack Pleis’ Orchestra “Little Things Mean a Lot” (1954) Evelyn Knight & the Stardusters “A Little Bird Told Me” (1948) Teresa Brewer with Jack Pleis’ Orchestra “Till I Waltz Again with You” (1952) Les Brown with Doris Day “My Dreams Are Getting Bigger All the Time” (1945) Sammy Kaye with Billy Williams “The Old Lamplighter” (1946) Eddie Fisher with Sally Sweetland & Hugo Winterhalter’s Orchestra “I'm Walking Behind You” (1953) Jo Stafford “Make Love to Me!” (1954) Ken Griffin “You Can’t Be True, Dear” (1948) 6 weeks: Pee Wee Hunt “Twelfth Street Rag” (1948) Mitch Miller “The Yellow Rose of Texas” (1955) Percy Faith with Felicia Sanders “Where Is Your Heart (Song from “Moulin Rouge”)” (1953) Harry James with Dick Haymes “I’ll Get by As Long As I Have You” (1941) Eddy Howard “To Each His Own” (1946) Frankie Laine & the Muleskinners “Mule Train” (1949) Frankie Masters “Scatter-Brain” (1939) Eddie Fisher with Hugo Winterhalter’s Orchestra “O Mein Papa (Oh My Papa)” (1953) Kay Kyser with Gloria Wood “Woody Woodpecker” (1948) Al Trace with Bob Vincent “You Call Everybody Darlin’” (1948) Kay Starr with Hugo Winterhalter’s Orchestra “Rock and Roll Waltz” (1955) Georgia Gibbs “Kiss of Fire” (1952) The Ames Brothers with Hugo Winterhalter’s Orchestra “You You You” (1953) Russ Morgan & the Skylarks “Cruising Down the River on a Sunday Afternoon” (1949) Bing Crosby with the Andrews Sisters & Vic Shoen’s Orchestra “There'll Be a Hot Time in the Town of Berlin When the Yanks Go Marching In” (1944) 5 weeks: Nat “King” Cole “Mona Lisa” (1950) Vaughn Monroe “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” (1945) Perry Como “Some Enchanted Evening” (1949) Art Mooney “I’m Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover” (1948) Frankie Laine with Jud Conlon’s Rhythmaires “That Lucky Old Sun” (1949) Peggy Lee with Dave Barbour’s Orchestra “Manana Is Soon Enough for Me” (1948) Glenn Miller with Marion Hutton “The Woodpecker Song” (1940) Rosemary Clooney with Buddy Cole “Hey There” (1954) THe Merry Macs “Mairzy Doats” (1944) Perry Como with Mitchell Ayres Orchestra “If (They Made Me a King)” (1951) Tab Hunter “Young Love” (1956) Bing Crosby with Jon Scott Trotter’s Orchestra “San Fernando Valley” (1944) 4 weeks: The Chordettes “Mr. Sandman” (1954) Nat “King” Cole “Too Young” (1951) Tex Williams “Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)” (1947) Vera Lynn with Ronald Shaw’s Orchestra “Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart” (1952) Gogi Grant “The Wayward Wind” (1956) Dean Martin “Memories Are Made of This” (1955) Perry Como & the Ramblers with Mitchell Ayres’ Orchestra “Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes” (1952) Bing Crosby with John Scott Trotter’s Orchestra “Sierra Sue” (1940) Joan Weber “Let Me Go, Lover!” (1954) Pat Boone “I Almost Lost My Mind” (1956) Sammy Kaye with Troy Alamo “Harbor Lights” (1950) 3 weeks: Blue Barron & His Orchestra “Crusing Down the River on a Sunday Afternoon” (1949) The Four Aces “Love is a Many Splendored Thing” (1955) Vic Damone “You’re Breaking My Heart” (1949) Bill Hayes “The Ballad of Davy Crockett” (1955) Bing Crosby “Now Is the Hour (Māori Farewell Song)” (1948) The Andrews Sisters with Gordon Jenkins’ Orchestra “I Can Dream, Can’t I?” (1949) Frank Sinatra “Five Minutes More” (1946) Margaret Whiting with Jimmy Wakely “Slipping Around” (1949) Russ Morgan & the Skylarks “Forever and Ever” (1949) Eileen Barton “If I Knew You Were Comin’ I’d’ve Baked a Cake” (1950) Pee Wee King & His Golden West Cowboys “Slow Poke” (1951) Joni James with Lew Douglas’ Orchestra “Why Don’t You Believe Me” (1952) Rosemary Clooney with Percy Faith’s Orchestra “Half As Much” (1952) The Mills Brothers with Hal McIntyre “The Glow-Worm” (1952) The Three Suns “Peg O’ My Heart” (1947) Freddy Martin with Stuart Wade “Managua, Nicaragua” (1947) Jim Lowe “The Green Door” (1956) Rosemary Clooney “This Ole House” (1954) Tony Bennett with Percy Faith’s Orchestra “Cold Cold Heart” (1951) The Fontane Sisters with Billy Vaughn’s Orchestra “Hearts of Stone” (1954) Georgia Gibbs “Dance with Me Henry (Wallflower)” (1955) Resources and Related Links: Dave’s Music Database “Other Best-of Billboard lists” Dave’s Music Database: “Other Chart-Based Lists” Dave’s Music Database: “USA: #1 Pop Songs, 1890-present” First posted 9/7/2021.

Billboard: Disc Jockey Hits, 1944-1958

Billboard’s Disc Jockey Hits: 1944-1958

Billboard magazine started its disc jockey hits chart in 1944. It tracked which songs were played the most on radio stations across the country. The chart ran until 1958 when it was merged with data from the best sellers and jukebox hits into the Billboard Hot 100. These, however, were the biggest #1 songs on the Disc Jockey Hits chart. All songs which spent three weeks or more at #1 are listed here. Ties are broken by songs’ overall Dave’s Music Database points. See other chart-based lists here and specific Billboard lists here. 17 weeks: Francis Craig with Bob Lamm “Near You” (1947) 12 weeks: Vaughn Monroe “Riders in the Sky (A Cowboy Legend)” (1949) Jo Stafford “You Belong to Me” (1952) 11 weeks: Ted Weems with Elmo Tanner “Heartaches” (1947) 10 weeks: Johnnie Ray & the Four Lads “Cry” (1951) The McGuire Sisters “Sincerely” (1954) Eileen Barton “If I Knew You Were Comin’ I’d’ve Baked a Cake” (1950) 9 weeks: Les Paul & Mary Ford “How High the Moon” (1951) Perry Como “Till the End of Time” (1945) Guy Mitchell “Singing the Blues” (1956) Percy Faith with Felicia Sanders “Where Is Your Heart (Song from “Moulin Rouge”)” (1953) Kay Starr “Wheel of Fortune” (1952) The Crew-Cuts “Sh-Boom” (1954) Frankie Carle with Marjorie Hughes “Rumors Are Flying” (1946) 8 weeks: Elvis Presley “Don’t Be Cruel” (1956) Patti Page “Tennessee Waltz” (1950) The Weavers with Gordon Jenkins’ Orchestra “Goodnight Irene” (1950) Nat “King” Cole “Mona Lisa” (1950) Nat “King” Cole with Frank DeVol’s Orchestra “Nature Boy” (1948) Vaughn Monroe’s Orchestra “Ballerina” (1947) Tonny Bennett with Percy Faith’s Orchestra “Because of You” (1951) Kitty Kallen with Jack Pleis’ Orchestra “Little Things Mean a Lot” (1954) Eddy Howard “To Each His Own” (1946) Gogi Grant “Thw Wayward Wind” (1956) Perry Como with Mitchell Ayres Orchestra “If (They Made Me a King)” (1951) Eddy Howard “Sin (It’s No Sin)” (1951) The Ames Brothers with Hugo Winterhalter’s Orchestra “You You You” (1953) Rosemary Clooney “Come on-a My House” (1951) Frankie Carle & Marjorie Hughes “Oh What It Seemed to Be” (1946) Dinah Shore “The Gypsy” (1946) 7 weeks: Les Brown with Doris Day “Sentimental Journey” (1945) Elvis Presley “All Shook Up” (1957) Bing Crosby & the Andrews Sisters “Don’t Fence Me In” (1944) Pat Boone “Love Letters in the Sand” (1957) The Chordettes “Mr. Sandman” (1954) Russ Morgan & the Skylarks “Cruising Down the River on a Sunday Afternoon” (1949) Frankie Laine with Jud Conlon’s Rhythmaires “That Lucky Old Sun” (1949) Patti Page “The Doggie in the Window” (1953) Peggy Lee with Dave Barbour’s Orchestra “Manana Is Soon Enough for Me” (1948) Perry Como with Hugo Winterhalter’s Orchestra “Wanted” (1954) Eddie Fisher with Hugo Winterhalter’s Orchestra “O Mein Papa (Oh My Papa)” (1953) Tony Bennett with Percy Faith’s Orchestra “Rags to Riches” (1953) Georgia Gibbs “Kiss of Fire” (1952) 6 weeks: Tennessee Ernie Ford “Sixteen Tons” (1955) Mitch Miller “The Yellow Rose of Texas” (1955) Jo Mercer with the Pied Pipers “On the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe” (1945) Vaughn Monroe “There! I’ve Said It Again” (1945) Nat “King” Cole “I Love You for Sentimental Reasons” (1946) The Four Aces “Love is a Many Splendored Thing” (1955) Vera Lynn with Ronald Shaw’s Orchestra “Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart” (1952) Frankie Laine & the Muleskinners “Mule Train” (1949) Evelyn Knight & the Stardusters “A Little Bird Told Me” (1948) Dean Martin “Memories Are Made of This” (1955) Teresa Brewer with Jack Pleis’ Orchestra “Till I Waltz Again with You” (1952) Pat Boone “April Love” (1957) Kay Kyser with Gloria Wood “Woody Woodpecker” (1948) Bing Crosby with Carmen Cavallaro’s Orchestra “I Can’t Begin to Tell You” (1945) Joni James “Why Don’t You Believe Me” (1952) Tab Hunter “Young Love” (1956) Buddy Clark with Mitchell Ayres’ Orchestra “Peg O’ My Heart” (1947) 5 weeks: Bill Haley & the Comets “We’re Gonna Rock Around the Clock” (1954) The Everly Brothers “All I Have to Do Is Dream” (1958) Elvis Presley “Love Me Tender” (1956) Dinah Shore & Her Harper Valley Boys “Buttons and Bows” (1948) Vaughn Monroe “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” (1945) Perez “Prez” Prado “Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White” (1955) The Andrews Sisters with Gordon Jenkin’s Orchestra “I Can Dream, Can’t I?” (1949) Margaret Whiting “A Tree in the Meadow” (1948) Debbie Reynolds “Tammy” (1957) Les Baxter “The Poor People of Paris” (1956) Doris Day with Buddy Clark and George Siravo’s Orchestra “Love Somebody” (1948) Patti Page with Harry Geller’s Orchestra “All My Love (Bolero)” (1950) Phil Harris with Walter Scharf’s Orchestra “The Thing” (1950) 4 weeks: Pee Wee Hunt “Twelfth Street Rag” (1948) THe Everly Brothers “Wake Up Little Susie” (1957) Doris Day “Secret Love” (1954) Art Mooney “I’m Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover” (1948) Nat “King” Cole “Too Young” (1951) Vic Damone “You’re Breaking My Heart” (1949) Rosemary Clooney with Buddy Cole “Hey There” (1954) Frank Sinatra “Five Minutes More” (1946) Sheb Wooley “The Purple People Eater” (1958) Joan Weber “Let Me Go, Lover!” (1954) Laurie London “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” (1957) Perry Como with Henri Rene’s Orchestra “No Other Love” (1953) Jimmie Rodgers “Honeycomb” (1957) The McGuire Sisters “Sugartime” (1957) 3 weeks: Elvis Presley “Heartbreak Hotel” (1956) Danny & The Juniors “At the Hop” (1957) Les Paul with Mary Ford “Vaya Con Dios (May God Be with You)” (1953) Elvis Presley “Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear” (1957) The Platters “My Prayer (Avant de Mourir)” (1956) Bill Hayes “The Ballad of Davy Crockett” (1955) Perry Como & the Ramblers with Mitchell Ayres’ Orchestra “Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes” (1952) Spike Jones & His City Slickers with George Rock “All I Want for Christmas Is My Two Front Teeth” (1948) Al Martino “Here in My Heart” (1952) Les Brown with Doris Day “My Dreams Are Getting Bigger All the Time” (1945) Eddie Fisher with Sally Sweetland & Hugo Winterhalter’s Orchestra “I'm Walking Behind You” (1953) Morris Stoloff & His Orchestra “Moonglow and Theme from ‘Picnic’” (1956) Jo Stafford “Make Love to Me!” (1954) Resources and Related Links: Dave’s Music Database “Other Best-of Billboard lists” Dave’s Music Database: “Other Chart-Based Lists” Dave’s Music Database: “USA: #1 Pop Songs, 1890-present” First posted 9/6/2021.

Billboard: Best Sellers, 1940-1958

Billboard’s Best Sellers: 1940-1958

Billboard magazine started its best seller chart in 1940. It tracked the songs which sold the most according to surveys of stores which sold music. The chart ran until 1958 when it was merged, along with charts of the biggest DJ hits and jukebox hits, into the Billboard Hot 100. These, however, were the biggest #1 songs on the Billboard Best Sellers chart from 1940 to 1958. All songs which spent four weeks or more at #1 are listed here. Ties are broken by songs’ overall Dave’s Music Database points. See other chart-based lists here and specific Billboard lists here. 13 weeks: Artie Shaw “Frenesi” (1940) The Weavers with Gordon Jenkins’ Orchestra “Goodnight Irene” (1950) 12 weeks: Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra with Frank Sinatra & the Pied Pipers “I’ll Never Smile Again” (1940) Francis Craig with Bob Lamm “Near You” (1947) Ted Weems with Elmo Tanner “Heartaches” (1947) 11 weeks: Elvis Presley “Don’t Be Cruel” (1956) / Elvis Presley “Hound Dog” (1956) Vaughn Monroe “Riders in the Sky (A Cowboy Legend)” (1949) Johnnie Ray & the Four Lads “Cry” (1951) Les Paul with Mary Ford “Vaya Con Dios (May God Be with You)” (1953) Anton Karas “The Third Man Theme” (1950) 10 weeks: Dinah Shore & Her Harper Valley Boys “Buttons and Bows” (1948) The Ink Spots “The Gypsy” (1946) Perry Como “Till the End of Time” (1945) Vaughn Monroe’s Orchestra “Ballerina” (1947) Percy Faith with Felicia Sanders “Where Is Your Heart (Song from “Moulin Rouge”)” (1953) Perez “Prez” Prado “Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White” (1955) 9 weeks: Les Brown with Doris Day “Sentimental Journey” (1945) Patti Page “Tennessee Waltz” (1950) Bing Crosby with John Scottt Trotter’s Orchestra “Swinging on a Star” (1944) Les Paul & Mary Ford “How High the Moon” (1951) Guy Mitchell “Singing the Blues” (1956) Kitty Kallen with Jack Pleis’ Orchestra “Little Things Mean a Lot” (1954) Peggy Lee with Dave Barbour’s Orchestra “Manana Is Soon Enough for Me” (1948) Kay Starr “Wheel of Fortune” (1952) Vera Lynn with Ronald Shaw’s Orchestra “Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart” (1952) Bing Corsby “Only Forever” (1940) 8 weeks: Bill Haley & the Comets “We’re Gonna Rock Around the Clock” (1954) Elvis Presley “Heartbreak Hotel” / “I Was the One” (1956) Elvis Presley “All Shook Up” (1957) Pee Wee Hunt “Twelfth Street Rag” (1948) The Andrews Sisters with Vic Schoen’s Orchestra “Rum and Coca-Cola” (1945) Bing Crosby & the Andrews Sisters “Don’t Fence Me In” (1944) Tonny Bennett with Percy Faith’s Orchestra “Because of You” (1951) Frankie Laine with Jud Conlon’s Rhythmaires “That Lucky Old Sun” (1949) Patti Page “The Doggie in the Window” (1953) Perry Como with Hugo Winterhalter’s Orchestar “Wanted” (1954) Eddie Fisher with Hugo Winterhalter’s Orchestra “O Mein Papa (Oh My Papa)” (1953) Frankie Carle with Marjorie Hughes “Rumors Are Flying” (1946) 7 weeks: Elvis Presley “Jailhouse Rock” (1957) Tennessee Ernie Ford “Sixteen Tons” (1955) Nat “King” Cole with Frank DeVol’s Orchestra “Nature Boy” (1948) Jo Mercer with the Pied Pipers “On the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe” (1945) The Chordettes “Mr. Sandman” (1954) Jimmy Dorsey with Bob Eberly & Kitty Kallen “Besame Mucho (Kiss Me Much)” (1944) Elvis Presley “Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear” (1957) Evelyn Knight & the Stardusters “A Little Bird Told Me” (1948) The Crew-Cuts “Sh-Boom” (1954) Les Brown with Doris Day “My Dreams Are Getting Bigger All the Time” (1945) Sammy Kaye with Billy Williams “The Old Lamplighter” (1946) Russ Morgan & the Skylarks “Cruising Down the River on a Sunday Afternoon” (1949) 6 weeks: Mitch Miller “The Yellow Rose of Texas” (1955) The McGuire Sisters “Sincerely” (1954) Frankie Carle & Marjorie Hughes “Oh What It Seemed to Be” (1946) Tex Williams “Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)” (1947) Frankie Laine & the Muleskinners “Mule Train” (1949) Rosemary Clooney with Buddy Cole “Hey There” (1954) Gogi Grant “Thw Wayward Wind” (1956) Sheb Wooley “The Purple People Eater” (1958) Kay Kyser with Gloria Wood “Woody Woodpecker” (1948) Perry Como with Mitchell Ayres Orchestra “If (They Made Me a King)” (1951) Tony Bennett with Percy Faith’s Orchestra “Rags to Riches” (1953) Rosemary Clooney “Come on-a My House” (1951) Tony Bennett with Percy Faith’s Orchestra “Cold Cold Heart” (1951) 5 weeks: Elvis Presley “Love Me Tender” / “Any Way You Want Me” (1956) Danny & The Juniors “At the Hop” (1957) Nat “King” Cole “Mona Lisa” (1950) Jo Stafford “You Belong to Me” (1952) Vaughn Monroe “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” (1945) Perry Como “Some Enchanted Evening” (1949) Domenico Modugno “Volare (Nel Blu Dipinto Di Blue)” (1958) The Champs “Tequila” (1958) Pat Boone “Love Letters in the Sand” (1957) Nat “King” Cole “Too Young” (1951) Shep Fields with Hal Derwin “South of the Border (Down Mexico Way)” (1939) Eddy Howard “To Each His Own” (1946) Bill Hayes “The Ballad of Davy Crockett” (1955) The Mills Brothers “You Always Hurt the One You Love” (1944) Dean Martin “Memories Are Made of This” (1955) Perry Como & the Ramblers with Mitchell Ayres’ Orchestra “Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes” (1952) Glen Gray with Eugenie Baird “My Heart Tells Me (Should I Believe My Heart?)” (1943) Teresa Brewer with Jack Pleis’ Orchestra “Till I Waltz Again with You” (1952) Bing Crosby with John Scott Trotter’s Orchestra “I Love You” (1944) Patti Page “I Went to Your Wedding” (1954) Elvis Presley “Don’t” (1958) Tab Hunter “Young Love” (1956) Leroy Anderson & His “Pops” Concert Orchestra “Blue Tango” (1951) 4 weeks: The Everly Brothers “All I Have to Do Is Dream” (1958) Bing Crosby with John Scott Trotter’s Orchestra “I’ll Be Seeing You” (1944) The Harmonicats “Peg O’ My Heart” (1947) Roger Williams “Autumn Leaves” (1955) Harry James with Dick Haymes “I’ll Get by As Long As I Have You” (1941) Vic Damone “You’re Breaking My Heart” (1949) The Andrews Sisters with Gordon Jenkin’s Orchestra “I Can Dream, Can’t I?” (1949) Dinah Shore “I’ll Walk Alone” (1944) Red Foley “Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy” (1950) Teresa Brewer with the Dixieland All Stars “Music! Music! Music!” (1950) Les Baxter “The Poor People of Paris” (1956) Joni James with Lew Douglas’ Orchestra “Why Don’t You Believe Me” (1952) Phil Harris with Walter Scharf’s Orchestra “The Thing” (1950) Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra “Lisbon Antigua” (1955) Stan Freberg with Daws Butler & June Foray “St. George and the Dragonet” (1953) Resources and Related Links: Dave’s Music Database “Other Best-of Billboard lists” Dave’s Music Database: “Other Chart-Based Lists” Dave’s Music Database: “USA: #1 Pop Songs, 1890-present” First posted 9/6/2021.

 

Billboard: Biggest #1 Pop Songs, 1890-1958

Billboard’s Biggest #1 Pop Songs: 1890-1958

The Billboard Hot 100 chart was launched on August 4, 1958. It has become the industry standard for tracking the biggest pop hits in the United States. However, prior to 1958, Billboard had been doing charts as far back as 1890 which tracked pop hits in terms of sheet music sales, radio airplay, in-store sales, and jukebox plays. These are the biggest #1 songs according to Billboard from 1890 until the inception of the Hot 100 chart. All songs which spent eight weeks or more are listed here. Ties are broken by songs’ overall Dave’s Music Database points. See other chart-based lists here. 17 weeks: Francis Craig with Bob Lamm “Near You” (1947) 14 weeks: Bing Crosby with the Ken Darby Singers “White Christmas” (1942) 13 weeks: Glenn Miller “In the Mood” Gene Austin “My Blue Heaven” Patti Page “Tennessee Waltz” (1950) Ben Selvin “Dardanella” (1920) Artie Shaw “Frenesi” (1940) The Weavers with Gordon Jenkins’ Orchestra “Goodnight Irene” (1950) Harry James with Helen Forrest “I’ve Heard That Song Before” (1943) The Ink Spots “The Gypsy” (1946) Ted Weems with Elmo Tanner “Heartaches” (1947) 12 weeks: Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra with Frank Sinatra & the Pied Pipers “I’ll Never Smile Again” (1940) The Mills Brothers “Paper Doll” (1943) Vernon Dalhart “The Prisoner’s Song” (1925) Vaughn Monroe “Riders in the Sky (A Cowboy Legend)” (1949) Jo Stafford “You Belong to Me” (1952) Al Jolson “Sonny Boy” (1928) 11 weeks: Elvis Presley “Don’t Be Cruel” (1956) / Elvis Presley “Hound Dog” (1956) Leo Reisman & His Orchestra with Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers “Cheek to Cheek” (1935) Paul Whiteman’s Orchestra “Whispering” (1920) Al Jolson “April Showers” (1922) Byron Harlan “School Days (When We Were a Couple of Kids)” (1907) American Quartet with Billy Murray “Casey Jones” (1910) Haydn Quartet “Put on Your Old Grey Bonnet” (1909) Johnnie Ray & the Four Lads “Cry” (1951) Arthur Collins “The Preacher and the Bear” (1905) Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra with Franklyn Baur “Valencia (A Song of Spain)” (1926) Les Paul with Mary Ford “Vaya Con Dios (May God Be with You)” (1953) Henry Burr “Just a Baby’s Prayer at Twilight (For Her Daddy Over There)” (1918) Anton Karas “The Third Man Theme” (1950) Frankie Carle & Marjorie Hughes “Oh What It Seemed to Be” (1946) Len Spencer “Arkansaw Traveler” (1902) Guy Lombardo “The Third Man Theme” (1950) 10 weeks: Arthur Collins & Byron Harlan “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” (1911) Leo Reisman’s Orchestra with Fred Astaire “Night and Day” (1932) Billy Murray “You’re a Grand Old Flag (aka “The Grand Old Rag”)” (1906) Ella Fitzgerald with Chick Webb & His Orchestra “A-Tisket, A-Tasket” (1938) Haydn Quartet “Sweet Adeline (You’re the Flower of My Heart)” (1904) Bing Crosby with George Stoll’s Orchestra “Pennies from Heaven” (1936) George J. Gaskin “After the Ball” (1893) Dinah Shore & Her Harper Valley Boys “Buttons and Bows” (1948) Byron Harlan “My Gal Sal” (1907) Nick Lucas “Tip-Toe Thru the Tulips with Me” (1929) The Andrews Sisters with Vic Schoen’s Orchestra “Rum and Coca-Cola” (1945) Bing Crosby with Lani McIntire & His Hawaiians “Sweet Leilani” (1937) Perry Como “Till the End of Time” (1945) Rudy Vallee & His Connecticut Yankees “Stein Song (University of Maine)” (1930) Ted Lewis & His Band “In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town” (1932) Guy Mitchell “Singing the Blues” (1956) Jimmy Dorsey & His Orchestra with Bob Eberly & Helen O’Connell “Amapola (Pretty Little Poppy)” (1941) George J. Gaskin “On the Banks of the Wabash” (1897) Dan Quinn “The Band Played On” (1895) Vaughn Monroe’s Orchestra “Ballerina” (1947) Percy Faith with Felicia Sanders “Where Is Your Heart (Song from “Moulin Rouge”)” (1953) The McGuire Sisters “Sincerely” (1955) Tonny Bennett with Percy Faith’s Orchestra “Because of You” (1951) Perez “Prez” Prado “Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White” (1955) Glenn Miller Orchestra with Ray Eberle & The Modernaires “Moonlight Cocktail” (1942) Kay Starr “Wheel of Fortune” (1952) George W. Johnson “The Laughing Song” (1891) George J. Gaskin “My Old New Hampshire Home” (1898) Eileen Barton “If I Knew You Were Comin’ I’d’ve Baked a Cake” (1950) Patti Page “I Went to Your Wedding” (1952) 9 weeks: American Quartet “Over There” (1917) Al Jolson “Swanee” (1920) Glenn Miller with Tex Beneke & the Four Modernaires “Chattanooga Choo Choo” (1941) Les Brown with Doris Day “Sentimental Journey” (1945) Billy Murray with the Haydn Quartet “By the Light of the Silvery Moon” (1910) Ada Jones & Billy Murray “Shine on, Harvest Moon” (1909) Billy Murray “Meet Me in St. Louis, Louis” (1904) Larry Clinton with Bea Wain “Deep Purple” (1939) Henry Burr with Albert Campbell “Till We Meet Again” (1919) Bing Crosby with John Scottt Trotter’s Orchestra “Swinging on a Star” (1944) Byron Harlan “Wait Till the Sun Shines, Nellie” (1906) Les Paul & Mary Ford “How High the Moon” (1951) Glenn Miller “Tuxedo Junction” (1940) George Olsen with Joe Morrison “The Last Round-Up” (1933) Billy Murray “Harrigan” (1907) Dan Quinn “Daisy Bell (A Bicycle Built for Two)” (1893) Bert Williams “Nobody” (1906) Henry Burr “Beautiful Ohio” (1919) Dan Quinn “The Sidewalks of New York” (1895) Kitty Kallen with Jack Pleis’ Orchestra “Little Things Mean a Lot” (1954) Peggy Lee with Dave Barbour’s Orchestra “Manana Is Soon Enough for Me” (1948) Vera Lynn with Ronald Shaw’s Orchestra “Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart” (1952) Andrews Sisters with Vic Shoen’s Orchestra “Shoo-Shoo Baby” (1943) Bing Corsby “Only Forever” (1940) The Crew-Cuts “Sh-Boom” (1954) Frankie Carle with Marjorie Hughes “Rumors Are Flying” (1946) 8 weeks: Bill Haley & the Comets “We’re Gonna Rock Around the Clock” (1954) Elvis Presley “Heartbreak Hotel” (1956) Elvis Presley “All Shook Up” (1957) Billy Murray “Yankee Doodle Boy” (1905) Arthur Collins “Bill Bailey, Won’t You Please Come Home” (1902) American Quartet “Moonlight Bay” (1912) Pee Wee Hunt “Twelfth Street Rag” (1948) Al Jolson “Rock-a-Bye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody” (1918) The Harmonicats “Peg O’ My Heart” (1947) Nat “King” Cole “Mona Lisa” (1950) John McCormack “It’s a Long, Long Way to Tipperary” (1915) Tennessee Ernie Ford “Sixteen Tons” (1955) Henry Burr “I Wonder Who’s Kissing Her Now” (1909) Nat “King” Cole with Frank DeVol’s Orchestra “Nature Boy” (1948) Paul Whiteman “Three O’Clock in the Morning” (1922) John Philip Sousa “The Stars and Stripes Forever” (1897) Bing Crosby & the Andrews Sisters “Don’t Fence Me In” (1944) Len Spencer “Ta-Ra-Ra Boom-De-Ay” (1892) Jo Mercer with the Pied Pipers “On the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe” (1945) Gene Austin with Nat Shilkret’s Orchestra “Ramona” (1928) Al Dexter & His Troops “Pistol Packin’ Mama” (1943) George J. Gaskin “When You Were Sweet Sixteen” (1900) Kay Kyser with Harry Babbitt & Julie Conway “Jingle Jangle Jingle” (1942) Frankie Laine with Jud Conlon’s Rhythmaires “That Lucky Old Sun” (1949) Patti Page “The Doggie in the Window” (1953) Larry Clinton with Bea Wain “My Reverie” (1938) Sammy Kaye “Daddy” (1941) Eddy Howard “To Each His Own” (1946) Rudy Vallee “Honey” (1929) Paul Whiteman with Jack Fulton “In a Little Spanish Town ('Twas on a Night Like This)” (1927) George J. Gaskin “Oh Promise Me” (1893) Perry Como with Hugo Winterhalter’s Orchestar “Wanted” (1954) Red Foley “Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy” (1950) Frankie Masters “Scatter-Brain” (1939) Gogi Grant “The Wayward Wind” (1956) George J. Gaskin “Sweet Rosie O’Grady” (1897) Eddie Fisher with Hugo Winterhalter’s Orchestra “O Mein Papa (Oh My Papa)” (1953) George J. Gaskin “The Fatal Wedding” (1893) Perry Como with Mitchell Ayres Orchestra “If (They Made Me a King)” (1951) Leo Reisman & Harold Arlen “Stormy Weather (Keeps Rainin' All the Time)” (1933) Eddy Howard “Sin (It’s No Sin)” (1951) Tony Bennett with Percy Faith’s Orchestra “Rags to Riches” (1953) Freddy Martin with Jack Fina “Piano Concerto in B Flat” (1941) The Ames Brothers with Hugo Winterhalter’s Orchestra “You You You” (1953) Rosemary Clooney “Come on-a My House” (1951) Frank Sinatra “Oh What It Seemed to Be” (1946) Dinah Shore “The Gypsy” (1946) Resources and Related Links: Dave’s Music Database “Other Best-of Billboard lists” Dave’s Music Database: “Other Chart-Based Lists” Dave’s Music Database: “USA: #1 Pop Songs, 1890-present” First posted 9/6/2021.

 

U.S. Biggest #1 Pop Songs in Chart History

USA’s Biggest #1 Pop Songs

This page has been updated and moved here.

Billboard 1940-1958 (Pre-Hot 100 Era): Top 100

First posted 11/3/2019.

In 1958, Billboard magazine introduced the Hot 100 chart which consolidated information from sales, airplay, and jukebox plays. In the 18 preceding that, there were separate charts for each of those three. This list shows which songs did the best on those three charts. Songs are listed by total combined weeks on the three charts with codes indicating how many weeks on each of the three charts. Ties are broken by songs’ overall status in Dave’s Music Database.

• BS = Best Sellers
• DJ = Most Played by Disc Jockeys
• JB = Most Played on Jukeboxes

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42 weeks:

1. Francis Craig with Bob Lamm “Near You” (1947) BS: 12, DJ: 17, JB: 13

36 weeks:

2. Ted Weems with Elmo Tanner “Heartaches” (1947) BS: 12, DJ: 11, JB: 13

33 weeks:

3. Vaughn Monroe “Riders in the Sky (A Cowboy Legend)” (1949) BS: 11, DJ: 12, JB: 10
4. The Weavers with Gordon Jenkins’ Orchestra “Goodnight Irene” (1950) BS: 13, DJ: 8, JB: 12

30 weeks:

5. Patti Page “Tennessee Waltz” (1950) BS: 9, DJ: 8, JB: 13
6. Johnnie Ray & the Four Lads “Cry” (1951) BS: 11, DJ: 10, JB: 9

28 weeks:

7. Elvis Presley “Don’t Be Cruel” (1956) BS: 11, DJ: 8, JB: 9
8. Perry Como “Till the End of Time” (1945) BS: 10, DJ: 9, JB: 9
9. Guy Mitchell “Singing the Blues” (1956) BS: 9, DJ: 9, JB: 10
10. Kay Starr “Wheel of Fortune” (1952) BS: 9, DJ: 9, JB: 10

27 weeks:

11. Les Paul & Mary Ford “How High the Moon” (1951) BS: 9, DJ: 9, JB: 9

26 weeks:

12. Tony Bennett “Because of You” (1951) BS: 8, DJ: 8, JB: 10

25 weeks:

13. The Ink Spots “The Gypsy” (1946) BS: 10, DJ: 2, JB: 13
14. Vaughn Monroe “Ballerina” (1947) BS: 10, DJ: 8, JB: 7
15. Percy Faith “Where Is Your Heart (Song from “Moulin Rouge”)” (1953) BS: 10, DJ: 9, JB: 6
16. Frankie Carle with Marjorie Hughes “Rumors Are Flying” (1946) BS: 8, DJ: 9, JB: 8

24 weeks:

17. Elvis Presley “All Shook Up” (1957) BS: 8, DJ: 7, JB: 9
18. Dinah Shore “Buttons and Bows” (1948) BS: 10, DJ: 5, JB: 9
19. Kitty Kallen “Little Things Mean a Lot” (1954) BS: 9, DJ: 8, JB: 7
20. The Crew-Cuts “Sh-Boom” (1954) BS: 7, DJ: 9, JB: 8

23 weeks:

21. Les Brown with Doris Day “Sentimental Journey” (1945) BS: 9, DJ: 7, JB: 7
22. Bing Crosby & the Andrews Sisters “Don’t Fence Me In” (1944) BS: 8, DJ: 7, JB: 8
23. Les Paul & Mary Ford “Vaya Con Dios (May God Be with You)” (1953) BS: 11, DJ: 3, JB: 9
24. The McGuire Sisters “Sincerely” (1954) BS: 6, DJ: 10, JB: 7
25. Perez “Prez” Prado “Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White” (1955) BS: 10, DJ: 5, JB: 8
26. Perry Como “Wanted” (1954) BS: 8, DJ: 7, JB: 8

22 weeks:

27. Patti Page “The Doggie in the Window” (1953) BS: 8, DJ: 7, JB: 7
28. Rosemary Clooney “Come on-a My House” (1951) BS: 6, DJ: 8, JB: 8

21 weeks:

29. Johnny Mercer & the Pied Pipers “On the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe” (1945) BS: 7, DJ: 6, JB: 8
30. Peggy Lee “Manana Is Soon Enough for Me” (1948) BS: 9, DJ: 7, JB: 5
31. Eddie Fisher “O Mein Papa (Oh My Papa)” (1953) BS: 8, DJ: 7, JB: 6
32. Tony Bennett “Rags to Riches” (1953) BS: 6, DJ: 7, JB: 8

20 weeks:

33. Bill Haley & the Comets “We’re Gonna Rock Around the Clock” (1954) BS: 8, DJ: 5, JB: 7
34. Elvis Presley “Hound Dog” (1956): BS: 11, JB: 9
35. Tennessee Ernie Ford “Sixteen Tons” (1955) BS: 7, DJ: 6, JB: 7
36. Frankie Laine with Jud Conlon’s Rhythmaires “That Lucky Old Sun” (1949) BS: 8, DJ: 7, JB: 5
37. Evelyn Knight & the Stardusters “A Little Bird Told Me” (1948) BS: 7, DJ: 6, JB: 7

19 weeks:

38. Elvis Presley “Heartbreak Hotel” (1956) BS: 6, DJ: 3, JB: 8
39. Jo Stafford “You Belong to Me” (1952) BS: 5, DJ: 12, JB: 2
40. Eddy Howard “To Each His Own” (1946) BS: 5, DJ: 8, JB: 6
41. Vera Lynn “Auf Widerseh’n Sweetheart” (1952) BS: 9, DJ: 6, JB: 4
42. Perry Como “If (They Made Me a King)” (1951) BS: 6, DJ: 8, JB: 5

18 weeks:

43. Nat “King” Cole “Mona Lisa” (1950) BS: 5, DJ: 8, JB: 5
44. Pee Wee Hunt Orchestra “Twelfth Street Rag” (1948) BS: 8, DJ: 4, JB: 6
45. The Andrews Sisters “Rum and Coca Cola” (1945) BS: 8, JB: 10
46. Mitch Miller “The Yellow Rose of Texas” (1955) BS: 6, DJ: 6, JB: 6
47. The Chordettes “Mr. Sandman” (1954) S: 7, DJ: 7, JB: 4
48. Frankie Laine & the Muleskinners “Mule Train” (1949) BS: 6, DJ: 6, JB: 6
49. Gogi Grant “The Wayward Wind” (1956) BS: 6, DJ: 8, JB: 4,
50. Kay Kyser with Gloria Wood “Woody Woodpecker” (1948) BS: 6, DJ: 6, JB: 6
51. Teresa Brewer “TilL I Waltz Again with You” (1952) BS: 5, DJ: 6, JB: 7

17 weeks:

52. Bing Crosby with the Williams Brothers Quartet “Swinging on a Star” (1944) BS: 9, JB: 8
53. Frankie Carle with Marjorie Hughes “Oh What It Seemed to Be” (1946) BS: 6, JB: 11
54. Les Brown with Doris Day “My Dreams Are Getting Bigger All the Time” (1945) BS: 7: DJ: 3, JB: 7

16 weeks:

55. Patti Page “I Went to Your Wedding” (1952) BS: 5, DJ: 1, JB: 10
56. Tab Hunter “Young Love” (1956) BS: 5, DJ: 6, JB: 5

15 weeks:

57. Nat “King” Cole “Nature Boy” (1948) BS: 7, DJ: 8
58. Vaughn Monroe “Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!” (1945) BS: 5, DJ: 5, JB: 5
59. Rosemary Clooney “Hey There” (1954) BS: 6, DJ: 4, JB; 5
60. Eileen Barton with the New Yorkers “If I Knew You Were Comin’ I’d’ve Baked a Cake” (1950) BS: 2, DJ: 10, JB: 3
61. Sammy Kaye with Billy Williams “The Old Lamplighter” (1946) BS: 7, DJ: 1, JB: 7
62. Dean Martin “Memories Are Made of This” (1955) BS: 5, DJ: 6, JB: 4

14 weeks:

63. Red Foley “Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy” (1950) BS: 4, DJ: 2, JB: 8
64. The Ames Brothers “You, You, You” (1953) DJ: 8, JB: 6

13 weeks:

65. Glenn Miller “In the Mood” (1939) JB: 13
66. Artie Shaw “Frenesi” (1940) BS: 13
67. Shep Fields with Hal Derwin “South of the Border (Down Mexico Way)” (1939) JB: 13
68. Nat “King” Cole “Too Young” (1951) BS: 5, DJ: 4, JB: 4
69. Joni James “Why Don’t You Believe Me” (1952) BS: 4, DJ: 6, JB: 3
70. Georgia Gibbs “Kiss of Fire” (1952) DJ: 7, JB: 6
71. Russ Morgan & the Skylarks “Crusing Down the River on a Sunday Afternoon” (1949) BS: 7, JB: 6
72. Jo Stafford “Make Love to Me!” (1954) BS: 3, DJ: 3, JB: 7

12 weeks:

73. Tommy Dorsey with Frank Sinatra “I’ll Never Smile Again” (1940) BS: 12
74. The Harmonicats “Peg O’ My Heart” (1947) BS: 4, JB: 8
75. Perry Como “Some Enchanted Evening” (1949) BS: 5, DJ: 2, JB: 5
76. Art Mooney “I’m Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover” (1948) BS: 3, DJ: 4, JB: 5
77. Pat Boone “Love Letters in the Sand” (1957) BS: 5, DJ: 7
78. Blue Barron & His Orchestra “Crusing Down the River on a Sunday Afternoon” (1949) BS: 2, DJ: 7, JB: 3
79. The Andrews Sisters “I Can Dream, Can’t I?” (1949) BS: 4, DJ: 5, JB: 3
80. Perry Como & the Ramblers “Don’t Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes” (1952) BS: 5, DJ: 3, JB: 4
81. Eddie Fisher “I’m Walking Behind You” (1953) BS: 2, DJ: 3, JB: 7

11 weeks:

82. Elvis Presley “Love Me Tender” (1956) BS: 5, DJ: 5, JB: 1
83. Anton Karas “The Third Man Theme” (1950) BS: 11
84. The Four Aces “Love Is a Many Splendored Thing” (1955) BS: 2, DJ: 6, JB: 3
85. Tex Williams “Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! That Cigarette” (1947) BS: 6, DJ: 1, JB: 4
86. Vic Damone “You’re Breaking My Heart” (1949) BS: 4, DJ: 4, JB: 3
87. Bill Hayes “The Ballad of Davy Crockett” (1955) BS: 5, DJ: 3, JB: 3
88. Eddy Howard “Sin (It’s No Sin)” (1951) BS: 2, DJ: 8, JB: 1
89. Les Baxter “The Poor People of Paris” (1956) BS: 4, DJ: 5, JB: 2
90. Guy Lombardo “The Third Man Theme” (1950) JB: 11
91. Phil Harris “The Thing” (1950) BS: 4, DJ: 5, JB: 2

10 weeks:

92. Elvis Presley “Let Me Be Your Teddy Bear” (1957) BS: 7, DJ: 3
93. Harry James with Dick Haymes “I’ll Get By As Long As I Have You” (1941) BS: 4, JB: 6
94. Sheb Wooley “The Purple People Eater” (1958) BS: 6, DJ: 4
95. Joan Weber “Let Me Go, Lover!” (1954) BS: 2, DJ: 4, JB: 4

9 weeks:

96. Elvis Presley “Jailhouse Rock” (1957) BS: 7, DJ: 2
97. The Everly Brothers “All I Have to Do Is Dream” (1958) BS: 4, DJ: 5
98. Glenn Miller “Tuxedo Junction” (1940) JB: 9
99. The Andrews Sisters “Shoo-Shoo Baby” (1943) JB: 9
100. Frank Sinatra “Five Minutes More” (1956) BS: 2, DJ: 4, JB: 3
101. Bing Crosby “Only Forever” (1940) BS: 9
102. Tony Bennett “Cold, Cold Heart” (1951) BS: 6, JB: 3

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Dave's Music Database Hall of Fame: Song Inductees (July 2019)

Originally posted 7/22/2019. In honor of the 10th anniversary of the DMDB blog on January 22, 2019, Dave’s Music Database launched its own Hall of Fame. This is the third set of song inductees. These are the ten biggest #1 pop songs of the pre-rock era (before 1955). Each of these songs spent 13 weeks or more on top of the Billboard pop charts. Not listed here are previous inductees “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby and “My Blue Heaven” by Gene Austin.

Francis Craig with Bob Lamm “Near You” (1947) Inducted July 2019 as “Top 10 #1 Pop Songs of the Pre-Rock Era.”

Craig was a nearly fifty-year-old has-been orchestra leader when he wrote the melody for “Near You” for his grandchildren. The song topped the Billboard pop charts in 1947 for 17 weeks. It set a record that wouldn’t be surpassed until Lil’ Nas X hit #1 for 19 weeks in 2019 with “Old Town Road.” Read more.

The Ink Spots “The Gypsy” (1946) Inducted July 2019 as “Top 10 #1 Pop Songs of the Pre-Rock Era.”

Billy Reid was the first British songwriter to top the pop charts in the United States. He wrote “The Gypsy” for Welsh singer Dorothy Squires when she joined his group. It was a hit in the U.S. with five top-ten versions in 1946, but the biggest was by the African-American pop vocal group the Ink Spots, who spent 13 weeks at the pinnacle. Read more.

Harry James with Helen Forrest “I’ve Heard That Song Before” (1943) Inducted July 2019 as “Top 10 #1 Pop Songs of the Pre-Rock Era.”

Composer Jule Styne and lyricist Sammy Cahn launched a successful musical writing partnership with this Academy Award-nominated song TY featured in the 1942 film Youth on Parade. Bob Crosby introduced the song in the film, but the big hit was by Harry James’ Orchestra with Helen Forrest on vocals. Read more.

Glenn Miller “In the Mood” (1939) Inducted July 2019 as “Top 10 #1 Pop Songs of the Pre-Rock Era.”

“In the Mood” is “one of the best known musical themes of the World War II era” NRR and one of the big band era’s most recognizable songs. Tin Pan Alley composers Joe Garland and Andy Razaf arranged it based on “Tar Paper Stomp,” a 1930 song by Joseph “Wingy” Manone. After it passed through several others’ hands, Miller arranged it to include the famous tenor sax battle WK and it became the biggest hit of Miller’s career. Read more.

Patti Page “Tennessee Waltz” (1950) Inducted July 2019 as “Top 10 #1 Pop Songs of the Pre-Rock Era.”

Pee Wee King and Redd Stewart wrote this in 1947 while riding in Stewart’s truck. King’s recording hit #3 on the country charts and versions by Cowboy Copas and Roy Acuff followed. However, when Patti Page, the best-selling female singer of the ‘50s, JA put her stamp on the song, it marked the moment when country went mainstream. LW With 13 weeks at #1 on the pop charts and sales of six million, it was one of the ten best sellers of the first half of the century. PM Read more.

Ben Selvin “Dardanella” (1920) Inducted July 2019 as “Top 10 #1 Pop Songs of the Pre-Rock Era.”

Over his career, Ben Selvin’s 2000+ recordings rank him above any other bandleader. PM His biggest hit, however, was an instrumental version of “Dardanella.” It was the first song to sell over 5 million copies, PM one of the ten best sellers of the first half of the 20th century, PM and the biggest-selling song in the first quarter-century of recorded music. SB Read more.

Artie Shaw “Frenesi” (1940) Inducted July 2019 as “Top 10 #1 Pop Songs of the Pre-Rock Era.”

Alberto Dominguez originally wrote this for the marimba and then others adapted it as a jazz standard. WK When Artie Shaw, a bandleader and one of jazz’s finest clarinetists, recorded the song it became the biggest hit of his career, one of the biggest #1 songs in chart history, and the first million-selling song by a Mexican writer. TY The success helped “popularize Brazilian rhythms in jazz and pop music.” JA Read more.

The Weavers “Goodnight Irene” (1950) Inducted July 2019 as “Top 10 #1 Pop Songs of the Pre-Rock Era.”

Huddie “Leadbelly” Ledbetter’s best-known song can be traced to African-American composer Gussie L. Davis, SS who first published the sentimental waltz in Cincinnati in 1886. JA By the early 1940s, the song was a mainstay in the folk community. The Weavers’ recording, complete with “violins and other orchestra touches provided by Gordon Jenkins,” SS divided folk purists but made for a monstrously successful commercial recording, hitting #1 in 1950, just months after Leadbelly’s death. Read more.