Songs from the Year 1928

Other Years:

1928

1929

1930s

This page lists the top songs of 1928 in the source charts. The way that the various charts are combined to reach this final list is described on the in the site generation page.

Between 1920 and 1940 there are few available charts (at least that we can find). These results should be treated with some caution since, with few exceptions, they are based on fairly subjective charts and biased towards the USA.

The top ten song artists of 1928 were:
1:Jimmie Rodgers	3:Al Jolson	5:Gene Austin	7:The Carter Family	9:Bing Crosby
2:Paul Whiteman	4:Louis Armstrong	6:Ruth Etting	8:Fred Waring & the Pennsylvanians	10:Helen Kane

#	Artist	Song Title	Year	Chart Entries
1	Jimmie Rodgers	T For Texas (Blue Yodel No 1)	1928	Grammy Hall of Fame in 1985 (1928), Library of Congress artifact added 2004 (1927), US Billboard 2 - 1928 (11 weeks), nuTsie 5 of 1920s, Daily Deuce 7, US invalid BB 11 of 1928, POP 11 of 1928, Music Imprint 12 of 1920s, Brazil 62 of 1928, RIAA 331, Acclaimed 600 (1928), aceterrier.com 16 of the 1920s (1927), RYM 4 of 1928, Guardian Folk/ World 5
2	Louis Armstrong	West End Blues	1928	Grammy Hall of Fame in 1974 (1928), nuTsie 2 of 1920s, US Billboard 8 - 1928 (6 weeks), US invalid BB 14 of 1928, POP 14 of 1928, Daily Deuce 21, Acclaimed 479 (1928), Jazz Standard 648, aceterrier.com 4 of the 1920s (1928), RYM 1 of 1928, Guardian Jazz 7, one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 500
3	Helen Kane	I Wanna Be Loved By You	1928	Grammy Hall of Fame in 2009 (1928), US Billboard 2 - 1928 (11 weeks), US invalid BB 6 of 1928, POP 6 of 1928, Music Imprint 15 of 1920s, nuTsie 58 of 1920s, Brazil 80 of 1929, RIAA 128, aceterrier.com 27 of the 1920s (1928)
4	Pinetop Smith	Pinetop's Boogie Woogie	1928	Grammy Hall of Fame in 1983 (1928), Daily Deuce 1, POP 9 of 1928, US invalid BB 15 of 1929, nuTsie 16 of 1920s, US Billboard 20 - 1929 (1 week), Jazz Standard 965, Acclaimed 1478 (1928), aceterrier.com 13 of the 1920s (1928), RYM 12 of 1928, one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 500
5	Paul Robeson	Ol' Man River	1928	Grammy Hall of Fame in 2006 (1928), US invalid BB 3 of 1928, POP 3 of 1928, US Billboard 7 - 1928 (4 weeks), nuTsie 9 of 1920s, AFI 24, Brazil 86 of 1929, Song of 1932
6	Blind Willie McTell	Statesboro Blues	1928	Grammy Hall of Fame in 2017 (1928), Library of Congress artifact added 2015 (1928), Peel list 4 of 1928, Daily Deuce 9, nuTsie 23 of 1920s, Acclaimed 1233 (1928), RYM 7 of 1928, one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 500
7	Al Jolson	Sonny Boy	1928	US Billboard 1 - 1928 (19 weeks), Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002 (1928), US invalid BB 7 of 1928, POP 7 of 1928, nuTsie 13 of 1920s, Brazil 29 of 1929, RYM 19 of 1928
8	The Carter Family	Wildwood Flower	1928	Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 (1929), Library of Congress artifact added 2006 (1928), US Billboard 3 - 1928 (10 weeks), Daily Deuce 19, nuTsie 48 of 1920s, Acclaimed 906 (1929), aceterrier.com 12 of the 1920s (1928), RYM 6 of 1928
9	Al Jolson	My Mammy	1928	Grammy Hall of Fame in 2011 (1927), US Billboard 2 - 1928 (7 weeks), US invalid BB 4 of 1930, nuTsie 18 of 1920s, Brazil 35 of 1922, RYM 61 of 1928
10	The Carter Family	Keep on the Sunny Side	1928	Grammy Hall of Fame in 2006 (1928), Daily Deuce 3, US Billboard 9 - 1928 (5 weeks), Scrobulate 93 of best mouth in rock, Acclaimed 1648 (1928), RYM 21 of 1928, Guardian Folk/ World 8
11	Bertolt Brecht	Mack the Knife	1928	US invalid BB 1 of 1928, POP 1 of 1928, ASCAP song of 1928
12	Ruth Etting	Love Me Or Leave Me	1928	Grammy Hall of Fame in 2005 (1928), US Billboard 2 - 1929 (11 weeks), Brazil 71 of 1929, nuTsie 75 of 1920s, aceterrier.com 91 of the 1920s (1928), RYM 63 of 1928
13	Paul Whiteman	Among My Souvenirs	1928	US Billboard 1 - 1928 (13 weeks), US invalid BB 15 of 1928, POP 15 of 1928, Brazil 81 of 1928, nuTsie 95 of 1920s
14	Al Jolson	There's a Rainbow Round My Shoulder	1928	US Billboard 1 - 1928 (13 weeks), US invalid BB 19 of 1928, POP 19 of 1928, Brazil 38 of 1929, RYM 19 of 1928
15	Gene Austin	Jeannine (I Dream of Lilac Time)	1928	US Billboard 1 - 1928 (15 weeks), US invalid BB 18 of 1928, POP 18 of 1928, Brazil 52 of 1929, RYM 60 of 1928
16	Fred Waring & the Pennsylvanians	Laugh, Clown, Laugh!	1928	US Billboard 1 - 1928 (12 weeks), US invalid BB 17 of 1928, POP 17 of 1928, Brazil 94 of 1928, RYM 94 of 1928
17	Marion Harris	The Man I Love	1928	US Billboard 4 - 1928 (7 weeks), US invalid BB 4 of 1928, POP 4 of 1928, Brazil 56 of 1928, aceterrier.com 38 of the 1920s (1927), RYM 114 of 1928
18	Cliff Edwards (Ukelele Ike)	I Can't Give You Anything But Love (Dear)	1928	US Billboard 1 - 1928 (11 weeks), US invalid BB 10 of 1928, POP 10 of 1928, Brazil 31 of 1929
19	Joe & Cleoma Falcon	Allons a Lafayette	1928	Grammy Hall of Fame in 2013 (1928), Library of Congress artifact added 2007 (1928), Visconti song of 1928
20	Jimmie Rodgers	In the Jailhouse Now	1928	Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007 (1928), nuTsie 6 of 1920s, US Billboard 14 - 1928 (3 weeks), Daily Deuce 17, RYM 18 of 1928
21	Paul Whiteman	Ramona	1928	US Billboard 1 - 1928 (12 weeks), US invalid BB 13 of 1928, POP 13 of 1928, Brazil 72 of 1928
22	Helen Morgan	Bill	1928	Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 (1928), US Billboard 4 - 1928 (7 weeks), nuTsie 59 of 1920s, aceterrier.com 81 of the 1920s (1928), RYM 34 of 1928, Song of 1932
23	Paul Whiteman	Together	1928	US Billboard 1 - 1928 (12 weeks), US invalid BB 16 of 1928, POP 16 of 1928, Brazil 85 of 1928
24	Mississippi John Hurt	Stagger Lee	1928	Grammy Hall of Fame in 2017 (1928), Daily Deuce 2, Acclaimed 1914 (1928), RYM 20 of 1928, one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 500
25	Louis Armstrong	Struttin' With Some Barbecue	1928	Peel list 1 of 1927, US Billboard 14 - 1928 (3 weeks), Jazz Standard 556, RYM 39 of 1928
26	Fred Waring & the Pennsylvanians	I Scream-You Scream-We All Scream For Ice Cream	1928	US invalid BB 2 of 1928, POP 2 of 1928, US Billboard 3 - 1928 (6 weeks), RYM 112 of 1928
27	Gene Austin	My Melancholy Baby	1928	US Billboard 3 - 1928 (8 weeks), US invalid BB 9 of 1928, POP 20 of 1928, Brazil 82 of 1928, RYM 93 of 1928
28	Gene Austin	Ramona	1928	US Billboard 1 - 1928 (17 weeks), POP 13 of 1928, Brazil 21 of 1928
29	Bessie Smith	Empty Bed Blues	1928	Grammy Hall of Fame in 1983 (1928), US Billboard 20 - 1928 (1 week), nuTsie 74 of 1920s, RYM 2 of 1928
30	Ben Bernie	Let's Misbehave	1928	US invalid BB 5 of 1928, POP 5 of 1928, US Billboard 18 - 1928 (1 week), Brazil 69 of 1928
31	Bing Crosby	Ol' Man River	1928	US Billboard 1 - 1928 (11 weeks), Brazil 52 of 1928, RYM 47 of 1928
32	Mississippi John Hurt	Frankie	1928	Grammy Hall of Fame in 2011 (1928), Scrobulate 65 of blues, Guardian Folk/ World 6
33	Emmett Miller & his Georgia Crackers	Lovesick Blues	1928	Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007 (1928), nuTsie 76 of 1920s, aceterrier.com 87 of the 1920s (1928)
34	Paul Whiteman	My Angel	1928	US Billboard 1 - 1928 (16 weeks), Brazil 90 of 1928
35	Leroy Carr	How Long, How Long Blues	1928	Grammy Hall of Fame in 2012 (1928), Jazz Standard 559, RYM 14 of 1928
36	Louis Armstrong	Weather Bird	1928	Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008 (1928), RYM 6 of 1930, Guardian Jazz 8
37	Blind Lemon Jefferson	See That My Grave is Kept Clean	1928	Daily Deuce 15, Acclaimed 1426 (1928), aceterrier.com 67 of the 1920s (1928), RYM 5 of 1928, Guardian Folk/ World 2
38	Ruth Etting	The Song is Ended (But The Melody Lingers on)	1928	US Billboard 7 - 1928 (6 weeks), US invalid BB 12 of 1928, POP 12 of 1928
39	Furry Lewis	Casey Jones	1928	Grammy Hall of Fame in 2012 (1928), aceterrier.com 44 of the 1920s (1928)
40	Ted Lewis & his Orchestra	Is Everybody Happy Now?	1928	US Billboard 10 - 1928 (3 weeks), Brazil 49 of 1928, aceterrier.com 79 of the 1920s (1927)
41	Maurice Ravel	Bolero	1928	France (Historical) 5 of the 1920s (1928), Scrobulate 93 of classic, RYM 127 of 1960
42	Cliff Edwards (Ukelele Ike)	Just Like a Melody Out of The Sky	1928	Peel list 3 of 1928, US Billboard 14 - 1928 (2 weeks)
43	Nat Shilkret	The Sidewalks of New York	1928	US Billboard 2 - 1928 (7 weeks), nuTsie 87 of 1920s
44	Memphis Jug Band	Stealin', Stealin'	1928	Grammy Hall of Fame in 2013 (1928)
45	George Metaxa	Sweet Sue, Just You	1928	Peel list 1 of 1928
46	Aracy Cortes	Jura	1928	Brazil 1 of 1928
47	Harry McClintock	Big Rock Candy Mountain	1928	Daily Deuce 6, Scrobulate 66 of americana, aceterrier.com 10 of the 1920s (1928)
48	Earl Burtnett & his Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel Orchestra	Sweet Sue, Just You	1928	US Billboard 3 - 1928 (9 weeks), Brazil 92 of 1928
49	Jimmie Rodgers	Brakeman's Blues	1928	US Billboard 7 - 1928 (7 weeks), nuTsie 96 of 1920s, RYM 89 of 1928
50	Helen Kane	That's My Weakness Now	1928	US Billboard 5 - 1928 (6 weeks), Brazil 87 of 1929
51	Columbians	Broken Dreams	1928	US Billboard 11 - 1928 (3 weeks), Brazil 98 of 1928
52	The California Ramblers	The Peanut Vendor	1928	US Billboard 5 - 1931 (5 weeks), Jazz Standard 519
53	Coon-Sanders Orchestra	Is She My Girl Friend?	1928	US Billboard 19 - 1928 (1 week), Brazil 87 of 1928
54	The Dorsey Brothers	Coquette	1928	US Billboard 20 - 1928 (1 week), Brazil 78 of 1928
55	Duke Ellington	Creole Love Call	1928	US Billboard 19 - 1928 (1 week), RYM 3 of 1928, Song of 1932, Guardian Jazz 6
56	Abe Lyman & his California Orchestra	Sweethearts On Parade	1928	US Billboard 8 - 1929 (5 weeks), Jazz Standard 956
57	Bing Crosby	You Took Advantage Of Me	1928	US Billboard 9 - 1928 (5 weeks), Jazz Standard 310
58	Ben Bernie	Makin' Whoopee	1928	US Billboard 16 - 1929 (2 weeks), Jazz Standard 202
59	Gene Austin	Girl of My Dreams	1928	US Billboard 2 - 1928 (13 weeks)
60	Vincent Lopez	My Angel (Angela Mia)	1928	US Billboard 2 - 1928 (7 weeks)
61	Al Jolson	Mother of Mine, I Still Have You	1928	US Billboard 2 - 1928 (8 weeks)
62	Ben Selvin	You're the Cream in My Coffee	1928	US Billboard 2 - Dec 1928 (9 weeks)
63	Frank Crumit	A Gay Caballero	1928	US Billboard 2 - Dec 1928 (10 weeks)
64	Fred Waring & the Pennsylvanians	Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life	1928	US Billboard 2 - 1928 (9 weeks)
65	Nat Shilkret	Jeannine (I Dream of Lilac Time)	1928	US Billboard 2 - 1928 (8 weeks)
66	Ben Selvin	I Can't Give You Anything But Love (Dear)	1928	US Billboard 2 - 1928 (14 weeks)
67	Harold Collins & his Orchestra	Fashionette	1928	Peel list 2 of 1928
68	Turunas da Mauriceia	Piniao	1928	Brazil 2 of 1928
69	Ben Selvin	Among My Souvenirs	1928	US Billboard 3 - 1928 (10 weeks)
70	Ben Pollack & his Orchestra	Sweet Sue, Just You	1928	US Billboard 3 - 1928 (7 weeks)
71	Cliff Edwards (Ukelele Ike)	Mary Ann	1928	US Billboard 3 - 1928 (7 weeks)
72	Francisco Alves	A Favela Vai Abaixo	1928	Brazil 3 of 1928
73	Al Jolson	Dirty Hands! Dirty Face!	1928	US Billboard 8 - 1928 (4 weeks), RYM 61 of 1928
74	Louis Armstrong	Hotter Than That	1928	US Billboard 10 - 1928 (3 weeks), RYM 11 of 1928
75	Jimmie Rodgers	Blue Yodel No.3 (Evening Sun)	1928	US Billboard 10 - 1928 (4 weeks), RYM 22 of 1928
76	The Revelers	Among My Souvenirs	1928	US Billboard 10 - 1928 (4 weeks), RYM 31 of 1928
77	The Carter Family	Bury Me Under the Weeping Willow	1928	US Billboard 10 - 1928 (4 weeks), RYM 56 of 1935
78	Marion Harris	Did You Mean It?	1928	US Billboard 14 - 1928 (2 weeks), RYM 114 of 1928
79	Louis Armstrong	Once in a While	1928	US Billboard 15 - 1938 (2 weeks), RYM 39 of 1928
80	Duke Ellington	Diga Diga Doo	1928	US Billboard 17 - 1928 (1 week), RYM 27 of 1928
81	Louis Armstrong	A Monday Date	1928	US Billboard 19 - 1928 (1 week), RYM 40 of 1928
82	Nick Lucas	My Ohio Home	1928	US Billboard 4 - 1928 (8 weeks)
83	Bing Crosby	Get Out & Get Under the Moon	1928	US Billboard 4 - 1928 (6 weeks)
84	Bing Crosby	C-O-N-S-T-A-N-T-I-N-O-P-L-E	1928	US Billboard 4 - 1928 (6 weeks)
85	Paul Whiteman	Chiquita	1928	US Billboard 4 - 1928 (6 weeks)
86	Al Jolson	Ol' Man River	1928	US Billboard 4 - 1928 (5 weeks)
87	Bing Crosby	Changes	1928	US Billboard 4 - 1928 (8 weeks)
88	Johnny Hamp & The Kentucky Serenaders	I Can't Give You Anything But Love (Dear)	1928	US Billboard 4 - 1928 (9 weeks)
89	Seger Ellis & his Orchestra	When You're Smiling	1928	US Billboard 4 - 1928 (6 weeks)
90	Gastao Formenti	Caboclo Apaixonado	1928	Brazil 4 of 1928
91	Duke Ellington	I Must Have That Man	1928	Jazz Standard 564, RYM 46 of 1928
92	Isham Jones	Together, We Two	1928	US Billboard 5 - 1928 (5 weeks)
93	George Olsen	Doin' the Raccoon	1928	US Billboard 5 - 1928 (5 weeks)
94	Nat Shilkret	Thinking of You	1928	US Billboard 5 - 1928 (6 weeks)
95	Gene Austin	Just Like a Melody Out of The Sky	1928	US Billboard 5 - 1928 (6 weeks)
96	Ted Lewis & his Orchestra	King For a Day	1928	US Billboard 5 - 1928 (6 weeks)
97	Sophie Tucker	My Yiddishe Mammy	1928	US Billboard 5 - 1928 (8 weeks)
98	Fred Waring & the Pennsylvanians	I Can't Do Without You	1928	US Billboard 5 - 1928 (5 weeks)
99	Nat Shilkret	Did You Mean It?	1928	US Billboard 5 - 1928 (6 weeks)
100	Nick Lucas	Someday, Somewhere	1928	US Billboard 5 - 1928 (5 weeks)

Previous Comments

Previous Comments (newest first)

17 Mar 2022

record sales

Jimmie Rodgers 'Blue Yodel' sold well over 1 million according to Victor, whosold the most records, and kept track of the sales too. Are you interested in a few records you need to add? I can send if you want, everything referenced.

This site only loads complete charts, not individual entries. If you have any new charts covering years befor 1940 for any country, but especially outside the USA, we would be most interested in getting them

6 Jul 2019

Paul Whiteman Songs Listed Under Bing Crosby

You've included several songs that were released by Paul Whiteman as being byBing Crosby. Yes, Bing sang vocals on these songs but he wasn't recording as a solo artist in 1928.

The way that different sources attribute those songs varies. We've tried to take a reasonable middle path.

25 Mar 2019

RE: # 79 Once in a While

A little more information on my last email. There are actually two songsentitled Once in a While and Armstrong recorded them both. The 1938 Decca recording is the one that charted but the 1928 Okeh issue may be the one on the RYM list.

16 Feb 2016

Double Listing - Mississippi John Hurt

Per Wikipedia #66 (Stagger Lee) & #92 (Stack O'Lee Blues) are the same. This is considered the definitive version of the song.

We've changed all the versions that were "Stack O'Lee Blues" to "Stagger Lee", thanks for the suggestion

1 Sep 2014

Cleoma & Joe Falcon-Duplicate Listing

#35 and #45 are the same recording.

That looks right, the data has been corrected, thanks

27 Aug 2011

7 Ol' Man River

In addition to the credits you have listed for this song, it was also a # 7 Billboard Hit. Robeson was accompanied by the Whiteman band and it was issued on Victor 35912.

9 Dec 2010

"Softly,______Morning Sunrise"

The song "Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise" was a hit in 1929 for Nat Shilkret. It didn't get high enough to be one of the top songs of the year, but if you'd looked up "Softly" or "Sunrise" in the index it would have taken you to Nat Shilkret's page.