Songs from the Year 1928

Search this site with Google
Other Years: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s

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 Rodgers3:Al Jolson5:Gene Austin7:The Carter Family9:Bing Crosby
2:Paul Whiteman4:Louis Armstrong6:Ruth Etting8:Fred Waring & the Pennsylvanians10: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 Ben Selvin You're the Cream in My Coffee 1928 US Billboard 2 - Dec 1928 (9 weeks)
61 Fred Waring & the Pennsylvanians Ah! Sweet Mystery of Life 1928 US Billboard 2 - 1928 (9 weeks)
62 Al Jolson Mother of Mine, I Still Have You 1928 US Billboard 2 - 1928 (8 weeks)
63 Vincent Lopez My Angel (Angela Mia) 1928 US Billboard 2 - 1928 (7 weeks)
64 Nat Shilkret Jeannine (I Dream of Lilac Time) 1928 US Billboard 2 - 1928 (8 weeks)
65 Ben Selvin I Can't Give You Anything But Love (Dear) 1928 US Billboard 2 - 1928 (14 weeks)
66 Frank Crumit A Gay Caballero 1928 US Billboard 2 - Dec 1928 (10 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 Cliff Edwards (Ukelele Ike) Mary Ann 1928 US Billboard 3 - 1928 (7 weeks)
71 Ben Pollack & his Orchestra Sweet Sue, Just You 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 Bing Crosby C-O-N-S-T-A-N-T-I-N-O-P-L-E 1928 US Billboard 4 - 1928 (6 weeks)
83 Bing Crosby Changes 1928 US Billboard 4 - 1928 (8 weeks)
84 Johnny Hamp & The Kentucky Serenaders I Can't Give You Anything But Love (Dear) 1928 US Billboard 4 - 1928 (9 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 Seger Ellis & his Orchestra When You're Smiling 1928 US Billboard 4 - 1928 (6 weeks)
88 Bing Crosby Get Out & Get Under the Moon 1928 US Billboard 4 - 1928 (6 weeks)
89 Nick Lucas My Ohio Home 1928 US Billboard 4 - 1928 (8 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 Sophie Tucker My Yiddishe Mammy 1928 US Billboard 5 - 1928 (8 weeks)
93 Nick Lucas Someday, Somewhere 1928 US Billboard 5 - 1928 (5 weeks)
94 Fred Waring & the Pennsylvanians I Can't Do Without You 1928 US Billboard 5 - 1928 (5 weeks)
95 George Olsen My Heart Stood Still 1928 US Billboard 5 - 1928 (7 weeks)
96 Ted Lewis & his Orchestra King For a Day 1928 US Billboard 5 - 1928 (6 weeks)
97 Gene Austin Without You, Sweetheart 1928 US Billboard 5 - 1928 (6 weeks)
98 Isham Jones Together, We Two 1928 US Billboard 5 - 1928 (5 weeks)
99 Nat Shilkret Thinking of You 1928 US Billboard 5 - 1928 (6 weeks)
100 Ruth Etting Back in Your Own Back Yard 1928 US Billboard 5 - 1928 (7 weeks)

Comment on the contents of the 'Songs from the Year 1928' page
Subject: Email to Reply To (optional):  

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.