Songs from the Year 1929

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This page lists the top songs of 1929 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 1929 were:

1:Rudy Vallee & his Connecticut Yankees3:Gene Austin5:Paul Whiteman7:Guy Lombardo9:Ben Selvin
2:Louis Armstrong4:Fats Waller6:Eddie Cantor8:Nat Shilkret10:Ruth Etting
# Artist Song Title Year Chart Entries
1 Eddie Cantor Makin' Whoopee 1929 ASCAP song of 1929, US Billboard 2 - 1929 (10 weeks), US invalid BB 2 of 1929, POP 2 of 1929, nuTsie 10 of 1920s, Music Imprint 14 of 1920s, Brazil 16 of 1929, Daily Deuce 26, RIAA 126, Acclaimed 1362 (1928), RYM 8 of 1928
2 Fats Waller Ain't Misbehavin' 1929 Grammy Hall of Fame in 1984 (1929), Library of Congress artifact added 2004 (1929), nuTsie 4 of 1920s, Music Imprint 16 of 1920s, US Billboard 17 - 1929 (1 week), Daily Deuce 22, RIAA 41, Acclaimed 778 (1929), RYM 1 of 1929, Song of 1936
3 Ethel Waters Am I Blue? 1929 US Billboard 1 - 1929 (15 weeks), Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007 (1929), US invalid BB 8 of 1929, POP 8 of 1929, Brazil 19 of 1930, nuTsie 41 of 1920s, aceterrier.com 31 of the 1920s (1929)
4 Charley Patton Pony Blues 1929 Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 (1929), Library of Congress artifact added 2006 (1929), Daily Deuce 23, nuTsie 51 of 1920s, Acclaimed 903 (1929), RYM 10 of 1929
5 Cliff Edwards (Ukelele Ike) Singin' in the Rain 1929 US Billboard 1 - 1929 (12 weeks), US invalid BB 3 of 1929, POP 3 of 1929, Brazil 8 of 1930, nuTsie 54 of 1920s
6 Nick Lucas Tip Toe Thru' The Tulips With Me 1929 US Billboard 1 - 1929 (19 weeks), US invalid BB 4 of 1929, Brazil 17 of 1930, POP 17 of 1929, nuTsie 55 of 1920s
7 Rudy Vallee & his Connecticut Yankees Honey 1929 US Billboard 1 - 1929 (15 weeks), US invalid BB 7 of 1929, POP 7 of 1929, Brazil 43 of 1930, nuTsie 89 of 1920s
8 Louis Armstrong When You're Smiling 1929 US invalid BB 1 of 1929, POP 1 of 1929, US Billboard 15 - 1929 (2 weeks), RYM 35 of 1929, Song of 1932
9 Maurice Chevalier Louise 1929 US Billboard 3 - 1929 (10 weeks), US invalid BB 6 of 1929, POP 6 of 1929, nuTsie 30 of 1920s, Brazil 87 of 1930, aceterrier.com 82 of the 1920s (1929)
10 Bob Haring & his Orchestra Pagan Love Song 1929 US Billboard 1 - 1929 (11 weeks), US invalid BB 5 of 1929, POP 5 of 1929, Brazil 37 of 1930
11 Guy Lombardo Sweethearts On Parade 1929 US Billboard 1 - Dec 1928 (12 weeks), US invalid BB 9 of 1929, POP 9 of 1929, Brazil 11 of 1929
12 Paul Whiteman Great Day 1929 US Billboard 1 - 1929 (9 weeks), US invalid BB 10 of 1929, POP 10 of 1929, Europe 85 of the 1930s (1929)
13 Gene Austin Carolina Moon 1929 US Billboard 1 - 1929 (14 weeks), US invalid BB 12 of 1929, POP 12 of 1929, Brazil 44 of 1929
14 George Olsen A Precious Little Thing Called Love 1929 US Billboard 1 - 1929 (11 weeks), US invalid BB 13 of 1929, POP 13 of 1929, Brazil 62 of 1930
15 Al Jolson Little Pal 1929 US Billboard 1 - 1929 (10 weeks), US invalid BB 16 of 1929, POP 18 of 1929, nuTsie 71 of 1920s
16 Leo Reisman The Wedding of the Painted Doll 1929 US Billboard 1 - 1929 (12 weeks), US invalid BB 14 of 1929, POP 14 of 1929
17 Louis Armstrong St Louis Blues 1929 Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008 (1929), US Billboard 11 - 1930 (3 weeks), RYM 5 of 1933, Guardian Jazz 5
18 Bessie Smith Nobody Knows You When You're Down & Out 1929 Daily Deuce 12, US Billboard 15 - 1929 (2 weeks), nuTsie 50 of 1920s, aceterrier.com 76 of the 1920s (1929), RYM 2 of 1929
19 Johnny Hamp & The Kentucky Serenaders If I Had a Talking Picture of You 1929 US Billboard 5 - Nov 1929 (8 weeks), US invalid BB 11 of 1929, POP 11 of 1929
20 Jimmie Rodgers Waiting For the Train 1929 US Billboard 14 - 1929 (3 weeks), nuTsie 29 of 1920s, Scrobulate 69 of americana, RYM 3 of 1929
21 Coon-Sanders Orchestra Little Orphan Annie 1929 US Billboard 16 - 1929 (2 weeks), US invalid BB 17 of 1929, POP 20 of 1929
22 Louis Armstrong (What Did I Do to Be So) Black & Blue 1929 Grammy Hall of Fame in 2016 (1929)
23 Peter Dawson The Admiral's Broom 1929 Peel list 1 of 1929
24 Mario Reis Gosto Que Me Enrosco 1929 Brazil 1 of 1929
25 Leo Reisman With a Song In My Heart 1929 US Billboard 3 - 1929 (9 weeks), Brazil 40 of 1930
26 Guy Lombardo College Medley Fox Trot 1929 POP 4 of 1929, US Billboard 6 - 1929 (5 weeks)
27 Fats Waller Handful of Keys 1929 Daily Deuce 10, Acclaimed 1187 (1929), RYM 40 of 1929
28 Al Jolson Liza (All the Clouds'll Roll Away) 1929 US Billboard 9 - 1929 (4 weeks), Europe 21 of the 1930s (1929)
29 Paul Whiteman & Bing Crosby If I Had a Talking Picture of You 1929 US Billboard 7 - 1929 (7 weeks), Brazil 77 of 1930
30 Louis Armstrong St James Infirmary 1929 US Billboard 15 - 1929 (3 weeks), Visconti song of 1929, RYM 9 of 1929
31 Duke Ellington The Mooche 1929 US Billboard 16 - Dec 1928 (2 weeks), Jazz Standard 714, RYM 7 of 1934
32 Arnold Johnson & his Orchestra Breakaway 1929 US Billboard 20 - 1929 (1 week), Brazil 95 of 1930
33 Ruth Etting Exactly Like You 1929 US Billboard 11 - 1930 (3 weeks), POP 15 of 1929
34 Rudy Vallee & his Connecticut Yankees Coquette 1929 US Billboard 10 - 1929 (3 weeks), POP 19 of 1929
35 Cliff Edwards (Ukelele Ike) Just You, Just Me 1929 US Billboard 13 - 1929 (2 weeks), Jazz Standard 90
36 Arden-Ohman Orchestra Strike Up the Band (Here Comes a Sailor) 1929 US Billboard 12 - 1930 (3 weeks), Jazz Standard 320
37 Ted Weems Piccolo Pete 1929 US Billboard 2 - 1929 (15 weeks)
38 Leo Reisman Ain't Misbehavin' 1929 US Billboard 2 - 1929 (7 weeks)
39 Rudy Vallee & his Connecticut Yankees Marie 1929 US Billboard 2 - 1929 (8 weeks)
40 Ted Lewis & his Orchestra Farewell Blues 1929 US Billboard 2 - 1929 (7 weeks)
41 Rudy Vallee & his Connecticut Yankees Lonely Troubador 1929 US Billboard 2 - 1929 (8 weeks)
42 Nat Shilkret You Were Meant for Me 1929 US Billboard 2 - 1929 (12 weeks)
43 Rudy Vallee & his Connecticut Yankees Weary River 1929 US Billboard 2 - 1929 (10 weeks)
44 Al Jolson I'm in Seventh Heaven 1929 US Billboard 2 - 1929 (6 weeks)
45 Rudy Vallee & his Connecticut Yankees Deep Night 1929 US Billboard 2 - 1929 (10 weeks)
46 Ben Selvin My Sin 1929 US Billboard 2 - 1929 (10 weeks)
47 Nick Lucas Painting the Clouds with Sunshine 1929 US Billboard 2 - 1929 (15 weeks)
48 Gus Arnheim & his Orchestra Sleepy Valley 1929 US Billboard 2 - 1929 (9 weeks)
49 Bert Ambrose & his Orchestra Tip Toe Thru' The Tulips With Me 1929 Peel list 2 of 1929
50 Patricio Teixeira Trepa no Coqueiro 1929 Brazil 2 of 1929
51 Louis Armstrong Ain't Misbehavin' 1929 US Billboard 7 - 1929 (4 weeks), RYM 7 of 1929
52 Nat Shilkret Pagan Love Song 1929 US Billboard 3 - 1929 (7 weeks)
53 Paul Whiteman Lover Come Back to Me 1929 US Billboard 3 - 1929 (8 weeks)
54 Ruth Etting Mean to Me 1929 US Billboard 3 - 1929 (9 weeks)
55 Ted Lewis & his Orchestra I Love You (My Love Song) 1929 US Billboard 3 - 1929 (6 weeks)
56 Fred Waring & the Pennsylvanians I'll Always Be in Love With You 1929 US Billboard 3 - 1929 (8 weeks)
57 Helen Kane Button Up Your Overcoat 1929 US Billboard 3 - 1929 (8 weeks)
58 Ruth Etting I'll Get By (As Long As I Have You) 1929 US Billboard 3 - 1929 (10 weeks)
59 Ben Selvin Broadway Melody 1929 US Billboard 3 - 1929 (10 weeks)
60 Gene Austin She's Funny That Way 1929 US Billboard 3 - 1929 (7 weeks)
61 Ted Lewis & his Orchestra Lady Luck 1929 US Billboard 3 - 1929 (7 weeks)
62 Stanley Lupino I Lift Up My Finger & I Say Tweet Tweet 1929 Peel list 3 of 1929
63 Mario Reis Dorinha, Meu Amor 1929 Brazil 3 of 1929
64 The Carter Family I'm Thinking Tonight of Two Blue Eyes 1929 US Billboard 10 - 1929 (4 weeks), RYM 83 of 1929
65 Louis Armstrong Basin Street Blues 1929 US Billboard 20 - 1938 (1 week), RYM 6 of 1929
66 Marion Harris Nobody's Using It Now 1929 US Billboard 20 - 1930 (1 week), RYM 99 of 1929
67 Ted Lewis & his Orchestra Lonely Troubador 1929 US Billboard 4 - 1929 (6 weeks)
68 Earl Burtnett & his Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel Orchestra Singin' in the Rain 1929 US Billboard 4 - 1929 (10 weeks)
69 Libby Holman Am I Blue? 1929 US Billboard 4 - 1929 (8 weeks)
70 Al Jolson Why Can't You? 1929 US Billboard 4 - 1929 (6 weeks)
71 Guy Lombardo Where the Shy Little Violets Grow 1929 US Billboard 4 - 1929 (6 weeks)
72 Nat Shilkret Love Me 1929 US Billboard 4 - 1929 (7 weeks)
73 Paul Whiteman My Lucky Star 1929 US Billboard 4 - 1929 (8 weeks)
74 Mario Reis Jura 1929 Brazil 4 of 1929
75 King Oliver's Jazz Band New Orleans Shout 1929 Peel list 4 of 1929
76 Bessie Smith My Kitchen Man 1929 Scrobulate 66 of halftoned singles club, RYM 49 of 1929
77 Meade Lux Lewis Honky Tonk Train Blues 1929 WXPN 476, RYM 51 of 1929
78 Hoagy Carmichael Rockin' Chair 1929 Jazz Standard 437, Song of 1930
79 Fats Waller I've Got a Feeling I'm Falling 1929 Jazz Standard 702, RYM 39 of 1929
80 Louis Armstrong Blue Turning Grey Over You 1929 Jazz Standard 744, RYM 35 of 1930
81 Ben Selvin Yours Is My Heart Alone 1929 Jazz Standard 871, RYM 83 of 1931
82 Paul Whiteman Button Up Your Overcoat 1929 US Billboard 5 - 1929 (6 weeks)
83 Rudy Vallee & his Connecticut Yankees Sweetheart of All My Dreams 1929 US Billboard 5 - 1929 (6 weeks)
84 Libby Holman Moanin' Low 1929 US Billboard 5 - 1929 (6 weeks)
85 Nat Shilkret Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise 1929 US Billboard 5 - 1929 (6 weeks)
86 Jean Goldkette & his Orchestra Tip Toe Thru' The Tulips With Me 1929 US Billboard 5 - 1929 (7 weeks)
87 Irving Aaronson & his Commanders Let's Do It (Let's Fall in Love) 1929 US Billboard 5 - 1929 (6 weeks)
88 Leo Reisman My Sweeter Than Sweet 1929 US Billboard 5 - 1929 (5 weeks)
89 Paul Whiteman Love Me 1929 US Billboard 5 - 1929 (4 weeks)
90 Gene Austin Weary River 1929 US Billboard 5 - 1929 (7 weeks)
91 Rudy Vallee & his Connecticut Yankees I'm Just a Vagabond Lover 1929 US Billboard 5 - 1929 (8 weeks)
92 Ben Selvin Carolina Moon 1929 US Billboard 5 - 1929 (7 weeks)
93 Columbians Pagan Love Song 1929 US Billboard 5 - 1929 (5 weeks)
94 Bing Crosby Let's Do It (Let's Fall in Love) 1929 US Billboard 5 - 1929 (7 weeks)
95 Gastao Formenti Lua Branca 1929 Brazil 5 of 1929
96 Bing Crosby Louise 1929 US Billboard 6 - 1929 (5 weeks)
97 Nat Shilkret One Kiss 1929 US Billboard 6 - 1929 (5 weeks)
98 Jean Goldkette & his Orchestra Painting the Clouds with Sunshine 1929 US Billboard 6 - 1929 (5 weeks)
99 Bing Crosby (I'm a Dreamer) Aren't We All? 1929 US Billboard 6 - 1929 (11 weeks)
100 Gus Arnheim & his Orchestra Avalon Town 1929 US Billboard 6 - 1929 (7 weeks)

Comment on the contents of the 'Songs from the Year 1929' page
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Previous Comments (newest first)

15 Jul 2023

#85 Let's Do it

The recording of this song that charted at # 5 for 7 weeks is by PaulWhiteman. However, the vocal on this recording is by Fulton, Gaylord & Young. Bing was the vocalist on the Dorsey Brothers recording, but it charted at #9 for 4 weeks.


10 Jan 2016

Double Listing - Black Bottom

#18 - The Kentucky Serenaders & #50 - Johnny Hamp should be combined. Per Joel Whitburn & John Peel this group was originally called Johnny Hamp & The Kentucky Serenaders.

We've assigned all songs credited to either Johnny Hamp or the Kentucky Serenaders to "Johnny Hamp & The Kentucky Serenaders". We realise this is not quite correct but it should help when searchng for related songs

Thanks


23 Apr 2014

Song

Was the song Charmain released in 1929

The earliest hit entries with the song "Charmaine" that we have are Guy Lombardo and Lewis James who both had hits with the song in 1927


22 Jan 2014

Tune In On Heaven

Have you heard of the song Tune In On Heaven by Charles Fisher? It was written in 1929 for the great revival of 1930 in Portland.


22 Mar 2013

#31 If I Had a Talking Picture of You

This also a # 5 Billboard hit and just like Back Bottom, #15 in 1926)it is by Johnny Hamp and his Kentucky Serenaders. They were later billed as Johnny Hamp and his Orchestra.

The name has also been standardised. But according to our source the original credited artist was "Johnny Hamp & His Orchestra" not "Johnny Hamp and his Kentucky Serenaders"


11 Nov 2012

Garden In The Rain

Gene Austin recorded a beautiful rendition of Garden In The Rain in 1929. I have the 78rpm record of this, and it's included on at least two CD's of his early recordings. Wonder why it is not listed for 1929. It's one of the most beautiful recordings I've ever heard of a song.

Tommy

It peaked at number 15, so not enough success to make it to this page. However if you'd looked on Gene Austin's page you'd have seen that it is listed there.


13 Oct 2011

Tip Toe Thru' The Tulips With Me

All the references I have found on the song "Tip-Toe Through The Tulips" (Wikipedia quotes Chart-Toppers of the Twenties, 1998 ASV Ltd) state that the "Crooning Troubadour" Nick Lucas was the hit maker of the song in 1929. I have yet to see a version of referenced by Bert Ambrose (unless Nick was the vocalist for Ambrose and the vocalist got the billing).

Bert Ambrose was active in London in 1929, Nick Lucas was in the USA. Most of the charts credit Nick Lucas with the song, but most of the charts are US based. The single chart that mentions Bert Ambrose was the one assembled by John Peel. Obviously the Margrave of the Marshes preferred Bert Ambrose's version.


27 Aug 2011

18 & 23 Pagan Love Song

These two items are the same recording since Bob Haring's Orchestra was in fact the Copley Plaza Orchestra.

Thanks for the correction, the data has been changed as you suggest


14 Aug 2011

Pinetop's Boogie Woogie

#20 artist is actually Clarence "Pinetop" Smith performing his Pinetop's Boogie Woogie. You have previously listed this at #9 in 1928 and the 2 entries should probably be combined.

Keep up the great work! I love this site!

That particular artist was credited as "Clarence 'Pinetop' Smith", "Clarence Smith", "Pinetop Smith" and "Pine Top Smith". Since we have more sources calling him "Pinetop Smith" than any other name that's what we'll call him.

You were right, we needed to fix the inconsistency. Thanks for the suggestion


30 Jul 2011

Looking for a Song

This 1929 song has the initials S A L H. Can you help?

The obvious one would be "Spread a Little Happiness" but we don't know of anyone who had a hit with it in 1929


4 Jul 2011

Was there a song "Me at home"?

We don't have any listing for a song with that name.

Of course we have a limited number of charts from 1929