Between 1920 and 1940 there are few available charts (at least that
we can find), hence these results should be treated with caution
since, with few exceptions, they are based on fairly subjective charts.
During this era music was dominated by a number of "Big Bands" and songs could be
attributed to the band leader, the band name, the lead singer or a combination of the them. It is
common, for example, to see the same song listed with three different artists. And, just to stop
us from getting bored, the success of a song was tied to the sales of sheet music, so a
popular song would often be perfomed by many different combinations of singers and bands
and the contemporary charts would list the song, without clarifying whose version was the
major hit. Where we have found such issues we have attempted to consolidate the entries
using the most widely accepted value for the artist in each case.
At this point the number of chart entries hit its lowest point
in the period 1927-2007. This was not only because of the
war, but also because of the musician's strike in the US.
| # |
Artist |
Song Title |
Year |
Chart Entries |
| 1 |
Bing Crosby |
White Christmas |
1942 |
US Billboard 1 - Dec 1946 (6 weeks), US 1940s 1 - Oct 1942 (47 weeks), US BB 1 of 1942, US 1 for 11 weeks - Oct 1942, Australia 1 for 5 months - Jun 1943, Oscar in 1942 (film 'Holiday Inn'), Grammy Hall of Fame in 1974 (1942), RYM 1 of 1942, POP 1 of 1942, DMDB 1 (1942), DZE 1 of 1942, Europe 2 of the 1940s (1942), RIAA 2, Scrobulate 2 of christmas, UK 5 - Dec 1977 (17 weeks), AFI 5, Norway 6 - Dec 1959 (2 weeks), Brazil 54 of 1943, Switzerland 56 - Dec 2007 (2 weeks), US Radio 165 of 1961 (peak 20 1 week), Acclaimed 306 (1942), UK Silver (certified by BPI in Feb 1978), Global 1 (50 M sold) - 1942 |
| 2 |
Glenn Miller |
Moonlight Cocktail |
1942 |
US Billboard 1 - 1942 (19 weeks), US 1940s 1 - Feb 1942 (15 weeks), US 1 for 10 weeks - Feb 1942, DZE 2 of 1942, US BB 6 of 1942, POP 6 of 1942, RYM 18 of 1942, Brazil 50 of 1942, Europe 55 of the 1940s (1942) |
| 3 |
Glenn Miller |
(I've Got a Gal In) Kalamazoo |
1942 |
US Billboard 1 - 1942 (20 weeks), US 1940s 1 - Aug 1942 (18 weeks), US 1 for 7 weeks - Sep 1942, DZE 3 of 1942, US BB 10 of 1942, POP 10 of 1942, RYM 41 of 1942, Europe 44 of the 1940s (1942), Brazil 64 of 1943 |
| 4 |
Jimmy Dorsey |
Tangerine |
1942 |
US Billboard 1 - 1942 (16 weeks), US 1940s 1 - Apr 1942 (15 weeks), US 1 for 6 weeks - May 1942, US BB 4 of 1942, POP 4 of 1942, DZE 5 of 1942, Brazil 9 of 1943, Europe 82 of the 1940s (1942) |
| 5 |
Kay Kyser |
Jingle, Jangle, Jingle |
1942 |
US Billboard 1 - 1942 (13 weeks), US 1940s 1 - Jul 1942 (13 weeks), US 1 for 8 weeks - Jul 1942, DZE 4 of 1942, US BB 13 of 1942, POP 21 of 1942, Europe 66 of the 1940s (1942), Brazil 69 of 1943 |
| 6 |
Glenn Miller |
A String of Pearls |
1942 |
US Billboard 1 - 1942 (21 weeks), US 1940s 1 - Jan 1942 (18 weeks), US 1 for 2 weeks - Feb 1942, US BB 2 of 1941, RYM 13 of 1941, POP 13 of 1941, Brazil 44 of 1942 |
| 7 |
Woody Herman |
Blues in the Night |
1942 |
US Billboard 1 - Dec 1941 (18 weeks), US 1940s 1 - Jan 1942 (11 weeks), US 1 for 1 week - Feb 1942, POP 8 of 1942, DZE 8 of 1942, Brazil 69 of 1942 |
| 8 |
Harry James |
Sleepy Lagoon |
1942 |
US Billboard 1 - 1942 (21 weeks), US 1940s 1 - Apr 1942 (18 weeks), US 1 for 4 weeks - Jun 1942, DZE 7 of 1942, POP 12 of 1942, Brazil 79 of 1944 |
| 9 |
Benny Goodman |
Jersey Bounce |
1942 |
US Billboard 1 - 1942 (21 weeks), US 1940s 2 - Apr 1942 (20 weeks), DZE 6 of 1942, US BB 11 of 1942, POP 11 of 1942, Brazil 37 of 1942, Europe 79 of the 1940s (1942), RYM 86 of 1942 |
| 10 |
Alveno Rey |
Deep in the Heart of Texas |
1942 |
US Billboard 1 - 1942 (10 weeks), US BB 2 of 1942, POP 2 of 1942, US 1940s 3 - Feb 1942 (9 weeks), Brazil 78 of 1942, RIAA 290 |
| 11 |
Glenn Miller |
Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree (With Anyone Else But Me) |
1942 |
US Billboard 1 - 1942 (17 weeks), US 1940s 2 - May 1942 (13 weeks), US BB 9 of 1942, POP 9 of 1942, RYM 11 of 1942 |
| 12 |
Lena Horne |
Stormy Weather |
1942 |
Grammy Hall of Fame in 2000 (1942), RYM 10 of 1942, US Billboard 21 - 1943 (1 week), RIAA 26, AFI 30, Acclaimed 1039 (1942) |
| 13 |
Kay Kyser |
Who Wouldn't Love You? |
1942 |
US Billboard 1 - 1942 (23 weeks), US 1940s 2 - Apr 1942 (22 weeks), US BB 18 of 1942, POP 24 of 1942, Europe 70 of the 1940s (1942) |
| 14 |
Kay Kyser |
Praise The Lord & Pass the Ammunition |
1942 |
US Billboard 1 - Oct 1942 (14 weeks), US 1940s 2 - Oct 1942 (18 weeks), US BB 20 of 1943, POP 25 of 1943, Europe 65 of the 1940s (1942) |
| 15 |
Vaughn Monroe |
My Devotion |
1942 |
US Billboard 1 - 1942 (14 weeks), US 1940s 5 - Sep 1942 (5 weeks), US BB 19 of 1942, POP 23 of 1942, Brazil 71 of 1943 |
| 16 |
Kay Kyser |
(There'll Be Bluebirds Over) the White Cliffs of Dover |
1942 |
US Billboard 1 - Dec 1941 (13 weeks), US BB 3 of 1942, POP 3 of 1942, US 1940s 7 - Jan 1942 (3 weeks) |
| 17 |
Kay Kyser |
Strip Polka |
1942 |
US Billboard 1 - 1942 (11 weeks), US 1940s 5 - Oct 1942 (3 weeks), US BB 20 of 1942, POP 25 of 1942, Europe 64 of the 1940s (1942) |
| 18 |
Harry James |
I Don't Want to Walk Without You |
1942 |
US Billboard 1 - 1942 (15 weeks), US 1940s 2 - Feb 1942 (13 weeks), US BB 15 of 1942, POP 15 of 1942 |
| 19 |
Kay Kyser |
He Wears A Pair Of Silver Wings |
1942 |
US Billboard 1 - 1942 (14 weeks), US 1940s 2 - Aug 1942 (11 weeks), DZE 9 of 1942 |
| 20 |
Lionel Hampton |
Flying Home |
1942 |
Grammy Hall of Fame in 1996 (1942), US Billboard 23 - 1942 (2 weeks), Scrobulate 32 of swing, Acclaimed 1501 (1942) |
| 21 |
Benny Goodman |
Somebody Else is Taking My Place |
1942 |
US 1940s 5 - Mar 1942 (9 weeks), DZE 10 of 1942, US BB 14 of 1942, POP 14 of 1942, US Billboard 30 - Jun 1948 (1 week) |
| 22 |
Horace Heidt |
Deep in the Heart of Texas |
1942 |
Australia 1 for 2 months - Dec 1943, US Billboard 7 - 1942 (6 weeks), US 1940s 7 - Mar 1942 (4 weeks) |
| 23 |
Dinah Shore |
Blues in the Night |
1942 |
US Billboard 4 - 1942 (11 weeks), US 1940s 4 - Feb 1942 (7 weeks), US BB 8 of 1942, POP 8 of 1942 |
| 24 |
Freddy Martin |
Rose O'Day (The Filla-Da-Gusha Song) |
1942 |
US Billboard 1 - 1942 (11 weeks), US BB 16 of 1942, POP 17 of 1942 |
| 25 |
Jimmy Dorsey |
Brazil (Aquarela do Brasil) |
1942 |
Grammy Hall of Fame in 2009 (1942), US Billboard 14 - Dec 1942 (3 weeks), Europe 63 of the 1940s (1943) |
| 26 |
The Ink Spots |
Every Night About This Time |
1942 |
Australia 1 for 1 month - Jan 1944, US Billboard 17 - 1942 (2 weeks), RYM 94 of 1942 |
| 27 |
Glenn Miller |
Serenade in Blue |
1942 |
US Billboard 2 - 1942 (18 weeks), US 1940s 2 - Sep 1942 (22 weeks), RYM 31 of 1942 |
| 28 |
Charlie Spivak |
My Devotion |
1942 |
US Billboard 2 - 1942 (12 weeks), US 1940s 2 - Sep 1942 (11 weeks), Brazil 75 of 1944 |
| 29 |
Bing Crosby |
Moonlight Becomes You |
1942 |
US Billboard 1 - Dec 1942 (17 weeks), US 1940s 3 - Dec 1942 (22 weeks) |
| 30 |
Glenn Miller |
At Last |
1942 |
Brazil 7 of 1943, US Billboard 9 - 1942 (9 weeks), POP 20 of 1942, RYM 41 of 1942 |
| 31 |
Glenn Miller |
American Patrol |
1942 |
RYM 7 of 1942, US Billboard 15 - 1942 (2 weeks), Europe 49 of the 1940s (1942), Scrobulate 60 of swing |
| 32 |
Glenn Miller |
Always In My Heart |
1942 |
US Billboard 10 - 1942 (5 weeks), US 1940s 10 - May 1942 (1 week), Brazil 83 of 1943, RYM 84 of 1942 |
| 33 |
Spike Jones |
Der Fuhrer's Face |
1942 |
US Billboard 3 - 1942 (16 weeks), US 1940s 3 - Oct 1942 (16 weeks), Europe 74 of the 1940s (1942) |
| 34 |
Glenn Miller |
Happy in Love |
1942 |
Australia 1 for 1 month - Aug 1944, RYM 18 of 1942 |
| 35 |
Bing Crosby |
Let's Start the New Year Right |
1942 |
RYM 1 of 1942, US Billboard 18 - 1943 (1 week) |
| 36 |
Tommy Dorsey |
Just As Though You Were Here |
1942 |
US 1940s 3 - Jul 1942 (9 weeks), US Billboard 6 - 1942 (10 weeks), RYM 33 of 1942 |
| 37 |
Jimmie Lunceford |
Blues in the Night |
1942 |
US Billboard 4 - 1942 (8 weeks), US 1940s 4 - Feb 1942 (5 weeks), RYM 58 of 1942 |
| 38 |
Harry James |
One Dozen Roses |
1942 |
US Billboard 4 - 1942 (15 weeks), US 1940s 4 - Jun 1942 (10 weeks), Brazil 89 of 1943 |
| 39 |
Xavier Cugat |
Brazil |
1942 |
US Billboard 2 - 1943 (24 weeks), US 1940s 2 - Dec 1942 (32 weeks) |
| 40 |
Alveno Rey |
I Said No |
1942 |
US Billboard 2 - 1942 (10 weeks), US 1940s 2 - Jan 1942 (10 weeks) |
| 41 |
Jimmy Dorsey |
My Devotion |
1942 |
US Billboard 3 - 1942 (11 weeks), US 1940s 10 - Aug 1942 (1 week), Brazil 50 of 1944 |
| 42 |
Frank Sinatra |
Night & Day |
1942 |
RYM 3 of 1942, US Billboard 15 - Sep 1944 (3 weeks), Scrobulate 22 of easy listening |
| 43 |
Glenn Miller |
Dearly Beloved |
1942 |
US Billboard 4 - Oct 1942 (10 weeks), US 1940s 6 - Dec 1942 (1 week), RYM 74 of 1942 |
| 44 |
Tommy Dorsey & Frank Sinatra |
Take Me |
1942 |
US Billboard 5 - 1942 (10 weeks), US 1940s 5 - Sep 1942 (3 weeks), RYM 75 of 1942 |
| 45 |
The Andrews Sisters |
Strip Polka |
1942 |
US Billboard 6 - 1942 (9 weeks), US 1940s 6 - Oct 1942 (4 weeks), Europe 38 of the 1940s (1942) |
| 46 |
Glenn Miller |
Moonlight Becomes You |
1942 |
US Billboard 5 - Dec 1942 (12 weeks), US 1940s 7 - Dec 1942 (20 weeks), Brazil 92 of 1943 |
| 47 |
Glenn Miller |
(There'll Be Bluebirds Over) the White Cliffs of Dover |
1942 |
US Billboard 6 - 1942 (9 weeks), US 1940s 6 - Jan 1942 (7 weeks), RYM 83 of 1941 |
| 48 |
Glenn Miller |
Skylark |
1942 |
US Billboard 7 - 1942 (12 weeks), US 1940s 7 - May 1942 (11 weeks), RYM 82 of 1942 |
| 49 |
Glenn Miller |
Everything I Love |
1942 |
US Billboard 7 - 1942 (10 weeks), US 1940s 7 - Jan 1942 (4 weeks), RYM 86 of 1941 |
| 50 |
Merry Macs |
Praise The Lord & Pass the Ammunition |
1942 |
US Billboard 8 - 1942 (5 weeks), US 1940s 8 - Nov 1942 (4 weeks), POP 22 of 1942 |
| 51 |
Glenn Miller |
Sweet Eloise |
1942 |
US Billboard 7 - 1942 (14 weeks), US 1940s 8 - Aug 1942 (3 weeks), RYM 76 of 1942 |
| 52 |
The Andrews Sisters |
Pennsylvania Polka |
1942 |
POP 7 of 1942, RYM 16 of 1942, US Billboard 17 - 1942 (3 weeks) |
| 53 |
Freddie Slack |
Mister Five By Five |
1942 |
US Billboard 10 - 1942 (20 weeks), US 1940s 10 - Dec 1942 (1 week), POP 16 of 1942 |
| 54 |
Freddy Martin |
Tonight We Love |
1942 |
US Billboard 8 - Dec 1941 (3 weeks), US 1940s 8 - Jan 1942 (1 week), Europe 96 of the 1940s (1942) |
| 55 |
Benny Goodman |
Why Don't You Do Right |
1942 |
US 1940s 5 - Dec 1942 (22 weeks), RYM 37 of 1942, Brazil 86 of 1943 |
| 56 |
Sammy Kaye |
I Left My Heart At The Stage Door Canteen |
1942 |
US Billboard 3 - 1942 (14 weeks), US 1940s 3 - Sep 1942 (7 weeks) |
| 57 |
Bing Crosby |
Deep in the Heart of Texas |
1942 |
US Billboard 3 - 1942 (9 weeks), US 1940s 3 - Mar 1942 (6 weeks) |
| 58 |
Sammy Kaye |
Remember Pearl Harbor |
1942 |
US Billboard 3 - 1942 (8 weeks), US 1940s 3 - Jan 1942 (5 weeks) |
| 59 |
Woody Herman |
I'll Remember April |
1942 |
US BB 17 of 1942, POP 19 of 1942, US Billboard 23 - 1942 (1 week) |
| 60 |
Paul Whiteman & Billie Holiday |
Travellin' Light |
1942 |
POP 18 of 1942, RYM 20 of 1942, US Billboard 23 - 1942 (1 week) |
| 61 |
Kay Kyser |
Johnny Doughboy Found A Rose In Ireland |
1942 |
US Billboard 2 - 1942 (17 weeks), US 1940s 8 - Jun 1942 (3 weeks) |
| 62 |
Glenn Miller |
Perfidia (Tonight) |
1942 |
US Billboard 11 - 1941 (4 weeks), Italy 53 of 1947, Brazil 97 of 1942 |
| 63 |
Dooley Wilson |
As Time Goes By |
1942 |
AFI 2, UK 15 - Dec 1977 (9 weeks) |
| 64 |
Benny Goodman |
Solo Flight |
1942 |
US Billboard 20 - Jan 1944 (1 week), RYM 65 of 1942, Acclaimed 1938 (1941) |
| 65 |
Bing Crosby |
Be Careful, It's My Heart |
1942 |
US Billboard 2 - 1942 (15 weeks), Brazil 58 of 1943 |
| 66 |
Peggy Lee |
Somebody Else is Taking My Place |
1942 |
US Billboard 1 - 1942 (15 weeks) |
| 67 |
Jean Cerchi |
(There'll Be Bluebirds Over) the White Cliffs of Dover |
1942 |
Australia 1 for 3 months - Jul 1942 |
| 68 |
Merry Macs |
Jingle, Jangle, Jingle |
1942 |
US Billboard 4 - Jun 1942 (10 weeks), US 1940s 4 - Jul 1942 (8 weeks) |
| 69 |
Ataulfo Alves |
Ai! Que Saudades da Amelia |
1942 |
Brazil 1 of 1942 |
| 70 |
Abe Lyman & His California Orchestra |
Amen |
1942 |
US Billboard 4 - 1942 (8 weeks), US 1940s 4 - Sep 1942 (3 weeks) |
| 71 |
Vera Lynn |
(There'll Be Bluebirds Over) the White Cliffs of Dover |
1942 |
Australia 1 for 3 months - Jul 1942 |
| 72 |
Harry James |
Strictly Instrumental |
1942 |
US Billboard 5 - 1942 (12 weeks), US 1940s 5 - Aug 1942 (7 weeks) |
| 73 |
Woody Herman |
Amen |
1942 |
US Billboard 5 - 1942 (9 weeks), US 1940s 5 - Sep 1942 (4 weeks) |
| 74 |
Russ Morgan |
Somebody Else is Taking My Place |
1942 |
US Billboard 5 - 1942 (13 weeks), US 1940s 5 - Apr 1942 (11 weeks) |
| 75 |
Alveno Rey |
Strip Polka |
1942 |
US Billboard 6 - 1942 (6 weeks), US 1940s 8 - Sep 1942 (2 weeks) |
| 76 |
Johnny Mercer |
Strip Polka |
1942 |
US Billboard 7 - 1942 (13 weeks), US 1940s 7 - Sep 1942 (6 weeks) |
| 77 |
Glenn Miller |
Juke Box Saturday Night |
1942 |
US Billboard 7 - 1942 (11 weeks), US 1940s 7 - Dec 1942 (26 weeks) |
| 78 |
Tommy Dorsey |
Manhattan Serenade |
1942 |
US Billboard 4 - Oct 1942 (14 weeks), RYM 32 of 1942 |
| 79 |
Kay Kyser |
A Zoot Suit (For My Sunday Girl) |
1942 |
US Billboard 7 - 1942 (10 weeks), US 1940s 8 - Mar 1942 (1 week) |
| 80 |
Benny Goodman |
Idaho |
1942 |
US 1940s 4 - Aug 1942 (3 weeks), Brazil 97 of 1943 |