Songs from the Year 1948

Other Years: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s

This page lists the top songs of 1948 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), 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.

# Artist Song Title Year Chart Entries
1 Dinah Shore Buttons & Bows 1948 US Billboard 1 - Sep 1948 (25 weeks), US 1940s 1 - Oct 1948 (23 weeks), US 1 for 10 weeks - Nov 1948, Australia 1 for 12 weeks - Jan 1949, DZE 1 of 1948, US BB 3 of 1948, POP 3 of 1948, Brazil 27 of 1949, Europe 91 of the 1940s (1948), RYM 102 of 1948
2 Art Mooney I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover 1948 US Billboard 1 - Jan 1948 (18 weeks), US 1940s 1 - Jan 1948 (16 weeks), US BB 1 of 1948, US 1 for 3 weeks - Feb 1948, Australia 1 for 1 month - Nov 1948, POP 1 of 1948, Brazil 7 of 1949, DZE 8 of 1948
3 Nat King Cole Nature Boy 1948 US Billboard 1 - Apr 1948 (18 weeks), US 1940s 1 - Apr 1948 (15 weeks), US 1 for 7 weeks - May 1948, Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 (1948), DZE 4 of 1948, US BB 9 of 1948, RYM 9 of 1948, Brazil 13 of 1948, POP 17 of 1948, Europe 90 of the 1940s (1948), Acclaimed 1793 (1947)
4 Pee Wee Hunt Twelfth Street Rag 1948 US Billboard 1 - Jun 1948 (32 weeks), US 1940s 1 - Jul 1948 (27 weeks), US 1 for 8 weeks - Aug 1948, Peel list 1 of 1948, DZE 3 of 1948, US BB 4 of 1948, POP 7 of 1948, RYM 20 of 1948, Brazil 37 of 1948
5 Kay Kyser The Woody Woodpecker Song 1948 US Billboard 1 - Jun 1948 (15 weeks), US 1940s 1 - Jun 1948 (14 weeks), US 1 for 6 weeks - Jul 1948, DZE 6 of 1948, US BB 13 of 1948, POP 21 of 1948, Europe 76 of the 1940s (1948), Brazil 80 of 1949, RYM 95 of 1948
6 Spike Jones All I Want For Christmas is my Two Front Teeth 1948 US Billboard 1 - Nov 1948 (8 weeks), US 1 for 1 week - Jan 1949, Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007 (1948), US BB 10 of 1948, POP 10 of 1948, US 1940s 17 - Nov 1948 (1 week), Norway 20 - Dec 2007 (1 week)
7 Al Trace You Call Everybody Darlin' 1948 US Billboard 1 - Sep 1948 (24 weeks), US 1940s 1 - Jun 1948 (21 weeks), US 1 for 2 weeks - Aug 1948, DZE 7 of 1948, US BB 14 of 1948, POP 23 of 1948, Brazil 68 of 1948
8 Margaret Whiting A Tree in the Meadow 1948 US Billboard 1 - Jul 1948 (23 weeks), US 1940s 1 - Jul 1948 (23 weeks), US 1 for 2 weeks - Oct 1948, DZE 9 of 1948, US BB 15 of 1948, POP 25 of 1948, Brazil 79 of 1949
9 Bing Crosby Now Is the Hour (Maori Farewell Song) 1948 US Billboard 1 - Jan 1948 (23 weeks), Australia 1 for 1 month - Oct 1948, US 1940s 2 - Jan 1948 (22 weeks), US BB 11 of 1948, POP 19 of 1948, Europe 23 of the 1940s (1948), Brazil 84 of 1948
10 Peggy Lee Manana (Is Soon Enough For Me) 1948 US 1940s 1 - Jan 1948 (21 weeks), US 1 for 9 weeks - Mar 1948, US BB 8 of 1948, POP 8 of 1948, Brazil 11 of 1948, Europe 89 of the 1940s (1948), RYM 139 of 1948
11 Ken Griffin You Can't Be True, Dear 1948 US Billboard 1 - Apr 1948 (23 weeks), US 1940s 2 - Apr 1948 (32 weeks), DZE 5 of 1948, US BB 12 of 1948, POP 12 of 1948, Brazil 50 of 1948
12 Kay Kyser On a Slow Boat to China 1948 Australia 1 for 6 weeks - May 1949, US Billboard 2 - Oct 1948 (20 weeks), US 1940s 2 - Oct 1948 (17 weeks), Brazil 58 of 1949, Europe 69 of the 1940s (1948)
13 Doris Day It's Magic 1948 US Billboard 2 - Jul 1948 (21 weeks), US 1940s 2 - Jul 1948 (19 weeks), US BB 7 of 1948, POP 15 of 1948, Brazil 31 of 1948, RYM 51 of 1948
14 Doris Day Love Somebody 1948 US Billboard 1 - May 1948 (24 weeks), US 1940s 6 - Jun 1948 (21 weeks), US BB 6 of 1948, POP 20 of 1948, RYM 50 of 1948
15 Evelyn Knight Powder Your Face With Sunshine 1948 US Billboard 1 - Dec 1948 (20 weeks), Australia 1 for 2 weeks - Sep 1949, US 1940s 3 - Dec 1948 (16 weeks)
16 John Lee Hooker Boogie Chillun 1948 Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 (1948), RYM 4 of 1948, Scrobulate 92 of blues, RIAA 332, Acclaimed 379 (1948)
17 Thelonious Monk Round About Midnight 1948 Grammy Hall of Fame in 1993 (1948), RYM 18 of 1948, RIAA 37, Scrobulate 100 of jazz, Acclaimed 281 (1946)
18 Mahalia Jackson Move On Up a Little Higher 1948 Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 (1948), US Billboard 21 - Jan 1948 (2 weeks), RYM 29 of 1948, RIAA 263, Acclaimed 718 (1947)
19 Jo Stafford & Gordon MacRae My Darling, My Darling 1948 US Billboard 1 - Nov 1948 (17 weeks), US 1940s 3 - Nov 1948 (15 weeks), US BB 13 of 1949, POP 19 of 1949
20 Ella Fitzgerald My Happiness 1948 Peel list 2 of 1948, US Billboard 6 - Jun 1948 (21 weeks), US 1940s 8 - Jul 1948 (19 weeks), RYM 77 of 1948, Brazil 95 of 1949
21 Wynonie Harris Good Rockin' Tonight 1948 Grammy Hall of Fame in 2009 (1948), RYM 2 of 1948, POP 4 of 1948
22 Gracie Fields Now Is the Hour (Maori Farewell Song) 1948 Australia 1 for 1 month - Oct 1948, US Billboard 3 - Jan 1948 (21 weeks), US 1940s 4 - Jan 1948 (14 weeks)
23 Dick Haymes Little White Lies 1948 US Billboard 2 - Apr 1948 (23 weeks), US 1940s 3 - Apr 1948 (21 weeks), Europe 50 of the 1940s (1948), Brazil 77 of 1949
24 T-Bone Walker Quintet Stormy Monday 1948 Grammy Hall of Fame in 1991 (1948), RYM 3 of 1948, Acclaimed 617 (1947)
25 Frankie Yankovic Just Because 1948 Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 (1948), US Billboard 9 - May 1948 (14 weeks), US 1940s 14 - May 1948 (2 weeks)
26 Perry Como Ramblin' Rose 1948 Australia 1 for 5 weeks - Apr 1949, US Billboard 18 - Jul 1948 (14 weeks), US 1940s 18 - Aug 1948 (3 weeks)
27 Russ Morgan So Tired 1948 US Billboard 3 - Nov 1948 (25 weeks), Peel list 3 of 1948, US 1940s 4 - Nov 1948 (19 weeks)
28 Spike Jones William Tell Overture 1948 US Billboard 6 - Jun 1948 (15 weeks), US 1940s 6 - Jun 1948 (13 weeks), RYM 21 of 1948, Brazil 62 of 1949
29 Art Mooney Baby Face 1948 US Billboard 3 - Apr 1948 (15 weeks), US 1940s 5 - Apr 1948 (13 weeks), Brazil 12 of 1949
30 The Pied Pipers My Happiness 1948 US Billboard 3 - Jun 1948 (27 weeks), US 1940s 4 - Jun 1948 (21 weeks), Brazil 34 of 1949
31 Francis Craig I Beg Your Pardon 1948 US Billboard 3 - Jan 1948 (20 weeks), US 1940s 4 - Jan 1948 (16 weeks), Brazil 98 of 1948
32 Muddy Waters I Can't Be Satisfied 1948 RYM 1 of 1948, Scrobulate 13 of blues
33 Gene Autry Buttons & Bows 1948 Australia 1 for 12 weeks - Jan 1949, US Billboard 17 - Nov 1948 (3 weeks)
34 Dick Haymes & The Andrews Sisters Teresa 1948 Australia 1 for 1 week - Jan 1949, US Billboard 21 - Mar 1948 (1 week)
35 The Ink Spots Say Something Sweet To Your Sweetheart 1948 Australia 1 for 2 weeks - Aug 1949, US Billboard 22 - Nov 1948 (2 weeks)
36 Pee Wee King Tennessee Waltz 1948 Australia 1 for 3 weeks - May 1951, US Billboard 30 - Apr 1948 (1 week)
37 Muddy Waters Feel Like Going Home 1948 RYM 1 of 1948, Scrobulate 43 of blues
38 Bob Hope Buttons & Bows 1948 Oscar in 1948 (film 'Paleface'), AFI 87
39 Freddy Martin Sabre Dance Boogie 1948 US Billboard 6 - Apr 1948 (11 weeks), US 1940s 6 - Apr 1948 (8 weeks), Brazil 77 of 1948
40 Margaret Whiting Far Away Places 1948 US Billboard 2 - Dec 1948 (23 weeks), US 1940s 3 - Jan 1949 (11 weeks)
41 Jon & Sondra Steele My Happiness 1948 US Billboard 2 - May 1948 (30 weeks), US 1940s 3 - May 1948 (26 weeks)
42 Doris Day & Buddy Clark My Darling, My Darling 1948 US Billboard 7 - Nov 1948 (13 weeks), US 1940s 7 - Dec 1948 (9 weeks), RYM 52 of 1948
43 The Orioles It's Too Soon to Know 1948 RYM 5 of 1948, US Billboard 13 - Nov 1948 (7 weeks), Acclaimed 1046 (1948)
44 Anne Vincent You Call Everybody Darlin' 1948 US Billboard 6 - Jul 1948 (16 weeks), US 1940s 13 - Aug 1948 (5 weeks), Brazil 83 of 1949
45 Paula Watson A Little Bird Told Me 1948 US Billboard 6 - Nov 1948 (16 weeks), US 1940s 14 - Dec 1948 (3 weeks), RYM 106 of 1948
46 Frank Sinatra Nature Boy 1948 US Billboard 7 - May 1948 (4 weeks), US 1940s 18 - Jun 1948 (2 weeks), RYM 27 of 1948
47 The Andrews Sisters & Carmen Miranda Cuanto La Gusta 1948 US Billboard 12 - Oct 1948 (14 weeks), US 1940s 12 - Nov 1948 (9 weeks), Brazil 49 of 1949
48 Gordon Jenkins Maybe You'll Be There 1948 US Billboard 3 - Jun 1948 (30 weeks), US 1940s 3 - Jun 1948 (27 weeks)
49 Louis Jordan Run Joe 1948 POP 16 of 1948, RYM 19 of 1948, US Billboard 23 - Aug 1948 (3 weeks)
50 Doris Day Confess 1948 US Billboard 16 - Jun 1948 (11 weeks), US 1940s 16 - Aug 1948 (1 week), RYM 50 of 1948
51 Margaret Whiting Now Is the Hour (Maori Farewell Song) 1948 US Billboard 2 - Feb 1948 (16 weeks), US 1940s 8 - Feb 1948 (8 weeks)
52 Eddy Arnold Bouquet of Roses 1948 US Billboard 13 - Jun 1948 (27 weeks), RYM 56 of 1948, Brazil 98 of 1949
53 The Andrews Sisters Toolie Oolie Doolie (The Yodel Polka) 1948 US Billboard 3 - Apr 1948 (17 weeks), US 1940s 4 - Apr 1948 (15 weeks)
54 Al Jolson When You Were Sweet Sixteen 1948 Australia 1 for 1 month - Dec 1948
55 Spike Jones All I Want For Christmas is You 1948 US 1940s 1 - Dec 1948 (8 weeks)
56 George Trevare I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover 1948 Australia 1 for 1 month - Nov 1948
57 Perry Como Because 1948 US Billboard 4 - Mar 1948 (18 weeks), US 1940s 4 - Mar 1948 (16 weeks)
58 Joe Loss Orchestra Chi-Baba, Chi-Baba (My Bambino Go to Sleep) 1948 Australia 1 for 1 month - May 1948
59 Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters Near You 1948 Australia 1 for 4 months - Apr 1948
60 Dave Barbour & Orchestra Manana (Is Soon Enough For Me) 1948 US Billboard 1 - Jan 1948 (21 weeks)
61 Dick Farney A Saudade Mata a Gente 1948 Brazil 1 of 1948
62 Woody Herman Sabre Dance 1948 US Billboard 3 - Mar 1948 (12 weeks), US 1940s 7 - Apr 1948 (9 weeks)
63 Freddy Martin On a Slow Boat to China 1948 US Billboard 4 - Nov 1948 (17 weeks), US 1940s 5 - Nov 1948 (14 weeks)
64 Sammy Kaye Lavender Blue 1948 US Billboard 4 - Dec 1948 (16 weeks), US 1940s 5 - Dec 1948 (14 weeks)
65 Tommy Dorsey Until 1948 US Billboard 4 - Sep 1948 (21 weeks), US 1940s 6 - Sep 1948 (18 weeks)
66 Tex Beneke St. Louis Blues March 1948 US Billboard 5 - Apr 1948 (17 weeks), US 1940s 5 - Apr 1948 (14 weeks)
67 Freddy Martin The Dickey-bird Song 1948 US Billboard 5 - May 1948 (11 weeks), US 1940s 5 - May 1948 (10 weeks)
68 Frankie Carle I Beg Your Pardon 1948 US Billboard 5 - Feb 1948 (16 weeks), US 1940s 6 - Feb 1948 (9 weeks)
69 The Dinning Sisters Buttons & Bows 1948 US Billboard 5 - Oct 1948 (16 weeks), US 1940s 7 - Nov 1948 (14 weeks)
70 Primo Scala Banjo & Accordion Orchestra Underneath the Arches 1948 US Billboard 6 - Aug 1948 (16 weeks), US 1940s 6 - Aug 1948 (13 weeks)
71 Blue Lu Barker A Little Bird Told Me 1948 US Billboard 4 - Dec 1948 (14 weeks), US 1940s 16 - Jan 1949 (4 weeks)
72 Art Mooney Bluebird Of Happiness 1948 US Billboard 5 - Jul 1948 (22 weeks), US 1940s 9 - Jul 1948 (19 weeks)
73 Russ Morgan I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover 1948 US Billboard 6 - Feb 1948 (13 weeks), US 1940s 7 - Feb 1948 (9 weeks)
74 The Andrews Sisters Underneath the Arches 1948 US Billboard 5 - Sep 1948 (12 weeks), US 1940s 10 - Sep 1948 (7 weeks)
75 Buddy Clark Ballerina 1948 US Billboard 5 - Jan 1948 (7 weeks), US 1940s 10 - Jan 1948 (4 weeks)
76 Arthur Godfrey Slap 'er Down Agin, Paw 1948 US Billboard 7 - Feb 1948 (9 weeks), US 1940s 8 - Feb 1948 (7 weeks)
77 The Sportsmen You Can't Be True, Dear 1948 US Billboard 6 - May 1948 (14 weeks), US 1940s 11 - Jun 1948 (10 weeks)
78 Larry Green & His Orchestra I Beg Your Pardon 1948 US Billboard 8 - Jan 1948 (7 weeks), US 1940s 8 - Mar 1948 (5 weeks)
79 Eddy Howard Now Is The Hour 1948 US Billboard 8 - Feb 1948 (16 weeks), US 1940s 8 - Feb 1948 (9 weeks)
80 Eddy Howard On a Slow Boat to China 1948 US Billboard 6 - Nov 1948 (12 weeks), US 1940s 12 - Nov 1948 (6 weeks)

Previous Comments

27 May 2009

#16 : McRae should be MacRae

You are correct, all the entries for Gordon MacRae have been corrected, thank you.


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