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 |
Vaughn Monroe |
Riders in the Sky |
1949 |
US Billboard 1 - Apr 1949 (22 weeks), US 1940s 1 - Apr 1949 (20 weeks), US BB 1 of 1949, US 1 for 11 weeks - May 1949, Australia 1 for 5 weeks - Nov 1949, POP 1 of 1949, DZE 1 of 1949, Brazil 12 of 1950, Europe 33 of the 1940s (1949), RIAA 297, Acclaimed 1303 (1949) |
| 2 |
Gene Autry |
Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer |
1949 |
US Billboard 1 - Dec 1949 (6 weeks), US 1940s 1 - Dec 1949 (13 weeks), US 1 for 1 week - Jan 1949, Grammy Hall of Fame in 1985 (1949), US CashBox 3 - Jan 1950 (7 weeks), US Gold (certified by RIAA in Nov 1969), RYM 4 of 1949, DMDB 22 (1949), RIAA 31, Acclaimed 1051 (1949), Global 33 (5 M sold) - 1949 |
| 3 |
Frankie Laine |
Mule Train |
1949 |
US Billboard 1 - Nov 1949 (13 weeks), US 1940s 1 - Nov 1949 (13 weeks), US 1 for 6 weeks - Nov 1949, US CashBox 2 - Jan 1950 (8 weeks), DZE 5 of 1949, US BB 7 of 1949, POP 12 of 1949, RYM 38 of 1949, Europe 51 of the 1940s (1949), Italy 73 of 1955 |
| 4 |
Vic Damone |
You're Breakin' My Heart |
1949 |
US Billboard 1 - Jun 1949 (26 weeks), US 1940s 1 - Jun 1949 (25 weeks), US 1 for 4 weeks - Sep 1949, Australia 1 for 3 weeks - May 1950, DZE 7 of 1949, US BB 9 of 1949, POP 11 of 1949, Brazil 26 of 1950, US CashBox 29 - Jan 1950 (2 weeks) |
| 5 |
Evelyn Knight |
A Little Bird Told Me |
1949 |
US Billboard 1 - Nov 1948 (21 weeks), US 1940s 1 - Nov 1948 (20 weeks), US 1 for 7 weeks - Jan 1949, Australia 1 for 2 weeks - Dec 1949, DZE 4 of 1949, US BB 8 of 1949, Brazil 54 of 1949, Europe 72 of the 1940s (1949) |
| 6 |
Frankie Laine |
That Lucky Old Sun (Just Rolls Around Heaven All Day) |
1949 |
US Billboard 1 - Aug 1949 (22 weeks), US 1940s 1 - Sep 1949 (19 weeks), US 1 for 8 weeks - Oct 1949, US BB 2 of 1949, POP 10 of 1949, US CashBox 13 - Jan 1950 (6 weeks), Brazil 24 of 1950, Europe 40 of the 1940s (1949), RYM 57 of 1949 |
| 7 |
Perry Como |
Some Enchanted Evening |
1949 |
US Billboard 1 - Apr 1949 (26 weeks), US 1940s 1 - May 1949 (21 weeks), US 1 for 5 weeks - Jul 1949, US BB 6 of 1949, POP 6 of 1949, DZE 6 of 1949, Europe 36 of the 1940s (1949), Brazil 44 of 1950, NY Daily Love list 94 |
| 8 |
Edith Piaf |
La Vie En Rose |
1949 |
Italy 1 of 1948, Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 (1950), Scrobulate 3 of french, US CashBox 5 - Sep 1950 (19 weeks), Brazil 9 of 1949, France (Historical) 14 of the 1940s (1946), US Billboard 23 - Oct 1950 (3 weeks), RYM 48 of 1950, Acclaimed 625 (1945) |
| 9 |
Russ Morgan |
Cruising Down the River |
1949 |
US Billboard 1 - Feb 1949 (22 weeks), US 1940s 1 - Feb 1949 (21 weeks), US 1 for 7 weeks - Mar 1949, US BB 15 of 1949, POP 23 of 1949, Brazil 55 of 1949 |
| 10 |
Russ Morgan |
Forever & Ever |
1949 |
US Billboard 1 - Mar 1949 (26 weeks), Australia 1 for 3 weeks - Mar 1950, US 1940s 2 - Mar 1949 (22 weeks), DZE 9 of 1949, US BB 10 of 1949, POP 13 of 1949 |
| 11 |
Margaret Whiting & Jimmy Wakely |
Slippin' Around |
1949 |
US Billboard 1 - Sep 1949 (23 weeks), US 1940s 2 - Sep 1949 (21 weeks), US CashBox 4 - Jan 1950 (9 weeks), DZE 8 of 1949, US BB 12 of 1949, POP 25 of 1949, Europe 99 of the 1940s (1949) |
| 12 |
Perry Como & The Fontane Sisters |
'A' You're Adorable (the Alphabet Song) |
1949 |
US Billboard 1 - Apr 1949 (15 weeks), Australia 1 for 4 weeks - Feb 1950, US BB 3 of 1949, POP 3 of 1949, US 1940s 4 - Apr 1949 (13 weeks) |
| 13 |
Hank Williams |
I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry |
1949 |
Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 (1949), RYM 2 of 1949, Scrobulate 18 of country, Acclaimed 92 (1949), Rolling Stone 111, RIAA 114, WXPN 219 |
| 14 |
Blue Barron & Orchestra |
Cruising Down the River |
1949 |
US Billboard 1 - Jan 1949 (20 weeks), US 1940s 1 - Feb 1949 (16 weeks), US 1 for 2 weeks - Mar 1949 |
| 15 |
Freddy Martin |
I've Got A Lovely Bunch of Coconuts |
1949 |
Australia 1 for 3 weeks - Apr 1950, POP 2 of 1949, US Billboard 8 - Oct 1949 (17 weeks), US 1940s 8 - Nov 1949 (12 weeks), US CashBox 8 - Jan 1950 (11 weeks) |
| 16 |
Vaughn Monroe |
Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You) |
1949 |
US Billboard 1 - Aug 1949 (18 weeks), US 1940s 2 - Aug 1949 (17 weeks), US BB 11 of 1949, POP 15 of 1949, US CashBox 32 - Jan 1950 (1 week) |
| 17 |
Les Brown |
I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm |
1949 |
US Billboard 1 - Dec 1948 (17 weeks), US BB 4 of 1949, POP 5 of 1948, US 1940s 7 - Jan 1949 (14 weeks), Brazil 28 of 1949 |
| 18 |
Mel Torme |
Careless Hands |
1949 |
US Billboard 1 - Mar 1949 (18 weeks), US 1940s 7 - Mar 1949 (12 weeks), US BB 14 of 1949, POP 21 of 1949, Brazil 52 of 1949 |
| 19 |
Bing Crosby |
Dear Hearts & Gentle People |
1949 |
US CashBox 1 - Jan 1950 (16 weeks), US Billboard 2 - Dec 1949 (17 weeks), US 1940s 2 - Dec 1949 (12 weeks) |
| 20 |
Bing Crosby |
Far Away Places |
1949 |
Australia 1 for 5 weeks - Aug 1949, US Billboard 2 - Jan 1949 (19 weeks), US 1940s 2 - Jan 1949 (16 weeks) |
| 21 |
Buddy Clark |
You're Breakin' My Heart |
1949 |
Australia 1 for 3 weeks - May 1950, US Billboard 4 - Aug 1949 (16 weeks), US 1940s 9 - Oct 1949 (10 weeks), US CashBox 29 - Jan 1950 (2 weeks) |
| 22 |
Tony Martin |
There's No Tomorrow |
1949 |
US Billboard 2 - Nov 1949 (27 weeks), US 1940s 2 - Nov 1949 (24 weeks), US CashBox 3 - Jan 1950 (22 weeks), Brazil 40 of 1951 |
| 23 |
Perry Como |
Forever & Ever |
1949 |
Australia 1 for 3 weeks - Mar 1950, US Billboard 2 - Mar 1949 (25 weeks), US 1940s 3 - Mar 1949 (22 weeks) |
| 24 |
Guy Lombardo |
Hop-scotch Polka (Scotch Hot) |
1949 |
Australia 1 for 2 weeks - May 1950, US 1940s 11 - Oct 1949 (6 weeks), US Billboard 16 - Oct 1949 (5 weeks), US CashBox 18 - Jan 1950 (4 weeks) |
| 25 |
Art Mooney |
Hop-scotch Polka (Scotch Hot) |
1949 |
Australia 1 for 2 weeks - May 1950, US Billboard 16 - Sep 1949 (11 weeks), US 1940s 17 - Oct 1949 (4 weeks), US CashBox 18 - Jan 1950 (4 weeks) |
| 26 |
Dinah Shore |
Dear Hearts & Gentle People |
1949 |
US CashBox 1 - Jan 1950 (16 weeks), US Billboard 2 - Nov 1949 (17 weeks), US 1940s 7 - Dec 1949 (12 weeks) |
| 27 |
Hank Williams |
Lovesick Blues |
1949 |
RYM 1 of 1949, US Billboard 24 - May 1949 (1 week), Scrobulate 85 of country, Acclaimed 706 (1949) |
| 28 |
Bing Crosby |
Some Enchanted Evening |
1949 |
Australia 1 for 3 weeks - Nov 1952, US Billboard 3 - May 1949 (20 weeks), US 1940s 5 - Jun 1949 (14 weeks) |
| 29 |
Sammy Kaye |
Four Winds & The Seven Seas |
1949 |
Australia 1 for 3 weeks - Mar 1950, US Billboard 3 - Jun 1949 (11 weeks), US 1940s 7 - Jun 1949 (11 weeks) |
| 30 |
Ezio Pinza |
Some Enchanted Evening |
1949 |
Australia 1 for 3 weeks - Nov 1952, US Billboard 7 - Sep 1949 (9 weeks), US 1940s 7 - Sep 1949 (5 weeks) |
| 31 |
Tennessee Ernie Ford |
Mule Train |
1949 |
US CashBox 2 - Jan 1950 (8 weeks), US Billboard 9 - Nov 1949 (9 weeks), US 1940s 10 - Dec 1949 (7 weeks), Europe 68 of the 1940s (1949) |
| 32 |
Dinah Shore |
Lavender Blue |
1949 |
Australia 1 for 6 weeks - Dec 1949, US Billboard 9 - Dec 1948 (12 weeks), US 1940s 9 - Jan 1949 (7 weeks) |
| 33 |
Patty Andrews & Bob Crosby |
The Pussy Cat Song (Nyot Nyow!) |
1949 |
Australia 1 for 4 weeks - Jul 1949, US Billboard 12 - Jan 1949 (6 weeks), US 1940s 12 - Jan 1949 (5 weeks) |
| 34 |
Sammy Kaye |
Powder Your Face With Sunshine |
1949 |
Australia 1 for 2 weeks - Sep 1949, US Billboard 13 - Feb 1949 (10 weeks), US 1940s 14 - Feb 1949 (6 weeks) |
| 35 |
Bing Crosby |
Riders in the Sky |
1949 |
Australia 1 for 5 weeks - Nov 1949, US Billboard 14 - May 1949 (10 weeks), US 1940s 14 - Jun 1949 (2 weeks) |
| 36 |
Al Morgan |
Jealous Heart |
1949 |
US Billboard 4 - Jul 1949 (26 weeks), US 1940s 4 - Jul 1949 (22 weeks), US CashBox 10 - Jan 1950 (7 weeks), Brazil 99 of 1950 |
| 37 |
Doris Day |
Again |
1949 |
US Billboard 2 - May 1949 (19 weeks), US 1940s 14 - Jun 1949 (4 weeks), Italy 38 of 1950, RYM 102 of 1949 |
| 38 |
Gordon Jenkins |
Again |
1949 |
US Billboard 2 - Apr 1949 (23 weeks), US 1940s 2 - Apr 1949 (18 weeks), Brazil 93 of 1950 |
| 39 |
Richard Hayes |
The Old Master Painter |
1949 |
US Billboard 2 - Dec 1949 (12 weeks), US CashBox 3 - Jan 1950 (12 weeks), US 1940s 7 - Dec 1949 (8 weeks) |
| 40 |
Bing Crosby |
Mule Train |
1949 |
US CashBox 2 - Jan 1950 (8 weeks), US Billboard 4 - Nov 1949 (12 weeks), US 1940s 5 - Nov 1949 (10 weeks) |
| 41 |
Sammy Kaye |
Room Full Of Roses |
1949 |
US Billboard 2 - Jun 1949 (24 weeks), US 1940s 3 - Jun 1949 (21 weeks), Brazil 55 of 1950 |
| 42 |
Perry Como & The Fontane Sisters |
A Dreamers Holiday |
1949 |
US Billboard 3 - Oct 1949 (19 weeks), US 1940s 4 - Nov 1949 (15 weeks), US CashBox 4 - Jan 1950 (11 weeks) |
| 43 |
Jo Stafford & Gordon MacRae |
'A' You're Adorable (the Alphabet Song) |
1949 |
Peel list 3 of 1949, US Billboard 4 - Mar 1949 (15 weeks), US 1940s 4 - Apr 1949 (9 weeks) |
| 44 |
The Ink Spots |
You're Breakin' My Heart |
1949 |
US Billboard 9 - Aug 1949 (14 weeks), US 1940s 9 - Sep 1949 (9 weeks), RYM 19 of 1949, US CashBox 29 - Jan 1950 (2 weeks) |
| 45 |
Dick Haymes |
The Old Master Painter |
1949 |
US CashBox 3 - Jan 1950 (12 weeks), US Billboard 4 - Dec 1949 (13 weeks), US 1940s 5 - Dec 1949 (8 weeks) |
| 46 |
Vaughn Monroe |
Mule Train |
1949 |
US CashBox 2 - Jan 1950 (8 weeks), US Billboard 10 - Nov 1949 (9 weeks), US 1940s 10 - Nov 1949 (6 weeks) |
| 47 |
Doris Day |
Canadian Capers (Cuttin' Capers) |
1949 |
US Billboard 15 - Oct 1949 (10 weeks), US 1940s 15 - Nov 1949 (6 weeks), US CashBox 27 - Jan 1950 (2 weeks), RYM 104 of 1949 |
| 48 |
Jack Teter Trio |
Johnson Rag |
1949 |
US CashBox 3 - Jan 1950 (16 weeks), US Billboard 6 - Oct 1949 (23 weeks), US 1940s 6 - Oct 1949 (17 weeks) |
| 49 |
Tony Pastor & His Orchestra |
'A' You're Adorable (the Alphabet Song) |
1949 |
Australia 1 for 4 weeks - Feb 1950, US Billboard 12 - May 1949 (8 weeks) |
| 50 |
Buddy Clark |
It's a Big, Wide, Wonderful World |
1949 |
Australia 1 for 4 weeks - Oct 1949, US Billboard 25 - Mar 1949 (4 weeks) |
| 51 |
Woody Herman |
Early Autumn |
1949 |
Grammy Hall of Fame in 2000 (1949), US Billboard 28 - Nov 1952 (1 week) |
| 52 |
Jo Stafford & Gordon MacRae |
Whispering Hope |
1949 |
US Billboard 4 - Aug 1949 (23 weeks), US 1940s 6 - Aug 1949 (19 weeks), US CashBox 19 - Jan 1950 (6 weeks) |
| 53 |
Louis Jordan |
Saturday Night Fish Fry |
1949 |
RYM 3 of 1949, POP 18 of 1949, US Billboard 21 - Oct 1949 (5 weeks) |
| 54 |
Tommy Dorsey |
The Hucklebuck |
1949 |
US Billboard 5 - Jun 1949 (21 weeks), US 1940s 5 - Jun 1949 (17 weeks), RYM 54 of 1949 |
| 55 |
Dick Haymes |
Maybe It's Because |
1949 |
US Billboard 5 - Jul 1949 (18 weeks), US 1940s 5 - Aug 1949 (15 weeks), Brazil 89 of 1950 |
| 56 |
Buddy Clark |
A Dreamers Holiday |
1949 |
US CashBox 4 - Jan 1950 (11 weeks), US Billboard 12 - Nov 1949 (11 weeks), US 1940s 15 - Dec 1949 (4 weeks) |
| 57 |
The Mills Brothers |
Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You) |
1949 |
US Billboard 5 - Aug 1949 (15 weeks), US 1940s 8 - Sep 1949 (7 weeks), US CashBox 32 - Jan 1950 (1 week) |
| 58 |
Vaughn Monroe |
That Lucky Old Sun (Just Rolls Around Heaven All Day) |
1949 |
US Billboard 6 - Sep 1949 (17 weeks), US 1940s 9 - Oct 1949 (10 weeks), US CashBox 13 - Jan 1950 (6 weeks) |
| 59 |
Eddie 'Piano' Miller |
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon |
1949 |
US BB 5 of 1949, US Billboard 14 - Dec 1949 (3 weeks), POP 14 of 1949 |
| 60 |
Vic Damone |
Again |
1949 |
US Billboard 6 - Apr 1949 (21 weeks), US 1940s 11 - Apr 1949 (8 weeks), Brazil 69 of 1950 |
| 61 |
Kenny Roberts |
I Never See Maggie Alone |
1949 |
US Billboard 9 - Sep 1949 (13 weeks), US 1940s 9 - Sep 1949 (9 weeks), US CashBox 28 - Jan 1950 (3 weeks) |
| 62 |
Margaret Whiting & Jimmy Wakely |
I'll Never Slip Around Again |
1949 |
US Billboard 8 - Nov 1949 (10 weeks), US 1940s 11 - Nov 1949 (5 weeks), US CashBox 31 - Jan 1950 (1 week) |
| 63 |
Vic Damone |
My Bolero |
1949 |
US Billboard 10 - Aug 1949 (6 weeks), US 1940s 10 - Aug 1949 (2 weeks), Brazil 50 of 1950 |
| 64 |
Frank Sinatra |
Some Enchanted Evening |
1949 |
US Billboard 6 - Jun 1949 (13 weeks), RYM 32 of 1949, Brazil 67 of 1950 |
| 65 |
The Andrews Sisters |
Charley My Boy |
1949 |
US CashBox 12 - Jan 1950 (9 weeks), US Billboard 15 - Dec 1949 (4 weeks), US 1940s 17 - Dec 1949 (2 weeks) |
| 66 |
Bing Crosby |
Galway Bay |
1949 |
US Billboard 3 - Jan 1949 (17 weeks), US 1940s 3 - Jan 1949 (14 weeks) |
| 67 |
Art Mooney |
Toot Toot Tootsie (Goodbye) |
1949 |
US Billboard 19 - Oct 1949 (4 weeks), US 1940s 20 - Nov 1949 (1 week), US CashBox 31 - Jan 1950 (3 weeks) |
| 68 |
Doris Day |
Where Are You (Now That I Need You) |
1949 |
US Billboard 20 - Aug 1949 (7 weeks), US 1940s 20 - Oct 1949 (1 week), RYM 103 of 1949 |
| 69 |
Doris Day |
Bluebird on Your Windowsill |
1949 |
US Billboard 19 - Nov 1949 (2 weeks), US CashBox 30 - Jan 1950 (2 weeks), RYM 60 of 1949 |
| 70 |
Vaughn Monroe |
Red Roses For a Blue Lady |
1949 |
US Billboard 3 - Jan 1949 (22 weeks), US 1940s 4 - Feb 1949 (14 weeks) |
| 71 |
Margaret Whiting & Johnny Mercer |
Baby, It's Cold Outside |
1949 |
US Billboard 3 - May 1949 (19 weeks), US 1940s 4 - May 1949 (14 weeks) |
| 72 |
Dinah Shore & Buddy Clark |
Baby, It's Cold Outside |
1949 |
US Billboard 3 - May 1949 (19 weeks), US 1940s 4 - May 1949 (15 weeks) |
| 73 |
Larry Green |
It's a Big, Wide, Wonderful World |
1949 |
Australia 1 for 4 weeks - Oct 1949 |
| 74 |
Ricardo Montalban & Esther Williams |
Baby, It's Cold Outside |
1949 |
Oscar in 1949 (film 'Neptune's Daughter') |
| 75 |
Hank Williams |
Never Again (Will I Knock on Your Door) |
1949 |
RYM 1 of 1949 |
| 76 |
Tony Pastor & His Orchestra |
Ramblin' Rose |
1949 |
Australia 1 for 5 weeks - Apr 1949 |
| 77 |
Joe Loss Orchestra |
Say Something Sweet To Your Sweetheart |
1949 |
Australia 1 for 2 weeks - Aug 1949 |
| 78 |
Flo Sandon's |
Verde luna |
1949 |
Italy 1 of 1949 |
| 79 |
The Andrews Sisters & Danny Kaye |
Put 'em in a Box, Tie 'em With a Ribbon |
1949 |
Australia 1 for 2 weeks - May 1949 |
| 80 |
Ray McKinley & His Orchestra |
Put 'em in a Box, Tie 'em With a Ribbon |
1949 |
Australia 1 for 2 weeks - May 1949 |