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Songs from the Year 1940

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Other Years: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s

This page lists the top songs of 1940 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. There is also a set of monthly tables showing the various number ones on any date during 1940.

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.

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.

The top ten song artists of 1940 were:

1:Glenn Miller3:Bing Crosby5:Bert Ambrose & his Orchestra7:The Andrews Sisters9:Jimmy Dorsey
2:Tommy Dorsey & Frank Sinatra4:The Ink Spots6:Artie Shaw8:Tommy Dorsey10:Will Bradley
# Artist Song Title Year Chart Entries
1 Glenn Miller In the Mood 1940 US Billboard 1 - Oct 1939 (30 weeks), Australia 1 for 5 months - Jan 1942, Europe 1 of the 1940s (1940), Grammy Hall of Fame in 1983 (1939), nuTsie 1 of 1930s, ASCAP song of 1940, Library of Congress artifact added 2004 (1939), US invalid BB 2 of 1940, POP 2 of 1940, Scrobulate 4 of swing, Music Imprint 4 of 1940s, Your Hit Parade 7 of 1940, RIAA 11, Brazil 12 of 1941, Holland 15 - Aug 1972 (7 weeks), Belgium 18 - Sep 1972 (2 weeks), DMDB 67 (1939), Acclaimed 477 (1939), RYM 4 of 1939, Song of 1938, Party 45 of 1999
2 Artie Shaw Frenesi 1940 US Billboard 1 - 1940 (30 weeks), US 1940s 1 - Aug 1940 (23 weeks), US 1 for 13 weeks - Dec 1940, Grammy Hall of Fame in 2000 (1940), Your Hit Parade 3 of 1940, US invalid BB 6 of 1940, POP 6 of 1940, DDD 7 of 1940, Brazil 10 of 1946, nuTsie 24 of 1940s, Scrobulate 48 of swing, Europe 71 of the 1940s (1940), Song of 1940
3 Tommy Dorsey & Frank Sinatra I'll Never Smile Again 1940 US Billboard 1 - 1940 (20 weeks), US 1940s 1 - Jul 1940 (15 weeks), US 1 for 12 weeks - Jul 1940, Grammy Hall of Fame in 1982 (1940), Your Hit Parade 2 of 1940, DDD 3 of 1940, US invalid BB 8 of 1940, POP 8 of 1940, nuTsie 14 of 1940s, Europe 17 of the 1940s (1940), Brazil 39 of 1941
4 Cliff Edwards (Ukelele Ike) When You Wish Upon a Star 1940 Your Hit Parade 1 of 1940, Oscar in 1940 (film 'Pinocchio'), Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002 (1940), Library of Congress artifact added 2009 (1940), AFI 7, DDD 9 of 1940, US Billboard 10 - 1940 (6 weeks), Music Imprint 11 of 1940s, RIAA 55, nuTsie 80 of 1940s, Acclaimed 1090 (1940), RYM 20 of 1940
5 Bing Crosby Only Forever 1940 US Billboard 1 - 1940 (20 weeks), US 1940s 1 - Sep 1940 (16 weeks), US 1 for 9 weeks - Oct 1940, Oscar in 1940 (film 'Rhythm on the River') (Nominated), Your Hit Parade 15 of 1940, US invalid BB 15 of 1940, POP 15 of 1940, Europe 24 of the 1940s (1940), DDD 69 of 1940, RYM 87 of 1940
6 Glenn Miller When You Wish Upon a Star 1940 US Billboard 1 - 1940 (16 weeks), US invalid BB 1 of 1940, POP 1 of 1940, UK 40s Sheet Music 2 - Apr 1940 (3 weeks), DDD 9 of 1940, Brazil 55 of 1940, RYM 15 of 1940
7 The Ink Spots Whispering Grass (Don't Tell the Trees) 1940 UK Sheet Music 1 for 11 weeks - Jun 1943, UK 40s Sheet Music 1 - May 1943 (21 weeks), Australia 1 for 1 month - Jul 1944, US Billboard 10 - 1940 (10 weeks), US 1940s 10 - Oct 1940 (1 week), DDD 21 of 1940
8 Jimmy Dorsey The Breeze & I 1940 US Billboard 1 - 1940 (14 weeks), US 1940s 2 - Jul 1940 (9 weeks), Your Hit Parade 12 of 1940, DDD 12 of 1940, US invalid BB 14 of 1940, POP 14 of 1940, nuTsie 52 of 1940s, Brazil 58 of 1940
9 Jimmie Davis You Are My Sunshine 1940 Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 (1940), Library of Congress artifact added 2012 (1940), DDD 4 of 1940, Music Imprint 5 of 1940s, RIAA 14, nuTsie 30 of 1940s, Acclaimed 677 (1940), RYM 4 of 1940
10 Glenn Miller Blueberry Hill 1940 US Billboard 1 - 1940 (20 weeks), US 1940s 2 - Aug 1940 (14 weeks), UK 40s Sheet Music 8 - Dec 1940 (3 weeks), US invalid BB 10 of 1940, POP 10 of 1940, Your Hit Parade 13 of 1940, DDD 49 of 1940, RYM 29 of 1940
11 Bob Wills & his Texas Playboys New San Antonio Rose 1940 Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 (1940), Library of Congress artifact added 2003 (1940), DDD 2 of 1940, US Billboard 11 - Nov 1940 (5 weeks), Your Hit Parade 22 of 1941, RIAA 316, RYM 23 of 1940
12 Glenn Miller The Woodpecker Song 1940 US Billboard 1 - 1940 (16 weeks), Australia 1 for 5 months - Nov 1940, US invalid BB 13 of 1940, POP 13 of 1940, DDD 45 of 1940, RYM 86 of 1940
13 Glenn Miller Tuxedo Junction 1940 US Billboard 1 - 1940 (19 weeks), DDD 5 of 1940, US invalid BB 7 of 1940, POP 7 of 1940, nuTsie 20 of 1940s, Brazil 61 of 1941, RYM 12 of 1940
14 Glenn Miller Imagination 1940 US Billboard 1 - 1940 (11 weeks), US 1940s 3 - Jul 1940 (3 weeks), UK 40s Sheet Music 11 - Sep 1940 (1 week), POP 16 of 1940, US invalid BB 20 of 1940, DDD 48 of 1940
15 The Ink Spots When The Swallows Come Back to Capistrano 1940 US invalid BB 3 of 1940, POP 3 of 1940, US Billboard 4 - 1940 (14 weeks), US 1940s 4 - Aug 1940 (11 weeks), Peel list 4 of 1940, DDD 15 of 1940
16 Bing Crosby Trade Winds 1940 US Billboard 1 - 1940 (17 weeks), US 1940s 2 - Sep 1940 (15 weeks), US invalid BB 17 of 1940, POP 19 of 1940, Your Hit Parade 21 of 1940, DDD 78 of 1940
17 The Ink Spots Maybe 1940 US Billboard 2 - 1940 (17 weeks), US 1940s 2 - Sep 1940 (14 weeks), DDD 11 of 1940, Your Hit Parade 14 of 1940, Europe 39 of the 1940s (1940), nuTsie 99 of 1940s
18 Glenn Miller Fools Rush In (Where Angels Fear To Tread) 1940 US Billboard 1 - 1940 (13 weeks), US 1940s 3 - Jul 1940 (7 weeks), UK 40s Sheet Music 5 - Aug 1940 (4 weeks), POP 22 of 1940, DDD 40 of 1940
19 Glenn Miller Pennsylvania 6-5000 1940 US Billboard 5 - 1940 (12 weeks), US 1940s 5 - Jul 1940 (6 weeks), DDD 8 of 1940, Your Hit Parade 9 of 1940, Brazil 25 of 1942, nuTsie 43 of 1940s, RYM 2 of 1940, Song of 1940
20 Artie Shaw All the Things You Are 1940 UK Sheet Music 1 for 2 weeks - Nov 1940, UK 40s Sheet Music 1 - Jan 1940 (5 weeks), US Billboard 8 - 1940 (8 weeks), RYM 89 of 1939
21 The Andrews Sisters Ferryboat Serenade 1940 US Billboard 1 - 1940 (14 weeks), US 1940s 8 - Dec 1940 (3 weeks), US invalid BB 12 of 1940, POP 12 of 1940, Your Hit Parade 17 of 1940, DDD 79 of 1940
22 Tommy Dorsey All the Things You Are 1940 US Billboard 1 - Dec 1939 (13 weeks), Your Hit Parade 4 of 1940, US invalid BB 16 of 1940, POP 17 of 1940, Brazil 31 of 1940
23 Bing Crosby Sierra Sue 1940 US Billboard 1 - 1940 (14 weeks), US 1940s 3 - Jul 1940 (10 weeks), POP 9 of 1940, Your Hit Parade 10 of 1940, DDD 71 of 1940
24 Charlie Barnet Where Was I? 1940 US Billboard 1 - 1940 (10 weeks), US 1940s 6 - Jul 1940 (1 week), US invalid BB 18 of 1940, POP 21 of 1940, DDD 70 of 1940
25 Judy Garland I'm Nobody's Baby 1940 US Billboard 3 - 1940 (12 weeks), US 1940s 3 - Aug 1940 (10 weeks), Your Hit Parade 23 of 1940, DDD 72 of 1940, Brazil 99 of 1941
26 Bob Crosby & his Orchestra Down Argentina Way 1940 US Billboard 2 - Nov 1940 (13 weeks), US 1940s 2 - Dec 1940 (4 weeks), Your Hit Parade 6 of 1940, Brazil 85 of 1941
27 Vaughn Monroe There I Go 1940 US Billboard 1 - 1940 (12 weeks), US 1940s 5 - Dec 1940 (4 weeks), US invalid BB 19 of 1941, POP 23 of 1941
28 Will Bradley Beat Me Daddy, Eight To The Bar 1940 US Billboard 2 - 1940 (22 weeks), US 1940s 2 - Sep 1940 (15 weeks), POP 5 of 1940, Your Hit Parade 16 of 1940
29 Bert Ambrose & his Orchestra There'll Come Another Day 1940 UK Sheet Music 1 for 1 week - Jan 1940, UK 40s Sheet Music 1 - Jan 1940 (5 weeks)
30 Hutch The Woodpecker Song 1940 UK Sheet Music 1 for 4 weeks - May 1940, UK 40s Sheet Music 1 - May 1940 (11 weeks)
31 Bert Ambrose & his Orchestra The Singing Hills 1940 UK Sheet Music 1 for 6 weeks - Jul 1940, UK 40s Sheet Music 1 - Jun 1940 (9 weeks)
32 Arthur Askey Bless Em All 1940 UK Sheet Music 1 for 1 week - Jan 1941, UK 40s Sheet Music 1 - Jan 1940 (7 weeks)
33 Hutch All Over The Place 1940 UK Sheet Music 1 for 1 week - Jan 1941, UK 40s Sheet Music 1 - Jan 1940 (4 weeks)
34 Bert Ambrose & his Orchestra I Can't Love You Anymore 1940 UK Sheet Music 1 for 2 weeks - Sep 1940, UK 40s Sheet Music 1 - Aug 1940 (4 weeks)
35 Vera Lynn A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square 1940 UK 40s Sheet Music 1 - Jun 1940 (11 weeks), Australia 1 for 4 months - May 1941
36 Bert Ambrose & his Orchestra Scatterbrain 1940 UK Sheet Music 1 for 4 weeks - Jan 1940, UK 40s Sheet Music 1 - Jan 1940 (6 weeks)
37 Hal Kemp In an 18th Century Drawing Room 1940 UK Sheet Music 1 for 1 week - Feb 1940, UK 40s Sheet Music 1 - Jan 1940 (7 weeks)
38 Tommy Dorsey & Frank Sinatra Stardust 1940 DDD 1 of 1940, US Billboard 7 - 1941 (5 weeks), US 1940s 7 - Jan 1941 (1 week), RYM 42 of 1940, Song of 1940
39 Mitchell Ayres & his Fashions in Music Make Believe Island 1940 US Billboard 1 - 1940 (13 weeks), US 1940s 10 - Jul 1940 (1 week), Your Hit Parade 22 of 1940, POP 25 of 1940
40 Glenn Miller Careless 1940 US Billboard 1 - 1940 (13 weeks), US invalid BB 11 of 1940, POP 11 of 1940, RYM 29 of 1939
41 Tommy Dorsey & Frank Sinatra Our Love Affair 1940 Oscar in 1940 (film 'Strike Up the Band') (Nominated), US Billboard 5 - 1940 (5 weeks), US 1940s 5 - Nov 1940 (3 weeks), US CashBox 47 - Mar 1956 (1 week)
42 Duke Ellington Ko Ko 1940 Grammy Hall of Fame in 2011 (1940), US Billboard 25 - 1940 (1 week), DDD 38 of 1940, RYM 47 of 1940
43 Bill Monroe Mule Skinner Blues 1940 Grammy Hall of Fame in 2009 (1940), DDD 22 of 1940, Acclaimed 1580 (1940), one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 500
44 Bukka White Fixing To Die Blues 1940 Grammy Hall of Fame in 2012 (1940), Scrobulate 59 of blues, DDD 86 of 1940
45 Tony Martin It's a Blue World 1940 US Billboard 2 - 1940 (13 weeks), Oscar in 1940 (film 'Music in My Heart') (Nominated), Your Hit Parade 20 of 1940
46 Kate Smith The Woodpecker Song 1940 Australia 1 for 5 months - Nov 1940, US Billboard 14 - 1940 (5 weeks)
47 Shep Fields & his Rippling Rhythm Orchestra Down Argentina Way 1940 Australia 1 for 1 month - Sep 1941, US Billboard 18 - 1940 (6 weeks)
48 Tommy Dorsey & Frank Sinatra Imagination 1940 US Billboard 8 - 1940 (6 weeks), US 1940s 8 - Jul 1940 (1 week), DDD 48 of 1940, nuTsie 75 of 1940s
49 Charlie Barnet Pompton Turnpike 1940 US Billboard 3 - 1940 (13 weeks), US 1940s 3 - Oct 1940 (6 weeks), DDD 19 of 1940
50 Tommy Dorsey & Frank Sinatra We Three (My Echo, My Shadow & Me) 1940 US Billboard 3 - 1940 (10 weeks), US 1940s 6 - Nov 1940 (5 weeks), DDD 6 of 1940
51 Glenn Miller When The Swallows Come Back to Capistrano 1940 US Billboard 2 - 1940 (12 weeks), US 1940s 10 - Aug 1940 (1 week), DDD 15 of 1940
52 Glenn Miller A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square 1940 US Billboard 2 - 1940 (6 weeks), US 1940s 2 - Dec 1940 (6 weeks)
53 Will Bradley Scrub Me Mama With A Boogie Beat 1940 US Billboard 2 - Nov 1940 (10 weeks), US 1940s 2 - Dec 1940 (7 weeks)
54 Ella Fitzgerald Five O'Clock Whistle 1940 US Billboard 9 - Nov 1940 (5 weeks), US 1940s 9 - Jan 1941 (1 week), DDD 18 of 1940, RYM 53 of 1940
55 Erskine Hawkins Dolemite 1940 US Billboard 10 - 1940 (7 weeks), US 1940s 10 - Sep 1940 (1 week), DDD 74 of 1940, RYM 92 of 1940
56 Glenn Miller In an Old Dutch Garden (By an Old Dutch Mill) 1940 UK 40s Sheet Music 2 - Apr 1940 (3 weeks), US Billboard 8 - 1940 (8 weeks)
57 The Ink Spots Java Jive 1940 DDD 13 of 1940, US Billboard 15 - Dec 1940 (3 weeks), Visconti song of 1940, RYM 3 of 1940
58 Dick Robertson & his Orchestra Ma (He's Making Eyes At Me) 1940 US invalid BB 5 of 1940, US Billboard 12 - 1940 (6 weeks), POP 20 of 1940
59 Xavier Cugat The Breeze & I 1940 UK 40s Sheet Music 2 - Sep 1940 (2 weeks), US Billboard 13 - 1940 (1 week)
60 Nat Gonella I'm Nobody's Baby 1940 UK 40s Sheet Music 3 - Jan 1940 (3 weeks), Peel list 3 of 1940
61 Kay Kyser Playmates 1940 US Billboard 2 - 1940 (14 weeks), US 1940s 4 - Jul 1940 (1 week)
62 Will Bradley Down the Road Apiece 1940 US Billboard 10 - 1940 (6 weeks), US 1940s 10 - Dec 1940 (1 week), DDD 37 of 1940
63 Will Bradley Celery Stalks At Midnight 1940 US Billboard 19 - 1940 (1 week), POP 24 of 1940, DDD 68 of 1940
64 Francisco Alves Dama das Camelias 1940 Brazil 1 of 1940
65 Jack Payne & his Orchestra Don't Ever Pass Me By 1940 UK 40s Sheet Music 1 - Jun 1940 (8 weeks)
66 Bert Ambrose & his Orchestra Arm In Arm (Just You & Me) 1940 UK 40s Sheet Music 1 - May 1940 (12 weeks)
67 Joe Loss Orchestra The Spitfire Song 1940 Peel list 1 of 1940
68 Joe Loss Orchestra Till the Lights of London Shine Again 1940 Australia 1 for 3 months - Aug 1940
69 Joe Loss Orchestra Blue Orchid 1940 Australia 1 for 3 months - May 1940
70 Carson Robison South of the Border (Down Mexico Way) 1940 Australia 1 for 3 months - Jan 1940
71 Bert Ambrose & his Orchestra When Our Dreams Grow Old 1940 UK 40s Sheet Music 1 - Jun 1940 (7 weeks)
72 Joe Loss Orchestra Beer Barrel Polka (Roll out the Barrel) 1940 Australia 1 for 1 month - Apr 1940
73 Bert Ambrose & his Orchestra You Made Me Care (When I Wasn't In Love) 1940 UK 40s Sheet Music 1 - Apr 1940 (12 weeks)
74 Flanagan & Allen There's A Boy Coming Home On Leave 1940 UK 40s Sheet Music 1 - Apr 1940 (7 weeks)
75 Joe Loss Orchestra South of the Border (Down Mexico Way) 1940 Australia 1 for 3 months - Jan 1940
76 The Andrews Sisters Beat Me Daddy, Eight To The Bar 1940 US Billboard 2 - Nov 1940 (14 weeks), DDD 14 of 1940
77 Sammy Kaye Dream Valley 1940 US Billboard 1 - Dec 1940 (13 weeks)
78 Bob Chester & his Orchestra Practice Makes Perfect 1940 US Billboard 3 - 1940 (13 weeks), US 1940s 6 - Oct 1940 (6 weeks)
79 Frank Proffitt Tom Dooley 1940 Library of Congress artifact added 2008 (1940)
80 Benny Goodman Seven Come Eleven 1940 Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008 (1940)
81 Art Tatum Sweet Lorraine 1940 Library of Congress artifact added 2007 (1940)
82 Jimmy Dorsey 6 Lessons From Madame La Zonga 1940 US Billboard 4 - 1940 (14 weeks), US 1940s 4 - Aug 1940 (3 weeks)
83 Roland Hayes Were You There? 1940 Library of Congress artifact added 2013 (1940)
84 Edith Piaf L'accordeoniste 1940 France (Historical) 11 of the 1940s (1940), DDD 44 of 1940, RYM 80 of 1961
85 Glenn Miller I'd Know You Anywhere 1940 Oscar in 1940 (film 'You'll Find Out') (Nominated), US Billboard 24 - 1940 (1 week)
86 The Andrews Sisters Say 'Si Si' (Para Vigo Me Voy) 1940 US Billboard 4 - 1940 (10 weeks), Brazil 83 of 1940
87 Connee Boswell On the Isle of May 1940 US Billboard 3 - 1940 (11 weeks), Your Hit Parade 11 of 1940
88 Glenn Miller The Nearness of You 1940 US Billboard 5 - 1940 (11 weeks), US 1940s 5 - Aug 1940 (8 weeks)
89 Will Bradley There I Go 1940 US Billboard 5 - Dec 1940 (7 weeks), US 1940s 5 - Dec 1940 (3 weeks)
90 The Ink Spots Do I Worry? 1940 US Billboard 8 - 1941 (6 weeks), DDD 65 of 1940, RYM 3 of 1940
91 Kay Kyser Ferryboat Serenade 1940 US Billboard 6 - Oct 1940 (12 weeks), US 1940s 6 - Nov 1940 (5 weeks)
92 Erskine Hawkins Five O'Clock Whistle 1940 US Billboard 15 - 1940 (2 weeks), DDD 18 of 1940, RYM 93 of 1940
93 The Andrews Sisters Rhumboogie 1940 US Billboard 11 - 1940 (9 weeks), DDD 59 of 1940, RYM 27 of 1940
94 Tommy Dorsey Only Forever 1940 US Billboard 7 - 1940 (9 weeks), US 1940s 7 - Oct 1940 (3 weeks)
95 Leo Reisman Down Argentina Way 1940 US Billboard 7 - 1940 (9 weeks), US 1940s 7 - Nov 1940 (2 weeks)
96 The Charioteers So Long 1940 US Billboard 23 - 1940 (1 week), DDD 51 of 1940, RYM 54 of 1940
97 Billie Holiday Night & Day 1940 DDD 24 of 1940, Scrobulate 59 of jazz, Song of 1940
98 Glenn Miller Our Love Affair 1940 US Billboard 8 - 1940 (7 weeks), US 1940s 8 - Nov 1940 (2 weeks)
99 Jan Savitt & his Orchestra Make Believe Island 1940 US Billboard 8 - 1940 (2 weeks), US 1940s 8 - Aug 1940 (1 week)
100 Benny Carter Sleep 1940 US Billboard 27 - 1940 (1 week), DDD 81 of 1940, Song of 1940
Comment on the contents of the 'Songs from the Year 1940' page
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Previous Comments (newest first)

27 Aug 2019

LOOKING FOR SONG

ONLY KNOW A FEW LINES OF THE SONG,MAYBE DONE 1930'S,1940/S,1950/S THERES A HOTDOG STAND ON THE HWY TO MEXICO CITY, HEY THERE BENNY WE AINT GOT TO MANY, HEY THERE CHARLIE BUY A HOT TAMALI, MY FATHER USED TO SING THIS SONG BUT NEVER HEARD FULL SONG, THANKS

9 Jun 2019

A song called Donna Maria from the 1940's

I was born in 1944 amd was named after a song called Donna Maria. I think part of the lyrics were There's a moon out tonight Donna Maria. Would love to locate it any help would b appeciated. Thank you.

1 May 2017

looking for a song called Donna Maria that was out in 1944

13 Mar 2016

Song from 1940

My late aunt copyrighted a song on Dec 20, 1940 which was called "You are thesoul of my dreams". Her name was Flora Luria. How can I find the lyrics to this song?

28 Jan 2016

Expanded Lists

I know you have been asked this before but ... Isn't there any way you wouldconsider expanding your Yearly Lists of Songs? For example 1920 - 1939 from 50 or 60 to 80. From 1940 - 1949 from 80 to 100. It seems like a lot of important recordings from Europe, UK & Brazil have dropped off these lists over the last few months. I know you have those expanded Excel files but it's not the same as seeing them chronologically. Please!!!

We have always been wary of making the earlier years too long, if you want longer lists it is easy for us to change the limits. Of course the significance of songs lower down the list is questionable (since they normally come from just a single chart) but given that you are aware of that we will expand the lists.

We've changed the limits to the top 75 songs before 1920 and top 100 after that.

8 Dec 2015

ken chaundy orchestra detroit 1940's

any info on this group

This site only lists songs in the national charts (so no)

17 Nov 2015

The Breeze & I (again)

A bit of digging around informs me that Joe Loss had the most significant British contemporary recording of it...(BUT only according to this reference source (http://www.missingcharts.co.uk/index.html), which is all very interesting, but I don't think can be counted as a recognised 'sales' chart in any way!)

Given that the sheet music does not list the artist we'll go with your suggestion and add an entry for Joe Loss

Thanks

5 Nov 2015

The Breeze & I

The Fentones (#36) have slipped in a little early, by about two decades! Not sure who had the British success with it at the time

You are right, given that Xavier Cugat and Charlie Barnet both released versions in 1940 we'll assume that Xavier Cugat had the UK hit. Thanks

13 Oct 2015

The 50 Cent Song

I am interested in getting information on a song called The 50 Cent Song (orPiece). +My mother used to sing it. +Looking for the composer or any information whatsoever. +Thank you!!!!! +

30 Aug 2015

The song with the words if you don't know the bliss of your own baby s kissthen I'm sorry so sorry for you+

20 Jul 2015

1940 songs

This is the best listing I have seen

1 Apr 2015

Coolness

28 Jan 2015

Song title

In the mid 1940s there was a song composed from a classical piano concerto or a symphony with the lyrics "now and forever" Not sure but I think Frank Sinatra recorded the song. Thanks.

9 Nov 2014

I'll Rest when I Die lady singer 1940's heard it on Radio 2 recently

4 Oct 2014

love song

who wrote and what are the words for when you are in love it's the lovliest night of the year

5 Sep 2014

Song lyrics/title

'Lyrics begin: +You're breaking my heart cause you're leaving, you've fallen for somebody new ....'

You've already got the title! It's called 'You're Breaking My Heart' and it put Vic Damone on the road to stardom back in 1949.

It was based on a classical piece called 'Mattinata' by Leoncavello which was actually commissioned by The Gramophone Company (later EMI) to presumably 'show off' their recording abilities. This WAS back in the early 1900's, so those abilities probably sounded very crude by the time Vic got hold of it!+

5 Sep 2014

name of a song

'Do you know of a song that had the line: we'll have seven children dear or maybe we'll have eight?'

That would be 'We Got Love', a sizeable 1959 hit for Bobby Rydell in the US and Alma Cogan in the UK.

25 Aug 2014

She came walking through the door who sang it

25 Aug 2014

Mildred Bailey

#72-Darn That Dream was also on Your Hit Parade #8 as she was lead singer with Benny Goodman and Orchestra.

That looks reasonable, the data has been changed, thanks

2 Aug 2014

Song lyrics/title

Lyrics begin: +You're breaking my heart cause you're leaving, you've fallen for somebody new ....

2 May 2014

SOLO PISTA de When the swallows come back to capistrano

Estimado. Debo reconocer el tremendo trabajo e investigacion que se hiso para el logro de esta pagina. Yo siguiendo la cancian que interpreta, magistralmente Pat Boone,quise aventurarme en este ocano de la web y ver si me podia conseguir la pista, solo la pista, de esta cancion, ya que va acorde con mi registro de voz y la quiero cantar. Por el tiempo que ha pasado en mi frenatica basqueda creo que debera regresar, no a Capistrano, si no que a mis quehaceres habituales.

Desde Chile un gran saludo para todos y debo reconocerme viudo de Presley... Hasta la proxima.

Jorge. ++

18 Apr 2014

Does anyone know the song that goes like this: 1 and 2 and I love you, I love you, I love you. 2 and 3 I don't remember. 5 and 6 and kiss me quick, let's play the game of love. Please email me the singer and name of the song to latifyusufi@hotmail.com thank you

14 Oct 2013

name of a song

Do you know of a song that had the line: we'll have seven children dear or maybe we'll have eight?

8 Aug 2013

Lyrics "A pile driven man'

Who sang this sng

As far as we know it was never a hit anywhere

18 May 2013

SONG IN THE EARLY 1940'S

THE TITLE IS "TIME WAS" WHICH TOMMY DORSEY PLAYED WITH FRANK SINATRA

14 Mar 2013

Laizi

"i DANCED WITH A LADY WITH A HOLE INHER STOCKING AND HER KNEES KEPT ON ROCKING...... Title: Dance By The Light Of The Moon by "The Olympics" released in 1960 There might be an earlier version.+

14 Mar 2013

Song And year

some of the words are "Mares eat oats, Does eat oats and little Lames eat ivy" "I would eat ivy too wouldn't you?"

The title to this song is "Mairzy Doats". Popularized by The Merry Macs. It was released in 1944 and reached #4 on the charts. Was also sung by "The King Sisters" and "The Pied Pipers with Jo Stafford+

13 Mar 2013

Trying to locate a song from the 30's or 40's

Can anyone help me out there? I know I'm not very helpful but this was an old war song about a gal who lost her guy in combat. It was called "What will I do" or What'l I do". It goes What'l I do when you are gone away and I'm so blue, what'l I do. What'l I do whith just a photgraph to tell my troubles to. When I'm alone with only dreams of you that can't come true, what'l I do." Thanks to anyone who can help.

Diane

Paul Whiteman and others had a hit in 1924 called "What'll I Do?".

16 Feb 2013

song from 1930-1940's

would you know who sang "but where are you" my mum and her sisters listening and singing along to this and it would be lovely to get a copy if possible. + Thanks

Ozzie Nelson & his Orchestra had a hit with "But Where Are You?" in 1936

11 Feb 2013

song and year

some of the words are "Mares eat oats, Does eat oats and little Lames eat ivy" "I would eat ivy too wouldn't you?"

23 Jan 2013

Laizi

LOOKING FOR A SONG THE WORDS I REMEMBER +"i DANCED WITH A LADY WITH A HOLE INHER STOCKING AND HER KNEES KEPT ON ROCKING......

11 Dec 2012

The +Percolater song

I would wake up to this song every school day in 1945, 1946. It was the theme song for a raido station in Detroit, WWJ, WJR, or WXYZ. Mom listened to it every morning while she got ready for work, about 6 AM. Thats when I woke up to get ready for school. I do not know the name of the song or who played it. It sounded like the coffee pot, percolater, was making coffee.

Does anybody know the name of the song, who played it?

Thanks for your help. Jim

26 Oct 2012

i am looking for comedy song flying saucers

I am looking for comedy song flying saucers

We have entries for:

Buchanan & Goodman - "Flying Saucer" (1956) Billy Lee Riley - "Flying Saucer Rock & Roll" (1957) Ella Fitzgerald - "Two Little Men in a Flying Saucer" (1951)

14 Oct 2012

50 cent piece

Looking for a song called 50 cent piece: +It begins " I took my girl to a dance one night, It was a social hop. +We danced till the lights went out and the music had to stop. +I took her to a restaurant, the smallest (finest) in the state, etc.

11 Jun 2012

X Marks The Spot

I have been looking for a song that was recorded on a Recordio disc off the radio. One side had Kate Smith singing "Tradewinds",and the other side had a male vocalist with what sounds like "X Marks The Spot". I don't know who recorded it;"X marks the spot,where my heart did reside,untill you came along,and took it for a one way ride,Once it used to be,mine exclusively,now what have I got?,ooh ooh darlin you,x marks the spot". I assume it was from 1940,the same year as Kate Smith recorded "Tradewinds".

4 May 2012

Fly me to the moon

I am looking for that song for my Mother in Law. She loves it. I can'tremember the year tho. I think it was in 1940's or 50's? Please help us out. Thank you

If you had tried searching from the box at the top right you would have found that Frank Sinatra, Modern Talking, Blank & Jones, Sinead O'Connor, Bobby Womack, Tony Bennett, Sam & Bill and LaVern Baker had hits with the song. Joe Harnell & his Orchestra had a hit in 1962 with "Fly Me To The Moon Bossa Nova".

Most of those are available from Amazon or iTunes

7 Apr 2012

Movie that the song, "Tell me a tale that I delighted to hear..."

I do not know which year the movie was made. I saw it as a child in the 1950's. Thanks

26 Feb 2012

Looking for a song

The words are "Women do get weary" is it called "Try a little tenderness". I love the songs of this period as they have words which make sense and tunes that have great harmonies.

Thank You, Bernard Bloch.

In the Otis Redding (1966) version the words are "young girls they do get weary". According to Wikipedia the song was written in 1932 and first recorded by Ray Nobel.

We have entries for Ray Noble (Peel list 2 of 1932), Ted Lewis & his Orchestra (US Billboard 6 - 1933 (10 weeks)), Ruth Etting (US Billboard 16 - 1933 (2 weeks)), Frank Sinatra (Peel list 2 of 1947, RYM 64 of 1945) and Aretha Franklin (US Billboard 100 - Sep 1962 (1 week)) that predate Otis Redding's 1966 version.

27 Jan 2012

I am looking for a song only a Rose I give to you

31 Dec 2011

# 31 Make Believe Land

The Correct title is Make Believe Island

That looks right, the data has been adjusted thanks for the suggestion

7 Jul 2011

looking for you are my sunshine 1920 or 30

The song "You Are My Sunshine" was first recorded in 1939. It was written by Jimmie Davis & Charles Mitchell.

The most famous version was by Jimmie Davis (1940) - Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 (1940), RYM 4 of 1940, Music Imprint 5 of 1940s, RIAA 14, nuTsie 30 of 1940s, Acclaimed 677 (1940)

Other versions in various charts were:

Gene Autry "You Are My Sunshine" (1941) - RYM 8 of 1941, US Billboard 23 - 1941 (1 week)

Bing Crosby "You Are My Sunshine" (1941) - US Billboard 19 - 1941 (1 week)

Ferko String Band "You Are My Sunshine" (1955) - US CashBox 44 - Sep 1955 (2 weeks)

Carl McVoy "You Are My Sunshine" (1958) - Canada 39 - Jul 1958 (5 weeks)

Johnny & The Hurricanes "You Are My Sunshine" (1960) - US Billboard 91 - Dec 1960 (1 week)

Ray Charles "You Are My Sunshine" (1962) - US Billboard 7 - Nov 1962 (12 weeks), Flanders 13 - Jan 1963 (1 month), Canada 22 - Nov 1962 (6 weeks), US CashBox 84 of 1963, US Radio 96 of 1962 (peak 7 4 weeks)

Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels "You Are My Sunshine" (1967) - US Billboard 88 - Oct 1967 (3 weeks)

Kiriman "You Are My Sunshine" (1997) - Austria 13 - Jun 1997 (3 weeks)

30 Dec 2010

Love it! :)

9 Aug 2010

63 Tommy Dorsey Only Forever

Is the following sound:

63 Tommy Dorsey Only Forever

be

63 Tommy Dorsey & Frank Sinatra Only Forever

Thanks.

Lin

During this period songs were often not officially assigned to an artist at all, most charts focused on the sale of sheet music so it was the song, not the particular version that was listed.

Most charts have tried, retrospectively, to assign songs to the performers, however this is confusing since some songs are assigned to band leaders (like Eddy Duchin), some are assigned to singers (like Bing Crosby) and some are assigned to both (which would fit your suggestion of Tommy Dorsey & Frank Sinatra). We, of course, then have to work out a consistent value that works across all the charts.

Looking at this case in detail we see that the 1940s listing suggests that the song is by "Tommy Dorsey & Frank Sinatra", however the normally more reliable Bullfrog listing has it as "Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra (Vocal Allan Storr)". It seems the song was released with Allan Storr on vocals but with a B-Side of "Trade Winds" on which Frank Sinatra sang (which is listed elsewhere).

So the evidence would seem to refute your suggestion that Frank Sinatra was the singer. In that case the song would be listed under "Tommy Dorsey" since Allan Storr was not a widely known vocalist in his own right (like Sinatra).

26 Jul 2010

Yours

I'm looking for a song called "Yours" from 1940, or possibly earlier (but not much). It was my aunt and uncle's favorite song. I've been asked to sing it at their 70th Wedding Anniversary in November.

We suspect that the song you are after became a hit in early 1941, although probably it was around before then. Like all songs of the period it was recorded by a number of artists, for example Benny Goodman, Helen Forrest and Vaughn Monroe all had hits with it.

The most successful version was by Jimmy Dorsey, it reached number 2 in the Billboard charts. Some sources have the title as "Yours (Quierme Mucho)".

If you search for "Jimmy Dorsey Yours" on iTunes or Amazon you should be able to get a copy.

5 May 2010

Full orchestra scores for the above 60 tunes.+

The Symphony of the Hills, located in Kerrville TX is planning a pops concertand would like to feature major 1940 instrumental artists with full orchestra background. We were thinking of inviting top University of North Texas Universities Jazz Band to act as performing soloist.

Where can we get full orchesta scores for the tunes listed above?

That's a really good question, we have no idea. This site lists the songs we don't have the sheet music (or the mp3s or photos...)

We would suggest that searching for specific songs might help, for example you could perhaps try searching for "In the Mood sheet music"

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