The designation of black/soul/R&B music has changed over time—the Juke Box Race Records #1s for 1945 cover most of that year.
The Honeydripper, parts 1 and 2 – Joe Liggins and His Honeydrippers: “Little” Willie Jackson – Alto and Baritone, James Jackson – Tenor, Joe Liggins -Piano, Eddie Davis (Exclusive), written by Liggins – Bass (Exclusive records), 18 weeks at #1, starting on 9/18 through the end of the year. The tune was based around the traditional song “Shortnin’ Bread.” Hit cover versions were also made by Jimmie Lunceford (#2 R&B, 1945), Roosevelt Sykes (#3 R&B, 1945), and Cab Calloway (#3 R&B, 1946).
Who Through The Whiskey In The Well (DeLange-Brooks) Lucky Millinder & his Orchestra, vocal by Wynonie “Mr. Blues” Harris and Congregation (Decca), eight weeks at #1. I LOVE this song!
I Wonder – Roosevelt Sykes and his piano with electric guitar and traps (Bluebird/Victor), seven weeks at #1
Caldonia (F. Moore) Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five (Decca), seven weeks at #1
Tippin’ In (Bobby Smith) – Erskine Hawkins & his Orchestra (RCA Victor), six weeks at #1. Instrumental.
I Wonder– Pvt. Cecil Gant (Gilt-Edge Records), written by Gilt, two weeks at #1. “This was the influential 1940s blues singer/pianist’s second recorded version of what became his signature ballad (the first was done for the Bronze label earlier in ’44). Label-billed as “The G.I. Sing-Sation,” he was serving in the army at the time.” This version charted first, followed immediately by the Sykes take.
Mop! Mop! – Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five (Claude DeMetruis-J. Mayo Williams) (Decca) -one week at #1
Somebody’s Got To Go – (Haggart) – Cootie Williams & his Orchestra, vocal by Eddie Vinson, one week at #1. This was Billboard’s final Harlem Hit Parade title on February 10, 1945.
Here are the 1945 #1 hits, when World War II finally ended. Because there were multiple charts, there were 73 weeks of recordings. I recognize many songs, though I hadn’t been born yet.