Tag: Bob Wills

#1 Country hits of 1946

Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys

These are the #1 country hits of 1946. Unlike the pop charts, which had 20 songs covering 96 weeks, there is only a handful here. That’s the function of the fact that in 1946, there was only one chart showing the most popular country songs.

In 1944, the chart called Most Played Juke Box Folk Records was established. It wasn’t until 1948 that Billboard tracked best-selling records, and not until 1949 that they followed the disc jockey’s most-played records. So in the 50s, you may see a lot more records, unless juke box, sales, and radio play agree.

That is, until 13 October 1958, when they consolidated all the charts into what became Hot Country Singles/Songs/Airplay.

Guitar Polka – Al Dexter and His Troopers (Columbia), 16 weeks at #1. “Recorded back in 1942, this instrumental… remained on the shelf for several years before its eventual release and 29-week run on Billboard’s country chart in 1946.” He shows up a lot on these lists, yet I had never heard of him before I started looking at these lists. See here.

Western Swing

New Spanish Two Step – Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys, with Tommy Duncan, vocals. (Columbia), 16 weeks at #1. Compare with Spanish Two Step (Vocalion, 1935), also by Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys.

I remember him well from the 1960s, even though he had very few hits after 1950. It must have been from oldies country stations such as WWVA in Wheeling, WV. “Bob Wills was the driving force behind Western Swing, a form of Country & Western that fuses Jazz, Hillbilly, Blues, Big Band Swing, and many more rhythm forms together, creating a truly Unique, Diverse, and Unforgettable sound. Wills’ shrewd mix of horns, fiddles, and steel guitar made for a swinging sound that grabbed the public’s ear during the mid 1930s and 1940s.”

 Divorce Me C.O.D. – Merle Travis with his cowboy band (Capitol), 14 weeks at #1

Wine, Women and Song – Al Dexter and His Troopers, 5 weeks at #1

You Will Have To Pay (for Your Yesterday)- Tex Ritter (Capitol), 3 weeks at #1. Yes, John Ritter’s dad and Jason Ritter’s granddad, though Jason never knew Tex

White Cross on Okinawa – Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, with Tommy Duncan, vocal, 1 week at #1

Top country singles of 1945

NOT the Deep Purple song

I have gleaned the top country singles of 1945 from Joel Whitburn’s Top Country Singles from 1944 to 2017. The charts only began in 1944.

You Two Timed Me One Time Too Often – Tex Ritter, 11 weeks at #1. Woodward Maurice “Tex” Ritter was the father of John Ritter (Three’s Company) and grandfather of Jason Ritter (the new Matlock), though Tex died six years before Jason was born. Tex wasn’t fond of John’s career choice.

Shame On You – Spade Cooley and his orchestra, featuring Tex Williams, nine weeks at #1, written by Spade Cooley

At Mail Call Today – Gene Autry, eight weeks at #1, a WWII song

I’m Losing My Mind Over You – Al Dexter and his Troopers, seven weeks at #1, co-written by Dexter. I’d never heard of Al Dexter until I started looking at these charts, but he shows up quite a few times.

Woody’s cousin

Oklahoma Hills – Jack Guthrie, six weeks at #1. Jack was a cousin of Woody Guthrie; the songwriting credit here is Jack, but it sounds a lot like the  Woody song that Woody’s son Arlo recorded

With Tears In My Eyes – Wesley Tuttle, four weeks at #1

Sioux City Sue – Dick Thomas, four weeks at #1, co-written by Thomas

It’s Been So Long, Darling -Ernest Tubb, four weeks at #1

Silver Dew On The Blue Grass Tonight – Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys, three weeks at #1. A WWII song. 

Smoke On The Water -Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys, two weeks at #1. A definite WWII song: “Hirohito, ‘long with Hitler, will be riding on a rail. Mussolini’ll beg for mercy. As a leader, he has failed.” Not to be confused with the Deep Purple song.  

There’s A New Moon Over My Shoulder – Jimmie Davis, co-written by Davis, who was governor of Louisiana when this song was released.

Stars And Stripes on Iwo Jima – Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys, an obvious WWII song

Shame On You – Lawrence Welk and his orchestra with Red Foley 

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