Considering I was not born yet, I remember the election of 1952 quite well. Adlai Stevenson looking all erudite. VP candidate Richard Nixon’s Checkers speech. Dwight Eisenhower, less than a decade after WWII, went from supreme commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force in Europe in 1943 to being elected as the 34th President less than a decade later.
If you do the math, you’ll note that there are 78 weeks’ worth of #1 songs. That is because there were three different charts in those days: Best Sellers, Juke Box, and Disc Jockey (radio airplay). By 1958, there was only one Billboard pop chart.
I’m fascinated that I have a number of the #1 big band songs of 1942, as well as the pop hits of 1962. But I own NONE of these tracks, save for the annoying Xmas cut.
You Belong To Me – Jo Stafford with Paul Weston and his orchestra 12 weeks at #1
Wheel Of Fortune – Kay Starr, 10 weeks at #1, gold record
I Went To Your Wedding – Patti Page, 10 weeks at #1, gold record
Auf Wiederseh’n Sweetheart – Vera Lynn, 9 weeks at #1, gold record. The singer fascinated me. I wrote about her around her 100th birthday in 2017. She died in 2020.
Kiss Of Fire – Georgia Gibbs, 7 weeks at #1, gold record
Liars’ Club?
Why Don’t You Believe Me – Joni James, 6 weeks at #1, gold record. She died in February 2022.
Blue Tango – Leroy Anderson (instrumental), 5 weeks at #1, gold record
The Glow-Worm -Mills Brothers, 3 weeks at #1, gold record. This tune I had heard, possibly as a children’s song
Half As Much – Rosemary Clooney, 3 weeks at #1, gold record
Here In My Heart – Al Martino, 3 weeks at #1
Slow Poke – Pee Wee King and His Golden West Cowboys, featuring Redd Stewart, 3 weeks at #1, gold record. I remember this as an oldie on the radio.
It’s In The Book (Parts 1 and 2) – Johnny Standley (comedy), 2 weeks at #1, gold record. A sermon on Little Bo Peep and other topics.
I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus – Jimmy Boyd (Christmas novelty), 2 weeks at #1, gold record. Even as a child, I was not a fan.
Wish You Were Here – Eddie Fisher
Delicado – Percy Faith (instrumental)
A Guy Is A Guy – Doris Day