List of Billboard number-one singles from 1950 to 1958

Billboard number-one singles charts preceding the Billboard Hot 100 were updated weekly by Billboard magazine and the leading indicator of popular music for the American music industry since 1940 and until the Billboard Hot 100 chart was established in 1958.

Before the Billboard Hot 100 chart was established in August 1958, Billboard used to publish several weekly charts. Throughout most of the 1950s, the magazine published the following charts to measure a song's popularity:

  • Most Played by Jockeys – ranked the most played songs on United States radio stations, as reported by radio disc jockeys and radio stations.
  • Most Played in Jukeboxes – ranked the most played songs in jukeboxes across the United States.
  • Best Selling Pop Singles (later renamed to Best Selling Singles and then renamed to Best Sellers in Stores) – ranked the biggest selling singles in retail stores, as reported by merchants surveyed throughout the country.

Number ones

[edit]
Key
 ♪  Number-one single of the year
Contents
Elvis Presley had the highest number of hits at the top of the Billboard number-one singles chart between January 1950 until August 1958 (10 songs) in addition, Presley remained the longest at the top of the Billboard number-one singles chart between January 1950 until August 1958 (57 weeks).
Patti Page was the artist with second-longest most cumulative run at number one (22 weeks) between January 1950 until August 1958.
Perry Como remained at the top of the Billboard number-one singles chart for 20 weeks between January 1950 until August 1958.
Reached number one Artist(s) Single Record label Weeks at
number one
Ref
1950
97 January 7, 1950 Gene Autry "Rudolph, The Red-nosed Reindeer"
Columbia
1
[1]
98 January 14, 1950 The Andrews Sisters "I Can Dream, Can't I"
Decca
4
[2]
99 February 11, 1950 The Ames Brothers "Rag Mop"
Coral
1
[3]
100 February 18, 1950 Red Foley "Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy"
Decca
4
[4]
101 March 18, 1950 Teresa Brewer "Music! Music! Music!"
London
4
[5]
102 April 15, 1950 Eileen Barton "If I Knew You Were Comin' I'd've Baked a Cake"
National (local); Mercury (nationwide)
2
[6]
103 April 29, 1950 Anton Karas "The Third Man Theme"
London
11
[7]
104 July 15, 1950 Nat King Cole "Mona Lisa"
Capitol
5
[8]
105 August 19, 1950 Gordon Jenkins and The Weavers "Goodnight Irene"♪ (1950)
Decca
13
[9]
106 November 18, 1950 Sammy Kaye "Harbor Lights"
Columbia
2
[10]
107 December 2, 1950 Phil Harris "The Thing"
RCA Victor
4
[11]
108 December 30, 1950 Patti Page "The Tennessee Waltz"
Mercury
9
[12]
1951
109 March 3, 1951 Perry Como "If"
RCA Victor
6
[13]
110 March 10, 1951 Mario Lanza "Be My Love"
RCA Victor (Red Seal)
1
[14]
111 April 21, 1951 Les Paul and Mary Ford "How High The Moon"
Capitol
9
[15]
112 June 23, 1951 Nat King Cole "Too Young"♪ (1951)
Capitol
5
[16]
113 July 28, 1951 Rosemary Clooney "Come On-a My House"
Columbia
6
[17]
114 September 8, 1951 Tony Bennett "Because Of You"
Columbia
8
[18]
115 November 3, 1951 Tony Bennett "Cold, Cold Heart"
Columbia
6
[19]
116 December 15, 1951 Eddy Howard "Sin (It's No Sin)"
Mercury
2
[20]
117 December 29, 1951 Johnnie Ray and The Four Lads "Cry"
Okeh (Columbia)
11
[21]
1952
118 March 15, 1952 Kay Starr "Wheel Of Fortune"
Capitol
9
[22]
119 May 17, 1952 Leroy Anderson "Blue Tango"♪ (1952)
Decca
5
[23]
120 June 21, 1952 Al Martino "Here In My Heart"
Capitol
2
[24]
121 July 5, 1952 Percy Faith "Delicado"
Columbia
1
[25]
122 July 12, 1952 Vera Lynn "Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart"
London
9
[26]
123 September 13, 1952 Jo Stafford "You Belong To Me"
Columbia
5
[27]
124 October 18, 1952 Patti Page "I Went To Your Wedding"
Mercury
5
[28]
125 November 22, 1952 Johnny Standley "It's In The Book (parts 1 & 2)"
Capitol
1
[29]
126 November 29, 1952 Joni James "Why Don't You Believe Me"
MGM
4
[30]
127 December 27, 1952 Jimmy Boyd "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"
Columbia
2
[31]
1953
128 January 10, 1953 Perry Como "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes"
RCA Victor
5
[32]
129 February 14, 1953 Teresa Brewer "Till I Waltz Again With You"
Coral
5
[33]
130 March 21, 1953 Patti Page "The Doggie In The Window"
Mercury
8
[34]
131 May 16, 1953 Percy Faith "The Song From Moulin Rouge (Where Is Your Heart)"♪ (1953)
Columbia
10
[35]
132 July 25, 1953 Eddie Fisher "I'm Walking Behind You"
RCA Victor
2
[36]
133 August 8, 1953 Les Paul and Mary Ford "Vaya Con Dios (May God Be With You)"
Capitol
11
[37]
134 October 10, 1953 Stan Freberg "St. George And The Dragonet"
Capitol
4
[38]
135 November 21, 1953 Tony Bennett "Rags To Riches"
Columbia
6
[39]
1954
136 January 2, 1954 Eddie Fisher "Oh! My Pa-pa (O Mein Papa)"
RCA Victor
8
[40]
137 February 27, 1954 Doris Day "Secret Love"
Columbia
3
[41]
138 March 13, 1954 Jo Stafford "Make Love To Me!"
Columbia
3
[42]
139 April 10, 1954 Perry Como "Wanted"
RCA Victor
8
[43]
140 June 5, 1954 Kitty Kallen "Little Things Mean A Lot"♪ (1954)
Decca
9
141 August 7, 1954 The Crew Cuts "Sh-Boom"
Mercury
7
142 September 25, 1954 Rosemary Clooney "Hey There"
Columbia
6
143 November 6, 1954 Rosemary Clooney "This Ole House"
Columbia
1
144 November 13, 1954 Eddie Fisher "I Need You Now"
RCA Victor
3
145 December 4, 1954 The Chordettes "Mr. Sandman"
Cadence
7
1955
146 January 22, 1955 Joan Weber "Let Me Go, Lover!"
Columbia
2
147 February 5, 1955 The Fontane Sisters "Hearts Of Stone"
Dot
1
148 February 12, 1955 The McGuire Sisters "Sincerely"
Coral
6
149 March 26, 1955 Bill Hayes "The Ballad Of Davy Crockett"
Cadence
5
150 April 30, 1955 Pérez Prado "Cherry Pink And Apple Blossom White"♪ (1955)
RCA Victor
10
151 July 9, 1955 Bill Haley & His Comets "Rock Around The Clock"
Decca
8
152 September 3, 1955 Mitch Miller "The Yellow Rose of Texas"
Columbia
6
153 October 15, 1955 The Four Aces "Love Is A Many Splendored Thing"
Decca
2
154 October 29, 1955 Roger Williams "Autumn Leaves"
Kapp
4
155 November 26, 1955 Tennessee Ernie Ford "Sixteen Tons"
Capitol
7
1956
156 January 14, 1956 Dean Martin "Memories Are Made Of This"
Capitol
5
157 February 18, 1956 Kay Starr "Rock And Roll Waltz"
RCA Victor
1
158 February 25, 1956 Nelson Riddle "Lisbon Antigua"
Capitol
4
157 March 24, 1956 Les Baxter "Poor People Of Paris"
Capitol
4
158 April 21, 1956 Elvis Presley "Heartbreak Hotel"♪ (1956)
RCA Victor
8
159 June 16, 1956 Gogi Grant "The Wayward Wind"
Era
6
160 July 28, 1956 Elvis Presley "I Want You, I Need You, I Love You"
RCA Victor
1
161 August 4, 1956 The Platters "My Prayer"
Mercury
2
162 August 18, 1956 Elvis Presley "Don't Be Cruel" / "Hound Dog"
RCA Victor
11
163 November 3, 1956 Elvis Presley "Love Me Tender"
RCA Victor
5
164 December 8, 1956 Guy Mitchell "Singing The Blues"
Columbia
9
1957
165 February 9, 1957 Elvis Presley "Too Much"
RCA Victor
3
166 March 2, 1957 Tab Hunter "Young Love"
Dot
4
167 March 30, 1957 Buddy Knox "Party Doll"
Roulette
1
168 April 6, 1957 Perry Como "Round And Round"
RCA Victor
1
169 April 13, 1957 Elvis Presley "All Shook Up"♪ (1957)
RCA Victor
8
170 June 8, 1957 Pat Boone "Love Letters In The Sand"
Dot
5
171 July 13, 1957 Elvis Presley "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear"
RCA Victor
7
172 August 31, 1957 Debbie Reynolds "Tammy"
Coral
3
173 September 14, 1957 Paul Anka "Diana"
ABC-Paramount
1
174 September 28, 1957 The Crickets "That'll Be The Day"
Brunswick
1
175 October 5, 1957 Jimmie Rodgers "Honeycomb"
Roulette
2
176 October 19, 1957 The Everly Brothers "Wake Up Little Susie"
Cadence
1
177 October 26, 1957 Elvis Presley "Jailhouse Rock"
RCA Victor
7
178 December 7, 1957 Sam Cooke "You Send Me"
Keen
2
179 December 28, 1957 Pat Boone "April Love"
Dot
2
1958
180 January 11, 1958 Danny & the Juniors "At The Hop"
ABC-Paramount
5
181 February 15, 1958 Elvis Presley "Don't"
RCA Victor
5
182 March 22, 1958 The Champs "Tequila"
Challenge
5
183 April 26, 1958 The Platters "Twilight Time"
Mercury
1
184 May 3, 1958 David Seville "Witch Doctor"
Liberty
2
185 May 17, 1958 The Everly Brothers "All I Have To Do Is Dream"
Cadence
4
186 June 14, 1958 Sheb Wooley "The Purple People Eater"
MGM
6
187 July 26, 1958 Elvis Presley "Hard Headed Woman"
RCA Victor
2

Statistics by decade

[edit]

By artist

[edit]

The following artists achieved three or more number-one hits during the 1950–1958. A number of artists had number-one singles on their own as well as part of a collaboration.

Artist Number-one hits
Elvis Presley 10
Perry Como 4
Patti Page 3
Rosemary Clooney 3
Eddie Fisher 3
Tony Bennett 3

Artists by total number of weeks at number-one

[edit]

The following artists were featured in top of the chart for the highest total number of weeks during the 1950–1958.

Artist Weeks at number-one
Elvis Presley 57
Patti Page 22
Tony Bennett 20
Perry Como 20
Les Paul and Mary Ford 20
Rosemary Clooney 13
Eddie Fisher 13

Songs by total number of weeks at number-one

[edit]

The following songs were featured in top of the chart for the highest total number of weeks during the 1950–1958.

13 "Goodnight Irene" Gordon Jenkins and The Weavers
11 "Don't Be Cruel" / "Hound Dog" Elvis Presley
11 "Vaya Con Dios" Les Paul and Mary Ford
11 "Cry" Johnnie Ray and The Four Lads
11 "The Third Man Theme" Anton Karas

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Best-Selling Pop Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 62, no. 1. January 7, 1950. p. 24.
  2. ^ "Best-Selling Pop Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 62, no. 2. January 14, 1950. p. 30.
  3. ^ "Best-Selling Pop Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 62, no. 6. February 11, 1950. p. 26.
  4. ^ "Best-Selling Pop Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 62, no. 7. February 18, 1950. p. 24.
  5. ^ "Best-Selling Pop Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 62, no. 11. March 18, 1950. p. 24.
  6. ^ "Best-Selling Pop Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 62, no. 15. April 15, 1950. p. 40.
  7. ^ "Best-Selling Pop Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 62, no. 17. April 29, 1950. p. 26.
  8. ^ "Best-Selling Pop Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 62, no. 28. July 15, 1950. p. 40.
  9. ^ "Best-Selling Pop Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 62, no. 33. August 19, 1950. p. 26.
  10. ^ "Best-Selling Pop Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 62, no. 47. November 18, 1950. p. 24.
  11. ^ "Best-Selling Pop Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 62, no. 50. December 2, 1950. p. 20.
  12. ^ "Best-Selling Pop Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 62, no. 54. December 30, 1950. p. 15.
  13. ^ "Best-Selling Pop Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 63. March 3, 1951. p. 22.
  14. ^ "Best-Selling Pop Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 63. March 10, 1951. p. 20.
  15. ^ "Best-Selling Pop Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 63. April 21, 1951. p. 30.
  16. ^ "Best-Selling Pop Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 63. June 23, 1951. p. 26.
  17. ^ "Best-Selling Pop Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 63. July 28, 1951. p. 26.
  18. ^ "Best-Selling Pop Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 63. September 8, 1951. p. 26.
  19. ^ "Best-Selling Pop Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 63. November 3, 1951. p. 36.
  20. ^ "Best-Selling Pop Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 63. December 15, 1951. p. 28.
  21. ^ "Best-Selling Pop Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 63. December 29, 1951. p. 16.
  22. ^ "Best-Selling Pop Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 64. March 15, 1952. p. 94.
  23. ^ "Best-Selling Pop Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 64. May 17, 1952. p. 40.
  24. ^ "Best-Selling Pop Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 64. June 21, 1952. p. 28.
  25. ^ "Best-Selling Pop Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 64. July 5, 1952. p. 30.
  26. ^ "Best-Selling Pop Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 64. July 12, 1952. p. 30.
  27. ^ "Best-Selling Pop Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 64. September 13, 1952. p. 86.
  28. ^ "Best-Selling Pop Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 64. October 18, 1952. p. 36.
  29. ^ "Best-Selling Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 64. November 22, 1952. p. 34.
  30. ^ "Best-Selling Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 64. November 29, 1952. p. 36.
  31. ^ "Best-Selling Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 64. December 27, 1952. p. 28.
  32. ^ "Best Selling Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 65. January 10, 1953. p. 28.
  33. ^ "Best Selling Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 65. February 14, 1953. p. 28.
  34. ^ "Best Selling Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 65. March 21, 1953. p. 42.
  35. ^ "Best Selling Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 65. May 16, 1953. p. 30.
  36. ^ "Best Selling Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 65. July 25, 1953. p. 42.
  37. ^ "Best Selling Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 65. August 8, 1953. p. 26.
  38. ^ "Best Selling Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 65. October 10, 1953. p. 32.
  39. ^ "Best Selling Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 65. November 21, 1953. p. 38.
  40. ^ "Best Selling Singles" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 66. January 2, 1954. p. 22.
  41. ^ "Best Sellers In Stores" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 66. February 27, 1954. p. 31.
  42. ^ "Best Sellers In Stores" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 66. March 13, 1954. p. 28.
  43. ^ "Best Sellers In Stores" (PDF). The Billboard. Vol. 66. April 10, 1954. p. 32.