Some time back, I mentioned that Billboard began publishing their charts in July 1940. That’s correct, but it’s not really complete.
You see, Billboard did have charts back to the first of 1940. Many sources don’t really consider them official, because of the change made to the process in July 1940, which created the “Best Selling Retail Records” chart, which was the primary chart. Despite that, Billboard did publish charts prior to July 1940.
Another thing I want to mention is that for many months now, I’ve been featuring the Billboard number one songs from that era, in order, on Tuesday nights. The exceptions are when I had previously featured a song that hit number one in a different context. I simply skipped them, and picked up with the next song that hit number one, that we haven’t previously featured during a nightly Open Thread post.
Also, I want to mention that I had used a secondary source for my information regarding what songs topped the charts, when, and for how long. I recently found some errors in my secondary source and decided to go directly to the primary source. I now have all of the Billboard pop charts for the 1940s, directly from the recognized authority, Joel Whitburn’s Record Research. I’ve used Whitburn’s data for over 40 years, but didn’t have any data prior to 1955. After my cheap secondary source proved unreliable, I did what I should have done years ago and went directly to the true authority.
As a result, I’m going back and filling in the blanks. I’m going to be listing number one songs from the 1940s, beginning in January 1940, that were not previously shared. I’ll include a little bit of info for trivia buffs. I may be the only one that really cares, but I’m the one putting up the night Open Thread posts, and will fill in some stuff that’s on my mind — the top songs from the Big Band era — accordingly. So, until Oppo, Walruskkkch, or someone else beats me to the keyboard, I’ll be doing this on Tuesday’s for a bit.
The first Billboard number one song of the 1940s was by Frankie Masters and his Orchestra.
This song spent a total of six weeks atop the chart, including the last two weeks of 1939 (no, I don’t have those charts … yet).
Do you have something you’d like to share? A link? A joke? Some words of wisdom? A topic to discuss? It’s our nightly Open Thread, and you have the floor.
The chart information is from Billboard magazine, as compiled by Record Research. Chart data is copyright 1939-1954, BPI Communications.
I remember when our library had printed sources for that information. Ah, the good old days.
Ladies and gentlemen, every where I look… soldiers are fighting sailors, sailors are fighting Marines! Directly in front of me, I see a flying blond floozy! Everywhere I look… everywhere, pure pandemonium… pandemonium!
The naked city, the nitty gritty, this here ain’t livin’ witty,
The mayor lies, the junkie dies, the homeless s**t…it comes with flies,
Same old crap every day, needles in the street, broken windows; burning cities; people beat, it’s now the normal way,
Corruption up and on the fly, crime in the streets, cops don’t walk beats, thugs own the streets, it’ like a pigsty,
Can’t look at my favorite sport, it’s the home of the free, but you take a knee, then you take a snort,
So why is Australian Sand Soccer so popular?
ATLANTA, GA—According to a report, as part of the settlement with Nick Sandmann, CNN hosts will be required to wear MAGA hats throughout every broadcast.
“Let the punishment fit the crime,” counsel for Sandmann said as Don Lemon, Chris Cuomo, Anderson Cooper, and Wolf Blitzer all solemnly donned Make America Great Again caps.
Hosts were seen with downcast expressions as they commented on the day’s events, MAGA hats in place.
Sandmann says the hosts will be forced to wear the hats until they’ve learned their lesson, which could take a while. “Just be careful you don’t make an expression some could construe as ‘smug.’ Wouldn’t want you to get punched or your lives to get ruined, or anything like that.”
CNN hosts must also finish every broadcast by saying, “Good night, and I am a big, fat dummy, while Trump is the best president we’ve ever had.”
Brian Stelter requested an exemption and was allowed to wear a clown nose instead, as usual. ~ Found at the Babylon Bee.