I lived through the disco era. I can take anything that 2020 throws my way.

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As we go back through the top hits of the 1940s, now with official (and expensive) chart information, we’re listing the songs in order, sharing those that we haven’t previously shared.

After the last song we featured topped the charts, Billboard introduced what’s actually considered the standard for the era, the Best Sellers chart. That’s the chart I have. And, after the last song we shared, we come to one that was previously shared, namely I’ll Never Smile Again, by Tommy Dorsey, featuring Frank Sinatra on vocals. It was number one for 12 consecutive weeks, beginning late July 1940.

But now we have … something different. While the Best Sellers chart is considered the standard, the official compilation of number one songs includes songs that also topped Billboard’s Juke Box Record Buying Guide. Initially, it was the official chart. Today, many simply recognize the Best Sellers chart as the definite chart, and ignore other charts. Still, there was more than one official chart at the time. Which brings us to our next chart topper.

This one had peaked at number four on the Record Buying Guide chart the week before the Best Sellers chart was introduced. And, a couple of weeks later, in August 1940, it topped the Record Buying Guide, the same chart that had been the authority for the first seven months of 1940. So, we’re counting it, as the official authority recognizes it, ignoring the later changing of history.

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.

History is amazing.

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I love Weird Al. Even if I don’t always like the singers he parodies.

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I’ve never been much of a Cat Stevens fan. Sure, some of his early stuff was okay, but I never liked anything enough to actually spend money on any of his stuff, 45s or LPs. But, if his songs came on the radio, I didn’t immediately reach for the button, either.

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Continuing the catching up bit of the early Billboard number one hits of the Big Band era, we come to the first instance of an artist taking the top spot with three consecutive recordings, each replacing the other. Glenn Miller’s In The Mood was replaced by Glenn Miller’s Tuxedo Junction, which was replaced by Glenn Miller’s The Woodpecker Song.

Jimmy Dorsey would later replicate this feat, then Glenn Miller would do it again. Nobody would accomplish it again until the Beatles came along.

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 love Weird Al.

Never really got into The Pixies. Or is it “Pixies?” I don’t know. Doesn’t really matter. It’s just not my style. Not saying they aren’t talented, just their music is not for me.

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We’ve been playing catch-up with the number one hits of the Big Band era on Tuesday Nights. Here’s one we featured for other reasons, back in 2017. Glenn Miller’s In The Mood topped the charts in December 1939, was supplanted by a couple of other songs in late December and in January 1940, then returned to the number one spot in February 1940, staying a total of 13 weeks there. It was Miller’s 6th number one hit, as the bandleader topped the charts five other time prior to 1940.

So, who knocked Glenn Miller from the top spot? Glenn Miller, of course. With another monster hit that topped the charts for nine weeks straight.

If you want to see it live (many years later) it’s available here.

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 love Weird Al.

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.

You may (or may not) realize I’m a music trivia fan. Not an expert by any means, but I do like music trivia.

I remember when Paul Davis broke Johnny Mathis’ record for most weeks for a song on the Hot 100, when his “I Go Crazy” reached its 40th week on the charts.

Well, that’s no longer the record holder, by a long shot. In the last 25 years, several songs have bested that. The current record holder is 87 weeks. Yes, nearly one year and nine months.

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As we continue playing catch-up on the chart toppers of the 1940s, here’s one that slipped through the cracks. It spent five weeks atop the charts, but four of those were in late 1939. Still, it hit number one in January 1940 after having surrendered the top spot to a song featured here previously.

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.

Every now and then, I run across something that I didn’t know, but think I should have known. For example, the Paul Anka song, “It’s Really Love.”

I was familiar with the tune, but not really the song. In fact, the song and tune go by a bunch of different names. The song is known as “It’s Really Love,” of course. It also appeared on on the album “Endless” under that name.

The song appeared on the “I Love Paris!” album, which wasn’t a U.S. release. On that LP, the song went by the name “Faibles Femmes” which was also the name of a movie in which it appeared.

The tune, sans lyrics, appeared under the name “Toot Sweet” by Tutti Camarata (as Tutti’s Trumpets with the Camarata Strings). Annette Funicello released the song under its original name on “Annette Sings Anka” for Disney’s Buena Vista label.

Finally, the song came to be known as another name, and if you don’t already know what that is, see if you can figure it out from these videos.

The first is the Italian movie “Faibles Femmes” (also known as “Women Are Weak” and “Three Murderesses”). The song appears in the background of a pool scene at the 34:40 mark.

Here’s the song by itself.

Oh, here’s the link to Annette’s version (spoiler alert). And the Tutti Camarata instrumental (spoilers).

I’m gonna leave it up to y’all to say what it is in the comments, if you want. And to brag that you already knew, or admit this one had got past you, too.

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.

I love Weird Al.

Yes, I know this isn’t a parody of “Learn To Fly,” but it is a Foo Fighters style parody. That’s why I simply picked a Foo Fighters song I enjoyed, that had a video I enjoyed, for last night.

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.