1950

=**1950**=
 * __Number Ones: __**
 * The Tennessee Waltz **- Patti Page [Mercury 5534-X45] (Russell, Stewart) Made the country charts in 1948 for its writer, Pee Wee King [RCA Victor 20-2680], as well as Cowboy Copas [King 696] and Roy Acuff [Columbia 20551]. Page’s version is based on the arrangement by Erskine Hawkins [‘50, Coral 60313]. Other charting versions in 1951 were by Guy Lombardo, Les Paul & Mary Ford, Jo Stafford, the Fontane Sisters, Anita O’Day and Spike Jones, and R&B Stick McGhee
 * Goodnight Irene ** - Gordon Jenkins & the Weavers [Decca 9-27077] (Ledbetter, Lomax) 517 518 519 521 529 530 531 532 One of the songs (‘Irene’) recorded by Leadbelly for the Library of Congress at the State Prison Farm at Angola, LA, by Alan and John Lomax [July ‘33]. It was recorded again for LOC in 1934 and 1935. There are 1941-42 WNYC radio recordings available by Leadbelly. It was recorded by him for the 1943 album //Songs by Lead Belly //[Asch 343, on disc 343-2; different take on Melodisc 1151], and in 1947 [Folkways LP 4, reissued as 2004 and 31019]. Other charting versions were by Frank Sinatra, Jo Stafford, Dennis Day, the Alexander Brothers, R&B Paul Gayten and country Red Foley & Ernest Tubb, Moon Mullican.
 * ‘The Third Man’ Theme **- Anton Karas [London 45-30005] (Karas) Title theme to film starring Orson Welles. Other charted versions by Guy Lombardo, Freddy Martin, Hugo Winterhalter, Victor Young & Don Cherry, Owen Bradley.
 * If I Knew You Were Comin’ (I’d’ve Baked a Cake) **Eileen Barton [National 9103] (Hoffman, Werrill, Watts) Co-writer (as Watts) Al Trace & his Orchestra recorded it for Columbia. Other charted versions by Georgia Gibbs, Benny Strong, Ethel Merman & Ray Bolger, Art Mooney.
 * Mona Lisa ** - Nat ‘King’ Cole [Capital F1010] (Evans, Livingston) Introduced as ‘Prima Donna’ in Italian by accordeon player in Alan Ladd film //Captain Carey U.S.A. //Other charted versions by Victor Young & Don Cherry, Harry James, Art Lund, Ralph Flanagan, Charlie Spivak, Dennis Day, and country Moon Mullican, Jimmy Wakely.
 * Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">- Red Foley [Decca 46205] (Stapp, Stone) Also charted for Bing Crosby, Phil Harris, Frank Sinatra, Bradford & Romano, Bill Darnel.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">I Can Dream, Can’t I? **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">- Andrews Sisters [Decca 24705] (Fain, Kahal) Sung by Tamara (Drason) in 1938 revue //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Right This Way //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">, with recordings by Tommy Dorsey, featuring Jack Leonard [Victor 25741] and Glen Gray, featuring Kenny Sargent [Decca 1607; also 1949 Coral 60106]. Also charted in 1950 for Toni Arden [Columbia 39612] and Tex Beneke, featuring Glenn Douglas [RCA Victor 20-3553].
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">All My Love (Bolero) **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> - Patti Page [Mercury 5455-X45] (Contet, Durand, Parish) 1948 French song ‘Boléro’ by Georges Guétary. Also charted for Percy Faith, Guy Lombardo, Bing Crosby, Dennis Day.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">The Thing **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">- Phil Harris [RCA Victor 47-3968] (Charles Grean) Uses melody from traditional ‘The Tailor’s Boy’, also charted for Arthur Godfrey, the Ames Brothers.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Harbor Lights **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">- Sammy Kaye (featuring Tony Alamo) [Columbia 4-38963] (Grosz, Kennedy) Originally from England. Popular in 1937 by Frances Langford [Decca 1441], Claude Thornhill, featuring Jimmy Farrell [Vocalion 3595], Rudy Vallee [Bluebird 7067]. Other 1950 versions by Guy Lombardo, Ray Anthony, Ralph Flanagan, Bing Crosby, Ken Griffin, Jerry Byrd & Jerry Murad’s Harmonicats, and R&B Dinah Washington.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Music! Music! Music! **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">- Teresa Brewer [London 30023] (Baum, Weiss) Other versions by Carmen Cavallaro, Freddy Martin, the Ames Brothers, Hugo Winterhalter & the Five Gems, Mickey Katz.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">I Wanna Be Loved **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">- Andrews Sisters [Decca 9-27007] (Green, Heyman, Rose). Other vesions by Billy Eckstine, the Fontane Sisters with Hugo Winterhalter, Dinah Washington, Dottie O’Brien & Jan Garber.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Rag Mop **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> - Ames Brothers [Coral 60140] (Deacon Anderson, Johnnie Lee Wills) Originally ‘Get the Mop’, written and performed by jazz trumpeter Henry ‘Red’ Allen [‘44, Brunswick 80110]. Country hit by its writer Johnnie Lee Wills [‘50, Bullet 696]; R&B hits by Lionel Hampton, Joe Liggins, Doc Sausage; other pop versions by Ralph Flanagan, the Starlighters, Jimmy Dorsey, Eddy Howard.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">The Cry of the Wild Goose **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> - Frankie Laine [Mercury 5363-X45] (Terry Gilkyson) Terry Gilkyson [‘49, Decca - maybe on //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Folk Songs by the Solitary Singer //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> Decca 5263]. Also charted for Tennessee Ernie Ford.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Hoop-De-Doo **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> - Perry Como [RCA Victor 47-3747] (DeLugg, Loesser) Also charted for Kay Starr, Russ Morgan, Doris Day.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Sentimental Me **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> - Ames Brothers [Coral 60173] (Cassin, Moorehead) Also charted for Ray Anthony, Russ Morgan.
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Number Twos: __**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">It Isn’t Fair **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> - Sammy Kaye, feat. Don Cornell [RCA Victor 47-3115] (Himber, Sprogato, Warshauer). Also Benny Goodman, Bill Farrell, Les Brown, R&B Dinah Washington
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Dear Hearts and Gentle People **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> - Bing Crosby [Decca 24798] (Fain, Hilliard) Also Dinah Shore, Dennis Day, Gordon MacRae, Benny Strong, Ralph Flanagan
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Play a Simple Melody **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> - Gary Crosby & Friend (Bing Crosby) [Decca 9-27112] (Berlin) As ‘Simple Melody’ in 1914 Broadway show //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Watch Your Step //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> featuring Irene and Vernon Castle, sung in the show by Charles King & Sallie Fisher, with popular recordings by Mary Carson & Walter Van Brunt [‘15, Edison Amberol 2607] and Billy Murray & Edna Brown (Elsie Baker) [’16, Victor 18051]. Other 1950 versions are by Jo Stafford, Georgia Gibbs & Bob Crosby, Phil Harris
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">There’s No Tomorrow **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> - Tony Martin [RCA Victor 47-3115] (Carr, Corday, Hoffman) A version of the Italian song ‘O Sole Mio’ popular in 1916 for Enrico Caruso [Victor 87243], which later also became Elvis’ ‘It’s Now or Never’.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Tzena Tzena Tzena **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> - Gordon Jenkins & the Weavers [Decca 9-27077] (Jenkins, Ross) Israeli song, written in 1942 by Issachar Miron, with a 1946 addition by Julius Grossman. There were also versions by Mitch Miller, Vic Damone, Ralph Flanagan.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Nevertheless (I’m In Love With You) **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">- Paul Weston, with the Norman Luboff Choir [Columbia 4-38982] (Kalmar, Ruby) ‘31 song sung on stage and radio by Rudy Vallee and Bing Crosby, recorded by Jack Denny, feat. Rob May [Brunswick 6114] and Johnny Hampton [Victor 22722]. It became popular gain when featured in the 1950 Fred Astaire movie //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Three Little Words, //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">a biopic of the songs writers //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">. //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Also charted for the Mills Brothers, Ray Anthony, Ralph Flanagan, Frankie Laine, Frank Sinatra.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">The Old Master Painter **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> - Richard Hayes [Mercury 5342] (Gillespie, Smith) Also Dick Haymes, Peggy Lee & Mel Tormé, Phil Harris, Snooky Lanson, Frank Sinatra & the Modernaires
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Top Fives __**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Sam’s Song (The Happy Tune) **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> - Gary Crosby & Friend (Bing Crosby) [Decca 9-27112] (Elliott, Quadling) Also Joe ‘Fingers’ Carr
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">A Bushel and a Peck **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">- Perry Como & Betty Hutton [RCA Victor 47-3930] (Loesser) Sung by Vivian Blaine in the Broadway musical //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Guys and Dolls //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">(replaced in the fim version by ’Pet Me Poppa’). Also by Margaret Whiting & Jimmy Wakely, Doris Day, Johnny Desmond, the Andrews Sisters.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Bewitched **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> - Bill Snyder [Tower 45-1473] (Hart, Rodgers) Sing by Vivienne Segal in the 1940 musical //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Pal Joey //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">(and on the studio cast album made in 1950 after the song became popular). There were 1941 recordings by Leo Reisman, featuring Anita Boyer [Victor 27344] and Benny Goodman, featuring Helen Forrest [Columbia 35944]. Other 1950 versions were by Gordon Jenkins, Jan August & Jerry Murad’s Harmonicats, Mel Tormé, Doris Day, Larry Green, Mindy Carson, David Rose, Roy Ross
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">I’ll Never Be Free **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> - Kay Starr & Tennessee Ernie Ford [Capitol F1124] (Benjamin, Weiss) The earliest version may be by Patti Page [Mercury - although it is on compilations, I can‘t find any single release information]. Also R&B Dinah Washington, Annie Laurie & Paul Gayten, Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong, Lucky Millinder, Savannah Churchill.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">A Dreamer’s Holiday **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> - Perry Como, with the Fontane Sisters [RCA Victor 47-3036] (Gannon, Wayne) Also Buddy Clark, Ray Anthony, Eileen Wilson & Gordon Jenkins
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">My Foolish Heart **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> - Gordon Jenkins, featuring Sandy Evans [Decca 9-24830] (Washington, Young) Movie title song was sung by Susan Heyward, with Victor Young as composer. Also Mindy Carson, Billy Eckstine, Margaret Whiting, Richard Hayes, Hugo Winterhalter, R&B Gene Ammons
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">I Said My Pajamas (and Put On My Pray’rs) **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> - Tony Martin & Fran Warren [RCA Victor 47-3119] (Pola, Wyle) Also Ethel Merman & Ray Bolger, Doris Day, Margaret Whiting & Frank DeVol.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Bonaparte’s Retreat **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> - Kay Starr [Capitol F936] (Pee Wee King) A fiddle tune with British origins (Irish air ’The Eagle’s Whistle’) recorded by A.A. Gray [’24, Okeh 40110], Crockett’s Kentucky Mountaineers [’29, Brunswick 353], Gid Tanner & his Skillet Lickers [’30, Columbia 15485], and the Arthur Smith Trio [‘36, Bluebird B6387]. According to Rypens, a 1937 version by William H. Stepp formed the basis of the ‘Rodeo’ section of Aaron Copeland’s //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Hoedown //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">suite. Pee Wee King’s vocal version charted country [‘50, RCA Victor 48-0114]. Also charted pop by Gene Krupa in 1950.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Count Every Star **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> - Ray Anthony, featuring Dick Noel [Capitol F979] (Coquatrix, Gallop) Also Dick Haymes & Artie Shaw, Hugo Winter halter [the earliest recording - RCA Victor 47-3221]. It was also recorded by the R&B group the Ravens [National 9111].
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Thinking Of You **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> - Don Cherry [Decca 9-27128] (Kalmar, Ruby) From the ‘28 Broadway musical //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">The Five O’Clock Girl, //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">with popular recordings by Nat Shilkret, featuring Lewis James [Victor 20996], Ben Selvin as the Broadway Nitelites [Columbia 1164], Harry Archer, featuring Franklyn Baur [’28, Brunswick 3704]. Revived in the 1950 Fred Astaire movie //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Three Little Words. //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Also Eddie Fisher, Sarah Vaughan
 * //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Bamboo //**//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> - Vaughn Monroe [RCA Victor 47-3143] (Bernier, Simon) //
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Can Anyone Explain? (No, No, No) **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> - Ames Brothers [Coral 9-60253] (Benjamin, Weiss) Also Ray Anthony, Dick Haymes, Vic Damone, Larry Green, Dinah Shore, Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Dearie **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> - Guy Lombardo, featuring Kenny Gardner [Decca 24899] (Hilliard, Mann) Stage production //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">The Copacabana Show of 1950 //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Also Jo Stafford & Gordon Macrae, Ray Bolger & Ethel Merman, Lisa Kirk & Fran Warren
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Daddy’s Little Girl **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> - Mills Brothers [Decca 9-24872] (Burke, Gerlach) Also Dick Todd
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Orange Colored Sky **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> - Nat ‘King’ Cole & Stan Kenton [Capitol F-1184] (DeLugg, Stein) Also Betty Hutton, Jerry Lester
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Roses **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">- Sammy Kaye, with the Kaydets [RCA Victor 47-3754] (Spencer, Spencer) Also Ray Anthony, Dick Haymes
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Peter Cottontail **<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"> - Gene Autry [Columbia 38750] (Nelson, Rollins) Also Merv Shiner, Fran Allison (of television’s //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Kookla, Fran and Ollie //<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">), Jimmy Wakely
 * __<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Top Tens __**
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Quicksilver **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Johnson Rag **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Cincinnati Dancing Pig **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Patricia **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Oh, Babe **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Frosty the Snow Man **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">No Other Love **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">I Don’t Care If the Sun Don’t Shine **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Go To Sleep, Go To Sleep, Go To Sleep **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Nola **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">To Think You’ve Chosen Me **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">La Vie en Rose **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Mr. Touchdown, U.S.A. **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">One Finger Melody **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Our Lady of Fatima **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">I Love the Guy (Girl) **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Enjoy Yourself (It’s Later Than You Think) **
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Christmas in Killarney **