EVERY Billboard #1 country hit discussion thread 1950-1954

Here now is a number that, in one of the two charts it topped, pretty much lived up to part of its title, given how it shuttled back and forth in the number-one position with Mr. Williams' number and least one other . . .
"Birmingham Bounce" by Red Foley
(#1 on MPJB for 2 weeks - June 3-10, 1950; and on BSR for 4 non-consecutive weeks - May 27, June 10, and June 24-July 1, 1950)

78 RPM release:

45 RPM issue:

Wikipedia entry

 

And here's the only number-one single to this person's name as a recording artist . . .
"I'll Sail My Ship Alone" by Moon Mullican
(#1 on MPJB for 4 weeks - June 17-July 8, 1950; and on BSR for 1 week - July 22, 1950)

78 RPM release (West Coast pressing):

45 RPM issue:

Wikipedia entry - given all the re-recordings over the years, this is another landmine.

 

Just a classic song, and what you've posted sounds like it must be the original. Moon was a national treasure.

 

I counted three versions by him alone on YouTube - I'm sure our resident recording expert Tim Neely will chip in on this somehow . . .

 

Now for another "placeholder" on one of the three charts before we get to the next big one . . .
"M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I" by Red Foley with The Dixie Dons
(#1 on MPJB for 1 week - July 15, 1950)

78 RPM release:

(Also saw 45 RPM labels, but no labels available)

No Wikipedia entry for this one (their link goes to a 1910's composition unrelated to this)

 

Now to our next across-the-board biggie . . .
"Why Don't You Love Me" by Hank Williams With His Drifting Cowboys
(#1 on MPJB for 5 weeks - July 22-August 19, 1950; on BSR for 6 non-consecutive weeks - June 17, July 8-15, and July 29-August 12, 1950; and on DJ for 10 weeks - June 24-August 26, 1950)

78 RPM release:

45 RPM issue:

Wikipedia entry

 

A fun entry in Hank's catalog that shows that, for all his songs of heartbreak and woe, he had a good sense of humor too. I've sung this one for many years.

 

And now for a "two-for-three" #1:
"Goodnight Irene" by Red Foley and Ernest Tubb With The Sunshine Trio
(#1 on MPJB for 3 weeks - August 26-September 9, 1950; and on BSR for 2 weeks - August 26-September 2, 1950)

78 RPM release:

45 RPM issue:

Wikipedia entry

 

I'll be back on the thread soon.

 

Covering the Weavers covering Leadbelly. Think about that.
Morning mind blown.

 

Now for the biggest hit of the year, one which put on the U.S. country music map a native of Canada who'd been recording in his home country since the 1930's - but with this made a big splash on our borders and started a string of toppers spanning the next near quarter-century:
"I'm Moving On" by Hank Snow (The Singing Ranger) And His Rainbow Ranch Boys
(#1 on MPJB for 14 weeks - September 16-December 16, 1950; on BSR for 21 non-consecutive weeks - August 19, September 9-December 30, 1950, and January 20-27 and February 10, 1951; and on DJ for 18 non-consecutive weeks - September 2-December 23, 1950 and January 13, 1951)

78 RPM release:

45 RPM issue (on green vinyl):

Wikipedia entry - not too shabby for a song that was originally a B side . . .

 

The last two Number Ones of 1950 were each on a different chart. Here's the first, a debut from a chap whose influence will loom large among latter-day "New Traditionalists":
"If You've Got The Money I've Got The Time" by Lefty Frizzell
(#1 on MPJB for 3 weeks - December 23, 1950-January 6, 1951)

78 RPM release:

Original 45 RPM issue:

Later 45 RPM pressings:

Wikipedia entry

 

I never tire of listening to Lefty, and of course his ballads are even more affecting than this fun tune. He had a tremendous (if brief) run starting with this tune, and of course periodic successes after the initial one. Hard to speculate how much more successful he might have been had he not fallen victim to some of his own personal demons.

 

The flip side was also a sizeable hit, and topped another chart in the next year (because of this factor, it is being mentioned at this time):
"I Love You A Thousand Ways" by Lefty Frizzell
(#1 on DJ for 3 non-consecutive weeks - January 6, January 20 and February 3, 1951)

78 RPM release:

Original 45 RPM issue:

Later 45 RPM pressings:

 

Amen. As well as the questionable "other" choices he made after that initial brief stretch of success.

 

Now to get back to the linear timeline, and closing the book on 1950 . . .
"Moanin' The Blues" by Hank Williams With His Drifting Cowboys
(#1 on DJ for 1 week - December 30, 1950)

78 RPM release:

45 RPM issue:

Wikipedia entry - Hank's fourth #1, and third with "Blues" in the title.

 

Just a beautiful song, and all the more poignant since it was written from true life by Lefty to his wife, while he was in the pokey for a crime we best not go into on this forum!

 

It's interesting that at least one "New Traditionalist" who made his name in the '80's had one thing in common with Lefty - having done time in the "hoosegow," albeit for something else. But I agree in that I won't divulge for what.

 

Now for the first Number One of the new year . . .
"The Golden Rocket" by Hank Snow (The Singing Ranger) and His Rainbow Ranch Boys
(#1 on BSR for 2 weeks - January 6-13, 1951; and on DJ for 1 week - January 27, 1951)

78 RPM release:

45 RPM issue (original pressings on green vinyl):

Wikipedia entry

 

Now for another biggie that managed to top all three of them charts:
"The Shot Gun Boogie" by Tennessee Ernie
(#1 on MPJB for 14 weeks - January 13-April 14, 1951; on BSR for 3 non-consecutive weeks - February 3, February 24 and March 17, 1951; and on DJ for 1 week - February 24, 1951)

78 RPM release:

45 RPM issue:

Wikipedia entry

 

Moving on (as a labelmate of this artist would sing) . . .
"There's Been A Change In Me" by Eddy Arnold, The Tennessee Plowboy And His Guitar
(#1 on BSR for 4 non-consecutive weeks - February 17, March 3-10 and 24, 1951; and on DJ for 10 non-consecutive weeks - February 10-17 and March 3-April 21, 1951)

78 RPM release:

45 RPM issue:

Wikipedia entry

 

Very notable in that Ford, as a West Coast guy, wasn't constrained by the Nashville establishment's antipathy toward drums on country records. This is pretty darn close to rock 'n' roll, several years before it really took hold. Always a fun tune. And assuming it's true Ernie really wrote it, very clever from a lyrical standpoint.

 

Another Eddy song I'd never heard before, and a good one. Particularly tasty lap steel work here.

 

My favorite cover version. The sax just kills me!

 

...For some more Eddy Arnold, kind of building it up for Carl Perkins dropping his name in " TENNESSEE " ~
~ from an original 78, no less!!!!!!! (and written by one Cy Cohen)