This is a list of number-one songs in the United States during the year 1949 according to Billboard magazine. Prior to the creation of the Billboard Hot 100, Billboard published multiple singles charts each week. In 1949, the following four charts were produced:
Best Sellers in Stores – ranked the biggest selling singles in retail stores, as reported by merchants surveyed throughout the country. 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. Honor Roll of Hits – a composite ten-position song chart which combined data from the three charts above along with three other component charts. It served as The Billboards lead chart until the introduction of the Hot 100 in 1958 and would remain in print until 1963.
Note: In the issue dated September 10, The Billboard reported a tie for the number-one single on one of its charts.
Issue dateBest-Selling Popular Retail RecordsRecords Most-Played on the AirMost-Played Juke Box RecordsHonor Roll of HitsJanuary 1"Buttons and Bows"Dinah Shore and her Happy Valley Boys"All I Want for Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)"Spike Jones and his City Slickers with George Rock"Buttons and Bows"Dinah Shore and her Happy Valley Boys"Buttons and Bows"January 8"All I Want for Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)"Spike Jones and his City Slickers with George RockJanuary 15"Buttons and Bows"Dinah Shore and her Happy Valley Boys"My Darling, My Darling"Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae"A Little Bird Told Me"Evelyn Knight and the Stardusters"On a Slow Boat to China"January 22"A Little Bird Told Me"Evelyn Knight and the Stardusters"A Little Bird Told Me"Evelyn Knight and the Stardusters"A Little Bird Told Me"January 29February 5February 12February 19February 26"Far Away Places"March 5"I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm"Les Brown and his Orchestra"Powder Your Face with Sunshine (Smile! Smile! Smile!)"Evelyn Knight and the StardustersMarch 12"Cruising Down the River"Blue Barron and his Orchestra"Cruising Down the River"Blue Barron and his Orchestra"Cruising Down the River"Blue Barron and his Orchestra"Cruising Down the River"March 19March 26"Cruising Down the River"Russ Morgan and His Orchestra with the SkylarksApril 2"Cruising Down the River"Russ Morgan and His Orchestra with The SkylarksApril 9April 16April 23April 30"Careless Hands"Mel Tormé with Sonny Burke and His OrchestraMay 7""A"—You're Adorable"Perry Como with the Fontane Sisters and Orchestra conducted by Mitchell AyresMay 14"Riders in the Sky (A Cowboy Legend)"Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra"Forever and Ever"Russ Morgan and His Orchestra with The Skylarks"Forever and Ever"May 21"Riders in the Sky (A Cowboy Legend)"Vaughn Monroe and his OrchestraMay 28"Riders in the Sky"June 4"Riders in the Sky (A Cowboy Legend)"Vaughn Monroe and his OrchestraJune 11June 18June 25July 2July 9July 16July 23July 30"Some Enchanted Evening"Perry Como with Orchestra conducted by Mitchell Ayres"Some Enchanted Evening"August 6August 13"Some Enchanted Evening"Perry Como with Orchestra conducted by Mitchell Ayres"Some Enchanted Evening"Perry Como with Orchestra conducted by Mitchell AyresAugust 20August 27"You're Breaking My Heart"Vic Damone with Glenn Osser’s OrchestraSeptember 3"You're Breaking My Heart"Vic Damone with Glenn Osser's OrchestraSeptember 10"Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You)"Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra"Some Enchanted Evening"Perry Como with Orchestra conducted by Mitchell Ayres"You're Breaking My Heart"Vic Damone with Glenn Osser's Orchestra"Room Full of Roses"September 17"Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You)"Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra"You're Breaking My Heart"September 24"You're Breaking My Heart"Vic Damone with Glenn Osser's Orchestra"You're Breaking My Heart"Vic Damone with Glenn Osser's OrchestraOctober 1"That Lucky Old Sun"Frankie Laine with Judd Conlon's Rhythmaires, Harry Geller and His Orchestra, and Carl Fischer"Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You)"Vaughn Monroe and his OrchestraOctober 8"That Lucky Old Sun"Frankie Laine with Judd Conlon's Rhythmaires, Harry Geller and His Orchestra, and Carl Fischer"You're Breaking My Heart"Vic Damone with Glenn Osser's OrchestraOctober 15"That Lucky Old Sun"Frankie Laine with Judd Conlon's Rhythmaires, Harry Geller and His Orchestra, and Carl FischerOctober 22October 29"That Lucky Old Sun"November 5November 12November 19"Slipping Around"Margaret Whiting and Jimmy WakelyNovember 26"Mule Train"Frankie Laine and the Muleskinners"Mule Train"Frankie Laine and the Muleskinners"Mule Train"December 3December 10"Mule Train"Frankie Laine and the MuleskinnersDecember 17December 24December 31
Number-one artists +List of number-one artists by total weeks at number oneArtistWeeks at #1Frankie Laine14Vaughn Monroe11Russ Morgan7Evelyn KnightPerry Como5Vic Damone4Dinah Shore2Blue BarronSpike Jones1
See also 1949 in music
References