Tuesday, July 21, 2015

List of Billboard number-one rhythm and blues hits

Listed here are Billboard magazine's number-one rhythm and blues hits from 1942–1959. The Billboard R&B chart is today known as the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Note: From May 22, 1948 to October 13, 1958, multiple charts (usually jukebox, DJ, and sales charts) were used, which explains the overlap in the dates of the charts. Because of the existence of multiple charts, some dates had more than one number-one song during the week.

Chart names[edit]

Harlem Hit Parade — 1942 to February 10, 1945.
Juke Box Race Records — February 17, 1945 to June 17, 1957.
Billboard's "Best Sellers" — May 22, 1948 to October 13, 1958.
Rhythm & Blues — June 25, 1949 to November 30, 1963.
Billboard's "Jockeys" — January 22, 1955 to October 13, 1958.
Hot R&B —; October 20, 1958 to November 30, 1963. Reinstated January 30, 1965 and continued under that name until the week ending August 16, 1969.
Soul Singles — August 23, 1969 to July 7, 1973.
Hot Soul Singles — July 14, 1973 to June 19, 1982.
Hot Black Singles — June 26, 1982 to October 1990.
Hot R&B Singles — October 1990 to 1998.
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs — 1998 to present.

An asterisk after a song title means that the song lost and then regained the number-one spot.

1940s[edit]

1942[edit]

October 24: "[[Take It And Orchestra (2 weeks)* - CAPITOL 115
November 7: "Trav'lin' Light" — Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra featuring Billie Holiday (3 weeks)* - CAPITOL 116
November 14: "Stormy Monday Blues" — Earl Hines and His Orchestra (1 week) - BLUEBIRD 11567
November 28: "When the Lights Go On Again" — Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra (2 weeks)* - DECCA 18496
December 19: "White Christmas" — Bing Crosby (3 weeks) - DECCA 18429

1943[edit]

January 16: "See See Rider Blues" — Bea Booze (4 weeks)* - DECCA 8633
January 23: "What's the Use of Getting Sober (When You Gonna Get Drunk Again)" — Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five (1 week) - DECCA 23629
January 30: "That Ain't Right" — Nat King Cole Trio (1 week) - DECCA 8630
February 13: "Apollo Jump" — Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra (2 weeks) - DECCA 18529
March 6: "Don't Stop Now" — Bonnie Davis (5 weeks)* - SAVOY 102
March 27: "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" — The Ink Spots(2 weeks)* - DECCA 18503
April 17: "I've Heard That Song Before" — Harry James and His Orchestra (1 week) - COLUMBIA 36668
April 24: "I Can't Stand Losing You" — The Ink Spots (7 weeks)* - DECCA 18542
May 29: "Don't Get Around Much Anymore (Never No Lament)" — Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra (3 weeks)* - VICTOR 26610
July 17: "You'll Never Know" — Dick Haymes (4 weeks) - DECCA 18556
August 14: "Don't Cry Baby" — Erskine Hawkins and His Orchestra (14 weeks)* - BLUEBIRD 30-0813
September 25: "A Slip of the Lip (Can Sink a Ship)" — Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra (1 week) - VICTOR 20-1528
October 2: "Sentimental Lady" — Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra (1 week) - VICTOR 20-1528
November 20: "All for You" — The Nat King Cole Trio (2 weeks)* - CAPITOL 139
December 18: "Shoo Shoo Baby" — Ella Mae Morse (2 weeks)* - CAPITOL 143
December 25: "Sweet Slumber" — Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra (1 week) - DECCA 18569

1944[edit]

January 1: "Ration Blues" — Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five (1 week) - DECCA 8654
January 15: "Do Nothin' Till You Hear from Me" - Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra (8 weeks)* - VICTOR 20-1547
January 22: "G.I. Jive" — Johnny Mercer with Paul Weston And His Orchestra (1 week) - CAPITOL 141
March 11: "Solo Flight" — Benny Goodman and His Orchestra (1 week) - COLUMBIA 36684
March 25: "Cow-Cow Boogie (Cuma-Ti-Yi-Yi-Ay)" — The Ink Spots and Ella Fitzgerald (1 week) - DECCA 18587
April 1: "Main Stem" — Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra (4 weeks)* - VICTOR 20-1556
April 15: "When My Man Comes Home" — Buddy Johnson and His Band (1 week) - DECCA 8655
April 29: "Straighten Up and Fly Right" — The Nat King Cole Trio (10 weeks)* - CAPITOL 154
July 15: "G.I. Jive" — Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five (6 weeks)* - DECCA 8659
August 19: "Till Then" — The Mills Brothers (1 week) - DECCA 18599
September 2: "Hamp's Boogie Woogie" — Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra (6 weeks)* - DECCA 18613
September 30: "I'm Lost" —; Benny Carter and His Orchestra (2 weeks)* - CAPITOL 165
October 21: "Gee, Baby, Ain't I Good to You" — The Nat King Cole Trio (4 weeks) - CAPITOL 169
November 18: "Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall" — The Ink Spots and Ella Fitzgerald (11 weeks)* - DECCA 23356

1945[edit]

February 10: "Somebody's Gotta Go" — Cootie Williams and His Orchestra (1 week) - HIT 7119
February 17: "I Wonder" — Pvt. Cecil Gant (2 weeks) - GILT-EDGE 500 CG1
February 24: "I Wonder" — Roosevelt Sykes (7 weeks) - BLUEBIRD 34-0721
April 14: "Tippin' In" — Erskine Hawkins and His Orchestra (6 weeks)* - RCA VICTOR 20-1639
April 21: "Mop! Mop!" — Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five (1 week) - DECCA 8668
June 2: "Caldonia" — Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five (7 weeks) - DECCA 8670
July 14: "Who Threw the Whiskey in the Well" — Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra (8 weeks) - DECCA 18674
September 8: "The Honeydripper" (Parts 1 & 2) — Joe Liggins and His Honeydrippers (18 weeks) - EXCLUSIVE 207

1946[edit]

January 12: "Buzz Me" — Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five (9 weeks) - DECCA 18734
March 16: "Hey! Ba-Ba-Re-Bop" — Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra (16 weeks)* - DECCA 18754
March 23: "Don’t Worry 'bout That Mule" — Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five (1 week) - DECCA 18734
June 29: "The Gypsy" — The Ink Spots (3 weeks)* - DECCA 18817
July 10: "Stone Cold Dead in the Market (He Had It Coming)" — Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five (5 weeks) - DECCA 23546
August 24: "Choo Choo Ch'Boogie" — Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five (18 weeks)* - DECCA 23610
November 23: "Ain’t That Just Like a Woman (They’ll Do It Every Time)" — Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five (2 weeks)* - DECCA 23669

1947[edit]

17 January: "Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens" — Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five (17 weeks)* - DECCA 23741
26 April: "Texas and Pacific" — Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five (2 weeks)* - DECCA 23810
17 May: "I Want to Be Loved (But Only by You)" — Savannah Churchill and the Sentimentalists (8 weeks)* - MANOR 1046
24 May: "Old Maid Boogie" — Eddie Vinson and His Orchestra (2 weeks)* - MERCURY 8028
28 June: "Jack You’re Dead" — Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five (7 weeks)* - DECCA 23901
30 August: "Boogie Woogie Blue Plate" — Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five (14 weeks)* - DECCA 24104
22 November: "(Opportunity Knocks But Once) Snatch and Grab It" — Julia Lee and Her Boy Friends (12 weeks)* - CAPITOL/AMERICANA 40028

1948[edit]

January 21: "I Love You Yes I Do" — Bull Moose Jackson and His Buffalo Bearcats (3 weeks)* - KING 4181
March 20: "King Size Papa" — Julia Lee and Her Boy Friends (9 weeks) - CAPITOL/AMERICANA 40082
May 22: "Tomorrow Night" — Lonnie Johnson (7 weeks)* - KING 4201
June 19: "Good Rockin' Tonight" — Wynonie Harris (1 week) - KING 4210
July 10: "Long Gone" (Parts I & II) — Sonny Thompson (3 weeks)* - MIRACLE 126
July 10: "Run Joe" — Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five (2 weeks)* - DECCA 24448
July 24: "I Can't Go on Without You" — Bull Moose Jackson and His Buffalo Bearcats (8 weeks) - KING 4230
September 4: "Messin' Around" —; Memphis Slim and His House Rockers (2 weeks)* - MIRACLE 125
September 11: "My Heart Belongs to You" — Arbee Stidham (1 week) - RCA VICTOR 20-2572
September 18: "Pretty Mama Blues" — Ivory Joe Hunter (3 weeks) - 4 STAR 1254
October 2: "Corn Bread" —; Hal Singer Sextette (4 weeks)* - SAVOY 671
October 2: "Late Freight" —; Sonny Thompson Quintet (1 week) - MIRACLE 128
October 9: "Am I Asking Too Much" — Dinah Washington (1 week) - MERCURY 8095
November 6: "Blues After Hours" — Pee Wee Crayton (3 weeks)* - MODERN 624
November 27: "It's Too Soon to Know" — The Orioles (1 week) - JUBILEE 5000
December 4: "Chicken Shack Boogie" — Amos Milburn (5 weeks)* - ALADDIN 3014
December 4: "Bewildered" — Red Miller Trio (5 weeks)* - BULLET 295
December 18: "'Long About Midnight" — Roy Brown (1 week) - DELUXE 1154
December 25: "Bewildered" — Amos Milburn (3 weeks)* - ALADDIN 3018

1949[edit]

February 19: "Boogie Chillen" — John Lee Hooker (1 week) - MODERN 627
February 19: "The Deacon's Hop" — Big Jay McNeely's Blue Jays (1 week) - SAVOY 685
May 5: "The Huckle-Buck" — Paul Williams and His Hucklebuckers (14 weeks)* - SAVOY 683
June 4: "Trouble Blues" — The Charles Brown Trio (15 weeks) - ALADDIN 3024
August 20: "Ain't Nobody's Business" (Parts 1 & 2) — Jimmy Witherspoon (1 week) - SUPREME 1506
September 10: "Roomin' House Boogie" — Amos Milburn (2 weeks) - ALADDIN 3032
September 17: "All She Wants to Do Is Rock" — Wynonie Harris (2 weeks)* - KING 4304
September 17: "Tell Me So" — The Orioles (1 week) - JUBILEE 5005
September 24: "Baby Get Lost" — Dinah Washington (2 weeks) - MERCURY 8148
October 8: "Beans and Corn Bread" —; Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five (1 week) - DECCA 24673
October 15: "Saturday Night Fish Fry" — Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five (12 weeks)* - DECCA 24725
December 24: "For You My Love" — Larry Darnell (8 weeks)* - REGAL 3240

1950s[edit]

1950[edit]

February 18: "I Almost Lost My Mind" — Ivory Joe Hunter (5 weeks)* - M-G-M 10578
March 4: "Double Crossing Blues" — Johnny Otis Quintette, The Robins, and Little Esther (9 weeks) - SAVOY 731
April 15: "Mistrusting Blues" — Little Esther with Mel Walker and the Johnny Otis Orchestra (4 weeks) - SAVOY 735
May 13: "I Need You So" — Ivory Joe Hunter (2 weeks) - M-G-M 10663
May 27: "Pink Champagne" — Joe Liggins and His Honeydrippers (13 weeks)* - SPECIALTY 355
July 8: "Cupid Boogie" — Johnny Otis Orchestra, Little Esther, and Mel Walker (1 week) - SAVOY 750
August 19: "Hard Luck Blues" —; Roy Brown (3 weeks) - DELUXE 3304
September 2: "Mona Lisa" —; Nat "King" Cole (4 weeks) - CAPITOL 1010
September 9: "Blue Light Boogie" (Parts 1 & 2) — Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five (7 weeks) - DECCA 27114
October 28: "Blue Shadows" — Lowell Fulson (4 weeks) - SWING TIME 226
November 4: "Anytime — Any Place — Anywhere" — Joe Morris and His Orchestra (4 weeks)* - ATLANTIC 914
November 25: "Please Send Me Someone to Love" — Percy Mayfield (2 weeks)* - SPECIALTY 375
December 9: "Teardrops from My Eyes" — Ruth Brown (11 weeks)* - ATLANTIC 919

1951[edit]

January 6: "Bad, Bad Whiskey" — Amos Milburn (3 weeks)* - ALADDIN 3068
March 3: "Black Night" — Charles Brown (14 weeks) - ALADDIN 3076
June 9: "Rocket 88" —; Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats (5 weeks) - CHESS 1458
June 9: "Chica Boo" — Lloyd Glenn (2 weeks) - SWING TIME 254
June 30: "Sixty Minute Man" — The Dominoes (14 weeks)* - FEDERAL 12022
September 1: "Don’t You Know I Love You" — The Clovers (2 weeks) - ATLANTIC 934
September 22: "The Glory of Love" —; The Five Keys (4 weeks)* - ALADDIN 3099
November 3: "'T' 99 Blues" — Jimmie Nelson and the Peter Rabbit Trio (1 week) - RPM 325
November 10: "Fool, Fool, Fool" — The Clovers (6 weeks)* - ATLANTIC 944
November 10: "I Got Loaded" — "Peppermint" Harris (2 weeks)* - ALADDIN 3097
November 17: "I'm in the Mood" — John Lee Hooker (4 weeks)* - MODERN 835
December 8: "Because of You" — Tab Smith and His Orchestra (2 weeks) - UNITED 104
December 29: "Flamingo" — Earl Bostic and His Orchestra (4 weeks)* - KING 4475

1952[edit]

January 12: "Weepin' & Cryin'" — Griffin Brothers Orchestra (3 weeks) - DOT 1071
January 12: "Cry" — Johnnie Ray and the Four Lads (1 week) - OKEH 6840
February 2: "3 o’Clock Blues" — B.B. King (5 weeks) - RPM 339
March 15: "Night Train" — Jimmy Forrest (7 weeks) - UNITED 110
March 15: "Booted" — Roscoe Gordon (1 week) - CHESS 1487
May 3: "5–10–15 Hours" — Ruth Brown (7 weeks) - ATLANTIC 962
June 14: "Have Mercy Baby" — The Dominoes (10 weeks)* - FEDERAL 12068
June 21: "Goin' Home" — Fats Domino (1 week) - IMPERIAL 5180
July 12: "Lawdy Miss Clawdy" — Lloyd Price (7 weeks)* - SPECIALTY 428
August 23: "Mary Jo" — Four Blazes (3 weeks) - UNITED 114
September 6: "Ting-A-Ling" — The Clovers(1 week) - ATLANTIC 969
September 27: "My Song" — Johnny Ace (9 weeks) - DUKE 102
September 27: "Juke" — Little Walter (8 weeks)* - CHECKER 758
November 8: "Five Long Years" — Eddie Boyd (7 weeks)* - JOB 1007
November 8: "You Know I Love You" — B.B. King (2 weeks)* - RPM 363
December 27: "I Don't Know" — Willie Mabon and His Combo (8 weeks) - CHESS 1531

1953[edit]

February 21: "Baby Don't Do It" — The "5" Royales (3 weeks) - APOLLO 443
March 7: "(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean" — Ruth Brown (5 weeks) - ATLANTIC 986
April 18: "Hound Dog" — Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton" (7 weeks) - PEACOCK 1612
May 30: "I'm Mad" — Willie Mabon and His Combo" (2 weeks) - CHESS 1538
June 13: "Help Me Somebody" — The "5" Royales (5 weeks)* - APOLLO 446
July 4: "Please Love Me" — B.B. King (3 weeks)* - RPM 386
July 18: "The Clock" — Johnny Ace (5 weeks)* - DUKE 112
August 22: "Crying in the Chapel" — The Orioles (5 weeks)* - JUBILEE 5122
September 19: "Shake a Hand" — Faye Adams (10 weeks)* - HERALD 416
November 21: "Money Honey" — Clyde McPhatter and The Drifters (11 weeks) - ATLANTIC 1006
December 5: "Honey Hush" — Big Joe Turner (8 weeks) - ATLANTIC 1001

1954[edit]

January 30: "The Things That I Used to Do" — Guitar Slim (14 weeks) - SPECIALTY 482
February 6: "I'll Be True" — Faye Adams (1 week) - HERALD 419
March 27: "You'll Never Walk Alone" — Roy Hamilton (8 weeks) - EPIC 9015
May 22: "Work With Me, Annie" — The Midnighters (7 weeks) - FEDERAL 12169
June 12: "Shake, Rattle and Roll" — Big Joe Turner (3 weeks) - ATLANTIC 1026
July 10: "Honey Love" — The Drifters feat. Clyde McPhatter (8 weeks) - ATLANTIC 1029
September 4: "Oh What a Dream" — Ruth Brown (8 weeks) - ATLANTIC 1036
September 25: "Annie Had a Baby" — The Midnighters (2 weeks) - FEDERAL 12195
October 16: "It Hurts Me to My Heart" — Faye Adams (5 weeks) - HERALD 435
November 20: "Mambo Baby" — Ruth Brown (1 week) - ATLANTIC 1044
November 27: "Hearts of Stone" — The Charms (9 weeks) - DELUXE 6062
November 25: "You Upset Me Baby" — B.B. King (2 weeks) - RPM 416

1955[edit]

January 15: "Earth Angel (Will You Be Mine)" — The Penguins (3 weeks) - Dootone 348
January 22: "Sincerely" — The Moonglows (2 weeks)* - CHESS 1581
February 12: "Pledging My Love" — Johnny Ace (10 weeks)* - DUKE 136
April 9: "The Wallflower" — Etta James (4 weeks)* - MODERN 947
April 23: "My Babe" — Little Walter (5 weeks)* - CHECKER 811
May 7: "I Got a Woman" — Ray Charles (1 week) - ATLANTIC 1050
May 21: "Unchained Melody" — Roy Hamilton (3 weeks) - EPIC 9102
June 11: "Ain't That a Shame" — Fats Domino (1 week) - IMPERIAL 5348
June 18: "Unchained Melody" — Al Hibbler (1 week) - DECCA 29441
June 25: "Bo Diddley" — Bo Diddley (2 weeks)* - CHECKER 814
August 6: "A Fool for You" — Ray Charles (1 week) - ATLANTIC 1063
August 20: "Maybellene" — Chuck Berry (11 weeks) - CHESS 1604
October 22: "Only You (and You Alone)" — The Platters (7 weeks) - MERCURY 70633
October 29: "All by Myself" — Fats Domino (3 weeks) - IMPERIAL 5357
December 17: "Hands Off" — Jay McShann and His Orchestra (3 weeks) - VEE JAY 155
December 31: "Poor Me" — Fats Domino (1 week) - IMPERIAL 5369
December 31: "Adorable" — The Drifters (1 week) - ATLANTIC 1078

1956[edit]

January 7: "The Great Pretender" — The Platters (11 weeks)* - MERCURY 70753
January 7: "At My Front Door" — The El Dorados (1 week) - VEE JAY 147
March 17: "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" — Frankie Lymon And The Teenagers (5 weeks) - GEE 10020
March 24: "Drown in My Own Tears" — Ray Charles (2 weeks) - ATLANTIC 1085
April 14: "Long Tall Sally" — Little Richard (8 weeks) - SPECIALTY 572
May 19: "I'm in Love Again" — Fats Domino (9 weeks)* - IMPERIAL 5386
July 21: "Fever" — Little Willie John (5 weeks) - KING 4935
July 28: "Treasure of Love" — Clyde McPhatter (1 week) - ATLANTIC 1092
August 4: "Rip It Up" — Little Richard (2 weeks) - SPECIALTY 579
August 18: "My Prayer" — The Platters (2 weeks) - MERCURY 70893
August 25: "Honky Tonk" (Parts 1 & 2) — Bill Doggett (13 weeks)* - KING 4950
September 1: "Let the Good Times Roll" — Shirley & Lee (3 weeks)* - ALADDIN 3325
September 15: "Hound Dog"/"Don’t Be Cruel" — Elvis Presley (6 weeks)* - RCA VICTOR 20-6604
November 13: "Blueberry Hill" — Fats Domino (11 weeks)* - IMPERIAL 5407

1957[edit]

January 5: "Since I Met You Baby" — Ivory Joe Hunter (3 weeks) - ATLANTIC 1111
January 26: "Blue Monday" — Fats Domino (8 weeks)* - IMPERIAL 5417
March 9: "Jim Dandy" — LaVern Baker (1 week) - ATLANTIC 1116
March 16: "Love Is Strange" — Mickey and Sylvia (2 weeks) - GROOVE 0175
March 23: "I'm Walkin'" — Fats Domino (6 weeks) - IMPERIAL 5417
April 27: "Lucille" — Little Richard (2 weeks) - SPECIALTY 598
April 29: "School Day" — Chuck Berry (5 weeks)* - CHESS 1653
April 29: "All Shook Up" — Elvis Presley (4 weeks) - RCA VICTOR 20-6870
June 3: "Young Blood" — The Coasters (1 week) - ATCO 6087
June 10: "Searchin'" — The Coasters (12 weeks) - ATCO 6087
June 17: "C.C. Rider" — Chuck Willis (2 weeks)* - ATLANTIC 1130
July 29: "Short Fat Fannie" — Larry Williams (1 week) - SPECIALTY 638
August 19: "Send For Me" — Nat "King" Cole (2 weeks) - CAPITOL 3737
September 2: "Further Up the Road" — Bobby "Blue" Bland (2 weeks)* - DUKE 170
September 2: "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear" — Elvis Presley (1 week) - RCA VICTOR 47-7000
September 9: "Whole Lot Of Shakin' Going On" — Jerry Lee Lewis (2 weeks) - SUN 267
September 16: "Long Lonely Nights" — Clyde McPhatter (1 week) - ATLANTIC 1149
September 23: "Diana" — Paul Anka (2 weeks) - ABC/PARAMOUNT 9831
September 30: "Mr. Lee" — The Bobbettes (4 weeks)* - ATLANTIC 1144
October 7: "Honeycomb" — Jimmie Rodgers (2 weeks) - ROULETTE 4015
October 21: "Jailhouse Rock" — Elvis Presley (5 weeks) - RCA VICTOR 47-7035
October 28: "Wake Up Little Susie" — The Everly Brothers (1 week) - CADENCE 1337
November 25: "You Send Me" — Sam Cooke (6 weeks) - KEEN 34013

1958[edit]

January 6: "At the Hop" — Danny & the Juniors (5 weeks) - ABC/PARAMOUNT 9871
January 6: "Raunchy" — Ernie Freeman (2 weeks) - IMPERIAL 5474
January 20: "Raunchy" — Bill Justis And His Orchestra (1 week) - PHILLIPS INTERNATIONAL 3519
January 27: "I'll Come Running Back to You" — Sam Cooke (1 week) - SPECIALTY 619
February 3: "Get a Job" — The Silhouettes (6 weeks) - EMBER 1029
March 10: "Sweet Little Sixteen" — Chuck Berry (3 weeks) - CHESS 1683
March 31: "Tequila" — The Champs (4 weeks) - CHALLENGE 1016
April 28: "Twilight Time" — The Platters (3 weeks) - MERCURY 71289
May 5: "Wear My Ring Around Your Neck" — Elvis Presley (3 weeks) - RCA VICTOR 47-7240
May 19: "All I Have to Do Is Dream" — The Everly Brothers (5 weeks) - CADENCE 1348
May 26: "Witch Doctor" — David Seville (1 week) - LIBERTY 55132
June 23: "Yakety Yak" — The Coasters (7 weeks) - ATCO 6116
June 23: "What Am I Living For" — Chuck Willis (1 week) - ATLANTIC 1179
August 4: "Splish Splash" — Bobby Darin (2 weeks) - ATCO 6617
August 11: "Patricia" — Perez Prado And His Orchestra (2 weeks) - RCA VICTOR 47-7245
August 25: "Just a Dream" — Jimmy Clanton (1 week) - ACE 546
September 1: "Little Star" — The Elegants (4 weeks) - APT 25005
September 1: "When" — The Kalin Twins (1 week) - DECCA 30642
September 29: "It's All in the Game" — Tommy Edwards (3 weeks) - M-G-M 12688
October 6: "Rock-In Robin" — Bobby Day (3 weeks) - CLASS 229
October 27: "Topsy Part 2" — Cozy Cole (6 weeks) - LOVE 50034
December 8: "A Lover's Question" — Clyde McPhatter (1 week) - ATLANTIC 1199
December 15: "Lonely Teardrops" — Jackie Wilson (7 weeks) - BRUNSWICK 55105

1959[edit]

February 2: "Try Me" — James Brown (1 week) - FEDERAL 12337
February 9: "Stagger Lee" — Lloyd Price (4 weeks) - ABC/PARAMOUNT 9927
March 9: "It's Just a Matter of Time" — Brook Benton (9 weeks) - MERCURY 71394
March 11: "Kansas City" — Wilbert Harrison (7 weeks) - FURY 1023
June 29: "Personality" — Lloyd Price (4 weeks) - ABC/PARAMOUNT 10018
July 27: "There Goes My Baby" — The Drifters (1 week) - ATLANTIC 2025
August 3: "What'd I Say" (Part 1) — Ray Charles (1 week) - ATLANTIC 2031
August 10: "Thank You Pretty Baby" — Brook Benton (4 weeks) - MERCURY 71478
September 7: "I'm Gonna Get Married" — Lloyd Price (3 weeks)* - ABC/PARAMOUNT 10032
September 21: "I Want to Walk You Home" — Fats Domino (1 week) - IMPERIAL 5606
October 5: "Poison Ivy" — The Coasters (4 weeks)* - ATCO 6146
October 12: "Sea of Love" — Phil Phillips (1 week) - MERCURY 71465
October 19: "You Better Know It" — Jackie Wilson (1 week) - BRUNSWICK 55149
November 16: "So Many Ways" — Brook Benton (3 weeks)* - MERCURY 71512
November 23: "Don't You Know?" — Della Reese (2 weeks) - RCA VICTOR 47-7591
December 7: "The Clouds" — The Spacemen (3 weeks)* - ALTON 254

For continuation, 1960 to present, start search here.

Gap in the chart[edit]

From November 30, 1963 to January 23, 1965 there was no Billboard R&B singles chart. Some publications have used Cash Box magazine's stats in their place. No specific reason has ever been given as to why Billboard ceased releasing R&B charts, but the prevailing wisdom is that the chart methodology used was being questioned, since more and more Caucasian acts were reaching number-one on the R&B chart. According to researcher Joel Whitburn, "there was so much crossover of titles between the R&B and pop singles (Hot 100) charts that Billboard considered the charts to be too similar. This does not mean that R&B artists stopped turning out hits. After all, it was during this 14-month period that Motown established itself as an R&B institution."^[1]

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