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This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1943.
1941 was a great year for the United States recording industry, as bad memories of the Depression-tainted 1930s were replaced by record-setting sales. Then came Pearl Harbor, and on August 1, 1942, a strike by the American Federation of Musicians, which ended all recording sessions. Record companies kept business going by releasing promising recordings from their vaults, but by mid-1943, alternate sources were running dry, as the strike continued. Decca was the first company to settle with the union in September, but year-end statistics showed a 50% drop in charted records from 1942.
For each Year in Music (beginning 1940) and Year in Country Music (beginning 1939), a comprehensive Year End Top Records section can be found at mid-page (popular), and on the Country page.
The charts are compiled from data published by Billboard magazine, using their formulas, with slight modifications. Most important, there are no songs missing or truncated by Billboard's holiday deadline. Each year, records included enter the charts between the prior November and early December. Each week, fifteen points are awarded to the number one record, then nine points for number two, eight points for number three, and so on. This system rewards songs that reach the highest positions, as well as those that had the longest chart runs. This is our adjustment to Joel Whitburn's formula, which places No. 1 records on top, then No. 2 and so on, ordered by weeks at that position. This allows a record with 4 weeks at No. 1 that only lasted 6 weeks to be rated very high. Here, the total points of a song's complete chart run determines its position. Our chart has more songs, more weeks and may look nothing like Billboard's, but it comes from the exact same surveys.
Before the Hot100 was implemented in 1958, Billboard magazine measured a record's performance with three charts, 'Best-Selling Popular Retail Records', 'Records Most-Played On the Air' or 'Records Most Played By Disk Jockeys' and 'Most-Played Juke Box Records'. As Billboard did starting in the 1940s, the three totals for each song are combined, with that number determining the final year-end rank. For example, 1944's "Hot Time in the Town of Berlin" by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters finished at no. 19, despite six weeks at no. 1 on the 'Most-Played Juke Box Records'(JB) chart. It scored 126 points, to go with its Best-Selling chart (BS) total of 0. Martha Tilton's version of "I'll Walk Alone" peaked at no. 4 on the Juke Box chart, which only totalled 65 points, but her BS total was also 65, for a final total of 130, ranking no. 18. Examples like this can be found in the Billboard magazine up to 1958. By the way, the 'Records Most-Played On the Air' chart didn't begin until January 1945, which is why we only had two sub-totals.
Our rankings are based on Billboard data, but we also present info on recording and release dates, global sales totals, RIAA and BPI certifications and other awards. Rankings from other genres like 'Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs' or 'Most Played Juke Box Race Records', Country charts including 'Most Played Juke Box Folk (Hillbilly) Records', 'Cashbox magazine', and other sources are presented if they exist. We supplement our info with reliable data from the "Discography of American Historical Recordings" website, Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954 [5] and other sources as specified.
The following songs appeared in the Billboard's 'Best Selling Retail Records' chart during 1943.
Rank< | Artist | Title | Label | Recorded | Released | Chart positions |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | The Mills Brothers | "Paper Doll" [6] | Decca 18318 | February 18, 1942 | May 22, 1943 | US BB 1943 #2, US #1 for 12 weeks, 40 total weeks, US R&B 1943 #14, Harlem Hit Parade #2 for 5 weeks, 29 total weeks, 287 points, 1,000,000 sales, [5] Grammy Hall of Fame 1998 |
2 | Harry James and His Orchestra (Vocal Helen Forrest) | "I've Heard That Song Before" [7] | Columbia 36668 | July 31, 1942 | December 4, 1942 | US BB 1943 #1, US #1 for 13 weeks, 26 total weeks, 240 points, 1,000,000 sales [5] |
3 | Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra (Vocal Frank Sinatra & Pied Pipers) | "There Are Such Things" [8] | Victor 27974 | July 1, 1942 | July 17, 1942 | US BB 1943 #4, US #1 for 5 weeks, 26 total weeks, 176 points, 1,000,000 sales [5] |
4 | Bing Crosby | "Sunday, Monday or Always" [9] | Decca 18561 | July 2, 1943 | August 21, 1943 | US BB 1943 #3, US #1 for 7 weeks, 20 total weeks, 174 points, 1,000,000 sales [5] |
5 | Xavier Cugat & His Waldorf-Astoria Orchestra | "Brazil" [7] | Columbia 36651 | January 23, 1943 | February 1943 | US BB 1943 #5, US #2 for 7 weeks, 24 total weeks, 140 points |
6 | Al Dexter and His Troopers | "Pistol Packin' Mama" [10] | Okeh 6708 | March 20, 1942 | April 10, 1943 | US BB 1943 #10, US #1, US Hillbilly 1943 #1, USHB #1 for 27 weeks, 47 total weeks, 109 points, 1,000,000 sales [5] Grammy Hall of Fame in 2000 |
7 | Dick Haymes & the Song Spinners | "You'll Never Know" [11] | Decca 18556 | May 27, 1943 | June 1943 | US BB 1943 #5, US #1 for 4 weeks, 19 total weeks, US R&B 1943 #5, Harlem Hit Parade #1 for 4 weeks, 16 total weeks, 135 points, Oscar in 1943 (film 'Hello, Frisco, Hello'), ASCAP song of 1943, 1,000,000 sales [12] |
8 | Harry James and His Orchestra (Vocal Helen Forrest) | "I Had The Craziest Dream" [7] | Columbia 36659 | July 23, 1942 | October 10, 1942 | US BB 1943 #9, US #1 for 2 weeks, 22 total weeks, 128 points |
9 | Harry James and His Orchestra (Vocal Frank Sinatra) | "All or Nothing at All" [13] | Columbia 35587 | September 17, 1939 | May 1943 [14] | US BB 1943 #19, US #2 for 1 weeks, 25 total weeks, 107 points, 1,000,000 sales [5] |
10 | Glenn Miller and His Orchestra | "That Old Black Magic" [15] | Victor 20-1523 | July 15, 1942 | January 1943 | US BB 1943 #11, US #1 for 1 weeks, 19 total weeks, 105 points |
11 | Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra (Vocal Frank Sinatra) | "In The Blue Of Evening" [16] | Victor 27947 | June 17, 1943 | July 31, 1943 | US BB 1943 #6, US #1 for 3 weeks, 20 total weeks, 123 points |
12 | Dinah Shore | "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To" [15] | Victor 20-1519 | July 30, 1942 | November 20, 1942 | US BB 1943 #15, US #2 for 2 weeks, 20 total weeks, 73 points |
13 | Dick Haymes & the Song Spinners | "It Can't Be Wrong" [17] | Decca 18557 | May 27, 1943 | June 1943 | US BB 1943 #13, US #2 for 5 weeks, 15 total weeks, 71 points |
14 | Harry James and His Orchestra | "Velvet Moon" [7] | Columbia 36672 | July 31, 1942 | February 19, 1943 | US BB 1943 #17, US #2 for 2 weeks, 17 total weeks, 68 points |
15 | Jacques Renard & His Orchestra | "As Time Goes By" [18] | Victor 20-1526 | July 25, 1931 | March 1943 | US BB 1943 #21, US #2 for 1 week, 18 total weeks, 250,000 sales [19] |
16 | Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters | "Pistol Packin' Mama" [20] [21] | Decca 23277 | September 27, 1943 | October 14, 1943 | US 1943 #14, US #2 for 1 week, 15 total weeks, US Hillbilly 1943 #2, USHB #1 for 11 weeks, 23 total weeks, 1,000,000 sales [12] |
17 | Benny Goodman and His Orchestra (Vocal Helen Forrest) | "Why Don't You Do Right?" [13] | Columbia 35869 | April 17, 1943 | May 1943 | US BB 1943 #7, US #1 for 3 weeks, 15 total weeks |
18 | Bing Crosby | "Moonlight Becomes You" [22] | Decca 18513 | June 12, 1942 | November 19, 1942 | US BB 1943 #20, US #3 for 1 weeks, 20 total weeks, 1,000,000 sales [5] |
19 | Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra (Vocal Frank Sinatra) | "It Started All Over Again" | Victor 27947 | June 17, 1943 | July 31, 1943 | US BB 1943 #6, US #1 for 3 weeks, 20 total weeks |
20 | Dinah Shore | "Why Don't You Fall in Love with Me" [23] | Victor 27970 | July 30, 1942 | September 11, 1942 | US BB 1943 #23, US #3 for 2 weeks, 16 total weeks |
21 | Rudy Vallee & His Connecticut Yankees | "As Time Goes By" [18] | Victor 20-1526 | July 25, 1931 | March 1943 | US BB 1943 #21, US #2 for 1 week, 18 total weeks |
22 | Judy Garland & Gene Kelly | "For Me and My Gal" | Decca 18480 | July 26, 1942 | December 1942 | US BB 1943 #25, US #3 for 1 week, 21 total weeksGrammy Hall of Fame in 2010 (1942) |
23 | Bing Crosby | "I'll Be Home for Christmas" [24] | Decca 18570 | October 1, 1943 | December 4, 1943 | US BB 1943 #24, US #3 for 2 weeks, 7 total weeks, 1,000,000 sales [5] |
24 | Song Spinners | "Comin' In On a Wing and a Prayer" [25] | Decca 18553 | June 19, 1943 | July 1943 | US BB 1943 #8, US #1 for 3 weeks, 12 total weeks, 91 points |
25 | Harry James and His Orchestra | "I Heard You Cried Last Night" [7] | Columbia 36672 | July 31, 1942 | February 19, 1943 | US BB 1943 #17, US #2 for 2 weeks, 17 total weeks, 90 points |
26 | Benny Goodman and His Orchestra (Vocal Helen Forrest) | "Taking a Chance on Love" [13] | Columbia 35869 | April 17, 1943 | May 1943 | US BB 1943 #7, US #1 for 3 weeks, 15 total weeks, 89 points |
27 | Bing Crosby & Trudy Erwin | "People Will Say We're In Love" [26] | Decca 18564 | August 23, 1943 | October 9, 1943 | US BB 1943 #22, US #2 for 1 week, 17 total weeks, 86 points |
28 | Ink Spots | "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" [27] | Decca 18503 | February 6, 1943 | March 1943 | US BB 1943 #18, US #2 for 1 week, 27 total weeks, 82 points |
29 | Frank Sinatra | "You'll Never Know" [7] | Columbia 36678 | July 24, 1943 | August 1943 | US BB 1943 #16, US #2 for 2 weeks, 19 total weeks, 77 points |
30 | Glenn Miller and His Orchestra | "Moonlight Becomes You" [22] | Decca 18513 | June 12, 1942 | November 19, 1942 | US BB 1943 #20, US #3 for 1 weeks, 20 total weeks, 1,000,000 sales [5] |
31 | Dinah Shore | "Murder, He Says" [28] | Victor 27970 | July 30, 1942 | September 11, 1942 | US BB 1943 #23, US #3 for 2 weeks, 16 total weeks |
32 | Ted Daffan's Texans | "No Letter Today" [29] | Okeh 6706 | February 20, 1942 | February 1943 | US BB 1943 #50, US #9 for 1 week, 20 total weeks, US Hillbilly 1943 #3, USHB #1 for 5 weeks, 53 total weeks, 1,000,000 sales [5] |
33 | Erskine Hawkins | "Don't Cry, Baby" | Bluebird 30-0813 | June 12, 1942 | November 19, 1942 | US BS 1943 #58, US #11 for 2 weeks, 20 total weeks, US R&B 1943 #1, Harlem Hit Parade #1 for 14 weeks, 29 total weeks, August 14 – November 13, 1943 [30] |
Rank | Artist | Title | Label | Recorded | Released | Chart positions |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Erskine Hawkins and His Orchestra | "Don't Cry, Baby" | Bluebird 30-0813 | June 12, 1942 | November 19, 1942 | US Billboard 1943 #57, US Pop #11 for 3 weeks, 20 total weeks, US R&B 1943 #1, Harlem Hit Parade #1 for 14 weeks, 29 total weeks, August 14 – November 13, 1943 [31] |
2 | Duke Ellington and His Famous Orchestra | "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" | Victor 20-1547 | March 15, 1940 | December 1943 | US Billboard 1944 #80, US Pop #10 for 1 week, 10 total weeks, US R&B 1944 #7, Harlem Hit Parade #1 for 9 weeks, 18 total weeks, 191 points |
3 | The Mills Brothers | "Paper Doll" [32] | Decca 18318 | February 18, 1942 | May 22, 1943 | US Billboard 1943 #1, US Pop #1 for 12 weeks, 40 total weeks, 287 points, US R&B 1943 #14, Harlem Hit Parade #2 for 5 weeks, 29 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 1998, 1,000,000 sales, [5] |
4 | Ink Spots | "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" [33] | Decca 18503 | February 6, 1943 | March 1943 | US Billboard 1943 #16, US Pop #2 for 1 week, 27 total weeks, 82 points |
5 | Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra | "Apollo Jump" | Victor 20-1547 | March 15, 1940 | December 1943 | US Billboard 1944 #80, US Pop #10 for 1 week, 10 total weeks, US R&B 1944 #7, Harlem Hit Parade #1 for 9 weeks, 18 total weeks, 191 points |
6 | Ink Spots | "I Can't Stand Losing You" | Decca 18503 | February 6, 1943 | March 1943 | US Billboard 1943 #16, US Pop #2 for 1 week, 27 total weeks, 82 points |
7 | Bea Booze | "See See Rider Blues" | Victor 20-1547 | March 15, 1940 | December 1943 | US Billboard 1944 #80, US Pop #10 for 1 week, 10 total weeks, US R&B 1944 #7, Harlem Hit Parade #1 for 9 weeks, 18 total weeks, 191 points |
8 | Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra vocals Billie Holiday | "Trav'lin' Light" | Capitol 47 | June 12, 1942 | December 1942 | US Billboard 1943 #80, US Pop #10 for 1 week, 10 total weeks, US R&B 1944 #7, Harlem Hit Parade #1 for 9 weeks, 18 total weeks, 191 points |
9 | Dick Haymes and the Song Spinners | "You'll Never Know" [34] | Decca 18556 | May 27, 1943 | June 1943 | US Billboard 1943 #6, US Pop #1 for 4 weeks, 19 total weeks, 135 points, US R&B 1943 #9, Harlem Hit Parade #1 for 4 weeks, 16 total weeks |
10 | Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra | "When The Lights Go On Again (All Over The World)" | Victor 20-1547 | March 15, 1940 | December 1943 | US Billboard 1944 #80, US Pop #10 for 1 week, 10 total weeks, US R&B 1944 #7, Harlem Hit Parade #1 for 9 weeks, 18 total weeks, 191 points |
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1942.
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1949.
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1948.
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1945.
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1946.
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1947.
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1944.
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1929.
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1928.
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1927.
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1925.
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1938.
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1936.
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1941.
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1940.
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1939.
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1926.
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1923.
This is a list of notable events in country music that took place in the year 1937.
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1934.