List of Billboard Hot 100 number ones of 1959

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Bobby Darin spent nine weeks at number one in 1959, the most by any act. Bobby Darin 1959.JPG
Bobby Darin spent nine weeks at number one in 1959, the most by any act.

The Billboard Hot 100 is a chart published by Billboard magazine which ranks the best-performing singles in the United States. In 1959, it was compiled based on a combination of sales and airplay data sourced from surveys of retail outlets and playlists submitted by radio stations respectively, [1] and 16 different singles spent time at number one.

Contents

In the issue of Billboard dated January 5, the Chipmunks with David Seville were at number one with "The Chipmunk Song", the single's third week in the top spot. [2] The single remained at number one for a further week before being displaced by "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" by the Platters in the issue dated January 19. Not until 2019 would another Christmas song top the Hot 100, [3] albeit for much of the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s holiday-themed songs were excluded from the chart. [4]

Every act to top the Hot 100 in 1959 did so for the first time since the chart was launched in August 1958. [5] The Platters, Paul Anka, Elvis Presley, and Guy Mitchell had all achieved number ones on the separate sales, airplay, and jukebox play charts which Billboard had published prior to the creation of the consolidated Hot 100, as had Seville without the Chipmunks. [6] The Fleetwoods and Frankie Avalon were the only acts to have two number ones in 1959, but neither act would top the Hot 100 again. [7] Bobby Darin spent nine non-consecutive weeks at number one with "Mack the Knife", making it the year's longest-running number one and Darin the act with the most weeks in the top spot. At the 2nd Annual Grammy Awards in November 1959, the song won the award for Record of the Year, [8] but it would prove to be Darin's only number one on the Hot 100. [9] In the first of its two spells atop the chart, "Mack the Knife" spent six weeks at number one, tying with "The Battle of New Orleans" by Johnny Horton for the year's longest unbroken run in the peak position.

Chart history

Lloyd Price spent four weeks at number one with his version of the traditional song "Stagger Lee". Publicity photo of Lloyd Price - ht24wk00x files 046435e7-3a2b-42be-b859-88a492e9b836 (cropped).jpg
Lloyd Price spent four weeks at number one with his version of the traditional song "Stagger Lee".
Frankie Avalon was one of only two acts to achieve two number ones in 1959. Frankie Avalon 1959.jpg
Frankie Avalon was one of only two acts to achieve two number ones in 1959.
Elvis Presley topped the chart with "A Big Hunk o' Love". Elvis Presley promoting Jailhouse Rock.jpg
Elvis Presley topped the chart with "A Big Hunk o' Love".
Chart history
No. [5] Issue dateTitleArtist(s)Ref.
8January 5" The Chipmunk Song " The Chipmunks with David Seville [2]
January 12 [10]
9January 19"Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" The Platters [11]
January 26 [12]
February 2 [13]
10February 9"Stagger Lee" Lloyd Price [14]
February 16 [15]
February 23 [16]
March 2 [17]
11March 9"Venus" Frankie Avalon [18]
March 16 [19]
March 23 [20]
March 30 [21]
April 6 [22]
12April 13"Come Softly to Me" The Fleetwoods [23]
April 20 [24]
April 27 [25]
May 4 [26]
13May 11" The Happy Organ " Dave "Baby" Cortez [27]
14May 18"Kansas City" Wilbert Harrison [28]
May 25 [29]
15June 1" The Battle of New Orleans " Johnny Horton [30]
June 8 [31]
June 15 [32]
June 22 [33]
June 29 [34]
July 6 [35]
16July 13"Lonely Boy" Paul Anka [36]
July 20 [37]
July 27 [38]
August 3 [39]
17August 10" A Big Hunk o' Love " Elvis Presley [40]
August 17 [41]
18August 24" The Three Bells " The Browns [42]
August 31 [43]
September 7 [44]
September 14 [45]
19September 21"Sleep Walk" Santo & Johnny [46]
September 28 [47]
20October 5"Mack the Knife" Bobby Darin [48]
October 12 [49]
October 19 [50]
October 26 [51]
November 2 [52]
November 9 [53]
21November 16"Mr. Blue" The Fleetwoods [54]
reNovember 23"Mack the Knife" Bobby Darin [55]
November 30 [56]
December 7 [57]
22December 14"Heartaches by the Number" Guy Mitchell [58]
December 21 [59]
23December 28"Why" Frankie Avalon [60]

See also

Related Research Articles

"Mack the Knife" or "The Ballad of Mack the Knife" is a song composed by Kurt Weill with lyrics by Bertolt Brecht for their 1928 music drama The Threepenny Opera. The song tells of a knife-wielding criminal of the London underworld from the musical named Macheath, the "Mack the Knife" of the title.

The Billboard Hot 100 is the music industry standard record chart in the United States for songs, published weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on sales, online streaming, and radio play in the U.S.

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Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States. The chart lists the top songs that have not yet charted on the main Billboard Hot 100. Chart rankings are based on radio airplay, sales, and streams. In its initial years, the chart listed 15 positions, but expanded to as many as 36 during the 1960s, particularly during years when over 700 singles made the Billboard Hot 100 chart. From 1974 to 1985, the chart consisted of 10 positions; since 1992, the Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles chart has listed 25 positions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Put Your Head on My Shoulder</span> 1959 single by Paul Anka

"Put Your Head on My Shoulder" is a song written by Canadian-born singer-songwriter Paul Anka. Anka's version was recorded in August 1958 at Bell Sound Studios in New York City, three weeks before he recorded his no. 1 hit "Lonely Boy", and was released as a single on August 17, 1959, by ABC-Paramount as catalog number 4510040. It was arranged and conducted by Don Costa. The B-side was "Don't Ever Leave Me". "Put Your Head on My Shoulder" became very successful, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. It was his third top five hit of 1959. In Canada the song reached No. 4 on the CHUM Charts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hot Country Songs</span> Weekly chart published by Billboard

Hot Country Songs is a chart published weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Since I Don't Have You</span> 1958 song by the Skyliners

"Since I Don't Have You" is a song written and composed by Jackie Taylor, James Beaumont, Janet Vogel, Joseph Rock, Joe Verscharen, Lennie Martin, and Wally Lester. It was first a 1958 hit single for the doo-wop group the Skyliners on the Billboard Hot 100. Country music singer Ronnie Milsap had a hit with the song in 1991. American hard rock band Guns N' Roses also had some success in 1994 with their version of the song which reached the top 10 on the UK Singles Chart.

"I Only Have Eyes for You" is a romantic love song by composer Harry Warren and lyricist Al Dubin, written for the film Dames (1934) when Dick Powell introduced it. Several successful recordings of the song were made in 1934; later, there were charted versions by the Flamingos (1959) and Art Garfunkel (1975).

"If I Were a Carpenter" is a folk song written by Tim Hardin in the 1960s, and re-recorded with commercial success by various artists including Bobby Darin, The Four Tops and Johnny Cash. Hardin's own recording of the piece appeared on his 1967 album Tim Hardin 2. It was one of two songs from that release performed by Hardin at Woodstock in 1969. The song, believed by some to be about male romantic insecurity, is rumored to have been inspired by his love for actress Susan Morss, as well as the construction of Hardin's recording studio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Don't You Know?</span> 1959 single by Della Reese

"Don't You Know?" is a 1959 popular song written by Bobby Worth, and hit record for singer Della Reese.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sleep Walk</span> 1959 single by Santo & Johnny

"Sleep Walk" is an instrumental song written, recorded, and released in 1959 by American instrumental rock and roll duo Santo & Johnny Farina, with their uncle Mike Dee playing the drums. Prominently featuring steel guitar, the song was recorded at Trinity Music in Manhattan, New York City. "Sleep Walk" entered Billboard's Top 40 on August 17, 1959. It rose to the number 1 position for the last two weeks in September and remained in the Top 40 until November 9. "Sleep Walk" also reached number 4 on the R&B chart. It was the last instrumental to hit number 1 in the 1950s and earned a gold record for Santo and Johnny. In Canada, the song reached number 3 in the CHUM Charts. In the UK it peaked at number 22 on the charts.

"(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" is an American country and pop song made famous by B. J. Thomas. It won the 1976 Grammy for Best Country Song, awarded to its songwriters Larry Butler and Chips Moman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (song)</span> 1949 Christmas song by Johnny Marks

"Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer" is a song by songwriter Johnny Marks based on the 1939 story Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer published by the Montgomery Ward Company. Gene Autry's recording hit No. 1 on the U.S. charts the week of Christmas 1949.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rock and Roll Heaven</span> 1973 song co-written by Alan ODay

"Rock and Roll Heaven" is a song written by Alan O'Day and Johnny Stevenson, popularized by The Righteous Brothers. It is a paean to several deceased singers such as Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, and Otis Redding, and has been rewritten a number of times to include other singers. The song was first recorded by the band Climax in 1973, but it failed to chart. It was then covered by The Righteous Brothers in 1974 and reached number three on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andy Williams discography</span>

Andy Williams recorded 43 studio albums, 17 of which received Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America for selling 500,000 units. Andy Williams has sold over 11 million records in the US alone. Three of those recipients went on to reach one million in sales, for which they were awarded Platinum certification. Between studio, Christmas, and compilation albums he had 37 entries on the pop albums chart in Billboard magazine with 12 of those making the top 10. One of those 12, his 1963 album Days of Wine and Roses and Other TV Requests, spent 16 weeks at number one and comes in at number five on the list of the top albums released in the 1960s in terms of Billboard chart performance. During the 1960s and early 1970s two of his Platinum LPs, The Andy Williams Christmas Album and Merry Christmas, made annual appearances on the magazine's Christmas Albums chart, where they each reached the number one position in multiple holiday seasons. In a ranking of the top album artists of the 1960s in terms of Billboard chart performance, he comes in at number eight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">José Feliciano discography</span>

José Feliciano has recorded 56 studio albums, most of which are primarily sung in either English or Spanish. Three of his releases received the standard Gold certification from the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of 500,000 units. Two of his other albums were awarded Los Premios de Oro y De Platino from the RIAA: Señor Bolero went double Platinum in 2004 for surpassing sales of 120,000 units, and José Feliciano y Amigos went Gold in 2008 after selling 30,000 copies.

References

  1. Whitburn 2005, p. xii.
  2. 1 2 "Hot 100: January 5, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  3. Izadi, Elahe (December 16, 2019). "Mariah Carey's 'All I Want for Christmas Is You' just now — yes, just now — hit No. 1". The Washington Post . Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  4. Whitburn 2005, p. xiv.
  5. 1 2 Whitburn 2005, p. 987.
  6. Whitburn 2005, pp. 20, 480, 550, 558, 630.
  7. Whitburn 2005, p. 29, 250.
  8. Blakemore, Erin (March 24, 2016). "The Strange Career of "Mack the Knife"". Smithsonian Magazine . Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  9. Whitburn 2005, p. 174.
  10. "Hot 100: January 12, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  11. "Hot 100: January 19, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  12. "Hot 100: January 26, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  13. "Hot 100: February 2, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 30, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  14. "Hot 100: February 9, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  15. "Hot 100: February 16, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 30, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  16. "Hot 100: February 23, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  17. "Hot 100: March 2, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  18. "Hot 100: March 9, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on August 28, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  19. "Hot 100: March 16, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  20. "Hot 100: March 23, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  21. "Hot 100: March 30, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  22. "Hot 100: April 6, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  23. "Hot 100: April 13, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  24. "Hot 100: April 20, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  25. "Hot 100: April 27, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on June 1, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  26. "Hot 100: May 4, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  27. "Hot 100: May 11, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  28. "Hot 100: May 18, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  29. "Hot 100: May 25, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 30, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  30. "Hot 100: June 1, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on December 30, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  31. "Hot 100: June 8, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  32. "Hot 100: June 15, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  33. "Hot 100: June 22, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  34. "Hot 100: June 29, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  35. "Hot 100: July 6, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  36. "Hot 100: July 13, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  37. "Hot 100: July 20, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  38. "Hot 100: July 27, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  39. "Hot 100: August 3, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  40. "Hot 100: August 10, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  41. "Hot 100: August 17, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 28, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  42. "Hot 100: August 24, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  43. "Hot 100: August 31, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  44. "Hot 100: September 7, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  45. "Hot 100: September 14, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  46. "Hot 100: September 21, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  47. "Hot 100: September 28, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  48. "Hot 100: October 5, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 15, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  49. "Hot 100: October 12, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on May 21, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  50. "Hot 100: October 19, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  51. "Hot 100: October 26, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  52. "Hot 100: November 2, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  53. "Hot 100: November 9, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  54. "Hot 100: November 16, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  55. "Hot 100: November 23, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  56. "Hot 100: November 30, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  57. "Hot 100: December 7, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  58. "Hot 100: December 14, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 29, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  59. "Hot 100: December 21, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on April 30, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.
  60. "Hot 100: December 28, 1959". Billboard . Archived from the original on May 1, 2023. Retrieved January 11, 2024.

Works cited