List of number-one singles in Australia during the 1950s

Last updated

Australian number-one singles of the 1950s
Australian top 25 singles
1950    1951    1952    1953    1954
1955    1956    1957    1958    1959
Australian top 25 albums
1950    1951    1952    1953    1954
1955    1956    1957    1958    1959

The following lists the number one singles on the Australian Singles Chart during the 1950s.

Contents

The source for this decade is the "Kent Music Report". These charts were calculated in the 1990s in retrospect, by David Kent, using archival data.

Note: during the 1950s, often more than one version of a particular song by different artists charted at the same time, thus more than one artist may be listed for a song. Different versions are separated by a semi-colon.

Note The decade's best charting single was The Harry Lime Theme by Anton Karas, although it only peaked at #3 in the Single charts.

Key
The yellow background indicates the #1 song on the KMR End of Year Chart
The light blue background indicates the #1 song on the KMR End of Decade Chart

1950

DateArtistSingleWeeks at number one
7 January Burl Ives; Dinah Shore "Lavender Blue (Dilly Dilly)"6 weeks (2 weeks in 1949)
14 January
21 January
28 January
4 February Perry Como & The Fontane Sisters; Tony Pastor ""A" You're Adorable"4 weeks
11 February
18 February
25 February
4 March Perry Como; Russ Morgan "Forever And Ever"'3 weeks
11 March
18 March
25 March Bing Crosby; Sammy Kaye "The Four Winds and the Seven Seas"3 weeks
1 April
8 April
15 April Freddy Martin; Sammy Kaye "I've Got a Lovely Bunch of Coconuts"3 weeks
22 April
29 April
6 May Buddy Clark; Vic Damone "You're Breaking My Heart"3 weeks
13 May
20 May
27 May Guy Lombardo; Art Mooney; Gene Rayburn "Hop Scotch Polka"2 weeks
3 June
10 June Donald Peers "I Told Them All About You"2 weeks
17 June
24 June Donald Peers; Freddy Martin; Teresa Brewer "Music! Music! Music!"7 weeks
1 July
8 July
15 July
22 July
29 July
5 August
12 August Gordon Jenkins; Joe Loss "My Foolish Heart"4 weeks
19 August
26 August
2 September
9 September Bing Crosby & The Andrews Sisters "Quicksilver"8 weeks
16 September
23 September
30 September
7 October
14 October
21 October
28 October
4 November Sammy Kaye "Hollywood Square Dance"1 week
11 November Dennis Day; Nat "King" Cole "Mona Lisa"5 weeks
18 November
25 November
2 December
9 December
16 December Gordon Jenkins & The Weavers "Goodnight Irene"6 weeks
23 December
30 December

1951

DateArtistSingleWeeks at number one
6 January Gordon Jenkins & The Weavers "Goodnight Irene"6 weeks
13 January
20 January
27 January Gordon Jenkins; Doris Day "Bewitched"5 weeks
3 February
10 February
17 February
24 February
3 March Phil Harris; Les Welch "The Thing"3 weeks
10 March
17 March
24 March Art Mooney "Silver Dollar"2 weeks
31 March
7 April Bing Crosby; Patti Page "All My Love"1 week
14 April Paul Weston & Norman Luboff Choir "Nevertheless (I'm in Love with You)"3 weeks
21 April
28 April
5 May Pee Wee King; Gene Krupa "Bonaparte's Retreat"2 weeks
12 May
19 May Pee Wee King; Patti Page "Tennessee Waltz"3 weeks
26 May
2 June
9 June Danny Kaye & Patty Andrews; Nat "King" Cole "Orange Coloured Sky"1 week
16 June Debbie Reynolds & Carleton Carpenter "Aba Daba Honeymoon"4 weeks
23 June
30 June
7 July
14 July Perry Como; Jo Stafford "If (They Made Me a King)"3 weeks
21 July
28 July
4 August Guy Mitchell "My Heart Cries For You"4 weeks
11 August
18 August
25 August
1 September Donald Peers & Jim Gussey "Mockin' Bird Hill"1 week
8 September Nat "King" Cole; Toni Arden "Too Young"9 weeks
15 September
22 September
29 September
6 October
13 October
20 October
27 October
3 November
10 November Mario Lanza; Ann Blyth "The Loveliest Night of the Year"2 weeks
17 November
24 November Guy Mitchell; Donald Peers "My Truly, Truly Fair"4 weeks
1 December
8 December
15 December
22 December Dinah Shore; Jane Turzy "Sweet Violets"4 weeks
29 December

1952

DateArtistSingleWeeks at number one
5 January Dinah Shore; Jane Turzy "Sweet Violets"4 weeks
12 January
19 January Tony Bennett "Because of You"6 weeks
26 January
2 February
9 February
16 February
23 February
1 March Tony Bennett "Cold, Cold Heart"2 weeks
8 March
15 March Louis Armstrong "A Kiss to Build a Dream On"6 weeks
22 March
29 March
5 April
12 April
19 April
26 April Champ Butler; Joe "Fingers" Carr "Down Yonder"2 weeks
3 May
10 May Pee Wee King "Slow Coach (Slow Poke)"5 weeks
17 May
24 May
31 May
7 June
14 June Johnnie Ray "Cry"5 weeks
21 June
28 June
5 July
12 July
19 July Eddie Fisher; The Four Aces "Tell Me Why"2 weeks
26 July
2 August Eddie Fisher "Anytime"3 weeks
9 August
16 August
23 August The Weavers; Les Welch "Ay-Round the Corner"4 weeks
30 August
6 September
13 September
20 September Johnnie Ray "Walkin' My Baby Back Home"2 weeks
27 September
4 October Al Martino "Here in My Heart"4 weeks
11 October
18 October
25 October
1 November Ezio Pinza; Bing Crosby "Some Enchanted Evening"3 weeks
8 November
15 November
22 November Vera Lynn; Eddy Howard "Auf Wiedersehen, Sweetheart"7 weeks
29 November
6 December
13 December
20 December
27 December

1953

DateArtistSingleWeeks at number one
3 January Vera Lynn; Eddy Howard "Auf Wiedersehen, Sweetheart"7 weeks
10 January Rosemary Clooney "Half As Much"1 week
17 January Jo Stafford; Dean Martin "You Belong to Me"6 weeks
23 January
31 January
7 February
14 February
21 February
28 February Mario Lanza; Nat "King" Cole "Because You're Mine"2 weeks
7 March
14 March Eddie Fisher; Winifred Atwell "Lady of Spain"2 weeks
21 March
28 March Patti Page; Sammy Kaye "I Went to Your Wedding"4 weeks
4 April
11 April
18 April
25 April Louis Armstrong; Pearl Bailey "Takes Two to Tango"2 weeks
2 May
9 May Red Foley; Perry Como "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes"2 weeks
16 May
23 May Teresa Brewer "Till I Waltz Again With You"5 weeks
30 May
6 June
13 June Dinah Shore "Hi-Lili Hi-Lo"1 week
20 JuneTeresa Brewer"Till I Waltz Again With You"5 weeks
27 June
4 July Ethel Merman & Dick Haymes; Perry Como & The Fontane Sisters "You're Just in Love"2 weeks
11 July
18 July Lawrence Welk; The Four Knights "Oh Happy Day"1 week
25 July Frankie Laine & Jimmy Boyd "Tell Me a Story"2 weeks
1 August
8 August Patti Page "(How Much Is) That Doggie in the Window?"2 weeks
15 August
22 August Percy Faith "The Song from Moulin Rouge (Where Is Your Heart?)"6 weeks
29 August
5 September
12 September
19 September
26 September
3 October Frank Chacksfield "Terry's Theme from "Limelight" (Eternally)"1 week
10 October Frank Sinatra; Eddie Fisher "I'm Walking Behind You"4 weeks
17 October
24 October
31 October
7 November Les Paul & Mary Ford "Vaya con Dios"4 weeks
14 November
21 November
28 November
5 December Silvana Mangano "Anna (The Baion)"1 week
12 December Jimmy Boyd "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"3 weeks
19 December
26 December

1954

DateArtistSingleWeeks at number one
2 January Nat "King" Cole "Pretend"7 weeks
9 January
16 January
23 January
30 January
6 February
13 February
20 February The Ames Brothers "You, You, You"1 week
27 February Tony Bennett "Rags to Riches"5 weeks
6 March
13 March
20 March
27 March
3 April Frank Chacksfield "Ebb Tide"2 weeks
10 April
17 April Dean Martin "That's Amore"3 weeks
24 April
1 May
8 May Eddie Fisher "Oh My Pa-Pa (O Mein Papa)"4 weeks
15 May
22 May
29 May
5 June Nat "King" Cole
Frankie Laine
"Answer Me, My Love"
"Answer Me, Lord Above"
4 weeks
12 June
19 June
26 June
3 July Frank Sinatra "Young at Heart"3 weeks
10 July
17 July
24 July Perry Como "Wanted"1 weeks
31 July Frank Weir; Obernkirchen Children's Choir "The Happy Wanderer"8 weeks
7 August
14 August
21 August
28 August
4 September
11 September
18 September
25 September Frank Sinatra; The Four Aces "Three Coins in the Fountain"2 weeks
2 October
9 October The Gaylords; Petula Clark "The Little Shoemaker"2 weeks
16 October
23 October Kitty Kallen "Little Things Mean a Lot"5 weeks
30 October
6 November
13 November
20 November
27 November Dean Martin "Sway"1 week
4 December The Crew Cuts "Sh-Boom"4 weeks
11 December
18 December
25 December

1955

DateArtistSingleWeeks at number one
1 January The Four Lads "Skokiaan"2 weeks
8 January
15 January Mario Lanza "Serenade (From "The Student Prince")"2 weeks
22 January
29 January Don Cornell; Nat "King" Cole "Hold My Hand"6 weeks
5 February
12 February
19 February
26 February
5 March
12 March Eddie Fisher "I Need You Now"3 weeks
19 March
26 March
2 April The Four Aces; The Chordettes "Mr Sandman"4 weeks
9 April
16 April
23 April
30 April Joan Weber; Teresa Brewer "Let Me Go, Lover"2 weeks
7 May
14 May Dean Martin; The Ames Brothers "The Naughty Lady of Shady Lane"2 weeks
21 May
28 May The Four Aces; Billy Vaughn "Melody of Love"6 weeks
4 June
11 June
18 June
25 June
2 July
9 July Victor Young; Les Baxter "The High and the Mighty"3 weeks
16 July
23 July
30 July Les Baxter; Perez Prado "Cherry Pink and Apple Blossom White"3 weeks
6 August
13 August
20 August Bill Haley & His Comets "Rock Around the Clock"6 weeks
27 August
3 September
10 September
17 September
24 September
1 October Darryl Stewart "A Man Called Peter"1 week
8 October Al Hibbler; Les Baxter "Unchained Melody"5 weeks
15 October
22 October
29 October
5 November
12 November Frank Sinatra "Learnin' the Blues"1 week
19 November Tony Bennett "Stranger in Paradise"3 weeks
26 November
3 December
10 December "Tennessee" Ernie Ford; Fess Parker "The Ballad of Davy Crockett"4 weeks
17 December
24 December
31 December

1956

DateArtistSingleWeeks at number one
7 January Mitch Miller "The Yellow Rose of Texas"6 weeks
14 January
21 January
28 January
4 February
11 February
18 February "Tennessee" Ernie Ford; Frankie Laine "Sixteen Tons"6 weeks
25 February
3 March
10 March
17 March
24 March
31 March Al Hibbler "He"2 weeks
7 April
14 April Dean Martin "Memories Are Made of This"5 weeks
21 April
28 April
5 May
12 May
19 May Louis Armstrong "Mack the Knife"4 weeks
26 May
2 June
9 June
16 June Kay Starr "The Rock and Roll Waltz"5 weeks
23 June
30 June
7 July
14 July
21 July The Platters "The Great Pretender"3 weeks
28 July
4 August
11 August Les Baxter "The Poor People of Paris"1 week
18 August Morris Stoloff "Moonglow and Love Theme (from 'Picnic')"1 week
25 August Joe "Fingers" Carr "Portuguese Washerwomen"3 weeks
1 September
8 September
15 September Doris Day "Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)"8 weeks
22 September
29 September
6 October
13 October
20 October
27 October
3 November
10 November Perry Como "Hot Diggity (Dog Ziggity Boom)"4 weeks
17 November
24 November
1 December
8 December Johnnie Ray "Just Walking in the Rain"9 weeks
15 December
22 December
29 December

1957

DateArtistSingleWeeks at number one
5 January Johnnie Ray "Just Walking in the Rain"9 weeks
12 January
19 January
26 January
2 February
9 February Rosemary Clooney "Hey There"4 weeks
16 February
23 February
2 March
9 March Guy Mitchell "Singing the Blues"6 weeks
16 March
23 March
30 March
6 April
13 April
20 April Eddie Fisher "Cindy, Oh Cindy"2 weeks
27 April
4 May Tab Hunter; Sonny James "Young Love"3 weeks
11 May
18 May
25 May Terry Gilkyson and The Easy Riders "Marianne"3 weeks
1 June
8 June
15 June Jim Lowe "Green Door"1 week
22 June Perry Como; The Four Lads "Round and Round"8 weeks
29 June
6 July
13 July
20 July
27 July
3 August
10 August
17 August Marty Robbins "A White Sport Coat"4 weeks
24 August
31 August
7 September
14 September Johnny Mathis "Wonderful! Wonderful!"1 week
21 September Pat Boone "Love Letters in the Sand"5 weeks
28 September
5 October
12 October
19 October
26 October Bing Crosby; Nat "King" Cole "Around the World"8 weeks
2 November
9 November
16 November
23 November
30 November
7 December
14 December
21 December Paul Anka "Diana"8 weeks
28 December

1958

DateArtistSingleWeeks at number one
4 January Paul Anka "Diana"8 weeks
11 January
18 January
24 January
1 February
8 February
15 February Pat Boone "April Love"6 weeks
22 February
1 March
8 March
15 March
22 March
29 March Johnny Mathis "The Twelfth of Never"1 week
5 April Perry Como "Catch a Falling Star"8 weeks
12 April
19 April
26 April
3 May
10 May
17 May
24 May
31 May Laurie London "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands"4 weeks
7 June
14 June
21 June
28 June The Platters "Twilight Time"4 weeks
5 July
12 July
19 July
26 July The Music of David Seville "Witch Doctor"1 week
2 August Sheb Wooley "The Purple People Eater"6 weeks
9 August
16 August
23 August
30 August
6 September Slim Dusty "A Pub With No Beer"1 week
13 SeptemberSheb Wooley"The Purple People Eater"6 weeks
20 September The Kalin Twins "When"1 week
27 September Perez Prado "Patricia"1 week
4 October The Everly Brothers "Bird Dog"3 weeks
11 October
18 October
25 October Domenico Modugno; Dean Martin "Volare"7 weeks
1 November
8 November
15 November
22 November
29 November
6 December
13 December Tommy Edwards "It's All in the Game"1 week
20 December The Kingston Trio "Tom Dooley"8 weeks
27 December

1959

DateArtistSingleWeeks at number one
3 January The Kingston Trio "Tom Dooley"8 weeks
10 January
17 January
23 January
31 January
7 February
14 February The Platters "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes"10 weeks
21 February
28 February
7 March
14 March
21 March
28 March
4 April
11 April
18 April
25 April Chris Barber's Jazz Band "Petite Fleur"1 week
2 May Frankie Avalon "Venus"2 weeks
9 May
16 May Elvis Presley "A Fool Such as I"6 weeks
23 May
30 May
6 June
13 June
20 June
27 June Lloyd Price "Personality"5 weeks
4 July
11 July
18 July
25 July
1 August Johnny Horton "The Battle of New Orleans"6 weeks
8 August
15 August
22 August
29 August
5 September
12 September Conway Twitty "Mona Lisa"2 weeks
19 September
26 September The Browns "The Three Bells"5 weeks
3 October
10 October
17 October
24 October
31 October Johnnie Ray "I'll Never Fall in Love Again"2 weeks
7 November
14 November Col Joye and the Joy Boys "Oh Yeah Uh Huh"4 weeks
21 November
28 November
5 December
12 December Bill Haley & His Comets "Joey's Song" / "Ooh! Look-a-There, Ain't She Pretty?"8 weeks
(5 weeks in 1960)
19 December
26 December

See also

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References