January-March 1951
This was the year that Perry Como soared to the top of the national charts with his big hit called “If”. This song would debut on the national charts on the week of January 13 and it would peak at #1 for 8 weeks. Eddie Fisher would enter the charts on the week of February 3 with his hit called “Bring Back The Thrill (a song that would peak at #14). Lester Polfuss and Colleen Summers would be known to the musical world as Les Paul & Mary Ford.
Their recording of “Mockingbird Hill” would enter the national charts on the week of February 17 and it would peak at #2. Patti Page would also have a big hit with “Mockingbird Hill” (her version would debut on the week of February 24, also peaking at #2).
Billy Eckstine would enter the national charts on the week of March 3 with his big hit “I Apologize” (this song would peak at #6). The Weavers had already given us “Goodnight Irene” and now they would enter the nation’s Top 40 on the week of March 31 with their newest hit called “On Top Of Old Smokey” (this song would peak at #2). Les Paul & Mary Ford would enter the charts again on the week of March 31 with their big hit called “How High The Moon” (it would peak at #1 for 9 weeks).
April-July 1951
Nat ‘King’ Cole would enter the charts on the week of April 14 with his classic recording of “Too Young” (this song would peak at #1 for 5 weeks). Frankie Laine would debut on the charts on the week of May 5 with his newest hit called “Jezabel” (this song would peak at #2). Patti Page, “the singing rage”, would enter the nation’s charts on the week of May 19 with her newest hit called “Mister And Mississippi” (it would peak at #8). “My Truly Truly Fair” by Guy Mitchell would debut on the week of June 2 and it would peak at #2. This was the year in which Tony Bennett would score his first national hit. Tony’s hit,”Because Of You”, would debut on the week of June 23, (peaking at #1 for 10 weeks). Doris Day would debut on the week of June 30 with her newest hit called “Shanghai” (this song would peak at #7). Rosemary Clooney would enter the nation’s charts on the week of July 7 with her hit called “Come On A My House” (#1 for 8 weeks). “I’ll Hold You In My Heart” by Eddie Fisher would debut on the week of July 21 (peaking at #18). Tony Bennett had already given us “Because Of You” and now he would enter the national charts again on the week of July 28 with his new chart topper “Cold Cold Heart” (#1 for 6 weeks).
August-December 1951
Patti Page would now enter the charts with “Detour Ahead” (this song would debut August 4, peaking at #5). Les Paul & Mary Ford would score another hit with “The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise” (debut August 18, peak at #2). Del Wood would enter the national charts on the week of September 1 with “Down Yonder” (this song would peak at #4). On the week of September 15, The Four Aces would enter the charts with their version of “It’s No Sin” (this song would peak at #4). Eddy Howard would debut on the week of September 22 with his version of “It’s No Sin” (this was Eddy Howard’s signature hit, peaking at #1 for 8 weeks). “Turn Back The Hands Of Time” by Eddie Fisher would debut on the week of September 29, peaking at #8. “Undecided” by The Ames Brothers would enter the nation’s charts on the week of September 29, peaking at #2
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Pictured above-Pee Wee King on the left and Redd Stewart on the right
Pee Wee King & His Golden West Cowboys would enjoy a big country crossover hit with “Slowpoke” (this song would feature a vocal by Redd Stewart and it would debut on the week of November 3, peaking at #1 for 3 weeks). Besides writing “Slowpoke”, Pee Wee King would also write “The Tennessee Waltz” and “You Belong To me”, two of the bigger hits of this time period. Nat ‘King’ Cole would enter the national charts on the week of November 3 with his newest hit called “Unforgettable” (this song would peak at #12). Jo Stafford would debut on the week of November 10 with her recording of “Shrimp Boats”, a song that would peak at #2. Jo’s biggest hit was yet to come in the summer of 1952. Johnnie Ray would burst onto the musical scene on the week of November 24 with a double sided hit, “The Little White Cloud That Cried” and “Cry”. “The Little White Cloud That Cried would peak at #2, while “Cry” would become Johnnie’s signature hit, peaking at #1 for 10 weeks. Eddie Fisher would enter the national charts on the week of December 8 with his newest hit called “Anytime” (this song would peak at #2). “Tell Me Why” by The Four Aces would also debut on the week of December 8, also peaking at #2. “The Blue Tango” by Leroy Anderson would debut on December 21, peaking at #1 for 5 weeks. 🙂 🙂 🙂
Reference: “Pop Memories 1890-1954” by Joel Whitburn.
