Jo Stafford would climb to the top of the national charts in 1952 with “You Belong To Me”.
January-June 1952
The following is a sampling of some of the hits of 1952
Les Paul & Mary Ford would enter the nation’s charts on the week of January 5 with their latest hit called “Tiger Rag” (this song would peak at #2 and it would be a remake of a 1918 hit by The Original Dixieland Jazz Band). “Tell Me Why” by Eddie Fisher would also debut on the national charts on the week of January 5, peaking at #4. The Four Aces would also enter the nation’s Top 40 on the week of January 5 with their new hit “Garden In The Rain” (this song peaked at #14). Johnnie Ray would debut on the week of January 26 with his double sided hit called “Please Mr. Sun” (peaked at #6) and “Here Am I-Brokenhearted” (peaked at #8). Eddie Fisher would debut on the week of February 2 with “Trust In Me” (this song would peak at #25). In this year, The Weavers would debut on the national charts on the week of February 16 with “Wimoweh” (this song would peak at #14 and it would be revised in 1961 as “The Lion Sleeps Tonight). The 1961 version of the song would be recorded by The Tokens. Kay Starr would debut nationally on the week of February 16 with her chart topper “Wheel Of Fortune” (#1 for 10 weeks). In 1952, The Four Aces would debut on the week of February 23 with a vocal version of “Perfidia”. This song would be a big instrumental hit for The Ventures in 1960. “Pittsburg, Pennslyvania” by Guy Mitchell would debut on the week of March 15 and it would peak at #4. “A Guy Is A Guy” by Doris Day would also debut on the week of March 15, peaking at #1 for 1 week. “That’s The Chance You Take” by Eddie Fisher would debut on the week of April 5, peaking at #10. “The Kiss Of Fire” by Georgia Gibbs would debut on the week of April 19, peaking at #1 for 7 weeks. “Delicato” by Percy Faith would debut on the charts on the week of April 26, peaking at #1 for 1 week. “I’m Yours” by Don Cornell would debut on the week of April 26, peaking at #3 (Don Cornell had been a vocalist with the band of Sammy Kaye). In 1952, Rosemary Clooney would debut on the national charts on the week of May 5 with “Half As Much”, a song that would peak at #1 for 3 weeks. Al Martino would have a string of hits in the 1960’s, but his first big national hit would come in 1952 with “Here In My Heart” (this song would debut nationally on the week of May 17, peaking at #1 for 3 weeks). Nat “King” Cole would debut on the week of May 31 with “Somewhere Along The Way”, a song that would peak at #8. Vera Lynn would enter the nation’s Top 40 on the week of June 21 with “Auf Wiedersehen Sweetheart”, a song that would peak at #1 for 9 weeks.
July-December 1952
Nat “King” Cole would debut on the week of Jul5 with “Walking My Baby Back Home” (this song would peak at #6). Frankie Laine would enter the nation’s Top 40 on the week of July 12 with “High Noon” (a song that would peak at #5). Below is Eddie Fisher and he would debut on the national charts on the week of July 19 with “Wish You Were Here” (a song that would peak at #1 for 2 weeks)
Jo Stafford would debut on the week of August 9 with her chart topper called “You Belong To Me” (#1 for 12 weeks). “Trying” by The Hilltoppers would debut on the week of August 6, peaking at #7. “Jambalaya” by Jo Stafford would debut on the week of August 30, peaking at #3. Les Paul would also debut on the week of August 30 with his guitar solo called “Meet Mr. Callaghan” (a song that would peak at #3). Eddie Fisher would debubt on the national charts with “Lady Of Spain” on the week of September 27, peaking at #6. “Because You’re Mine” by Nat “King” Cole would also debut on the week of September 27, peaking at #6. The Mills Brothers would also debut on the week of September 27 with “Glow Worm”, a song that would peak at #1 for 3 weeks. Eddie Fisher would enter the charts on the week of October 4 with “Outside Of Heaven”, a song that would peak at #8. Joni James would enter the charts on the week of October 17 with her first big hit, a song called “Why Don’t You Believe Me”, a song that peaked at #1 for 6 weeks. “Heart And Soul” by The Four Aces would debut on the week of October 25, peaking at #11. “Hold Me, Thrill Me, Kiss Me” by Karen Chandler would also debut on the week of October 25 (this song would peak at #5 and it would become a hit again in 1965 by Mel Carter). “The Bunny Hop” by Ray Anthony would enter the charts on the week of November 1, peaking at #13. “Keep It A Secret” by Jo Stafford would debut on the week of November 15, peaking at #4. Perry Como would debut on the week of December 6 with “Don’t Let The Stars Get In Your Eyes”, a song that would peak at #1 for 5 weeks. “Lazy River” by The Mills Brothers would debut on the week of December 13, peaking at #22.
Teresa Brewer would enter the charts on the week of December 20 with her newest hit called “Till I Waltz Again With You” (a song that would peak at #1 for 7 weeks). “Tell Me You’re Mine” by The Gaylords would debut on the week of December 20, peaking at #2. The Gaylords would also have another big hit in 1954 called “The Little Shoemaker”, it also peaked at #2. 🙂 🙂 🙂
References: “Pop Memories 1890-1954” and “The Billboard Book Of Top 40 Hits, 9th Edition”, both by Joel Whitburn.
