January-May 1953
The following are some of the songs that were popular in the year 1953. Kay Starr would debut on the national charts on the week of January 31 with “Side By Side”, a song that would peak at #3. Patti Page would also debut on the week of January 31 with her recording of “Doggie In The Window” (this song would peak at #1 for 8 weeks). “Downhearted” by Eddie Fisher would debut on the week of February 7, peaking at #5. “Pretend” by Nat ‘King’ Cole would also debut on the week of February 7, peaking at #2. “Your Cheatin’ Heart” by Joni James would enter the nation’s charts on the week of February 21 (this record would peak at #2 and it would be a cover of the Hank Williams Sr version , a version that was #1 on the country charts for 6 weeks). “I Believe” by Frankie Laine would also debut on the week of February 21, peaking at #2. “I’m Sittin’ On Top Of The World” by Les Paul & Mary Ford would debut on the week of March 28, peaking at #10. “The Song From Moulin Rouge” by Percy Faith would debut on the week of April 4 (this song would feature a vocal by Felicia Sanders and it would peak at #1 for 10 weeks). “April In Portugal” by Les Baxter would also debut on the national charts on the week of April 4, peaking at #2. “Ruby” by Richard Hayman would debut on the week of April 11, peaking at #3. Eddie Fisher would debut on the week of May 9 with “I’m Walking Behind You”, a song that would peak at #1 for 7 weeks. Red Buttons would enter the national charts on the week of May 9 with “Strange Things Are Happening”, a song that would peak at #15. Les Baxter’s version of “Ruby” would debut on the week of May 23, peaking at #7.
Frank Chacksfield would hit the charts in the summer of 1953
June-December 1953
“P.S I Love You” by The Hilltoppers would debut on the week of June 13, peaking at #4. “Vaya Con Dios” by Les Paul & Mary ford would debut on the week of June 20, peaking at #1 for 11 weeks. Perry Como would also debut on the week of June 20 with “No Other Love”, a song that would peak at #1 for 4 weeks. “You, You, You” by The Ames Brothers would debut on the charts on the week of June 27, peaking at #1 for 8 weeks. “Oh” by Pee Wee Hunt would debut on the week of July 4, peaking sat #3. “I Love Paris” by Les Baxter would enter the national charts on the week of July 18, peaking at #13. “Crying In The Chapel” by Sonny Til & The Orioles would debut on the week of August 22, peaking at #11. “Ebb Tide” by Frank Chacksfield would enter the charts on the week of August 29, peaking at #2. “Dragnet” by Ray Anthony would also debut on the week of August 29 (the theme song of the popular TV show would peak at #2.
Tony Bennett would debut on the week of September 19 with “Rags To Riches”, a song that would peak at #1 for 8 weeks. “Ricochet” by Teresa Brewer would debut on the week of October 3, peaking at #2. Stan Freberg would be the master of parody during this time period. He would do 2 parodies of “Dragnet”, the first being “St. George And The Dragonet” and the second being “Little Blue Riding Hood”. “St. George And The Dragonet” would debut on the week of October 3, peaking at #1 for 4 weeks. “Little Blue Riding Hood” would debut on the week of October 10, peaking at #9. “Many Times” by Eddie Fisher would debut on the week of October 10, peaking at #4. “Istanbul” by The Four Lads would debut on the week of October 24, peaking at #10. “Love Walked In” by The Hilltoppers would also debut on the week of October 24, peaking at #8. “You Alone” by Perry Como would debut on the week of October 31, peaking at #9. “That’s Amore” by Dean Martin would debut on the week of November 14, peaking at #2. “Marie” by The Four Tunes would debut on the week of November 21, peaking at #13. Patti Page would debut on the week of November 28 with her latest hit called “Changing Partners” (this song would peak at #3).
The Four Aces would debut on the week of December 5 with their double sided hit, “Stranger In Paradise” (this song would peak at #3 and “The Gang That Sang Heart Of My Heart” (this song would peak at #7). Peggy Lee would also debut on the week of December 5 with her recording of “Baubles, Bangles And Beads” (this song would peak at #30). “Oh My Pa Pa” by Eddie Fisher would debut on the charts on the week of December 12, peaking at #1 for 8 weeks. 🙂 🙂 🙂
References: “Pop Memories, 1890-1954” and “Top 40 Country Hits 1944-1996”, both by Joel Whitburn.
