List of Billboard number-one country songs of 1955 explained

In 1955, Billboard magazine published three charts covering the best-performing country music songs in the United States: Most Played in Juke Boxes, Best Sellers in Stores, and Most Played By Jockeys. The juke box chart was based on a "survey among operators thruout the country using a high proportion of country and western records", the best sellers chart on a survey of "dealers...with a high volume of country and western records" and the jockeys chart a survey of "top disk jockeys in all key markets". All three charts are considered part of the lineage of the magazine's current country music songs charts.[1]

As in the previous year, the number one position on all three charts was dominated during 1955 by Webb Pierce, the most successful country singer of the mid-1950s.[2] His rendition of "In the Jailhouse Now", an early 20th-century song most associated in the country music field with 1920s country pioneer Jimmie Rodgers,[3] [4] spent 21 weeks at number one on the juke box chart beginning in March. This run tied the record held by Eddy Arnold's "I'll Hold You in My Heart (Till I Can Hold You in My Arms)" (1947 - 48) and Hank Snow's "I'm Moving On" (1950) for the most weeks spent atop one of Billboards country charts. The three songs would share the record for more than fifty years until Florida Georgia Line spent a 22nd week at number one on the Hot Country Songs listing in 2013 with "Cruise".[5] "In the Jailhouse Now" was also the longest-running chart-topper of 1955 on both the best sellers and jockeys charts, spending 20 weeks and 15 weeks respectively in the top spot. Pierce's grip on the number one position was strongest on the juke box chart, on which he spent 47 weeks at number one, including one week when he tied for the top spot. Carl Smith (four weeks, including one tied with Pierce), Eddy Arnold (two weeks) and Tennessee Ernie Ford (one week) were the only other artists to top that listing in issues of Billboard with a cover date of 1955.

The same four artists were also the only ones to top the best sellers chart, but three other acts reached number one on the jockeys chart, including two who achieved their first chart-toppers in 1955. Faron Young reached number one for the first time in June with "Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young", which spent three weeks topping the listing.[6] The song was replaced in the top spot by "A Satisfied Mind" by Porter Wagoner, which was similarly the first appearance at number one for the singer.[7] The third artist to top only the jockeys chart was Hank Snow, who reached number one on the airplay-based listing with "Let Me Go, Lover!" The final number one of the year on both the juke box and best sellers charts was Tennessee Ernie Ford's "Sixteen Tons", which also crossed over to top the magazine's pop charts.[8] The last jockeys chart of 1955 had Pierce at number one with "Love, Love, Love".

Chart history

Beginning with the April 9 issue, Billboard listed both sides of a single jointly at number one on the Best Sellers and Juke Box charts if "significant action [was] reported on both sides of a record". It did not indicate that the single was officially released or promoted as a double A-side.

Issue date!scope=col colspan=2
Juke Boxscope=col colspan=2Best Sellersscope=col colspan=2Jockeysscope=col rowspan=2 class=unsortable
scope=colTitlescope=colArtist(s)scope=colTitlescope=colArtist(s)scope=colTitlescope=colArtist(s)
scope=row"More And More""More And More""More And More"[9]
scope=row"Loose Talk""Loose Talk"[10]
scope=row[11]
scope=row rowspan=2
"Loose Talk"[12]
scope=row"Let Me Go, Lover!"[13]
scope=row[14]
scope=row"Loose Talk"[15]
scope=row"More And More"[16]
scope=row"In the Jailhouse Now"[17]
scope=row"In the Jailhouse Now""In the Jailhouse Now"[18]
scope=row[19]
scope=row[20]
scope=row[21]
scope=row[22]
scope=row[23]
scope=row[24]
scope=row[25]
scope=row[26]
scope=row[27]
scope=row[28]
scope=row[29]
scope=row[30]
scope=row[31]
scope=row[32]
scope=row"Live Fast, Love Hard, Die Young"[33]
scope=row
scope=row[34]
scope=row""[35]
scope=row"I Don't Care"[36]
scope=row[37]
scope=row"I Don't Care"[38]
scope=row"I Don't Care"[39]
scope=row[40]
scope=row[41]
scope=row[42]
scope=row[43]
scope=row[44]
scope=row[45]
scope=row[46]
scope=row[47]
scope=row"Cattle Call" / "Kentuckian Song"[48]
scope=row[49]
scope=row"That Do Make It Nice""Love, Love, Love" / "If You Were Me"[50]
scope=row"Love, Love, Love"[51]
scope=row"Love, Love, Love" / "If You Were Me"[52]
scope=row[53]
scope=row[54]
scope=row[55]
scope=row[56]
scope=row[57]
scope=row"Sixteen Tons"[58]
scope=row[59]
scope=row"Sixteen Tons"[60]
Notesa. Two singles tied for number one on the juke box chart.
b. B-side "I'm Gonna Fall Out of Love With You" listed jointly at number one in the April 9 issue only
c. B-side "Your Good For Nothing Heart" listed jointly at number one through the issue dated August 13 only
d. B-side "Your Good For Nothing Heart" listed jointly at number one through the issue dated August 20 only
e. Both sides listed jointly at number one in both issues
f. B-side "Just Call Me Lonesome" listed jointly at number one in the October 22 issue only
g. "If You Were Me" not listed jointly at number one in the November 12 issue
h. "If You Were Me" not listed jointly at number one in the December 3 issue

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Whitburn, Joel. Joel Whitburn

    . Joel Whitburn's Top Country Songs: 1944-2005. ix. Joel Whitburn. Record Research. 2005. 9780898201659.

  2. Web site: Webb Pierce Biography & History. AllMusic. Stephen Thomas. Erlewine. September 9, 2018. September 10, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180910014745/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/webb-pierce-mn0000198901/biography. live.
  3. Book: George-Warren, Holly. Public Cowboy No. 1: The Life and Times of Gene Autry. Oxford University Press. 2007. 9780199884292.
  4. Book: Waiting for a Train: Jimmie Rodgers's America. Mary. Davis. Warren. Zanes. Rounder Books. 2009. 9781579401238.
  5. Web site: Florida Georgia Line set all-time chart record with 'Cruise'. Sterling. Whitaker. The Boot. Townsquare Media. August 1, 2013. May 11, 2018. January 2, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210102174152/https://theboot.com/florida-georgia-line-chart-record-cruise/. live.
  6. Web site: Faron Young Biography & History. AllMusic. Stephen Thomas. Erlewine. September 18, 2018. September 18, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180918231239/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/faron-young-mn0000143951/biography. live.
  7. Porter Wagoner, 1927-2007. Chris. Willman. October 29, 2007. September 18, 2018. Entertainment Weekly. September 18, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180918230910/https://ew.com/article/2007/10/29/porter-wagoner/. live.
  8. Book: Collins, Ace . 1996. The Stories Behind Country Music's All-time Greatest: 100 Songs. Berkeley Publishing Group. 91–93. 9781572970724.
  9. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=5B0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA30. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 30. January 1, 1955. September 16, 2018.
  10. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=zxkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA33. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 33. January 8, 1955. September 17, 2018.
  11. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=rRkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA57. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 57. January 15, 1955. September 18, 2018.
  12. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=3h0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA38. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 38. January 22, 1955. September 18, 2018.
  13. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=UhkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA52. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 52. January 29, 1955. September 18, 2018.
  14. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=UxkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA42. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 42. February 5, 1955. September 19, 2018.
  15. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=1RkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA52. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 52. February 12, 1955. September 19, 2018.
  16. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=5R0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA49. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 49. February 19, 1955. September 19, 2018.
  17. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=QxkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA55. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 55. February 26, 1955. September 19, 2018.
  18. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=QRkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA34. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 34. March 5, 1955. September 19, 2018.
  19. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=mx4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA44. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 44. March 12, 1955. September 19, 2018.
  20. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=7B0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA45. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 45. March 19, 1955. September 19, 2018.
  21. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=9R0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA130. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 130 - 134. March 26, 1955. September 19, 2018.
  22. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=7R0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA38. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 38. April 2, 1955. September 20, 2018.
  23. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=vRkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA43. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 43. April 9, 1955. September 20, 2018.
  24. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=BxwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA43. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 43. April 16, 1955. September 20, 2018.
  25. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=BhwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA54. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 54. April 23, 1955. September 20, 2018.
  26. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=CBwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA44. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 44. April 30, 1955. September 20, 2018.
  27. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=BRwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA45. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 45. May 7, 1955. September 20, 2018.
  28. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=CRwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA46. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 46. May 14, 1955. September 21, 2018.
  29. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=ChwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA30. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 30 - 34. May 21, 1955. September 21, 2018.
  30. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=CxwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA58. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 58. May 28, 1955. September 21, 2018.
  31. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=pBwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA38. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 38. June 4, 1955. September 21, 2018.
  32. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=iRwEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA45. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 45. June 11, 1955. September 21, 2018.
  33. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=Ch0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA38. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 38. June 18, 1955. September 21, 2018.
  34. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=FCEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA46. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 46. July 2, 1955. September 21, 2018.
  35. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=NyMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA44. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 44 - 47. July 9, 1955. September 21, 2018.
  36. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=OSMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA42. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 42. July 16, 1955. September 21, 2018.
  37. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=KyMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA87. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 87. July 23, 1955. September 21, 2018.
  38. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=jSEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA40. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 40. July 30, 1955. September 21, 2018.
  39. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=DSEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA63. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 63. August 6, 1955. September 21, 2018.
  40. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=1yMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA49. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 49. August 13, 1955. September 21, 2018.
  41. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=OCMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA44. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 44. August 20, 1955. September 22, 2018.
  42. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=PCMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA58. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 58. August 27, 1955. September 22, 2018.
  43. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=LyEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA43. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 43. September 3, 1955. September 22, 2018.
  44. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=JCEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA46. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 46. September 10, 1955. September 22, 2018.
  45. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=2CMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA54. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 54. September 17, 1955. September 22, 2018.
  46. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=DCMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA40. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 40. September 24, 1955. September 22, 2018.
  47. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=GCMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA66. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 66. October 1, 1955. September 22, 2018.
  48. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=xyEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA49. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 49. October 8, 1955. September 22, 2018.
  49. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=CyMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT34. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 46. October 15, 1955. September 23, 2018.
  50. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=2SMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA42. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 42. October 22, 1955. September 23, 2018.
  51. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=OiMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA47. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 47. October 29, 1955. September 23, 2018.
  52. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=OyMEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA44. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 44. November 5, 1955. September 23, 2018.
  53. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=yCEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA108. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 108 - 112. November 12, 1955. September 23, 2018.
  54. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=wyEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA48. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 48. November 19, 1955. September 23, 2018.
  55. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=vCEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA46. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 46. November 26, 1955. September 23, 2018.
  56. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=ZUUEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA58. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 58. December 3, 1955. September 23, 2018.
  57. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=uiEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA55. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 55. December 10, 1955. September 23, 2018.
  58. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=siEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA61. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 61. December 17, 1955. September 23, 2018.
  59. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=xSEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA33. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 33. December 24, 1955. September 23, 2018.
  60. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=riEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA30. The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records. Billboard. 30. December 31, 1955. September 23, 2018.

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