List of Billboard number-one country songs of 1957 explained

In 1957, Billboard magazine published three charts covering the best-performing country music songs in the United States: Most Played C&W in Juke Boxes, which had appeared in Billboard since 1944, C&W Best Sellers in Stores, which had debuted in 1948, and Most Played C&W by Jockeys, which had launched in 1949. The "C&W" used in the titles of the charts was an abbreviation for "country and western", a term which Billboard had adopted for the genre in 1949, replacing the earlier "folk music".[1] The Juke Box chart was published for the final time in the issue of Billboard dated June 17, 1957. The other two listings merged in 1958 to form a combined chart, which since 2005 has been published as Hot Country Songs.[2] At the start of 1957, the number-one position on all three charts was held by "Singing the Blues" by Marty Robbins, who achieved a second number one in June with "A White Sport Coat (And A Pink Carnation)". The latter song also topped all three charts and was at number one on the final C&W juke box chart published by Billboard. Robbins was the only artist with more than one chart-topper on the juke box listing, and his total of eleven weeks in the top spot was the most by any artist on the chart. Three other acts had more than one country number one in 1957. Bobby Helms took both "Fraulein" and "My Special Angel" to the top of both the best sellers and jockeys charts; the singles were his first two chart entries but would prove to be the only country number ones of his career.[3] The Everly Brothers also topped both charts with "Bye Bye Love" and "Wake Up Little Susie". Elvis Presley was the only act with three country number ones during the year; he reached the peak position on the juke box chart in May with "All Shook Up" and later in the year topped the best sellers chart with the double-sided entries "Teddy Bear" / "Loving You" and "Jailhouse Rock" / "Treat Me Nice". Despite their success on the other charts, none of Presley's songs topped the jockeys chart, which was based on radio airplay. Three songs topped only the jockeys chart, including "Four Walls" by Jim Reeves, which spent eight non-consecutive weeks atop the listing beginning in May, but failed to top either of the other two charts.

Sonny James achieved his first country number one in 1957 with "Young Love", which also topped Billboards pop airplay chart.[4] The singer, dubbed the "Southern Gentleman", would go on to become one of the most successful artists in country music history, with more than 20 number ones.[5] [6] Rock and roll pioneer Jerry Lee Lewis, whose early recordings were successful on the country charts, reached number one for the first time in September with "Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On",[7] which was also a rhythm and blues number one.[8] The song has been included on lists of the greatest tracks of all time,[9] and in 2015 was selected for permanent preservation in the National Recording Registry at the Library of Congress.[10] The Everly Brothers also topped the country charts for the first time, with "Bye Bye Love",[11] and returned to number one later in the year with "Wake Up Little Susie", which also topped Billboards pop and R&B charts.[12] The brothers had the highest total number of weeks atop both the country best sellers and jockeys charts, with 14 and 15 weeks respectively at number one. "Gone" by Ferlin Husky had the longest unbroken run at number one on any of the charts, topping the best sellers chart for ten consecutive weeks.

Chart history

In 1957, Billboard sometimes listed both sides of a single jointly at number one on the Best Sellers and Juke Box charts, based on a methodology which combined the survey data for both songs if "significant action [was] reported on both sides of a record". This does 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"Singing the Blues""Singing the Blues""Singing the Blues"[13]
scope=row[14]
scope=row[15]
scope=row[16]
scope=row"Young Love"[17]
scope=row[18]
scope=row"Young Love""Young Love""Singing the Blues"[19]
scope=row"Young Love"[20]
scope=row"There You Go" / "Train of Love"[21]
scope=row[22]
scope=row"Young Love"[23]
scope=row[24]
scope=row"There You Go" / "Train of Love"[25]
scope=row"Gone""Gone"[26]
scope=row[27]
scope=row"Gone"[28]
scope=row[29]
scope=row[30]
scope=row[31]
scope=row"All Shook Up"[32]
scope=row rowspan=2"Gone"[33]
"""Honky Tonk Song"
scope=row rowspan=2"Gone"[34]
"Four Walls"
scope=row""[35]
scope=row"""Four Walls"[36]
scope=row[37]
scope=row[38]
scope=row[39]
scope=row[40]
scope=row"Bye Bye Love"[41]
scope=row[42]
scope=row"Bye Bye Love"[43]
scope=row"Teddy Bear" / "Loving You"[44]
scope=row"Bye Bye Love"align=center rowspan=2[45]
scope=row
scope=row[46]
scope=row[47]
scope=row"Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On"[48]
scope=row"Fraulein"[49]
scope=row"Fraulein"[50]
scope=row"My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You"[51]
scope=row"Fraulein"[52]
scope=row"Wake Up Little Susie"[53]
scope=row"My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You"align=center rowspan=2[54]
scope=row"Wake Up Little Susie"
scope=row[55]
scope=row[56]
scope=row[57]
scope=row[58]
scope=row"Jailhouse Rock" / "Treat Me Nice"[59]
scope=row"My Special Angel"[60]
scope=row"My Shoes Keep Walking Back to You"[61]
scope=row"Wake Up Little Susie"[62]
scope=row"My Special Angel"[63]
Notesa. B-side "You're the Reason (I'm in Love)" listed jointly at number one from the March 16 issue onwards
b. "Train of Love" not listed jointly at number one in the March 30 issue
c. Both sides listed jointly at number one
d. Due to a change in Billboards cover-dating policy, the issue after that dated April 27 was dated April 29.
e. Two singles tied for number one on both the Juke Box and Jockeys charts.
f. Two singles tied for number one on the Jockeys chart.

See also

Notes and References

  1. Book: Whitburn, Joel. Joel Whitburn

    . The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits. 1996. 978-0-8230-8289-6. Watson-Guptill. 8. Joel Whitburn.

  2. Book: Whitburn, Joel. Joel Whitburn

    . Joel Whitburn's Top Country Songs: 1944 - 2005. ix. Record Research. 2005. 978-0-89820-165-9. Joel Whitburn.

  3. Book: Whitburn, Joel. Joel Whitburn

    . The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits. Joel Whitburn. 1996. 978-0-8230-8289-6. Watson-Guptill. 145.

  4. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=TCAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA52. Pop Records & Sheet Music. Billboard. February 9, 1957. September 20, 2021. 38.
  5. Web site: Sonny James Biography & History. AllMusic. July 20, 2018. John. Bush. July 20, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180720135715/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/sonny-james-mn0000036849/biography. live.
  6. 'Young Love' Singer Sonny James Dead at 87. Rolling Stone. Stephen L.. Betts. February 22, 2016. July 20, 2018. July 20, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180720135849/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-country/young-love-singer-sonny-james-dead-at-87-104678/. live.
  7. Book: Whitburn, Joel. Joel Whitburn

    . The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits. Joel Whitburn. 1996. 978-0-8230-8289-6. Watson-Guptill. 184.

  8. Book: Whitburn, Joel . Joel Whitburn

    . Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004 . Joel Whitburn . 2004 . Record Research . 347. 978-0-89820-160-4.

  9. 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Rolling Stone. July 26, 2018. June 29, 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180629131557/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/lists/the-500-greatest-songs-of-all-time-20110407/jerry-lee-lewis-whole-lotta-shakin-going-on-20110525. live.
  10. Web site: Jerry Lee Lewis: 'Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On'. Sound on Sound. July 26, 2018. Richard. Buskin. June 2011. May 25, 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160525045714/http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/jun11/articles/classic-tracks-0611.htm. live.
  11. Book: Whitburn, Joel. Joel Whitburn

    . The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits. 1996. 978-0-8230-8289-6. Watson-Guptill. 105. Joel Whitburn.

  12. Web site: 58 Years Ago: The Everly Brothers' 'Wake Up Little Susie' Goes to No.1. The Boot. Townsquare Media. Gayle. Thompson. October 14, 2015. November 12, 2020. November 12, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201112214335/https://theboot.com/the-everly-brothers-wake-up-little-susie-no-1/. live.
  13. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=WyAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA43. Country & Western Records. Billboard. January 5, 1957. July 18, 2018. 43.
  14. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=XSAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA46. Country & Western Records. Billboard. January 12, 1957. July 18, 2018. 46.
  15. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=ZSAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA46. Country & Western Records. Billboard. January 19, 1957. July 18, 2018. 46.
  16. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=VCAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA96. Country & Western Records. Billboard. January 26, 1957. July 18, 2018. 96.
  17. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=VyAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA54. Country & Western Records. Billboard. February 2, 1957. July 18, 2018. 54.
  18. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=TCAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA52. Country & Western Records. Billboard. February 9, 1957. July 18, 2018. 52.
  19. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=fx4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA60. Country & Western Records. Billboard. February 16, 1957. July 18, 2018. 60.
  20. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=gh4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA65. Country & Western Records. Billboard. February 23, 1957. July 18, 2018. 65.
  21. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=NiAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA60. Country & Western Records. Billboard. March 2, 1957. July 18, 2018. 60.
  22. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=LyAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA58. Country & Western Records. Billboard. March 9, 1957. July 18, 2018. 58.
  23. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=bCAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA49. Country & Western Records. Billboard. March 16, 1957. July 18, 2018. 49.
  24. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=gCAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA84. Country & Western Records. Billboard. March 23, 1957. July 21, 2018. 84.
  25. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=iyAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA79. Country & Western Records. Billboard. March 30, 1957. July 23, 2018. 79.
  26. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=IyAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA57. Country & Western Records. Billboard. April 6, 1957. July 23, 2018. 57.
  27. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=KiAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA85. Country & Western Records. Billboard. April 13, 1957. July 23, 2018. 85.
  28. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=MCAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA58. Country & Western Records. Billboard. April 20, 1957. July 23, 2018. 58.
  29. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=FSAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA59. Country & Western Records. Billboard. April 27, 1957. July 23, 2018. 59.
  30. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=HCAEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA59. Country & Western Records. Billboard. April 29, 1957. July 23, 2018. 59.
  31. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=sx0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA65. Country & Western Records. Billboard. May 6, 1957. July 23, 2018. 65.
  32. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=px0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA73. Country & Western Records. Billboard. May 13, 1957. July 19, 2018. 73.
  33. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=qR0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA145. Country & Western Records. Billboard. May 20, 1957. July 19, 2018. 145 - 148.
  34. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=vh0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA57. Country & Western Records. Billboard. May 27, 1957. July 19, 2018. 57.
  35. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=tx0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA64. Country & Western Records. Billboard. June 3, 1957. July 19, 2018. 64.
  36. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=th0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA58. Country & Western Records. Billboard. June 10, 1957. July 19, 2018. 58.
  37. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=sB0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA72. Country & Western Records. Billboard. June 17, 1957. July 19, 2018. 72.
  38. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=yR0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA58. Country & Western Records. Billboard. June 24, 1957. July 25, 2018. 58.
  39. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=cyEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA63. Country & Western Records. Billboard. July 1, 1957. July 25, 2018. 63.
  40. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=TSEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA55. Country & Western Records. Billboard. July 8, 1957. July 25, 2018. 55.
  41. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=PiEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA92. Country & Western Records. Billboard. July 15, 1957. July 25, 2018. 92 - 94.
  42. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=ZiEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA73. Country & Western Records. Billboard. July 22, 1957. July 25, 2018. 73.
  43. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=ZyEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA59. Country & Western Records. Billboard. July 29, 1957. July 25, 2018. 59.
  44. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=USEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA56. Country & Western Records. Billboard. August 5, 1957. July 25, 2018. 56.
  45. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=SCEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA100. Country & Western Records. Billboard. August 19, 1957. July 26, 2018. 100.
  46. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=YSEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA100. Country & Western Records. Billboard. August 26, 1957. July 26, 2018. 100.
  47. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=fCEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA58. Country & Western Records. Billboard. September 2, 1957. July 26, 2018. 58.
  48. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=QSEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA61. Country & Western Records. Billboard. September 9, 1957. July 26, 2018. 61 - 62.
  49. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=ZCEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA57. Country & Western Records. Billboard. September 16, 1957. July 26, 2018. 57.
  50. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=WyEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA66. Country & Western Records. Billboard. September 23, 1957. July 27, 2018. 66.
  51. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=RCEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA59. Country & Western Records. Billboard. September 30, 1957. July 27, 2018. 59.
  52. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=3SgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA67. Country & Western Records. Billboard. October 7, 1957. July 27, 2018. 67.
  53. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=UCkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA54. Country & Western Records. Billboard. October 14, 1957. July 26, 2018. 54.
  54. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=ICkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA63. Country & Western Records. Billboard. October 28, 1957. July 26, 2018. 63.
  55. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=_SgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA56. Country & Western Records. Billboard. November 4, 1957. July 26, 2018. 56.
  56. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=XiEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA118. Country & Western Records. Billboard. November 11, 1957. July 26, 2018. 118.
  57. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=NyEEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA59. Country & Western Records. Billboard. November 18, 1957. July 26, 2018. 59.
  58. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=3ygEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA78. Country & Western Records. Billboard. November 25, 1957. July 26, 2018. 78.
  59. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=3x0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA58. Country & Western Records. Billboard. December 2, 1957. July 26, 2018. 58.
  60. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=yh0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA55. Country & Western Records. Billboard. December 9, 1957. July 26, 2018. 55.
  61. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=wR0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA60. Country & Western Records. Billboard. December 16, 1957. July 27, 2018. 60.
  62. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=xR0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA44. Country & Western Records. Billboard. December 23, 1957. July 27, 2018. 44.
  63. Book: https://books.google.com/books?id=vx0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA40. Country & Western Records. Billboard. December 30, 1957. July 18, 2018. 40.

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