List of Billboard number-one singles of 1948 explained

This is a list of number-one songs in the United States during the year 1948 according to Billboard magazine. Prior to the creation of the Billboard Hot 100, Billboard published multiple singles charts each week. In 1948, the following four charts were produced:

• Best Sellers in Stores – ranked the biggest selling singles in retail stores, as reported by merchants surveyed throughout the country.
• Most Played by Jockeys – ranked the most played songs on United States radio stations, as reported by radio disc jockeys and radio stations.
• Most Played in Jukeboxes – ranked the most played songs in jukeboxes across the United States.
• Honor Roll of Hits – a composite ten-position song chart which combined data from the three charts above along with three other component charts.^{[1] [2]} It served as The Billboards lead chart until the introduction of the Hot 100 in 1958 and would remain in print until 1963.^[3]

Note: In the issue dated January 10, May 1, and October 9, The Billboard reported a tie for the number-one single on one of its charts.

Issue date	Best-Selling Popular Retail Records	Records Most-Played on the Air	Most-Played Juke Box Records	Honor Roll of Hits
January 3	"Ballerina" Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra	"Ballerina" Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra	"Ballerina" Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra	"Ballerina"	^[4]
January 10		"Ballerina" Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra "Too Fat Polka" Arthur Godfrey with Orchestra under the direction of Archie Bleyer			^[5]
January 17		"Ballerina" Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra			^[6]
January 24					^[7]
January 31					^[8]
February 7					^[9]
February 14					^[10]
February 21	"I'm Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover" Art Mooney and His Orchestra	"I'm Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover" Art Mooney and His Orchestra	"I'm Looking Over a Four-Leaf Clover" Art Mooney and His Orchestra	"I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover"	^[11]
February 28					^[12]
March 6				"Now Is the Hour"	^[13]
March 13	"Mañana (Is Soon Enough for Me)" Peggy Lee with Dave Barbour and the Brazilians			"I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover"	^[14]
March 20		"Mañana (Is Soon Enough for Me)" Peggy Lee with Dave Barbour and the Brazilians		"Now Is the Hour"	^[15]
March 27			"Mañana (Is Soon Enough for Me)" Peggy Lee with Dave Barbour and the Brazilians		^[16]
April 3					^[17]
April 10					^[18]
April 17					^[19]
April 24			"Now Is the Hour" Bing Crosby with the Ken Darby Choir		^[20]
May 1			"Mañana (Is Soon Enough for Me)" Peggy Lee with Dave Barbour and the Brazilians "Now Is the Hour" Bing Crosby with the Ken Darby Choir		^[21]
May 8		"Nature Boy" King Cole with Orchestra conducted by Frank De Vol	"Now Is the Hour" Bing Crosby with the Ken Darby Choir		^[22]
May 15	"Nature Boy" King Cole with Orchestra conducted by Frank De Vol				^[23]
May 22			"You Can't Be True, Dear" Ken Griffin with Jerry Wayne	"Nature Boy"	^[24]
May 29					^[25]
June 5					^[26]
June 12					^[27]
June 19					^[28]
June 26				"You Can't Be True, Dear"	^[29]
July 3	"Woody Woodpecker" Kay Kyser and his Orchestra with Gloria Wood	"Woody Woodpecker" Kay Kyser and his Orchestra with Gloria Wood			^[30]
July 10			"Woody Woodpecker" Kay Kyser and his Orchestra with Gloria Wood		^[31]
July 17				"Woody Woodpecker"	^[32]
July 24					^[33]
July 31					^[34]
August 7				"My Happiness"	^[35]
August 14	"You Call Everybody Darlin'" Al Trace and His New Orchestra with Bob Vincent	"Love Somebody" Doris Day and Buddy Clark with Orchestra under the direction of George Siravo			^[36]
August 21			"You Call Everybody Darlin'" Al Trace and His New Orchestra with Bob Vincent		^[37]
August 28	"Twelfth Street Rag" Pee Wee Hunt and His Orchestra				^[38]
September 4				"You Call Everybody Darlin'"	^[39]
September 11					^[40]
September 18		"Twelfth Street Rag" Pee Wee Hunt and His Orchestra			^[41]
September 25					^[42]
October 2			"Twelfth Street Rag" Pee Wee Hunt and His Orchestra		^[43]
October 9	"A Tree in the Meadow" Margaret Whiting	"A Tree in the Meadow" Margaret Whiting "Twelfth Street Rag" Pee Wee Hunt and His Orchestra			^[44]
October 16		"A Tree in the Meadow" Margaret Whiting		"A Tree in the Meadow"	^[45]
October 23	"Twelfth Street Rag" Pee Wee Hunt and His Orchestra	"Twelfth Street Rag" Pee Wee Hunt and His Orchestra			^[46]
October 30		"A Tree in the Meadow" Margaret Whiting			^[47]
November 6	"Buttons and Bows" Dinah Shore and her Happy Valley Boys			"Buttons and Bows"	^[48]
November 13			"Buttons and Bows" Dinah Shore and her Happy Valley Boys		^[49]
November 20		"Buttons and Bows" Dinah Shore and her Happy Valley Boys			^[50]
November 27					^[51]
December 4					^[52]
December 11					^[53]
December 18					^[54]
December 25		"All I Want for Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)" Spike Jones and his City Slickers with George Rock			^[55]

See also

• 1948 in music

Notes and References

1. Billboard Honor Roll of Hits Represents Culmination of Disk's Life on the Charts . . The Billboard Publishing Company . 24 April 1954 . April 23, 2015 . 34 . 0006-2510 . 66. 17.
2. 24 March 1945. [{{Google books |phEEAAAAMBAJ |page=16 |plainurl=yes }} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Contest: Honor Roll of Hits – The Nation's 10 Top Tunes ]. The Billboard . 16 . 4 August 2020.
3. Web site: DVD-rom: Honor Roll of Hits Charts . . April 23, 2015.
4. 3 January 1948 . [{{Google books |ePUDAAAAMBAJ |page=PA22 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 25-27 . 10 July 2023.
5. 10 January 1948 . [{{Google books |hPUDAAAAMBAJ |page=PA18 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 18, 22, 24, 26 . 10 July 2023.
6. 17 January 1948 . [{{Google books |efUDAAAAMBAJ |page=PA22 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 26, 29–30 . 10 July 2023.
7. 24 January 1948 . [{{Google books |kPUDAAAAMBAJ |page=PA48 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 48, 52, 54, 59 . 10 July 2023.
8. 31 January 1948 . [{{Google books |c_UDAAAAMBAJ |page=22 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 25-27 . 10 July 2023.
9. 7 February 1948 . [{{Google books |h_UDAAAAMBAJ |page=24 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 24, 29-31 . 10 July 2023.
10. 14 February 1948 . [{{Google books |gfUDAAAAMBAJ |page=24 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 24, 27–29 . 10 July 2023.
11. 21 February 1948 . [{{Google books |qwcEAAAAMBAJ |page=PT19 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 24, 27–29 . 10 July 2023.
12. 28 February 1948 . [{{Google books |hvUDAAAAMBAJ |page=PA24 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 24, 28, 30, 32 . 11 July 2023.
13. 6 March 1948 . [{{Google books |gPUDAAAAMBAJ |page=PA24 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 24, 27–29 . 11 July 2023.
14. 13 March 1948 . [{{Google books |g_UDAAAAMBAJ |page=PA22 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 26, 28, 30 . 11 July 2023.
15. 20 March 1948 . [{{Google books |hfUDAAAAMBAJ |page=PA20 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 20, 23–24, 26 . 11 July 2023.
16. 27 March 1948 . [{{Google books |i_UDAAAAMBAJ |page=PA20 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 20, 24, 26, 28 . 11 July 2023.
17. 3 April 1948 . [{{Google books |fPUDAAAAMBAJ |page=PA22 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 25–27 . 11 July 2023.
18. 10 April 1948 . [{{Google books |f_UDAAAAMBAJ |page=PA26 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 26, 29–30, 32 . 11 July 2023.
19. 17 April 1948 . [{{Google books |e_UDAAAAMBAJ |page=PA20 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 20, 23–25 . 11 July 2023.
20. 24 April 1948 . [{{Google books |PEUEAAAAMBAJ |page=PA22 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 25–26, 30 . 11 July 2023.
21. 1 May 1948 . [{{Google books |fvUDAAAAMBAJ |page=PA24 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 24, 28–30 . 11 July 2023.
22. 8 May 1948 . [{{Google books |jPUDAAAAMBAJ |page=PA30 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 30, 33-34, 36 . 11 July 2023.
23. 15 May 1948 . [{{Google books |OAEEAAAAMBAJ |page=PA20 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 20, 24–26 . 11 July 2023.
24. 22 May 1948 . [{{Google books |LEUEAAAAMBAJ |page=PA28 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 28, 32, 34–35 . 11 July 2023.
25. 29 May 1948 . [{{Google books |lkUEAAAAMBAJ |page=PA24 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 24, 28, 30-31 . 11 July 2023.
26. 5 June 1948 . [{{Google books |iPUDAAAAMBAJ |page=PA20 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 20, 24, 26–27 . 11 July 2023.
27. 12 June 1948 . [{{Google books |evUDAAAAMBAJ |page=PA22 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 25, 26, 28 . 11 July 2023.
28. 19 June 1948 . The Billboard Music Popularity Charts . The Billboard . 34, 37-38, 40 . 15 July 2023.
29. 26 June 1948 . [{{Google books |d_UDAAAAMBAJ |page=PA22 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 23, 25–26, 28 . 11 July 2023.
30. 3 July 1948 . [{{Google books |8kQEAAAAMBAJ |page=PT19 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 20, 23–24, 28 . 11 July 2023.
31. 10 July 1948 . [{{Google books |ywwEAAAAMBAJ |page=PA20 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 20, 23–24, 26 . 11 July 2023.
32. 17 July 1948 . [{{Google books |skUEAAAAMBAJ |page=PT23 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 24, 27–28, 30 . 11 July 2023.
33. 24 July 1948 . The Billboard Music Popularity Charts . The Billboard . 20, 23–24, 26 . 11 July 2023.
34. 31 July 1948 . [{{Google books |e0UEAAAAMBAJ |page=PA24 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 24, 27-28, 32 . 11 July 2023.
35. 7 August 1948 . [{{Google books |UkUEAAAAMBAJ |page=PA20 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 20, 23, 25–26 . 11 July 2023.
36. 14 August 1948 . [{{Google books |tkUEAAAAMBAJ |page=PT19 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 20, 23-24, 28 . 11 July 2023.
37. 21 August 1948 . [{{Google books |dvUDAAAAMBAJ |page=PA22 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 25, 27, 28 . 11 July 2023.
38. 28 August 1948 . [{{Google books |AEUEAAAAMBAJ |page=PA22 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 25–26, 29 . 11 July 2023.
39. 4 September 1948 . [{{Google books |9x0EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA22 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 25-26, 28 . 12 July 2023.
40. 11 September 1948 . [{{Google books |Th4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA22 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 25–26, 29 . 12 July 2023.
41. 18 September 1948 . [{{Google books |Ah4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA22 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 25-26, 28 . 12 July 2023.
42. 25 September 1948 . [{{Google books |Tx4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA20 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 20, 23–24, 28 . 12 July 2023.
43. 2 October 1948 . [{{Google books |Zx4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA52 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 52, 55-56, 58 . 12 July 2023.
44. 9 October 1948 . [{{Google books |HR4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA26 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 26, 29-30, 34 . 12 July 2023.
45. 16 October 1948 . [{{Google books |lx4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA26 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 26, 30, 32, 34 . 12 July 2023.
46. 23 October 1948 . [{{Google books |CB4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA24 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 24, 27–28, 31 . 12 July 2023.
47. 30 October 1948 . [{{Google books |AB4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA22 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 25–26, 28 . 12 July 2023.
48. 6 November 1948 . [{{Google books |Yh4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA22 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 25–26, 30 . 12 July 2023.
49. 13 November 1948 . [{{Google books |Sw4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PT27 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 28, 31–32, 36 . 12 July 2023.
50. 20 November 1948 . [{{Google books |Fh4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA24 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 24, 27–28, 31 . 12 July 2023.
51. 27 November 1948 . [{{Google books |WA4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PT25 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 26, 29-30, 32 . 12 July 2023.
52. 4 December 1948 . [{{Google books |MewDAAAAMBAJ |page=PA24 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 24, 27–28, 31 . 12 July 2023.
53. 11 December 1948 . The Billboard Music Popularity Charts . The Billboard . 22, 25-26, 28 . 12 July 2023.
54. 18 December 1948 . [{{Google books |L-wDAAAAMBAJ |page=PA24 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 24, 27–28, 31 . 12 July 2023.
55. 25 December 1948 . [{{Google books |OR4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA24 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 24, 27–28, 30 . 12 July 2023.