List of Billboard number-one singles of 1949 explained

This is a list of number-one songs in the United States during the year 1949 according to Billboard magazine. Prior to the creation of the Billboard Hot 100, Billboard published multiple singles charts each week. In 1949, 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 September 10, 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 1	"Buttons and Bows" Dinah Shore and her Happy Valley Boys	"All I Want for Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)" Spike Jones and his City Slickers with George Rock	"Buttons and Bows" Dinah Shore and her Happy Valley Boys	"Buttons and Bows"	^[4]
January 8	"All I Want for Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth)" Spike Jones and his City Slickers with George Rock				^[5]
January 15	"Buttons and Bows" Dinah Shore and her Happy Valley Boys	"My Darling, My Darling" Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae	"A Little Bird Told Me" Evelyn Knight and the Stardusters	"On a Slow Boat to China"	^[6]
January 22	"A Little Bird Told Me" Evelyn Knight and the Stardusters	"A Little Bird Told Me" Evelyn Knight and the Stardusters		"A Little Bird Told Me"	^[7]
January 29					^[8]
February 5					^[9]
February 12					^[10]
February 19					^[11]
February 26				"Far Away Places"	^[12]
March 5		"I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" Les Brown and his Orchestra	"Powder Your Face with Sunshine (Smile! Smile! Smile!)" Evelyn Knight and the Stardusters		^[13]
March 12	"Cruising Down the River" Blue Barron and his Orchestra	"Cruising Down the River" Blue Barron and his Orchestra	"Cruising Down the River" Blue Barron and his Orchestra	"Cruising Down the River"	^[14]
March 19					^[15]
March 26	"Cruising Down the River" Russ Morgan and His Orchestra with the Skylarks				^[16]
April 2			"Cruising Down the River" Russ Morgan and His Orchestra with The Skylarks		^[17]
April 9					^[18]
April 16					^[19]
April 23					^[20]
April 30		"Careless Hands" Mel Tormé with Sonny Burke and His Orchestra			^[21]
May 7		""A"—You're Adorable" Perry Como with the Fontane Sisters and Orchestra conducted by Mitchell Ayres			^[22]
May 14	"Riders in the Sky (A Cowboy Legend)" Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra		"Forever and Ever" Russ Morgan and His Orchestra with The Skylarks	"Forever and Ever"	^[23]
May 21		"Riders in the Sky (A Cowboy Legend)" Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra			^[24]
May 28				"Riders in the Sky"	^[25]
June 4			"Riders in the Sky (A Cowboy Legend)" Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra		^[26]
June 11					^[27]
June 18					^[28]
June 25					^[29]
July 2					^[30]
July 9					^[31]
July 16					^[32]
July 23					^[33]
July 30	"Some Enchanted Evening" Perry Como with Orchestra conducted by Mitchell Ayres			"Some Enchanted Evening"	^[34]
August 6					^[35]
August 13		"Some Enchanted Evening" Perry Como with Orchestra conducted by Mitchell Ayres	"Some Enchanted Evening" Perry Como with Orchestra conducted by Mitchell Ayres		^[36]
August 20					^[37]
August 27		"You're Breaking My Heart" Vic Damone with Glenn Osser’s Orchestra			^[38]
September 3	"You're Breaking My Heart" Vic Damone with Glenn Osser’s Orchestra				^[39]
September 10		"Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You)" Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra	"Some Enchanted Evening" Perry Como with Orchestra conducted by Mitchell Ayres "You're Breaking My Heart" Vic Damone with Glenn Osser’s Orchestra	"Room Full of Roses"	^[40]
September 17			"Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You)" Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra	"You're Breaking My Heart"	^[41]
September 24		"You're Breaking My Heart" Vic Damone with Glenn Osser’s Orchestra	"You're Breaking My Heart" Vic Damone with Glenn Osser’s Orchestra		^[42]
October 1	"That Lucky Old Sun" Frankie Laine with Judd Conlon's Rhythmaires, Harry Geller and His Orchestra, and Carl Fischer		"Someday (You'll Want Me to Want You)" Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra		^[43]
October 8		"That Lucky Old Sun" Frankie Laine with Judd Conlon's Rhythmaires, Harry Geller and His Orchestra, and Carl Fischer	"You're Breaking My Heart" Vic Damone with Glenn Osser’s Orchestra		^[44]
October 15			"That Lucky Old Sun" Frankie Laine with Judd Conlon's Rhythmaires, Harry Geller and His Orchestra, and Carl Fischer		^[45]
October 22					^[46]
October 29				"That Lucky Old Sun"	^[47]
November 5					^[48]
November 12					^[49]
November 19			"Slipping Around" Margaret Whiting and Jimmy Wakely		^[50]
November 26	"Mule Train" Frankie Laine and the Mulrskinners	"Mule Train" Frankie Laine and the Mulrskinners		"Mule Train"	^[51]
December 3					^[52]
December 10			"Mule Train" Frankie Laine and the Mulrskinners		^[53]
December 17					^[54]
December 24					^[55]
December 31					^[56]

See also

• 1949 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. 1 January 1949 . [{{Google books |AhcEAAAAMBAJ |page=PT21 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 25-26, 28 . 12 July 2023.
5. 8 January 1949 . [{{Google books |_BYEAAAAMBAJ |page=PT17 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 18, 21, 22, 25 . 12 July 2023.
6. 15 January 1949 . [{{Google books |8BYEAAAAMBAJ |page=PA25 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 24, 27-28, 30 . 12 July 2023.
7. 22 January 1949 . The Billboard Music Popularity Charts . The Billboard . 28, 32, 34, 37 . 16 July 2023.
8. 29 January 1949 . [{{Google books |xBYEAAAAMBAJ |page=PT21 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 25-26, 28 . 12 July 2023.
9. 5 February 1949 . [{{Google books |TA4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PT21 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 25-26, 29 . 12 July 2023.
10. 12 February 1949 . [{{Google books |M_YDAAAAMBAJ |page=PA22 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 25–26, 28 . 12 July 2023.
11. 19 February 1949 . [{{Google books |NPYDAAAAMBAJ |page=PA22 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 24, 27–29 . 12 July 2023.
12. 26 February 1949 . [{{Google books |OPYDAAAAMBAJ |page=PA26 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 26, 30, 32, 34 . 12 July 2023.
13. 5 March 1949 . [{{Google books |NvYDAAAAMBAJ |page=PA22 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 25–26, 28 . 13 July 2023.
14. 12 March 1949 . [{{Google books |KA4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PT29 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 30, 33-34, 37 . 13 July 2023.
15. 19 March 1949 . [{{Google books |Hw4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PT29 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 30, 33–34, 37 . 13 July 2023.
16. 26 March 1949 . [{{Google books |PA4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PT25 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 26, 29-30, 34 . 13 July 2023.
17. 2 April 1949 . [{{Google books |50QEAAAAMBAJ |page=PA28 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 28, 31–32, 40 . 13 July 2023.
18. 9 April 1949 . [{{Google books |lEUEAAAAMBAJ |page=PA26 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 26, 29–30, 34 . 13 July 2023.
19. 16 April 1949 . [{{Google books |Ow4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PT33 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 34, 37–38, 41 . 13 July 2023.
20. 23 April 1949 . [{{Google books |ekUEAAAAMBAJ |page=PA24 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 24, 28, 30, 34 . 13 July 2023.
21. 30 April 1949 . [{{Google books |tEUEAAAAMBAJ |page=PA24 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 24, 27–28, 30 . 13 July 2023.
22. 7 May 1949 . [{{Google books |MUUEAAAAMBAJ |page=PA22 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 25-26, 30 . 13 July 2023.
23. 14 May 1949 . [{{Google books |N_YDAAAAMBAJ |page=PA22 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 25–26, 28 . 14 July 2023.
24. 21 May 1949 . [{{Google books |hkUEAAAAMBAJ |page=PT20 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 25-26, 30 . 14 July 2023.
25. 28 May 1949 . [{{Google books |NfYDAAAAMBAJ |page=PT19 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 25-26, 30 . 14 July 2023.
26. 4 June 1949 . [{{Google books |Vw4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PT21 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 26, 28, 30 . 14 July 2023.
27. 11 June 1949 . [{{Google books |OA4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PT21 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 25-26, 28 . 14 July 2023.
28. 18 June 1949 . [{{Google books |MfYDAAAAMBAJ |page=PA24 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 24, 28, 30, 32 . 14 July 2023.
29. 25 June 1949 . [{{Google books |HA4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PT21 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 25–27 . 14 July 2023.
30. 2 July 1949 . [{{Google books |GQ4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PT23 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 24, 27–28, 32 . 14 July 2023.
31. 9 July 1949 . [{{Google books |LfYDAAAAMBAJ |page=PA22 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 25–26, 29 . 14 July 2023.
32. 16 July 1949 . [{{Google books |RA4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PT23 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 24, 26, 28, 32 . 14 July 2023.
33. 23 July 1949 . [{{Google books |QA4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PT19 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 20, 22, 24, 27 . 14 July 2023.
34. 30 July 1949 . [{{Google books |5h8EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA40 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 40, 43-44, 47 . 14 July 2023.
35. 6 August 1949 . [{{Google books |9EQEAAAAMBAJ |page=PT21 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 25–26, 28 . 14 July 2023.
36. 13 August 1949 . [{{Google books |EkUEAAAAMBAJ |page=PT19 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 20, 23-24, 26 . 14 July 2023.
37. 20 August 1949 . [{{Google books |kUUEAAAAMBAJ |page=PA22 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 25-26, 28 . 14 July 2023.
38. 27 August 1949 . [{{Google books |hUUEAAAAMBAJ |page=PA22 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 25–26, 29 . 14 July 2023.
39. 3 September 1949 . [{{Google books |VkUEAAAAMBAJ |page=PT17 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 18, 20, 22, 25 . 14 July 2023.
40. 10 September 1949 . [{{Google books |RUUEAAAAMBAJ |page=PT23 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 24, 27–28, 31 . 14 July 2023.
41. 17 September 1949 . [{{Google books |JSEEAAAAMBAJ |page=PA22 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 24, 26, 29 . 14 July 2023.
42. 24 September 1949 . [{{Google books |MvYDAAAAMBAJ |page=PA22 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 25–26, 30 . 14 July 2023.
43. 1 October 1949 . [{{Google books |PQ4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PT21 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 26, 28, 30 . 15 July 2023.
44. 8 October 1949 . [{{Google books |MA4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PT19 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 20, 24, 26, 28 . 15 July 2023.
45. 15 October 1949 . [{{Google books |HQ4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA20 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 20, 24-26 . 15 July 2023.
46. 22 October 1949 . The Billboard Music Popularity Charts . The Billboard . 58, 62, 64, 66 . 16 July 2023.
47. 29 October 1949 . [{{Google books |XQ4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PT21 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 26, 30, 32 . 15 July 2023.
48. 5 November 1949 . [{{Google books |Yh4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA24 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 24, 28, 30, 32 . 15 July 2023.
49. 12 November 1949 . [{{Google books |NA4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PT21 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 26, 28, 30 . 15 July 2023.
50. 19 November 1949 . [{{Google books |LQ4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PT21 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 26, 28, 30 . 15 July 2023.
51. 26 November 1949 . [{{Google books |Ww4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA20 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 20, 24, 26, 28 . 15 July 2023.
52. 3 December 1949 . [{{Google books |NkUEAAAAMBAJ |page=PT19 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 20, 24, 26, 28 . 15 July 2023.
53. 10 December 1949 . [{{Google books |Z0UEAAAAMBAJ |page=PT19 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 20, 24, 26, 28 . 15 July 2023.
54. 17 December 1949 . [{{Google books |4kQEAAAAMBAJ |page=PT10 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 20, 24, 26, 28 . 15 July 2023.
55. 24 December 1949 . [{{Google books |LvYDAAAAMBAJ |page=PA22 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 26, 28-29 . 15 July 2023.
56. 30 December 1949 . [{{Google books |OR4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA24 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 16, 19–20, 22 . 15 July 2023.