List of Billboard number-one singles of 1952 explained

This is a list of number-one songs in the United States during the year 1952 according to Billboard magazine. Prior to the creation of the Billboard Hot 100, Billboard published multiple singles charts each week. In 1952, 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 issues dated January 5, June 7, and November 29, The Billboard reported a tie for the number-one single on one of its charts.

Issue date	Best Sellers in Stores	Most Played by Jockeys	Most Played in Jukeboxes	Honor Roll of Hits
January 5	"Cry" Johnnie Ray with The Four Lads	"Cry" Johnnie Ray with The Four Lads "(It's No) Sin" Eddy Howard and His Orchestra	"Slow Poke" Pee Wee King and His Golden West Cowboys with Redd Stewart	"(It's No) Sin"	^[4]
January 12	"Cry" Johnnie Ray with The Four Lads	"Slow Poke"	^[5]
January 19	^[6]
January 26	"Cry" Johnnie Ray with The Four Lads	"Cry"	^[7]
February 2	^[8]
February 9	^[9]
February 16	^[10]
February 23	^[11]
March 1	^[12]
March 8	^[13]
March 15	"Wheel of Fortune" Kay Starr with Orchestra Conducted by Harold Mooney	"Wheel of Fortune" Kay Starr with Orchestra Conducted by Harold Mooney	"Wheel of Fortune"	^[14]
March 22	^[15]
March 29	"Wheel of Fortune" Kay Starr with Orchestra Conducted by Harold Mooney	^[16]
April 5	^[17]
April 12	^[18]
April 19	^[19]
April 26	^[20]
May 3	^[21]
May 10	^[22]
May 17	"Blue Tango" Leroy Anderson "Pops" Concert Orchestra	"Kiss of Fire" Georgia Gibbs with Orchestra conducted by Glenn Osser	"Blue Tango"	^[23]
May 24	"A Guy Is a Guy" Doris Day with Paul Weston and his Orchestra	^[24]
May 31	"Wheel of Fortune" Kay Starr with Orchestra Conducted by Harold Mooney	^[25]
June 7	"Blue Tango" Leroy Anderson "Pops" Concert Orchestra "Here in My Heart" Al Martino with Orchestra under the direction of Monty Kelly	^[26]
June 14	"Blue Tango" Leroy Anderson "Pops" Concert Orchestra	"Kiss of Fire" Georgia Gibbs with Orchestra conducted by Glenn Osser	"Kiss of Fire"	^[27]
June 21	"Here in My Heart" Al Martino with Orchestra under the direction of Monty Kelly	^[28]
June 28	"Here in My Heart" Al Martino with Orchestra under the direction of Monty Kelly	^[29]
July 5	"Delicado" Percy Faith and His Orchestra with Stan Freeman	"Kiss of Fire" Georgia Gibbs with Orchestra conducted by Glenn Osser	^[30]
July 12	"Auf Wiederseh'n, Sweetheart" Vera Lynn with Soldiers and Airmen of Her Majesty's Forces and Roland Shaw	"Here in My Heart" Al Martino with Orchestra under the direction of Monty Kelly	^[31]
July 19	^[32]
July 26	"Auf Wiederseh'n, Sweetheart" Vera Lynn with Soldiers and Airmen of Her Majesty's Forces and Roland Shaw	"Half as Much" Rosemary Clooney with Percy Faith and His Orchestra	"Auf Wiederseh'n Sweetheart"	^[33]
August 2	^[34]
August 9	"Auf Wiederseh'n, Sweetheart" Vera Lynn with Soldiers and Airmen of Her Majesty's Forces and Roland Shaw	^[35]
August 16	^[36]
August 23	^[37]
August 30	^[38]
September 6	"Wish You Were Here" Eddie Fisher with Hugo Winterhalter and his Orchestra	"Half as Much" Rosemary Clooney with Percy Faith and His Orchestra	^[39]
September 13	"You Belong to Me" Jo Stafford with Paul Weston and his Orchestra	"You Belong to Me" Jo Stafford with Paul Weston and his Orchestra	"You Belong to Me" Jo Stafford with Paul Weston and his Orchestra	"You Belong to Me"	^[40]
September 20	^[41]
September 27	"I Went to Your Wedding" Patti Page with Orchestra Conducted by Jack Rael	^[42]
October 4	^[43]
October 11	^[44]
October 18	"I Went to Your Wedding" Patti Page with Orchestra Conducted by Jack Rael	^[45]
October 25	^[46]
November 1	^[47]
November 8	^[48]
November 15	"I Went to Your Wedding" Patti Page with Orchestra Conducted by Jack Rael	^[49]
November 22	"It's in the Book (Parts 1 & 2)" Johnny Standley with Horace Heidt and His Musical Knights	"You Belong to Me" Jo Stafford with Paul Weston and his Orchestra	^[50]
November 29	"It's in the Book (Parts 1 & 2)" Johnny Standley with Horace Heidt and His Magical Knights "Why Don't You Believe Me" Joni James with Orchestra conducted by Lew Douglas	^[51]
December 6	"Why Don't You Believe Me" Joni James with Orchestra conducted by Lee Douglas	"The Glow-Worm" Mills Brothers and Hal McIntyre and His Orchestra	"Why Don't You Believe Me?"	^[52]
December 13	"Why Don't You Believe Me" Joni James with Orchestra conducted by Lee Douglas	^[53]
December 20	^[54]
December 27	"I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" Jimmy Boyd with Norman Luboff	"Why Don't You Believe Me" Joni James with Orchestra conducted by Lee Douglas	^[55]

See also

• 1952 in music
• List of Cash Box Best Sellers number-one singles of 1952

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. 5 January 1952 . [{{Google books |fR4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA14 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 14, 16, 18, 21 . 21 July 2023.
5. 12 January 1952 . [{{Google books |eh4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA29 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 29-30, 32, 36 . 21 July 2023.
6. 19 January 1952 . [{{Google books |dx4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA24 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 24, 26, 28, 32 . 21 July 2023.
7. 26 January 1952 . [{{Google books |ex4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA22 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 24, 26, 30 . 21 July 2023.
8. 2 February 1952 . [{{Google books |-B0EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA26 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 26, 28, 30, 34 . 21 July 2023.
9. 9 February 1952 . [{{Google books |Bh4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA28 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 28, 30, 32, 36 . 21 July 2023.
10. 16 February 1952 . [{{Google books |RB0EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA24 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 24, 26, 28, 36 . 21 July 2023.
11. 23 February 1952 . [{{Google books |8h0EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA24 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 24, 26, 28, 32 . 21 July 2023.
12. 1 March 1952 . [{{Google books |Vx4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA20 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 20, 22, 24, 28 . 21 July 2023.
13. 8 March 1952 . [{{Google books |ih4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA22 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 24, 26, 30 . 21 July 2023.
14. 15 March 1952 . [{{Google books |jB4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA90 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 90, 92, 94, 98 . 21 July 2023.
15. 22 March 1952 . [{{Google books |hx4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA90 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 24, 26, 28, 34 . 22 July 2023.
16. 29 March 1952 . [{{Google books |iR4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA22 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 24, 26, 30 . 22 July 2023.
17. 5 April 1952 . [{{Google books |hB4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA38 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 38, 40, 42, 46 . 22 July 2023.
18. 12 April 1952 . The Billboard Music Popularity Charts . The Billboard . 24, 26, 28, 32 . 22 July 2023.
19. 19 April 1952 . [{{Google books |gB4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA26 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 26, 28, 30, 33 . 22 July 2023.
20. 26 April 1952 . [{{Google books |gx4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA24 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 24, 26, 28, 30 . 23 July 2023.
21. 3 May 1952 . The Billboard Music Popularity Charts . The Billboard . 22, 24, 26, 30 . 23 July 2023.
22. 10 May 1952 . [{{Google books |lx4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA24 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 24, 26, 28, 32 . 23 July 2023.
23. 17 May 1952 . The Billboard Music Popularity Charts . The Billboard . 36, 38, 40, 42 . 23 July 2023.
24. 24 May 1952 . [{{Google books |jx4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA24 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 24, 26, 28, 33 . 23 July 2023.
25. 31 May 1952 . [{{Google books |hR4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA24 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 24, 26, 28, 32 . 23 July 2023.
26. 7 June 1952 . [{{Google books |jx0EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA22 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 22, 24, 26, 30 . 23 July 2023.
27. 14 June 1952 . [{{Google books |dR0EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA50 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 50, 52, 54, 56 . 23 July 2023.
28. 21 June 1952 . [{{Google books |9B0EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA24 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 24, 26, 28, 32 . 23 July 2023.
29. 28 June 1952 . The Billboard Music Popularity Charts . The Billboard . 26, 28, 30, 34 . 23 July 2023.
30. 5 July 1952 . [{{Google books |lh4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA26 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 26, 28, 30, 34 . 23 July 2023.
31. 12 July 1952 . [{{Google books |eR4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA26 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 26, 29-30, 34 . 23 July 2023.
32. 19 July 1952 . [{{Google books |fh4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA26 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 26, 28, 30, 33 . 23 July 2023.
33. 26 July 1952 . [{{Google books |dR4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA28 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 28, 30, 32, 36 . 23 July 2023.
34. 2 August 1952 . The Billboard Music Popularity Charts . The Billboard . 82, 84, 90, 94 . 23 July 2023.
35. 9 August 1952 . [{{Google books |rx8EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA26 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 26, 30, 32, 36 . 23 July 2023.
36. 16 August 1952 . [{{Google books |rh8EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA26 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 26, 28, 30, 34 . 23 July 2023.
37. 23 August 1952 . [{{Google books |PB8EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA26 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 26, 28, 30, 38 . 23 July 2023.
38. 30 August 1952 . [{{Google books |CB8EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA24 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 24, 26, 28, 32 . 23 July 2023.
39. 6 September 1952 . [{{Google books |8R4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA54 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 54, 56, 58, 62 . 23 July 2023.
40. 13 September 1952 . [{{Google books |yB8EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA80 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 80, 84, 86, 90 . 23 July 2023.
41. 20 September 1952 . [{{Google books |_h4EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA28 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 28, 30, 32, 36 . 24 July 2023.
42. 27 September 1952 . [{{Google books |wB8EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA24 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 26, 28, 30, 34 . 24 July 2023.
43. 4 October 1952 . [{{Google books |tR8EAAAAMBAJ |page=PT11 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 30, 32, 34, 38 . 24 July 2023.
44. 11 October 1952 . [{{Google books |NSAEAAAAMBAJ |page=PA28 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 28, 30, 32, 36 . 24 July 2023.
45. 18 October 1952 . [{{Google books |RyAEAAAAMBAJ |page=PA32 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 32, 34, 36, 40 . 24 July 2023.
46. 25 October 1952 . [{{Google books |UyAEAAAAMBAJ |page=PA56 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 56, 58, 60, 64 . 24 July 2023.
47. 1 November 1952 . [{{Google books |pR8EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA24 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 24, 26, 28, 32 . 24 July 2023.
48. 8 November 1952 . [{{Google books |dB8EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA36 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 36, 38, 40, 44 . 24 July 2023.
49. 15 November 1952 . [{{Google books |Zh8EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA44 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 44, 52 . 24 July 2023.
50. 22 November 1952 . [{{Google books |XB8EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA26 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 26, 34 . 24 July 2023.
51. 29 November 1952 . [{{Google books |Lh8EAAAAMBAJ |page=PA28 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 28, 36 . 24 July 2023.
52. 6 December 1952 . [{{Google books |CSAEAAAAMBAJ |page=PA20 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 20, 28 . 24 July 2023.
53. 13 December 1952 . The Billboard Music Popularity Charts . The Billboard . 32, 40 . 24 July 2023.
54. 20 December 1952 . [{{Google books |DCAEAAAAMBAJ |page=PA26 |plainurl=yes}} ''The Billboard'' Music Popularity Charts ]. The Billboard . 26, 34 . 24 July 2023.
55. 27 December 1952 . The Billboard Music Popularity Charts . The Billboard . 20, 28 . 24 July 2023.