Wikipedia

List of Billboard number-one country songs of 1953

In 1953 Billboard magazine published three charts covering the best-performing country music songs in the United States: Most Played in Juke Boxes, National Best Sellers, and Most Played By Jockeys. The three charts had been published since 1944, 1948 and 1949 respectively. All three charts are considered part of the lineage of the multimetric Hot Country Songs chart, which was first published in 1958.[1]

A dark-haired man wearing a jacket and tie, smiling broadly
Jim Reeves had his first number one in 1953.

In the issue of Billboard dated January 3, Hank Williams was at number one on both the best sellers and jockeys charts with "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)", retaining a position it had held on both listings since the final issue of 1952.[2] Williams thus held the top spot when he died in the early hours of January 1, 1953.[3] Following his death, Williams achieved considerable chart success in the first half of 1953, particularly on the best sellers chart. He returned to number one on that listing later in January with the final single released in his lifetime, "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive",[3] and went on to have two further posthumous number ones with "Take These Chains from My Heart" and "Kaw-Liga", the latter of which spent 13 consecutive weeks at number one, the year's longest unbroken run atop any of the three charts. His total of 19 weeks at number one on the retail listing (including one when he tied for the top spot) was the most achieved by any act, and he achieved the same feat on both the juke box and jockeys charts, with 10 and 15 weeks at number one respectively. "Your Cheatin' Heart", which fell short of the number one position on the best sellers chart, topped both the other listings, meaning that five songs by Williams reached number one on one or more of the charts in 1953. Regarded as one of the most influential musicians in country music history, Williams was among the inaugural class of entrants to the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1961.[3]

Seven acts achieved their first number ones in 1953: the Carlisles, Goldie Hill, Jim Reeves, the duo of Jean Shepard and Ferlin Husky, the Davis Sisters, Mitchell Torok, and Hank Locklin.[4] In addition to having his first number one as a performer with "Caribbean", Torok also wrote the song "Mexican Joe", which gave Jim Reeves his first chart-topper.[5] Hill's chart-topper "I Let the Stars Get In My Eyes" was only the second country number one by a solo female artist; it was written as an answer song to "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes" by Slim Willet, which had begun the year at number one on the juke box chart.[6] "I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know" would prove to be the only charting song for the Davis Sisters, who were not actually related.[7] Two months before it topped the charts one half of the duo, Betty Jack Davis, had been killed in an automobile accident.[7] Surviving member Skeeter Davis would go on to have a long solo career, scoring top 20 country successes well into the 1970s and achieving some pop success, but she would never achieve a solo number one.[8][9] At the end of the year "I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know" was at number one on the juke box chart, Webb Pierce topped the best sellers chart with "There Stands the Glass" and Hank Locklin held the top spot on the jockeys chart with "Let Me Be the One".

Chart history

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Skeeter Davis topped the chart in 1953 as one half of the duo the Davis Sisters. She would go on to have a lengthy and successful solo career but never achieved a chart-topping solo single.
 
Hank Williams had four number ones on the best sellers chart in 1953. He died on January 1 of the year.
 
Hank Locklin ended the year at number one on the jockeys chart.
Issue date Juke Box Best Sellers Jockeys Ref.
Title Artist(s) Title Artist(s) Title Artist(s)
January 3 "Don't Let the Stars Get in Your Eyes" Skeets McDonald "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)" Hank Williams "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)" Hank Williams [2]
January 10 "Midnight" Red Foley "Back Street Affair" Webb Pierce [10]
January 17 "Back Street Affair" Webb Pierce "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)" Hank Williams [11]
January 24 "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive" "I'll Go On Alone" Marty Robbins [12]
January 31 "Eddy's Song" Eddy Arnold "No Help Wanted" The Carlisles [13]
February 7 "I Let the Stars Get In My Eyes" Goldie Hill "I'll Go On Alone" Marty Robbins [14]
February 14 "No Help Wanted" The Carlisles [15]
February 21 "Kaw-Liga" Hank Williams [16]
February 28 "Kaw-Liga" Hank Williams [17]
March 7 "Kaw-Liga" Hank Williams [18]
March 14 [19]
March 21 [20]
March 28 [21]
April 4 [22]
April 11 "Your Cheatin' Heart" [23]
April 18 "Kaw-Liga" [24]
April 25 [25]
May 2 "Your Cheatin' Heart" "Your Cheatin' Heart" [26]
May 9[a] "No Help Wanted" The Carlisles "Mexican Joe" Jim Reeves [27]
"Kaw-Liga" Hank Williams [27]
May 16 [28]
May 23 "Mexican Joe" Jim Reeves [29]
May 30 [30]
June 6[a] "Mexican Joe" Jim Reeves "Mexican Joe" Jim Reeves [31]
"Take These Chains from My Heart" Hank Williams [31]
June 13 "Mexican Joe" Jim Reeves [31]
June 20 [32]
June 27 "Take These Chains from My Heart" Hank Williams [33]
July 4 [34]
July 11[a] [35]
"It's Been So Long" Webb Pierce [35]
July 18 "Your Cheatin' Heart" Hank Williams [36]
July 25[b] "Mexican Joe" Jim Reeves [37]
"It's Been So Long" Webb Pierce
August 1 "Rub-A-Dub-Dub" Hank Thompson "It's Been So Long" Webb Pierce
August 8 [38]
August 15 "Mexican Joe" Jim Reeves [39]
August 22 "It's Been So Long" Webb Pierce "Hey Joe" Carl Smith [40]
August 29 "Rub-A-Dub-Dub" Hank Thompson "A Dear John Letter" Jean Shepard and Ferlin Husky [41]
September 5 "Hey Joe" Carl Smith [42]
September 12 "Hey Joe" Carl Smith [43]
September 19 "Hey Joe" Carl Smith "It's Been So Long" Webb Pierce [44]
September 26 "A Dear John Letter" Jean Shepard and Ferlin Husky "Hey Joe" Carl Smith [45]
October 3 [46]
October 10 "A Dear John Letter" Jean Shepard and Ferlin Husky [47]
October 17 "Hey Joe" Carl Smith "I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know" The Davis Sisters "I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know" The Davis Sisters [48]
October 24 [49]
October 31 "A Dear John Letter" Jean Shepard and Ferlin Husky [50]
November 7 "Hey Joe" Carl Smith [51]
November 14 "I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know" The Davis Sisters [52]
November 21 "A Dear John Letter" Jean Shepard and Ferlin Husky "There Stands the Glass" Webb Pierce [53]
November 28 "I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know" The Davis Sisters [54]
December 5 "There Stands the Glass" Webb Pierce "There Stands the Glass" Webb Pierce "There Stands the Glass" Webb Pierce
December 12 "Caribbean" Mitchell Torok "I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know" The Davis Sisters [55]
December 19 "Let Me Be the One" Hank Locklin [56]
December 26 "I Forgot More Than You'll Ever Know" The Davis Sisters [57]

a. ^ Two songs tied for number one on the best sellers chart.
b. ^ Two songs tied for number one on the jockeys chart.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2005). Joel Whitburn's Top Country Songs: 1944-2005. Record Research. p. ix. ISBN 9780898201659.
  2. ^ a b "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. January 3, 1953. p. 28. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Hank Williams Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  4. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1996). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits. Watson-Guptill. pp. 62, 91, 146, 187, 263, 287, 325. ISBN 9780823082896.
  5. ^ "Mitchell Torok Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on October 2, 2018. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  6. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1996). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits. Watson-Guptill. p. 146. ISBN 9780823082896.
  7. ^ a b Unterberger, Richie. "The Davis Sisters Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on September 29, 2018. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  8. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1996). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits. Watson-Guptill. p. 91. ISBN 9780823082896.
  9. ^ Unterberger, Richie. "Skeeter Davis Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on September 29, 2018. Retrieved September 29, 2018.
  10. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. January 10, 1953. p. 33. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  11. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. January 17, 1953. p. 52. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  12. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. January 24, 1953. p. 40. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  13. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. January 31, 1953. p. 36. Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  14. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. February 7, 1953. p. 42. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  15. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. February 14, 1953. p. 38. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  16. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. February 21, 1953. p. 51. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  17. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. February 28, 1953. p. 86. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  18. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. March 7, 1953. p. 44. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  19. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. March 14, 1953. p. 44. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  20. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. March 21, 1953. p. 47. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  21. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. March 28, 1953. p. 40. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  22. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. April 4, 1953. p. 43. Retrieved October 3, 2018.
  23. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. April 11, 1953. p. 38. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  24. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. April 18, 1953. p. 44. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  25. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. April 25, 1953. p. 66. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  26. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. May 2, 1953. p. 46. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  27. ^ a b "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. May 9, 1953. p. 36. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  28. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. May 16, 1953. p. 34. Retrieved October 4, 2018.
  29. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. May 23, 1953. p. 156. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  30. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. May 30, 1953. p. 44. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  31. ^ a b c "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. June 13, 1953. p. 35. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  32. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. June 20, 1953. p. 49. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  33. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. June 27, 1953. p. 37. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  34. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. July 4, 1953. p. 44. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  35. ^ a b "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. July 11, 1953. p. 37. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  36. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. July 18, 1953. p. 50. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  37. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. August 1, 1953. p. 35. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  38. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. August 8, 1953. p. 34. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  39. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. August 15, 1953. p. 35. Retrieved October 5, 2018.
  40. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. August 22, 1953. p. 40. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  41. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. August 29, 1953. p. 59. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  42. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. September 5, 1953. p. 40. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  43. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. September 12, 1953. p. 38. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  44. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. September 19, 1953. p. 34. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  45. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. September 26, 1953. p. 50. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  46. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. October 3, 1953. p. 44. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  47. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. October 10, 1953. p. 44. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  48. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. October 17, 1953. p. 44. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  49. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. October 24, 1953. p. 58. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  50. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. October 31, 1953. p. 43. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  51. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. November 7, 1953. p. 52. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  52. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. November 14, 1953. p. 48. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  53. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. November 21, 1953. p. 52. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  54. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. December 5, 1953. p. 77. Retrieved October 7, 2018.
  55. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. December 12, 1953. p. 44. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  56. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. December 19, 1953. p. 48. Retrieved October 8, 2018.
  57. ^ "Top Country & Western Records". Billboard. December 26, 1953. p. 38. Retrieved October 4, 2018.

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