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This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1939.
The twenty-five popular records listed below were extracted fromJoel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890–1954,[4] record sales reported on the "Discography of American Historical Recordings" website, and other sources as specified. Numerical rankings are approximate, they are only used as a frame of reference.
Rank | Artist | Title | Label | Recorded | Released | Chart positions |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Glenn Miller and his Orchestra | "In the Mood"[5] | Bluebird 10416 | August 1, 1939 (1939-8-1) | September 15, 1939 (1939-9-15) | US Billboard 1939 #1, US #1 for 12 weeks, 30 total weeks,National Recording Registry 2004 |
2 | Glahe Musette Orchestra | "Beer Barrel Polka" | Victor V-710 | May 11, 1938 (1938-5-11) | April 1939 (1939-4) | US Billboard 1939 #2, US #1 for 4 weeks, 21 total weeks |
3 | Orrin Tucker and His Orchestra Vocal chorusBonnie Baker | "Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh!"[6] | Columbia 35228 | August 20, 1939 (1939-8-20) | September 29, 1939 (1939-9-29) | US Billboard 1939 #3, US #2 for 4 weeks, 14 total weeks, sold 1,500,000[7][8] |
4 | Glenn Miller and his Orchestra | "Moonlight Serenade" | Bluebird B-10214 | April 4, 1939 (1939-4-4) | April 26, 1939 (1939-4-26) | US Billboard 1939 #4, US #3 for 1 week, 15 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 1991, ASCAP song of 1939 |
5 | Judy Garland | "Over the Rainbow" | Decca 2672 | July 28, 1939 (1939-7-28) | August 1939 (1939-8) | US Billboard 1939 #5, US #5 for 1 week, 12 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 1981, AFI 1, RIAA 1, Music Imprint 1 of 1930s, ASCAP song of 1938, National Recording Registry 2016 |
6 | Kate Smith | "God Bless America"[9] | Victor 26198 | March 21, 1939 (1939-3-21) | April 5, 1939 (1939-4-5) | US Billboard 1939 #6, US #5 for 1 week, 12 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 1982, National Recording Registry 2002 |
7 | Glenn Miller and his Orchestra | "Over the Rainbow"[10] | Bluebird 10366 | July 12, 1939 (1939-7-12) | August 17, 1939 (1939-8-17) | US Billboard 1939 #7, US #1 for 7 weeks, 15 total weeks |
8 | Larry Clinton and His Orchestra | "Deep Purple"[11] | Victor 26141 | December 23, 1938 (1938-12-23) | January 18, 1939 (1939-1-18) | US Billboard 1939 #8, US #1 for 9 weeks, 13 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 2000 |
9 | Frankie Masters and His Orchestra | "Scatter Brain"[12] | Vocalion 4915 | May 25, 1939 (1939-5-25) | August 1939 (1939-8) | US Billboard 1939 #9, US #1 for 8 weeks, 16 total weeks |
10 | Benny Goodman and His Orchestra (VocalMartha Tilton) | "And the Angels Sing"[13] | Victor 26170 | February 1, 1939 (1939-2-1) | March 1, 1939 (1939-3-1) | US Billboard 1939 #10, US #1 for 5 weeks, 14 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 1987 |
11 | Mary Martin (Eddy Duchin Orchestra) | ""My Heart Belongs to Daddy"[14] | Brunswick 8282 | December 2, 1938 (1938-12-2) | January 1939 (1939-1) | US Billboard 1939 #11, US #1 for 1 weeks, 16 total weeks |
12 | The Ink Spots | ""If I Didn't Care" | Decca 2286 | January 12, 1939 (1939-1-12) | February 9, 1939 (1939-2-9) | US Billboard 1939 #12, US #2 for 1 week, 9 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 1987, National Recording Registry 2017, sold 19,000,000[7][15] |
13 | Bing Crosby | "What's New?" | Decca 2671 | June 30, 1939 (1939-6-30) | September 1939 (1939-9) | US BB 1939 #13, US #2 for 2 weeks, 10 total weeks |
14 | Shep Fields and His Rippling Rhythm Orchestra | "South of the Border (Down Mexico Way)"[16] | Bluebird 10376 | August 1, 1939 (1939-8-1) | August 14, 1939 (1939-8-14) | US Billboard 1939 #14, US #1 for 5 weeks, 18 total weeks |
15 | Bob Crosby and His Orchestra | "Day In, Day Out"[17] | Decca 2703 | July 24, 1939 (1939-7-24) | August 1939 (1939-8) | US Billboard 1939 #15, US #1 for 1 week, 13 total weeks |
16 | Cab Calloway and His Orchestra | "(Hep-Hep) The Jumpin' Jive"[18] | Vocalion 5005 | July 17, 1939 (1939-7-17) | August 1939 (1939-8) | US Billboard 1939 #16, US #2 for 4 weeks, 12 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 2017 |
17 | Glenn Miller and his Orchestra | "Stairway to the Stars"[19] | Bluebird 10276 | May 9, 1939 (1939-5-9) | May 22, 1939 (1939-5-22) | US Billboard 1939 #17, US #1 for 4 weeks, 13 total weeks |
18 | Kay Kyser and His Orchestra | "Three Little Fishies"[14] | Brunswick 8358 | April 8, 1939 (1939-4-8) | May 1939 (1939-5) | US Billboard 1939 #18, US #1 for 2 weeks, 9 total weeks |
19 | Sammy Kaye and His Orchestra | "Penny Serenade" | Victor 26150 | January 20, 1939 (1939-1-20) | February 1, 1939 (1939-2-1) | US BB 1939 #19, US #2 for 1 week, 9 total weeks |
20 | Al Donahue and His Orchestra | "Jeepers Creepers"[12] | Vocalion 4513 | November 23, 1938 (1938-11-23) | December 1938 (1938-12) | US Billboard 1939 #20, US #1 for 5 weeks, 13 total weeks |
21 | Glenn Miller and his Orchestra | "The Man With The Mandolin"[20] | Bluebird 10358 | July 12, 1939 (1939-7-12) | July 31, 1939 (1939-7-31) | US Billboard 1939 #12, US #1 for 3 weeks, 10 total weeks |
22 | Glen Gray and Casa Loma Orchestra | "Sunrise Serenade"[21] | Decca 2321 | February 17, 1939 (1939-2-17) | March 1939 (1939-3) | US Billboard 1939 #13, US #1 for 2 weeks, 16 total weeks |
23 | Woody Herman and His Orchestra | "At the Woodchopper's Ball" | Decca 2440 | April 12, 1939 (1939-4-12) | May 1939 (1939-5) | US BB 1939 #23, US #9 for 1 week, 6 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 2002 |
24 | The Andrews Sisters | "Hold Tight, Hold Tight" | Decca 2214 | November 21, 1938 (1938-11-21) | December 1938 (1938-12) | US BB 1939 #24, US #2 for 1 week, 11 total weeks |
25 | Glen Gray and Casa Loma Orchestra | "Heaven Can Wait"[22] | Decca 2321 | February 17, 1939 (1939-2-17) | March 1, 1939 (1939-3-1) | US Billboard 1939 #25, US #1 for 2 weeks, 13 total weeks |
Additional recordings of historical interest, and songs that crossed over from Hillbilly (Country) and Race (R&B):
Rank | Artist | Title | Label | Recorded | Released | Chart positions |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
26 | Glenn Miller and his Orchestra | "Blue Orchids"[23] | Bluebird 10372 | July 26, 1939 (1939-7-26) | August 14, 1939 (1939-8-14) | US Billboard 1939 #18, US #1 for 1 week, 12 total weeks |
27 | The Ink Spots | ""My Prayer" | Decca 2790 | September 18, 1939 (1939-9-18) | October 1939 (1939-10) | US Billboard 1939 #42, US #3 for 1 week, 12 total weeks |
28 | Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra (Vocal Jack Leonard) | "Our Love"[24] | Victor 26202 | March 15, 1939 (1939-3-15) | April 5, 1939 (1939-4-5) | US Billboard 1939 #19, US #1 for 1 week, 11 total weeks |
29 | Kay Kyser and His Orchestra | "The Umbrella Man"[14] | Brunswick 8225 | September 1, 1938 (1938-9-1) | November 1938 (1938-11) | US Billboard 1939 #20, US #1 for 1 weeks, 11 total weeks |
30 | Glenn Miller and his Orchestra | "Wishing (Will Make It So)"[25] | Bluebird 10219 | April 10, 1939 (1939-4-10) | May 3, 1939 (1939-5-3) | US Billboard 1939 #30, US #1 for 4 weeks, 14 total weeks |
31 | Artie Shaw and His Orchestra (VocalHelen Forrest) | "They Say"[26] | Bluebird 10075 | December 19, 1938 (1938-12-19) | December 28, 1938 (1938-12-28) | US Billboard 1939 #16, US #1 for 2 weeks, 8 total weeks |
35 | The Ink Spots | "Address Unknown" | Decca 2707 | August 17, 1939 (1939-8-17) | October 1939 (1939-10) | US Billboard 1939 #30, US #1 for 1 week, 9 total weeks |
45 | Glenn Miller and his Orchestra | "Moon Love"[27] | Bluebird 10303 | May 25, 1939 (1939-5-25) | June 12, 1939 (1939-6-12) | US Billboard 1939 #9, US #1 for 4 weeks, 16 total weeks |
189 | Walter Huston | "September Song" | Brunswick 8272 | November 14, 1938 (1938-11-14) | January 1939 (1939-1) | US Billboard 1939 #189, US #12 for 1 week, 5 total weeks |
190 | Gene Autry | "South of the Border (Down Mexico Way)"[18] | Vocalion 5122 | September 11, 1939 (1939-9-11) | October 13, 1939 (1939-10-13) | US Billboard 1939 #190, US #12 for 1 week, 4 total weeks, US BBHB 1939 #8, US Hillbilly #1 for 2 weeks, 22 total weeks, 1,000,000 sales[28] |
325 | Ted Weems And His Orchestra (vocalPerry Como) | "I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now" | Decca 2919 | October 5, 1939 (1939-10-5) | December 1939 (1939-12) | US Billboard 1939 #325, US #19 for 1 week, 1 total weeks |
Rank | Artist | Title | Label | Recorded | Released | Chart positions |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | The Ink Spots | ""If I Didn't Care" | Decca 2286 | January 12, 1939 (1939-1-12) | February 9, 1939 (1939-2-9) | US Billboard 1939 #38, US #2 for 1 week, 9 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 1987, National Recording Registry 2017 |
2 | Cab Calloway and His Orchestra | "(Hep-Hep) The Jumpin' Jive"[18] | Vocalion 5005 | July 17, 1939 (1939-7-17) | August 1939 (1939-8) | US Billboard 1939 #25, US #2 for 4 weeks, 12 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 2017 |
3 | The Ink Spots | "Address Unknown" | Decca 2707 | August 17, 1939 (1939-8-17) | October 1939 (1939-10) | US Billboard 1939 #30, US #1 for 1 week, 9 total weeks |
4 | The Ink Spots | ""My Prayer" | Decca 2790 | September 18, 1939 (1939-9-18) | October 1939 (1939-10) | US Billboard 1939 #42, US #3 for 1 week, 12 total weeks |
5 | Fats Waller | "Good for Nothin' but Love"[29] | Bluebird 10129 | January 19, 1939 (1939-1-19) | February 18, 1939 (1939-2-18) | US Billboard 1939 #102, US #7 for 1 week, 6 total weeks |
6 | Chick Webb Orchestra (vocal Ella Fitzgerald) | "'F.D.R. Jones" | Decca 2105 | October 6, 1938 (1938-10-6) | November 1938 (1938-11) | US Billboard 1939 #116, US #8 for 1 week, 6 total weeks |
7 | Chick Webb Orchestra (vocal Ella Fitzgerald) | "Undecided"[30] | Decca 2323 | February 17, 1939 (1939-2-17) | March 1939 (1939-3) | US Billboard 1939 #120, US #8 for 1 week, 4 total weeks |
8 | Ella Fitzgerald And Her Famous Orchestra | "I Want the Waiter (With the Water)"[31] | Decca 2628 | June 29, 1939 (1939-6-29) | September 1939 (1939-9) | US Billboard 1939 #138, US #9 for 1 week, 3 total weeks |
9 | Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra | "Wizzin' the Wiz"[32] | Victor 26233 | April 5, 1939 (1939-4-5) | May 3, 1939 (1939-5-3) | US Billboard 1939 #153, US #10 for 1 week, 5 total weeks |
10 | Louis Armstrong and His Orchestra | "When the Saints Go Marching In"[33] | Decca 2230 | May 13, 1938 (1938-5-13) | January 1939 (1939-1) | US Billboard 1939 #155, US #15 for 1 week, 3 total weeks |
11 | The Mills Brothers | "Sweet Adeline (You're the Flower of My Heart)"[34] | Decca 2285 | January 24, 1939 (1939-1-24) | February 9, 1939 (1939-2-9) | US Billboard 1939 #160, US #10 for 1 week, 2 total weeks |
12 | Count Basie and His Orchestra | "Jumpin' At The Woodside" | Decca 2212 | August 22, 1938 (1938-8-22) | December 1938 (1938-12) | US Billboard 1939 #174, US #11 for 1 week, 4 total weeks |
13 | Fats Waller | "Hold Tight" | Bluebird 10116 | January 19, 1939 (1939-1-19) | February 18, 1939 (1939-2-18) | US Billboard 1939 #176, US #11 for 1 week, 4 total weeks |
14 | Louis Armstrong and His Orchestra | "West End Blues" | Decca 2480 | February 1, 1939 (1939-2-1) | May 1939 (1939-5) | US Billboard 1939 #218, US #13 for 1 week, 1 total weeks |
15 | Mildred Bailey | "Blame it on My Last Affair" | Vocalion 04632 | December 8, 1938 (1938-12-8) | February 1939 (1939-2) | US Billboard 1939 #219, US #13 for 1 week, 1 total weeks |
16 | Billie Holiday | "Strange Fruit" | Commodore 526 | June 20, 1937 (1937-6-20) | February 9, 1939 (1939-2-9) | US Billboard 1939 #287, US #16 for 1 week, 2 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 1978, National Recording Registry 2002 |
18 | Blind Boy Fuller | "Big Leg Woman Gets My Pay" | Vocalion 05030 | July 12, 1939 (1939-7-12) | November 1939 (1939-11) | |
19 | Robert Johnson | "Love in Vain Blues" | Vocalion 04630 | June 20, 1937 (1937-6-20) | February 9, 1939 (1939-2-9) | |
20 | Robert Johnson | "Preachin' Blues (Up Jumped the Devil)" | Vocalion 04630 | November 27, 1936 (1936-11-27) | February 9, 1939 (1939-2-9) | |
21 | Lead Belly (Huddie Ledbetter) | "The Gallis Pole" | Musicraft 227 | June 14, 1939 (1939-6-14) | August 1939 (1939-8) | |
22 | Lead Belly | "The Bourgeois Blues" | Musicraft 227 | April 1, 1939 (1939-4-1) | August 1939 (1939-8) | |
23 | Lead Belly | "The Boll Weevil" | Musicraft 226 | April 1, 1939 (1939-4-1) | August 1939 (1939-8) |
Rank | Artist | Title | Label | Recorded | Released | Chart positions |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians | "Auld Lang Syne"[35] | Decca 2478 | March 7, 1939 (1939-3-7) | December 1939 (1939-12) |