Home || The Show || Episodes || On Air || The Man || Sample show || Customization || How to obtain || Terms || Sound Quality || Acknowledgements || Contact
The Legends of the Rocking Dutchman - episode 25

Race Music Chart

Number ones, 1947-1948

Today the number ones of Billboard's Race music chart of 1947 and a part of 1948. And you can say that Rhythm & Blues really had grown mature in a short time. The big bands that dominated the hit lists just a few years ago, are completely absent from the top of the list and all seems to go about the latest sensation of African American music - the jump blues. Pioneer Louis Jordan had some more of his greatest hits but today's playlist shows more names - including a few veterans of the blues.

For the list of number ones, I rely on this Wikipedia list. As you can see, there's something odd in the dates in today's playlist: July 10 of 1948 both features Sonny Thompson and Louis Jordan. Though there is some kind of explanation on Wikipedia, I also had to look that up in Billboard Magazine itself that is available on-line through Google Books. It appears there's not just one Race music chart; there are two. One for best selling retail and one for most played in juke boxes. The Wikipedia list has merged these two and that explains the duplicates: on July, 10 Louis Jordan was most played in juke boxes while Sonny Thompson sold best.

Transcript

Playlist

The date indicates when the record was listed number one for the first time.

  1. Louis Jordan - Ain't Nobody Here But Us Chickens (January 17, 1947)
  2. Louis Jordan - Texas and Pacific (April 26)
  3. Savannah Churchill & the Sentimentals - I Want To Be Loved (But Only By You) (May 17)
  4. Eddie 'Cleanhead' Vinson - Old Maid Boogie (May 24)
  5. Louis Jordan - Jack You're Dead (June 28)
  6. Louis Jordan - Boogie Woogie Blue Plate (August, 30)
  7. Julia Lee and her Boy Friends - (Opportunity Knocks But Once) Snatch And Grab It (November, 22)
  8. Bull Moose Jackson - I Love You Yes I Do (January 21, 1948)
  9. Julia Lee & Her Boyfriends - King Size Papa (March 20)
  10. Lonnie Johnson - Tomorrow Night (May 22)
  11. Wynonie Harris - Good Rockin' Tonight (June 19)
  12. Sonny Thompson feat. Eddie Chamblee - Long Gone (July 10)
  13. Louis Jordan - Run Joe (July 10)
  14. Bull Moose Jackson - I Can't Go On Without You (July 24)
  15. Memphis Slim - Messin' Around (September 4)
  16. Arbee Stidham - My Heart Belongs To You (September 11)
Outtro:
  • Wild Bill Moore Sextette - Bongo Bounce
The following music served as background music during the spoken parts:
  • Kirk Kirkland - The Saxaphone Rag
  • Jim Wynn - J.W. Bop
  • Joe Lutcher - Strato-Cruiser
  • Russell Jacquet - Lion's Roar
  • Sonny Thompson - Sonny's Return