This transcript of the radio show is an approximation of what I said in the show. The real spoken parts may differ slightly.
number ones - 1942-1943
And legends is what you're gonna get from me, as I'm going to dig into the history of the number one Rhythm & Blues hits as listed by Billboard Magazine. Now the R&B list as we know today, has a history that goes back to October, 1942 when Billboard decided to create a separate list for music targeted at the African-American audience. I'm going to bother you later with details on this list, first let's hear the very first single that topped this chart, on October 24 of 1942. It only stayed one week on the top, but man what a great song that was. Here is, from the Decca label, Andy Kirk and His Clouds of Joy with Take It And Git.
01 - Andy Kirk and His Clouds of Joy - Take It And Git
Andy Kirk and His Clouds of Joy with Take It And Git. Andy Kirk had taken over the Terrence Holder Orchestra in 1928, and he renamed it to the Dark Clouds of Joy and later the Twelve Clouds of Joy and it was a most successful band in the thirties and early forties. And I think this tune is definitely a roaring start of an institution, the Billboard Rhythm & Blues charts. It started in October, 1942 under the name of the Harlem Hitparade and it would keep that name until Febuary, 1945 when they gave it the name Race Records.
And due to the late start of the list, in October, 1942, it only featured six titles for that year. The second one stayed two weeks on the top, starting in October, 31. Here is Mr. Five by Five, from Freddie Slack and His Orchestra, with vocals of the great Ella Mae Morse, taken from an original 78 on the Capitol label.
02 - Freddie Slack and His Orchestra feat. Ella Mae Morse - Mr. Five by Five
03 - Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra feat. Lady Day (a.k.a. Billie Holiday) - Trav'lin' light
That was the Paul Whiteman Orchestra with vocals of Lady Day, who actually was nobody less than Billie Holiday, with Trav'lin' light, on the Capitol label. You will get that authentic shellac sound quite a few times today, mind you, these records are some seventy years old.
The third entry on the list of number one records is from November, 14, when Earl Hines and his orchestra peaks the chart with the Stormy Monday Blues. This was released on Bluebird - and you get it from a pretty clean 78. So let's give it a spin - here is the Stormy Monday Blues.
04 - Earl 'Fatha' Hines and his Orchestra - Stormy Monday Blues
05 - Lucky Millinder & His Orchestra - When The Lights Go On Again
And that was Lucky Millinder and his Orchestra with the classic wartime song When The Lights Go On Again. It was on number one of the Harlem Hitparade for two weeks from November 28, 1942. And that brings us into the holiday season - with *the* christmas song of all times - White Christmas. Yes, it was in 1942 that Bing Crosby brought out this absolute classic and it was listed for three weeks on the Billboard Harlem Hit Parade - the forerunner of the Rhythm & Blues chart of which we feature the number ones of the first two years here on the Legends of the Rocking Ducthman. Now I'm not going to play the complete song. For me I've heard it just a few times too many and I think you haven't come to this program either, to hear it. So let's call the year 1942 to an end and make it into 43 when Bea Booze enters the number one position of the Harlem hit parade with the See See Rider Blues on January 16, and she keeps that position for 4, be it non-consecutive, weeks.
06 - Bea Booze - See See Rider Blues
07 - Louis Jordan - What's the Use of Getting Sober (When You're Gonna Get Drunk Again)
Louis Jordan - What's the Use of Getting Sober When You're Gonna Get Drunk Again. It's Jordan's first number one hit, but in the following years he will score one after another and completely dominate the charts. On January, 23 this becomes the #1 hit on the Billboard Harlem Hit parade but in the next weeks it will keep changing this position with Bea Booze's See See Rider Blues and with the following song, that takes over the top on January, 30 for just one week. Here is the Nat King Cole Trio with "That Ain't Right"
08 - Nat King Cole Trio - That Ain't Right
09 - Lucky Millinder & His Orchestra - Apollo Jump
Lucky Millinder and his orchestra with the Apollo Jump. Now we're talking February, 13 when this takes over the top of the Rhythm & Blues chart for two weeks. This was issued on Decca and as for the Rhythm & Blues this label has a good year in 1943 as it's releases dominate the Billboard chart.
But first a record from another great label, Savoy. On March, 6th Bonnie Davies takes over the number one with Don't stop now and it holds that position for five, nonconsecutive weeks.
10 - Bonnie Davies - Don't Stop Now
11 - The Ink Spots - Don't Get Around Much Anymore
The Ink Spots with Don't Get Around Much Anymore - you heard the velvet tenor of Bill Kenny. This topped the Harlem Hit Parade for two weeks from March, 27.
On April 17 it's the Harry James Orchestra that takes over, but only for one week. Listen to I've Heard that Song Before with the vocal part done by Helen Forrest. On April 24, it's again the Ink Spots that provide the number one hit, with a song I Can't Stand Losing You. You will get that directly after Harry James' Orchestra.
12 - Harry James Orch. feat. Helen Forrest - I've Heard that Song Before
13 - The Ink Spots - I Can't Stand Losing You
(rocking Dutchman jingle)
14 - Duke Ellington - Don't Get Around Much Anymore
15 - Erskine Hawkins - Don't cry baby
(background - Dick Haymes - You'll Never Know) You just heard Duke Ellington and his band with Don't Get Around Much Anymore on the Victor label that was number one from May, 29 and after that you got Erskine Hawkins with Don't cry baby that hit number one for a solid though non-consecutive 14 weeks, starting at, August 14. You missed one in between, and that is what you hear in the background now, Dick Haymes with Tou'll never know that was four weeks on the top of the Harlem Hit Parade during the summer months. Next up is Duke Ellington again, who had three #1 hits this year. Listen why a slip of the lip can sink a ship. It peaked the chart for one week on September, 25.
16 - Duke Ellington - Slip of the Lip
And the Slip of the Lip marks the end already of another episode of the Legends of the Rocking Dutchman. We leave the Harlem Hitparade in the fall of 1943 with Duke Ellington and his famous orchestra. I must admit - it's pretty strange to have everything I play prescribed, as normally I solely rely on my own taste to choose the music for my program.
Also, you got a lot of cracking sounds as you know that if I have a 78 RPM record available, I prefer that - the cracks in the grooves are on the house and yours to enjoy. And though these records are some 70 years old, they all have in common that they sold well - after all they hit the number one on the Rhythm & Blues chart - and thus they're pretty easy to find.
A few episodes later I'll continue this theme and we'll start with the number one hit of October 2, 1943 and that'll be another recording of Duke Ellington and his band.
Well it's been fun again to make this show and I hope you enjoyed listening as much as I enjoyed producing it. And if so, or if not, don't hesitate to send me an e-mail. The address is rockingdutchman@rocketmail.com. Or visit me on the web, just do a google search for the Legends of the Rocking Dutchman and it will pop up first. For now, byebye and have a great day. No, have a rocking day. See you next time on the Legends of the Rocking Dutchman!