List of Most Played Juke Box Race Records number ones of 1947

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Singer Savannah Churchill
"I Want to Be Loved" was the only chart-topper for Savannah Churchill.

In 1947, Billboard magazine published a chart ranking the top-performing songs in the United States in African-American-oriented musical genres under the title of Most Played Juke Box Race Records; placings were based on a weekly survey among jukebox operators.[1] The chart is considered to be part of the lineage of the magazine's multimetric R&B chart,[2] which since 2005 has been published under the title Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs.[3] The term "race records" was then in common usage for recordings by black artists.[4]

In the issue of Billboard dated January 4, two singles tied for the number-one position, both by Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five. That week's chart listed only five records, four of which were by Jordan.[1] The following week, "Ain't Nobody Here but Us Chickens", one of the two songs which had shared the top spot in the year's first issue, held it in its own right, and remained atop the listing without interruption through the issue of Billboard dated April 19, a total of 16 consecutive weeks at number one. Jordan also spent short spells at number one with "Texas and Pacific" and "Jack You're Dead", and 14 weeks in the top spot with "Boogie Woogie Blue Plate". Those five songs spent a total of 40 weeks at number one during the year, or 41 if the week of January 4 is double-counted. Jordan was by far the most successful artist of the 1940s on Billboard's R&B charts. His tally of 18 chart-toppers was a record which would stand until the 1980s, and he spent 113 weeks at number one,[a] a record which would still stand in the 21st century.[5] Jordan's success fell away in the 1950s, but his music is considered to have been hugely influential on the development of both R&B and rock and roll.[6]

Only three acts other than Jordan topped the chart during 1947, all of whom did so for the first time. In May, Savannah Churchill and the Sentimentalists reached number one with "I Want to Be Loved". It would prove to be the only number one for Churchill, whose R&B chart career was short-lived and had come to an end by 1949.[7] Her backing group the Sentimentalists would change their name to the Four Tunes and achieve R&B and pop success until the mid-1950s, but without any further number ones.[8][9] In Churchill's second week at number one, her single tied for the top spot with "Old Maid Boogie" by Eddie Vinson and his Orchestra, the first chart-topper and indeed first chart entry for Vinson, nicknamed "Cleanhead"; as with Churchill, it would be the only number one of his chart career, which was short-lived.[10][11] In November, "(Opportunity Knocks But Once) Snatch and Grab It" gave Julia Lee and her Boy Friends their first number one;[12] the single was the year's final chart-topper.

Chart history[edit]

Musicians Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five
Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five had five number ones in 1947.
Singer Eddie Vinson
Eddie Vinson topped the chart with "Old Maid Boogie".
Chart history
Issue date Title Artist(s) Ref.
January 4[b] "Ain't That Just Like a Woman" Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five [1]
"Ain't Nobody Here but Us Chickens" [1]
January 11 [13]
January 18 [14]
January 25 [15]
February 1 [16]
February 8 [17]
February 15 [18]
February 22 [19]
March 1 [20]
March 8 [21]
March 15 [22]
March 22 [23]
March 29 [24]
April 5 [25]
April 12 [26]
April 19 [27]
April 26 "Texas and Pacific" [28]
May 3 "Ain't Nobody Here but Us Chickens" [29]
May 10 "Texas and Pacific" [30]
May 17 "I Want to Be Loved" Savannah Churchill and the Sentimentalists [31]
May 24[b] [32]
"Old Maid Boogie" Eddie Vinson and his Orchestra [32]
May 31 "I Want to Be Loved" Savannah Churchill and the Sentimentalists [33]
June 7 [34]
June 14 [35]
June 21 "Old Maid Boogie" Eddie Vinson and his Orchestra [36]
June 28 [b] "Jack You're Dead" Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five [37]
"I Want to Be Loved" Savannah Churchill and the Sentimentalists [37]
July 5 [38]
July 12 "Jack You're Dead" Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five [39]
July 19 [40]
July 26 [41]
August 2 "I Want to Be Loved" Savannah Churchill and Sentimentalists [42]
August 9 "Jack You're Dead" Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five [43]
August 16 [44]
August 23 [45]
August 30 "Boogie Woogie Blue Plate" [46]
September 6 [47]
September 13 [48]
September 20 [49]
September 27 [50]
October 4 [51]
October 11 [52]
October 18 [53]
October 25 [54]
November 1 [55]
November 8 [56]
November 15 [57]
November 22 "(Opportunity Knocks But Once) Snatch and Grab It" Julia Lee and her Boy Friends [58]
November 29 "Boogie Woogie Blue Plate" Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five [59]
December 6 "(Opportunity Knocks But Once) Snatch and Grab It" Julia Lee and her Boy Friends [60]
December 13 "Boogie Woogie Blue Plate" Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five [61]
December 20 "(Opportunity Knocks But Once) Snatch and Grab It" Julia Lee and her Boy Friends [62]
December 27 [63]

Notes[edit]

a. ^ Jordan's first 16 number ones occurred at a time when Billboard published only one R&B chart. His final two number ones occurred during a period when the magazine published two charts and each topped both listings, but the figure of 113 weeks at number one does not double-count weeks when he topped both.[64]
b. ^ Two songs tied for the number one position.

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 1. January 4, 1947. p. 19. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved February 1, 2021.
  2. ^ Whitburn 1996, p. xii.
  3. ^ Molanphy, Chris (April 14, 2014). "I Know You Got Soul: The Trouble With Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop Chart". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on January 21, 2019. Retrieved December 19, 2021.
  4. ^ Cole, Tom (November 2, 2013). "Paramount Records: The Label Inadvertently Crucial To The Blues". NPR. Archived from the original on January 11, 2021. Retrieved January 27, 2021.
  5. ^ Whitburn 2004, p. 783.
  6. ^ Dahl, Bill. "Louis Jordan Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved January 11, 2021.
  7. ^ Whitburn 2004, p. 120.
  8. ^ Whitburn 2004, p. 213.
  9. ^ Wynn, Ron. "The Four Tunes Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  10. ^ Whitburn 2004, p. 604.
  11. ^ Dahl, Bill. "Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  12. ^ Whitburn 2004, p. 344.
  13. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 2. January 11, 1947. p. 30. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  14. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 3. January 18, 1947. p. 24. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  15. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 4. January 25, 1947. p. 25. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  16. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 5. February 1, 1947. p. 196. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 18, 2018.
  17. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 6. February 8, 1947. p. 26. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  18. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 7. February 15, 1947. p. 25. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  19. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 8. February 22, 1947. p. 25. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  20. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 9. March 1, 1947. p. 27. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  21. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 10. March 8, 1947. p. 25. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  22. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 11. March 15, 1947. p. 25. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  23. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 12. March 22, 1947. p. 28. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  24. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 13. March 29, 1947. p. 28. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  25. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 14. April 5, 1947. p. 27. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  26. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 15. April 12, 1947. p. 27. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  27. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 16. April 19, 1947. p. 29. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  28. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 17. April 26, 1947. p. 30. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  29. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 18. May 3, 1947. p. 29. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  30. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 19. May 10, 1947. p. 30. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  31. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 20. May 17, 1947. p. 30. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  32. ^ a b "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 21. May 24, 1947. p. 28. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  33. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 22. May 31, 1947. p. 23. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  34. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 23. June 7, 1947. p. 29. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  35. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 24. June 14, 1947. p. 33. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  36. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 25. June 21, 1947. p. 33. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  37. ^ a b "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 26. June 28, 1947. p. 30. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  38. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 27. July 5, 1947. p. 31. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  39. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 28. July 12, 1947. p. 29. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  40. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 29. July 19, 1947. p. 33. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  41. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 30. July 26, 1947. p. 31. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  42. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 31. August 2, 1947. p. 31. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  43. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 32. August 9, 1947. p. 32. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  44. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 33. August 16, 1947. p. 29. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  45. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 34. August 23, 1947. p. 32. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  46. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 35. August 30, 1947. p. 30. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 21, 2018.
  47. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 36. September 6, 1947. p. 27. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  48. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 37. September 13, 1947. p. 30. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  49. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 38. September 20, 1947. p. 38. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  50. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 39. September 27, 1947. p. 28. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  51. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 40. October 4, 1947. p. 118. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  52. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 41. October 11, 1947. p. 33. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  53. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 42. October 18, 1947. p. 29. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  54. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 43. October 25, 1947. p. 27. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  55. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 44. November 1, 1947. p. 33. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  56. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 45. November 8, 1947. p. 29. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 19, 2018.
  57. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 46. November 15, 1947. p. 28. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  58. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 47. November 22, 1947. p. 29. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  59. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 48. November 29, 1947. p. 29. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  60. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 49. December 6, 1947. p. 31. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  61. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 50. December 13, 1947. p. 29. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  62. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 51. December 20, 1947. p. 29. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved June 20, 2018.
  63. ^ "Most Played Juke Box Race Records". Billboard. Vol. 59, no. 52. December 27, 1947. p. 13. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved March 22, 2022.
  64. ^ Whitburn 2004, pp. 309–310.

Works cited[edit]