Jump to content

List of Billboard number-one R&B songs of 1951

Add links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Singer Jimmy Nelson
Jimmy Nelson (pictured in 1996) reached number one in 1951 with "T'99 Blues" but would never achieve another charting song in his career.

In 1951, Billboard magazine published Best Selling Retail Rhythm & Blues Records and Most Played Juke Box Rhythm & Blues Records, two charts covering the top-performing songs in the United States in rhythm and blues (R&B) and related African-American-oriented music genres. The charts, one based on sales in stores and the other on plays in jukeboxes, are considered part of the lineage of the magazine's multimetric R&B chart launched in 1958,[1] which since 2005 has been published under the title Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[2]

In the issue of Billboard dated January 6, Ruth Brown was at number one on the juke box chart with "Teardrops from My Eyes", retaining its position from the final chart of 1950, and Amos Milburn moved into the top spot on the best sellers listing with "Bad, Bad Whiskey". Beginning in early March, ballad singer and pianist Charles Brown achieved the year's longest unbroken spell at number one on both listings with his song "Black Night"; it spent 14 consecutive weeks atop the juke box chart and 13 consecutive weeks at number one on the best sellers chart.[3] The longest-running number one on the best sellers chart overall, however, was "Sixty Minute Man" by the Dominoes, with 14 non-consecutive weeks in the top spot, including one tied with another song. The only act with more than one R&B chart-topper in 1951 was the pioneering doo-wop group the Clovers, who reached number one on the best sellers chart with both "Don't You Know I Love You" and "Fool, Fool, Fool"; the latter also topped the juke box chart and was the year's final chart-topper on that listing.[4]

In June, "Rocket 88" by Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats topped both charts, spending three weeks at number one on the best sellers chart and five on the juke box listing. The recording was by the regular backing band of singer Ike Turner, with saxophone player Brenston providing the vocals and receiving featured credit.[5] The song has been cited as pivotal in the development of rock and roll music, with some critics considering it to be the first rock and roll record.[6][7] Despite the success of the song, it would prove to be the only charting single of Brenston's career.[8] The same fate befell Jimmy Nelson and the Peter Rabbit Trio, who spent a single week at number one on the juke box listing in November with their first chart entry, "T' 99 Blues", but would never chart again.[9][10] Several other acts achieved their first number ones in 1951, beginning with the Dominoes with "Sixty Minute Man".[11] The Clovers reached the peak position on the juke box chart with "Don't You Know I Love You", their first charting song, and added their second number one later in the year with their next single.[12] The Five Keys also reached the top spot with their first chart entry, their recording of Benny Goodman's 1936 song "The Glory of Love".[13] In November and December, "Peppermint" Harris, Tab Smith and Earl Bostic all gained their first number ones, but in each case it would prove to be their final charting single.[14]

Chart history

[edit]
Singers The Five Keys
The Five Keys reached number one with "The Glory of Love".
Singers The Clovers
Two songs by the Clovers reached the top spot in 1951.
Musician Tab Smith
Tab Smith's "Because of You" topped the best sellers chart but fell short of the top of the juke box listing.
Chart history
Issue date Juke Box Best Sellers Ref.
Title Artist(s) Title Artist(s)
January 6 "Teardrops from My Eyes" Ruth Brown "Bad, Bad Whiskey" Amos Milburn [15]
January 13 [16]
January 20 [17]
January 27 "Teardrops from My Eyes" Ruth Brown [18]
February 3 [19]
February 10 [20]
February 17 [21]
February 24 "Bad, Bad Whiskey" Amos Milburn [22]
March 3 "Black Night" Charles Brown [23]
March 10 "Black Night" Charles Brown [24]
March 17 [25]
March 24 [26]
March 31 [27]
April 7 [28]
April 14
April 21 [29]
April 28 [30]
May 5 [31]
May 12 [32]
May 19 [33]
May 26 [34]
June 2 [35]
June 9 "Chica Boo" Lloyd Glenn "Rocket 88" Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats [36]
June 16 [37]
June 23 "Rocket 88" Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats [38]
June 30 "Sixty Minute Man" The Dominoes [39]
July 7 [40]
July 14 [41]
July 21
July 28 "Sixty Minute Man" The Dominoes [42]
August 4 [43]
August 11 [44]
August 18 [45]
August 25 [46]
September 1 "Don't You Know I Love You" The Clovers [47]
September 8 [48]
September 15 "Sixty Minute Man" The Dominoes
September 22[a] "The Glory of Love" The Five Keys [49]
"Sixty Minute Man" The Dominoes [49]
September 29 [50]
October 6 "The Glory of Love" The Five Keys [51]
October 13 "Sixty Minute Man" The Dominoes [52]
October 20 "The Glory of Love" The Five Keys [53]
October 27 "The Glory of Love" The Five Keys [54]
November 3 "T' 99 Blues" Jimmy Nelson and the Peter Rabbit Trio [55]
November 10 "I Got Loaded" "Peppermint" Harris "Fool, Fool, Fool" The Clovers [56]
November 17 "I'm in the Mood" John Lee Hooker [57]
November 24 [58]
December 1 "I Got Loaded" "Peppermint" Harris [59]
December 8 "I'm in the Mood" John Lee Hooker "Because of You" Tab Smith and his Orchestra [60]
December 15 [61]
December 22[a] "Fool, Fool, Fool" The Clovers "Fool, Fool, Fool" The Clovers [62]
"I Got Loaded" "Peppermint" Harris [62]
December 29 "Flamingo" Earl Bostic and his Orchestra [63]

a. ^ Two songs tied for number one on the best sellers chart in this issue.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Whitburn 1996, p. xii.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Dahl, Bill. "Charles Brown Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 20, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  4. ^ Eder, Bruce. "The Clovers Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 17, 2021. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  5. ^ Dahl, Bill. "Jackie Brenston Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  6. ^ Petridis, Alexis (April 16, 2004). "Will the creator of modern music please stand up?". The Guardian. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  7. ^ Farley, Christopher John (June 30, 2017). "Elvis Rocks but He's Not the First". Time. Archived from the original on January 23, 2018. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  8. ^ Whitburn 2004, p. 78.
  9. ^ Whitburn 2004, p. 425.
  10. ^ Dahl, Bill. "Jimmy Nelson Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on January 21, 2021. Retrieved January 15, 2021.
  11. ^ Whitburn 2004, p. 168.
  12. ^ Whitburn 2004, p. 124.
  13. ^ Whitburn 2004, p. 205.
  14. ^ Whitburn 2004, pp. 72, 246, 536.
  15. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. January 6, 1951. p. 20. Archived from the original on June 12, 2022. Retrieved June 12, 2022 – via Google Books.
  16. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. January 13, 1951. p. 31. Archived from the original on June 12, 2022. Retrieved June 12, 2022 – via Google Books.
  17. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. January 20, 1951. p. 27. Archived from the original on June 12, 2022. Retrieved June 12, 2022 – via Google Books.
  18. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. January 27, 1951. p. 27. Archived from the original on June 12, 2022. Retrieved June 12, 2022 – via Google Books.
  19. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. February 3, 1951. p. 27. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  20. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. February 10, 1951. p. 31. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  21. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. February 17, 1951. p. 29. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  22. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. February 24, 1951. p. 30. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  23. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. March 3, 1951. pp. 28–29. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  24. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. March 10, 1951. p. 25. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  25. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. March 17, 1951. p. 104. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  26. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. March 24, 1951. p. 32. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  27. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. March 31, 1951. p. 35. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  28. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. April 14, 1951. p. 35. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  29. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. April 21, 1951. p. 38. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  30. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. April 28, 1951. p. 37. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  31. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. May 5, 1951. p. 34. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  32. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. May 12, 1951. p. 29. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  33. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. May 19, 1951. p. 33. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  34. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. May 26, 1951. p. 32. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  35. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. June 2, 1951. p. 28. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  36. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. June 9, 1951. p. 32. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  37. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. June 16, 1951. p. 26. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  38. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. June 23, 1951. p. 33. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  39. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. June 30, 1951. p. 31. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  40. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. July 7, 1951. p. 28. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  41. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. July 21, 1951. p. 28. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  42. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. July 28, 1951. p. 28. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  43. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. August 4, 1951. p. 27. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  44. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. August 11, 1951. p. 34. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  45. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. August 18, 1951. p. 28. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  46. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. August 25, 1951. p. 29. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  47. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. September 1, 1951. p. 29. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  48. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. September 15, 1951. p. 87. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  49. ^ a b "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. September 22, 1951. p. 38. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  50. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. September 29, 1951. p. 42. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  51. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. October 6, 1951. p. 32. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  52. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. October 13, 1951. p. 30. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  53. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. October 20, 1951. p. 33. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  54. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. October 27, 1951. p. 43. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  55. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. November 3, 1951. pp. 42–43. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  56. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. November 10, 1951. pp. 42–43. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  57. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. November 17, 1951. p. 35. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  58. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. November 24, 1951. p. 40. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  59. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. December 1, 1951. p. 74. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  60. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. December 8, 1951. p. 42. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  61. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. December 15, 1951. p. 32. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  62. ^ a b "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. December 22, 1951. p. 28. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.
  63. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts". Billboard. December 29, 1951. p. 22. Archived from the original on June 24, 2022. Retrieved June 24, 2022 – via Google Books.

Works cited

[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Billboard_number-one_R%26B_songs_of_1951&oldid=1227596018"