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List of Billboard number-one country songs of 1954

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A dark-haired man wearing a suit with musical notes printed on it, playing a guitar
Webb Pierce had three of the only four number ones on the best sellers chart in 1954 and also took a fourth song to number one on the jockeys chart.

In 1954 Billboard magazine published three charts covering the best-performing country music songs in the United States: Most Played in Juke Boxes, National Best Sellers (renamed Best Sellers in Stores with the February 20 issue of the magazine), and Most Played By Jockeys. The three charts had been published since 1944, 1948 and 1949 respectively. The juke box chart would be discontinued in 1957 and the other two charts merged in 1958 to form a multimetric chart, which has been published weekly since that date and since 2005 has been entitled Hot Country Songs.[1]

The number one position on all three charts was dominated in 1954 by singer Webb Pierce, who had inherited the mantle of the most popular act in country music since the death of Hank Williams in 1953 and who was in the midst of a run of success which included 12 chart-toppers in a four-year period.[2][3] On the best sellers chart, Pierce's singles "There Stands the Glass", "Slowly" and "More and More" spent a combined total of 32 weeks in the top spot, and he held the top spot from the start of the year until mid-June without interruption. On the juke box chart, the same three songs spent 29 weeks at number one, or 30 if the chart dated March 6 is counted twice, as in that week "There Stands the Glass" and "Slowly" tied for the top spot. On the jockeys chart, Pierce spent a total of 29 weeks at number one with four songs, including "Even Tho", which did not reach the top of the other two listings. "More and More" was the year's final number one on all three charts. "Slowly" was the first country chart-topper to feature the pedal steel guitar, an instrument which would go on to become a staple of the genre.[4][5]

The longest-running number one song of the year on all three charts was Hank Snow's "I Don't Hurt Anymore". The Canadian singer spent twenty consecutive weeks atop the best sellers chart with the song, the only chart-topper of the year on that listing not to be by Pierce. This set a new record for the longest unbroken run at number one on any of Billboard's country charts, although it fell one week short of the record for the highest cumulative total number of weeks at number one by a song, which Snow himself held jointly with Eddy Arnold.[6] "I Don't Hurt Anymore" also spent twenty non-consecutive weeks at number one on the juke box chart, and a total of eighteen weeks in the top spot on the jockeys listing. One act achieved a debut country number one in 1954. Johnnie & Jack spent two weeks in the top spot of the jockeys chart with "(Oh Baby Mine) I Get So Lonely", the only number one for the duo.[7] Six weeks after Johnnie Wright, one half of Johnnie & Jack, spent his final week at number one, his wife Kitty Wells reached the top spot with "One by One", a duet with Red Foley.[8] She was the only female artist to top the chart in 1954.[9] "One by One" was the final chart-topper for Foley, who had achieved his first number one ten years earlier and had been among the most prolific acts in the first decade of Billboard's country music charts, with more than 50 entries.[10]

Chart history

[edit]
Two men wearing dark suits and cowboy hats standing either side of a woman wearing a gingham dress
Johnnie & Jack topped the jockeys chart in June with "(Oh Baby Mine) I Get So Lonely". Also pictured is Johnnie's wife, Kitty Wells, who also reached number one in 1954.
A man wearing an elaborately patterned shirt, leaning on a guitar
Hank Snow spent twenty consecutive weeks at number one on the best sellers chart with "I Don't Hurt Anymore".
A man wearing a light-coloured cowboy hat, neckerchief and dark jacket
Red Foley collaborated with Kitty Wells on the song "One by One".
Chart history
Issue date Juke Box Best Sellers Jockeys Ref.
Title Artist(s) Title Artist(s) Title Artist(s)
January 2 "Let Me Be The One" Hank Locklin "There Stands the Glass" Webb Pierce "There Stands the Glass" Webb Pierce [11]
January 9[a] "There Stands the Glass" Webb Pierce "Let Me Be the One" Hank Locklin [12]
"Bimbo" Jim Reeves
January 16 "There Stands the Glass" Webb Pierce [13]
January 23 [14]
January 30 "Bimbo" Jim Reeves [15]
February 6 "There Stands the Glass" Webb Pierce [16]
February 13 "Let Me Be The One" Hank Locklin [17]
February 20[b] "There Stands the Glass" Webb Pierce "Slowly" "Bimbo" Jim Reeves [18]
"Wake Up, Irene" Hank Thompson [18]
February 27[b] "Slowly" Webb Pierce [19]
"There Stands the Glass" Webb Pierce [19]
March 6[b] [20]
"Slowly" [20]
March 13 [21]
March 20
March 27 [22]
April 3 [23]
April 10 [24]
April 17 [25]
April 24 [26]
May 1 [27]
May 8 [28]
May 15 "I Really Don't Want to Know" Eddy Arnold [29]
May 22 "Slowly" Webb Pierce [30]
May 29
June 5 [31]
June 12 "(Oh Baby Mine) I Get So Lonely" Johnnie & Jack [32]
June 19 "I Don't Hurt Anymore" Hank Snow
June 26 "I Don't Hurt Anymore" Hank Snow [33]
July 3 "Even Tho" Webb Pierce [34]
July 10 "I Don't Hurt Anymore" Hank Snow [35]
July 17 "I Don't Hurt Anymore" Hank Snow [36]
July 24 [37]
July 31 "One by One" Kitty Wells and Red Foley [38]
August 7 "I Don't Hurt Anymore" Hank Snow [39]
August 14 [40]
August 21
August 28 [41]
September 4 [42]
September 11 [43]
September 18 [44]
September 25 [45]
October 2 [46]
October 9 [47]
October 16
October 23 [48]
October 30 [49]
November 6 "More and More" Webb Pierce "More and More" Webb Pierce [50]
November 13 "I Don't Hurt Anymore" Hank Snow [51]
November 20 "More and More" Webb Pierce [52]
November 27 [53]
December 4 "More and More" Webb Pierce [54]
December 11 [55]
December 18 [56]
December 25 [57]

a. ^ Two songs tied for number one on the jockeys chart.
b. ^ Two songs tied for number one on the juke box chart.

See also

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ Whitburn, Joel (2005). Joel Whitburn's Top Country Songs: 1944-2005. Record Research. p. ix. ISBN 9780898201659.
  2. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Webb Pierce Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on September 10, 2018. Retrieved September 9, 2018.
  3. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1996). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits. Watson-Guptill. pp. 244–247. ISBN 9780823082896.
  4. ^ Zaleski, Annie (February 20, 2021). "67 Years Ago: Webb Pierce Hits No. 1 With 'Slowly'". The Boot. Townsquare Media. Archived from the original on February 20, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  5. ^ Ross, Michael (February 17, 2015). "Pedal to the Metal: A Short History of the Pedal Steel Guitar". Premier Guitar. Archived from the original on March 8, 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2021.
  6. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1996). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits. Watson-Guptill. pp. 512–515. ISBN 9780823082896.
  7. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1996). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits. Watson-Guptill. p. 163. ISBN 9780823082896.
  8. ^ Koda, Cub. "Johnnie & Jack Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on February 10, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  9. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1996). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits. Watson-Guptill. p. 515. ISBN 9780823082896.
  10. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1996). The Billboard Book of Top 40 Country Hits. Watson-Guptill. pp. 111–113. ISBN 9780823082896.
  11. ^ "Top C & W Records". Billboard. January 2, 1954. p. 27. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  12. ^ "Top C & W Records". Billboard. January 9, 1954. p. 33. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  13. ^ "Top C & W Records". Billboard. January 16, 1954. p. 40. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  14. ^ "Top C & W Records". Billboard. January 23, 1954. p. 35. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  15. ^ "Top C & W Records". Billboard. January 30, 1954. p. 45. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  16. ^ "Top C & W Records". Billboard. February 6, 1954. p. 41. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  17. ^ "Top C & W Records". Billboard. February 13, 1954. p. 57. Retrieved September 10, 2018.
  18. ^ a b "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. February 20, 1954. p. 39. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  19. ^ a b "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. February 27, 1954. p. 44. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  20. ^ a b "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. March 6, 1954. p. 92. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  21. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. March 20, 1954. p. 40. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  22. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. March 27, 1954. p. 33. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  23. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. April 3, 1954. p. 30. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  24. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. April 10, 1954. p. 42. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  25. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. April 17, 1954. p. 26. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  26. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. April 24, 1954. p. 44. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  27. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. May 1, 1954. p. 33. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  28. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. May 8, 1954. p. 28. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  29. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. May 15, 1954. p. 30. Retrieved September 11, 2018.
  30. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. May 29, 1954. p. 59. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  31. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. June 5, 1954. p. 42. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  32. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. June 19, 1954. p. 42. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  33. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. June 26, 1954. p. 36. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  34. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. July 3, 1954. p. 42. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  35. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. July 10, 1954. p. 31. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  36. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. July 17, 1954. p. 60. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  37. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. July 24, 1954. p. 29. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  38. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. July 31, 1954. p. 44. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  39. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. August 7, 1954. p. 39. Retrieved September 12, 2018.
  40. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. August 21, 1954. p. 44. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  41. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. August 28, 1954. p. 76. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  42. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. September 4, 1954. p. 29. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  43. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. September 11, 1954. p. 52. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  44. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. September 18, 1954. p. 36. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  45. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. September 25, 1954. p. 57. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  46. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. October 2, 1954. p. 41. Retrieved September 13, 2018.
  47. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. October 16, 1954. p. 41. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  48. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. October 23, 1954. p. 42. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  49. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. October 30, 1954. p. 40. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  50. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. November 6, 1954. p. 48. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  51. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. November 13, 1954. p. 86. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  52. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. November 20, 1954. p. 46. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  53. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. November 27, 1954. p. 42. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  54. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. December 4, 1954. p. 48. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  55. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. December 11, 1954. p. 45. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  56. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. December 18, 1954. p. 34. Retrieved September 14, 2018.
  57. ^ "The Billboard Music Popularity Charts: Country & Western Records". Billboard. December 25, 1954. p. 92. Retrieved September 11, 2018.

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