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List of Billboard number-one R&B songs of 1953

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Singer B.B. King
B.B. King (pictured in 1971) topped the juke box chart for three non-consecutive weeks with "Please Love Me".

In 1953, Billboard magazine published two charts specifically covering the top-performing songs in the United States in rhythm and blues and related African-American-oriented music genres: National Best Sellers and Most Played in Juke Boxes. The charts, based on sales in stores and plays in jukeboxes respectively, 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 3, 1953, Eddie Boyd was at number one on the juke box chart with "Five Long Years" and Willie Mabon and his Combo topped the best sellers listing with "I Don't Know", both songs retaining their positions from the final week of 1952.[3] The year's longest-running number one on both charts was "Shake a Hand" by Faye Adams; on the best sellers chart it spent nine consecutive weeks in the top spot, and on the juke box listing it spent ten non-consecutive weeks at number one. It was the first in a string of three consecutive number ones for the singer, but after 1957 she never charted again.[4] In the early 1960s she turned to gospel music and reportedly refused to even talk about her secular recordings.[5] Although "Shake a Hand" had the highest total number of weeks atop the juke box chart, the longest unbroken run at number one on that listing was achieved by Mabon's "I Don't Know", which spent six consecutive weeks in the peak position in January and February.

Among the other acts to top the chart for the first time in 1953 was Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton, who reached number one on both listings with "Hound Dog", the only charting single of her career.[6] The song would later be covered by Elvis Presley, whose version became a multi-million seller.[7] Although less well known, Thornton's original recording is regarded as highly influential; its accolades include being inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame[8] and being selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".[9] Four other acts gained their first number ones in 1953, including the acts with the final number one of the year on each chart: Big Joe Turner with "Honey Hush" on the juke box chart and Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters on the best sellers listing.[10] Adams reached number one with "Shake a Hand", the first chart entry of her career. The "5" Royales achieved the same feat, topping both charts in February with "Baby Don't Do It"; the group returned to number one on both listings in June with "Help Me Somebody".[11] This gave the Royales the distinction of having gained two number ones with their first two charting songs, but they would not achieve another chart-topper.[11]

Chart history

[edit]
Singer Eddie Boyd
Eddie Boyd (pictured in 1968) began the year at number one on the juke box chart with "Five Long Years".
A poster advertising singer Ruth Brown
"(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean" was a number one for Ruth Brown.
Singer Clyde McPhatter
Clyde McPhatter led the Drifters to the year's final number one on the best sellers chart.
Chart history
Issue date Juke Box Best Sellers Ref.
Title Artist(s) Title Artist(s)
January 3 "Five Long Years" Eddie Boyd "I Don't Know" Willie Mabon and his Combo [3]
January 10 "I Don't Know" Willie Mabon and his Combo [12]
January 17 [13]
January 24 [14]
January 31 [15]
February 7 [16]
February 14 [17]
February 21 "Baby Don't Do It" The "5" Royales [18]
February 28 "Baby Don't Do It" The "5" Royales [19]
March 7 "(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean" Ruth Brown [20]
March 14 "Baby Don't Do It" The "5" Royales [21]
March 21 "(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean" Ruth Brown "(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean" Ruth Brown [22]
March 28 [23]
April 4 [24]
April 11 [25]
April 18 "Hound Dog" Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton [26]
April 25 "Hound Dog" Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton [27]
May 2 [28]
May 9 [29]
May 16 [30]
May 23 [31]
May 30 "I'm Mad" Willie Mabon and his Combo [32]
June 6 [33]
June 13 "Help Me Somebody" The "5" Royales "Help Me Somebody" The "5" Royales [33]
June 20 [34]
June 27 [35]
July 4 "Please Love Me" B.B. King [36]
July 11 "Help Me Somebody" The "5" Royales [37]
July 18 "The Clock" Johnny Ace [38]
July 25 "Please Love Me" B.B. King "The Clock" Johnny Ace [39]
August 1 "The Clock" Johnny Ace [39]
August 8 [40]
August 15 [41]
August 22 "Crying in the Chapel" The Orioles [42]
August 29 "Crying in the Chapel" The Orioles [43]
September 5 [44]
September 12 [45]
September 19 "Shake a Hand" Faye Adams "Shake a Hand" Faye Adams [46]
September 26 [47]
October 3 [48]
October 10 "Crying in the Chapel" The Orioles [49]
October 17[a] [50]
"Shake a Hand" Faye Adams [50]
October 24 [51]
October 31 [52]
November 7 [53]
November 14 [54]
November 21 "Money Honey" Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters "Money Honey" Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters [55]
November 28 "Shake a Hand" Faye Adams [56]
December 5[a] [57]
"Honey Hush" Big Joe Turner [57]
December 12 [58]
December 19 [59]
December 26 [60]

a. ^ Two songs tied for number one on the juke box chart in this issue.

References

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  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. ^ a b "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. January 3, 1953. p. 29. Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved December 21, 2020 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ Whitburn 1988, p. 20.
  5. ^ Ankeny, Jason. "Faye Adams Biography & History". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 24, 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  6. ^ Whitburn 1988, p. 411.
  7. ^ "Remembering Elvis with his 10 most popular hits". USA Today. August 16, 2019. Archived from the original on January 8, 2021. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  8. ^ "Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan Recordings Added to Grammy Hall of Fame". Rolling Stone. November 21, 2012. Archived from the original on October 27, 2020. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  9. ^ "National Recording Registry Picks Are 'Over the Rainbow'". Library of Congress. March 29, 2016. Archived from the original on March 29, 2017. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  10. ^ Whitburn 2004, pp. 173, 593.
  11. ^ a b Whitburn 2004, pp. 23, 205.
  12. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. January 10, 1953. p. 36. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Google Books.
  13. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. January 17, 1953. p. 56. Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved December 21, 2020 – via Google Books.
  14. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. January 24, 1953. p. 42. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Google Books.
  15. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. January 31, 1953. p. 39. Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved December 21, 2020 – via Google Books.
  16. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. February 7, 1953. p. 42. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved December 21, 2020 – via Google Books.
  17. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. February 14, 1953. p. 42. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved October 3, 2018 – via Google Books.
  18. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. February 21, 1953. p. 52. Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved December 21, 2020 – via Google Books.
  19. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. February 28, 1953. p. 96. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Google Books.
  20. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. March 7, 1953. p. 48. Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved December 21, 2020 – via Google Books.
  21. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. March 14, 1953. p. 47. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Google Books.
  22. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. March 21, 1953. p. 50. Retrieved December 21, 2020 – via Google Books.
  23. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. March 28, 1953. p. 42. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Google Books.
  24. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. April 4, 1953. p. 44. Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved December 21, 2020 – via Google Books.
  25. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. April 11, 1953. p. 40. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Google Books.
  26. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. April 18, 1953. p. 46. Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved December 21, 2020 – via Google Books.
  27. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. April 25, 1953. p. 70. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Google Books.
  28. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. May 2, 1953. p. 50. Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved December 21, 2020 – via Google Books.
  29. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. May 9, 1953. p. 38. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Google Books.
  30. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. May 16, 1953. p. 36. Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved December 21, 2020 – via Google Books.
  31. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. May 23, 1953. p. 166. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Google Books.
  32. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. May 30, 1953. p. 46. Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved December 21, 2020 – via Google Books.
  33. ^ a b "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. June 13, 1953. p. 38. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Google Books.
  34. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. June 20, 1953. p. 53. Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved December 21, 2020 – via Google Books.
  35. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. June 27, 1953. p. 38. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Google Books.
  36. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. July 4, 1953. p. 46. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Google Books.
  37. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. July 11, 1953. p. 39. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Google Books.
  38. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. July 18, 1953. p. 54. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Google Books.
  39. ^ a b "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. August 1, 1953. p. 38. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Google Books.
  40. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. August 8, 1953. p. 36. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Google Books.
  41. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. August 15, 1953. p. 38. Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved December 21, 2020 – via Google Books.
  42. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. August 22, 1953. p. 43. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Google Books.
  43. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. August 29, 1953. p. 61. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Google Books.
  44. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. September 5, 1953. p. 44. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Google Books.
  45. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. September 12, 1953. p. 40. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Google Books.
  46. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. September 19, 1953. p. 38. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Google Books.
  47. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. September 26, 1953. p. 53. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Google Books.
  48. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. October 3, 1953. p. 47. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Google Books.
  49. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. October 10, 1953. p. 46. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Google Books.
  50. ^ a b "Top R & B Records". Billboard. October 17, 1953. p. 47. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022.
  51. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. October 24, 1953. p. 61. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Google Books.
  52. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. October 31, 1953. p. 44. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Google Books.
  53. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. November 7, 1953. p. 56. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Google Books.
  54. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. November 14, 1953. p. 49. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Google Books.
  55. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. November 21, 1953. p. 55. Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2020 – via Google Books.
  56. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. December 5, 1953. p. 38. Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Google Books.
  57. ^ a b "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. December 5, 1953. p. 38. Archived from the original on September 1, 2022. Retrieved December 23, 2020 – via Google Books.
  58. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. December 12, 1953. p. 47. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Google Books.
  59. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. December 19, 1953. p. 50. Archived from the original on July 20, 2022. Retrieved July 20, 2022 – via Google Books.
  60. ^ "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. December 26, 1953. p. 39. Archived from the original on July 19, 2022. Retrieved December 21, 2020 – via Google Books.

Works cited

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