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

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 two charts 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.

B.B. King topped the juke box chart for three non-consecutive weeks with "Please Love Me".

In the issue of Billboard dated January 3, 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.[2] 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 chart entry for the singer and began a string of three consecutive number ones, but after 1957 she never charted again;[3] in the early 1960s she turned to gospel music and reportedly refused to even talk about her secular recordings.[4] Although "Shake a Hand" had the highest total number of weeks at number one on the juke box chart, the longest unbroken run in the top spot was achieved by Willie Mabon's "I Don't Know", which spent six consecutive weeks atop the chart 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.[5] The song would later be covered by Elvis Presley, whose version became a multi-million seller.[6] Although less well known, Thornton's original recording is regarded as highly influential; its accolades include being inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame[7] and being selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or artistically significant".[8] Four other acts gained this 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.[9] Faye Adams reached number one with "Shake a Hand", the first chart entry of her career, a feat also achieved by the "5" Royales, who topped both charts in February with "Baby Don't Do It" and returned to number one on both listings in June with "Help Me Somebody".[10] This gave the group the distinction of having gained two number ones with its first two charting songs, but it would not achieve another chart-topper.[10]

Chart history

Eddie Boyd began the year at number one on the juke box chart with "Five Long Years".
Clyde McPhatter led the Drifters to the year's final number one on the best sellers chart.
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 [2]
January 10 "I Don't Know"Willie Mabon and his Combo
January 17 [11]
January 24
January 31 [12]
February 7
February 14
February 21 "Baby Don't Do It"The "5" Royales [13]
February 28 "Baby Don't Do It"The "5" Royales
March 7 "(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean"Ruth Brown [14]
March 14 "Baby Don't Do It"The "5" Royales
March 21 "(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean"Ruth Brown "(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean"Ruth Brown [15]
March 28
April 4 [16]
April 11
April 18 "Hound Dog"Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton [17]
April 25 "Hound Dog"Willie Mae "Big Mama" Thornton
May 2 [18]
May 9
May 16 [19]
May 23
May 30 "I'm Mad"Willie Mabon and his Combo [20]
June 6
June 13 "Help Me Somebody"The "5" Royales "Help Me Somebody"The "5" Royales
June 20 [21]
June 27
July 4 "Please Love Me"B.B. King
July 11 "Help Me Somebody"The "5" Royales
July 18 "The Clock"Johnny Ace
July 25 "Please Love Me"B.B. King "The Clock"Johnny Ace
August 1 "The Clock"Johnny Ace [22]
August 8
August 15 [23]
August 22 "Crying in the Chapel"The Orioles
August 29 "Crying in the Chapel"The Orioles
September 5
September 12
September 19 "Shake a Hand"Faye Adams "Shake a Hand"Faye Adams
September 26
October 3
October 10 "Crying in the Chapel"The Orioles ..
October 17[a] ..
"Shake a Hand"Faye Adams ..
October 24
October 31
November 7
November 14
November 21 "Money Honey"Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters "Money Honey"Clyde McPhatter and the Drifters [24]
November 28 "Shake a Hand"Faye Adams
December 5[a] [25]
"Honey Hush"Big Joe Turner [25]
December 12
December 19
December 26 [26]

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

References

  1. Whitburn, Joel (1996). Joel Whitburn's Top R & B Singles, 1942-1995. Record Research Incorporated. p. xii. ISBN 9780898201154.
  2. "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. January 3, 1953. p. 29. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  3. Whitburn, Joel (1988). Joel Whitburn's Top R & B Singles, 1942-1988. Record Research Incorporated. p. 20. ISBN 9780898201154.
  4. Ankeny, Jason. "Faye Adams Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  5. Whitburn, Joel (1988). Joel Whitburn's Top R & B Singles, 1942-1988. Record Research Incorporated. p. 411. ISBN 9780898201154.
  6. "Remembering Elvis with his 10 most popular hits". USA Today. August 16, 2019. Retrieved December 25, 2020.
  7. "Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan Recordings Added to Grammy Hall of Fame"". Rolling Stone. November 21, 2012. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  8. "National Recording Registry Picks Are "Over the Rainbow"". Library of Congress. March 29, 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  9. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles 1942-2004. Record Research Incorporated. pp. 173, 593. ISBN 9780898201604.
  10. Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles 1942-2004. Record Research Incorporated. pp. 23, 205. ISBN 9780898201604.
  11. "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. January 17, 1953. p. 56. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  12. "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. January 31, 1953. p. 39. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  13. "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. February 21, 1953. p. 52. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  14. "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. March 7, 1953. p. 48. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  15. "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. March 21, 1953. p. 50. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  16. "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. April 4, 1953. p. 44. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  17. "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. April 18, 1953. p. 46. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  18. "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. May 2, 1953. p. 50. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  19. "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. May 16, 1953. p. 36. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  20. "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. May 30, 1953. p. 46. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  21. "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. June 20, 1953. p. 53. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  22. "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. August 1, 1953. p. 53. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  23. "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. August 15, 1953. p. 38. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
  24. "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. November 21, 1953. p. 55. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  25. "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. December 5, 1953. p. 38. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
  26. "Top Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. December 26, 1953. p. 41. Retrieved December 21, 2020.
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