1948 Hits Archive

Mom and I finished listening to the 1948 Hits Archive on the 78prof's YouTube channel. This year had its ups and downs--possibly explained in part by the 1948 Recording Ban. But also some years are just like that. I asked mom to describe the year and she said monotonous because it wasn't just a handful of repeating songs--but many, many. And some of the repeats weren't even all that good. This year had multiple Spike Jones' numbers to contend with as well--never a good thing.

For your reference: Billboard number one singles of 1948; Billboard Year-End Top Singles of 1948.

Anytime -- Eddy Arnold and his Tennessee Plowboys; Just A Little Lovin'

Ballerina Buddy Clark; Bing Crosby; Vaughn Monroe

Buttons and Bows -- Dinah Shore and Her Happy Valley Boys; Dinning Sisters & Art Van Damme; Evelyn Knight; Betty Rhodes.

Confess -- Doris Day and Buddy Clark; Patti Page singing with Patti Page. "With no singing partner available for the session, Patti recorded both vocal parts, resulting in the first such multi-voice-tracked commercial hit (Les Paul was already doing his guitar overdubs, but the multi-voiced Les & Mary creations were yet to come)."

Good Rockin' Tonight -- Wynonie Harris 

Guitar Boogie -- Arthur Smith

Hair of Gold, Eyes of Blue -- Gordon MacRae and the Starlighters. He writes, "A 1948 ‘recording ban’ hit, performed a cappella (no musical instruments).* Not counting several good-sized duet hits with Jo Stafford, “Hair Of Gold turned out to be the only single of MacRae’s entire solo career that ever made it into the top 10 of Billboard’s weekly best-sellers chart. This Sunny Skylar tune was featured in the 1948 musical western film “Singin’ Spurs” from Columbia Pictures. See also the Harmonicats version of the song. * During the nearly year-long strike by James C. Petrillo’s American Federation of Musicians, new vocal recordings for commercial release could be produced only as a cappella (all vocal...no instruments) or using such lesser, ‘union-approved’ tools as harmonicas, ukuleles and toy xylophones."

I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover -- Art Mooney Russ Morgan and His Orchestra (Ames Brothers as background singers); 

I'm My Own Grandpaw -- Guy Lombardo, Lombardo Trio

I've Got A Crush On You -- Frank Sinatra

It's Magic -- Doris Day; Tony Martin; Dick Haymes; Sarah Vaughan; Gordon MacRae

Just Because -- Frankie Yankovic 

Life Gits Tee-Jus Don't It -- Carson Robison 

Little White Lies -- Dick Haymes 

Love Somebody -- Doris Day & Buddy Clark

Manana -- Peggy Lee 

Nature Boy -- Nat King Cole (his original #1 version); Dick Haymes a cappella (A 1948 ‘recording ban’ hit, performed a cappella (no musical instruments).* Haymes reached #11 on the national jukebox listings with his competing version of Nat King Cole’s chart-topper. Frank Sinatra’s all-vocal effort is also included here. Other Dick Haymes tunes in this 1948 collection include “Little White Lies” “It’s Magic” and “You Can’t Be True, Dear.” * During the nearly year-long strike by James C. Petrillo’s American Federation of Musicians, new vocal recordings for commercial release could be produced only as a cappella (all vocal...no instruments) or using such lesser, ‘union-approved’ tools as harmonicas, ukuleles and toy xylophones.) Frank Sinatra a cappella

Now Is the Hour -- Bing Crosby  

Sabre Dance -- Woody Herman

Toolie Oolie Doolie (The Yodel Polka) Vaughn Horton; The Sportsmen; Andrews Sisters; 

Twelfth Street Rag -- Pee Wee Hunt

TORTURE TOOLS

I Can't Give You Anything But Love -- Rose Murphy

 The Maharajah of Magador -- Vaughn Monroe, Ziggy Talent vocal

Slap 'Er Down Agin Paw -- Arthur Godfrey

William Tell Overture (Feetlebaum!) Spike Jones

You Can't Be True, Dear -- Sportsmen

 

© 2020 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews