Search results
Dec 21, 2009 · Popular Songs 1940s. Criteria: These songs from the 1940s were chosen and ranked according to their initial and lasting popularity and also on their impact and influence on the course of musical history. At that time most songs were recorded by many different artists, so we have listed more than one version of each song on the majority of the ...
Most Played by Jockeys (debuted February 1945) – ranked the most played songs on United States radio stations, as reported by radio disc jockeys and radio stations. The list below includes the Best Selling Singles chart only.
Reached Number OneArtist (s)SingleRecord LabelJuly 27, 1940VictorOctober 19, 1940DeccaDecember 21, 1940VictorMarch 15, 1941Bluebird- Top Songs from The 40s
- “God Bless The Child” by Billie Holiday
- “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby
- “The Christmas Song” by Nat King Cole
- “Take The “A” Train” by Duke Ellington
- “Swinging on A Star” by Bing Crosby
- “Stardust” by The Artie Shaw Orchestra
- “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” by The Andrews Sisters
- “Paper Doll” by The Mills Sisters
- “Sentimental Journey” by Doris Day
“God Bless The Child” by Billie Holiday“White Christmas” by Bing Crosby“The Christmas Song” by Nat King Cole“Take The “A” Train” by Duke EllingtonKicking off our list is Billie Holiday’s simple message to black audiences. The song blended jazz and blues elements and was a passionate plea to black Americans to be independent. Holiday begins her narration with a presumed biblical verse, “Them who’s got shall get, them whose not shall lose,” encouraging the people to toil for whatever they need...
“White Christmas” is arguably one of the most popular songs from the 40s. Originally written by Irvine Berlin, Bring Crosby’s rendition gained massive attention in the 1940s and beyond, becoming the best-selling Christmas songin history. Released in 1941, the soulful crooning is about longing, with a sad backstory about a heartbroken Berlin after h...
Nat King Cole’s Christmas song dates back to the 1940s and is known for the memorable opening line, “chestnuts roasting on an open fire.” The song expresses holiday vibes,even though the lyrics do not mention Christmas. Nat King Cole recorded the hit in 1946, and it has since become a standard holiday tune and one of the most popular songs from the...
Duke Ellington’s song is remembered as the official anthem of New York’s subway transit system. Initially written by pianist Billy Strayhorn, the song is about a journey from Pittsburgh to New York City via the subway train.
Nobody defines the 40s music quite like Bing Crosby. No wonder he reappears in this list with another classic hit from the decade. “Swinging On A Star” is a traditional pop songinitially created by Jimmy Van Heusen. Bing Crosby popularized it via the 1944 Going My Way film, grabbing an Academy Award for Best Original Song that year. Many artists ha...
“Stardust” is one of the most popular songs from the 1940s. However, its story dates back to the 1920s, when Hoagy Carmichael composed the original lyrics. It has since been recorded more than 1500 times, with numerous performers releasing their versions, including The Artie Shaw Orchestra. The song was already a standard by the time Shaw released ...
A trip back to the 1940s takes us to Minneapolis, Minnesota, home to The Andrew Sisters, one of the best singing groups of the swing era. The theme of war was dominant in the 40s music, thanks to the Second World War. And this masterpiece was written along the same line, describing a Chicago trumpeter recruited into the army to fight in World War I...
“Paper Doll” is a significant song in the history of the 40s music. After topping the Billboard Singles chart and staying there for 12 weeks, it became The Mills Sisters’ signature song. Thejazz songmarked an important turning point in the jazz band’s career after a few years of struggle.
Every 40s music lover remembers Doris Day’s song about nostalgia. “Sentimental Journey” is a classic in the history of American music and one of the most beloved songs today. The lyrics express a deep longing for the past or nostalgia, as one would put it. In her narration, Doris Day explores the concept of revisiting memories. She reminisces about...
- White Christmas – Bing Crosby. White Christmas (Official Video) First on our list is a song we all know, White Christmas, but the version by Bing Crosby is one of the most iconic.
- Stardust – Artie Shaw. Artie Shaw Stardust [HQ Audio] Up next is a remake of Stardust, recorded by Artie Shaw in 1940. By this point, the song had already become a standard since it had been released several years earlier, but the version by Artie became his biggest hit and ended up selling more than a million records.
- Body and Soul – Coleman Hawkins. Body and Soul. Bebop fans may have heard the song Body and Soul, which makes our list since Coleman Hawkins recorded a version released in 1940.
- Swinging on a Star – Bing Crosby. Swingin' On A Star. Bing Crosby released Swinging On A Star in 1944, and this song was made for the movie Going My Way.
This playlist showcases the greatest hits of the 1940s. Bing Crosby had nine number one hits (including a still perennial holiday favorite and the best-selli...
Top song charts across all your favorite genres. Music Charts. Top 40. Listen to Hit Nation ...
People also ask
What are the best 40s songs?
What are the best songs from the 1940s?
What was the most popular Christmas song in the 40s?
What was the most important song in the 40s?
Listen to The 50 Best Hit Songs of the 1940s on Spotify · Compilation · Various Artists · 2013 · 50 songs.
