It's 1948, the year Gandhi was assassinated, Israel becomes a nation, and back in the U.S. Harry Truman defeated Thomas Dewey in the greatest election upset in American history, meanwhile Alfred Kinsey published his controversial study on human sexuality Sexual Behavior of the Human Male. But on the popular music charts there is nary a note of sexuality to be seen, maybe in the song "You Call Everybody Darlin'."
This song has such a catchy melody, it just puts a smile on your face. I could imagine this song in one of the Hollywood musicals that were so popular during this era. -edit indeed this song was from an MGM musical called "Three Daring Daughters"
Mel Blanc and the Sportsmen - Woody Woodpecker
When I was growing up I loved watching re-runs of Woody Woodpecker and who could forget the trademark laugh. Although Kay Kyser scored a bigger hit with his version this is the version sung by the actual "voice" of Woody Woodpecker.
Spike Jones - William Tell Overture
This novelty version of the famous William Tell Overture starts out with the band playing on pots and pans as well as other unique percussion instruments. However when it gets to the famous section most know as the Lone Ranger theme the narrator begins describing a horse race, with many humorous horse names and puns.
There seemed to be a lot of women in this year's chart, some of the highlights include:
Jo Stafford - Serenade of the Bells
Dinah Shore - Buttons & Bows
Doris Day - It's Magic
Peggy Lee - Mañana (Is Soon Enough For Me)
Nat King Cole - Nature Boy
I was first introduced to this song at the beginning of the film Moulin Rouge, where this song is the source for the theme of that movie: "The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return." It's such an interesting song and so unlike anything else in Nat King Cole's repertoire.
Art Mooney - I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover
I love this song, I have ever since I was a kid, the play on words of looking over and overlooked, so simple. On a side note I've been lucky enough to find a few four leaf clovers, because they are a genetic mutation if you find a patch that has one you'll find others in that same patch, here's a link to help you find your own.
Bing Crosby - Now Is The Hour (Māori Farewell Song)
This song has a very Polynesian feel to it which is probably why many assumed it was a traditional Māori song, however the Māori version was made after the English version had already been written.
Here's the whole chart in Spotify
1948 Billboard Year End Chart
| 39. Serenade Of The Bells » Jo Stafford |
| 38. How Soon » Vaughn Monroe |
| 37. I'm Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover » Russ Morgan & Mill Herth |
| 36. The Dicky-Bird Song » Freddy Martin |
| 35. I'll Dance at Your Wedding » Ray Noble |
| 33. Woody Woodpecker » Sportsmen & Mel Blanc |
| 33. On a Slow Boat to China » Kay Kyser |
| 31. Underneath The Arches » Primo Scala |
| 31. St. Louis Blues March » Tex Beneke |
| 30. Beg Your Pardon » Frankie Carle |
| 29. Williams Tell Overture » Spike Jones |
| 28. Until » Tommy Dorsey |
| 27. Serenade Of The Bells » Sammy Kaye |
| 26. Because » Perry Como |
| 25. My Happiness » Ella Fitzgerald |
| 23. Too Fat Polka » Arthur Godfrey |
| 23. Baby Face » Art Mooney |
| 22. Golden Earrings » Peggy Lee |
| 21. Buttons & Bows » Dinah Shore |
| 20. Toolie Oolie Doolie » The Andrews Sisters |
| 19. You Can't Be True, Dear » Ken Griffin |
| 18. Beg Your Pardon » Francis Craig |
| 17. Now Is The Hour » Gracie Fields |
| 16. Love Somebody » Doris Day & Buddy Clark |
| 15. Woody Woodpecker » Kay Kyser |
| 14. Nature Boy » The King Cole Trio |
| 13. Ballerina » Vaughn Monroe |
| 12. Maybe You'll Be There » Gordon Jenkins |
| 11. It's Magic » Doris Day |
| 10. I'm Looking Over A Four Leaf Clover » Art Mooney |
| 09. My Happiness » The Pied Pipers |
| 08. You Call Everybody Darlin' » Al Trace |
| 07. Little White Lies » Dick Haymes |
| 06. You Can't Be True, Dear » Ken Griffin & Jerry Wayne |
| 05. My Happiness » Jon & Sondra Steele |
| 04. A Tree In The Meadow » Margaret Whiting |
| 03. Now Is The Hour » Bing Crosby |
| 02. Manana » Peggy Lee |
| 01. Twelfth Street Rag » Pee Wee
Hunt Chart courtesy of http://longboredsurfer.com/charts/1948 |
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