List of Billboard number-one R&B songs of 1956

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Singer Little Richard
"Long Tall Sally" was the first number one for rock and roll pioneer Little Richard.

In 1956, Billboard magazine published three charts specifically covering the top-performing songs in the United States in rhythm and blues and related African-American-oriented music genres. The R&B Best Sellers in Stores chart ranked records based on their "current national selling importance at the retail level", based on a survey of record retailers "with a high volume of sales in rhythm and blues records". The Most Played R&B by Jockeys listing ranked songs based on the "number of plays on disk jockey radio shows" according to a weekly survey of "top disk jockey shows in all key markets". The Most Played R&B in Juke Boxes chart was based on "plays in juke boxes thruout [sic] the country" derived from a survey of "operators using a high proportion of rhythm and blues records". The three 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.[2]

In the issue of Billboard dated January 7, the number-one position on both the best sellers and jockeys charts was held by "The Great Pretender" by the Platters; the song topped the former listing for the first 10 weeks of 1956 and the latter for the first 11 weeks. It also reached the peak position on the juke box chart in the issue dated January 28 and remained there for nine weeks, meaning that for seven weeks it was atop all three listings. The song also topped the pop charts, an unusual occurrence at the time for a black act, and has come to be regarded as a pop and R&B classic;[3][4] the song has been inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and was included in Rolling Stone's 2003 list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[5][6] The song's spell leading the jockeys chart was the year's longest unbroken run at number one on any of the charts; the highest total number of weeks atop any one chart was achieved by Bill Doggett's "Honky Tonk (Parts 1 & 2)", which spent 13 non-consecutive weeks at number one on the best sellers listing.

Several of 1956's number ones were by acts regarded as among the most influential in the development of rock and roll music, which had broken into the mainstream in the previous year.[7] In April, Little Richard gained his first number one when "Long Tall Sally" reached the peak position on all three listings;[8] although his period of chart-topping success would last only until 1957,[8] AllMusic describes him as "arguably the greatest and most influential of the '50s rock & roll singers".[9] In September, Elvis Presley achieved his first R&B chart-topper when the double-sided single "Don't Be Cruel" / "Hound Dog" topped the juke box chart; the single went on to also top the best sellers chart but neither side reached number one on the jockeys listing.[10] Presley would go on to be regarded as the most successful and influential recording artist of all time, feted as the "King of Rock and Roll".[11][12] Fats Domino, another pioneer of rock and roll, had achieved number ones prior to 1956 and was one of the most successful artists of the year; his recording of "Blueberry Hill" had lengthy runs atop all three charts and ended the year at number one on all the listings.[13][14]

Chart history[edit]

In 1956, Billboard sometimes listed both sides of a single jointly at number one on the Best Sellers and Juke Box charts, based on a methodology which combined the survey data for both songs if "significant action [was] reported on both sides of a record". This does not indicate that the single was officially released or promoted as a double A-side.

Singer Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley topped the charts with "Hound Dog" and "Don't Be Cruel".
Musician Bill Doggett
Bill Doggett (pictured in 1980) had a long-running number one with "Honky Tonk".
Singer Fats Domino
Fats Domino was one of 1956's most successful artists.
Five members of the singing group The Teenagers
"Why Do Fools Fall in Love" was a chart-topper for The Teenagers featuring Frankie Lymon.
Chart history
Issue date Best Sellers Jockeys Juke Box Ref.
Title Artist(s) Title Artist(s) Title Artist(s)
January 7 "The Great Pretender" The Platters "The Great Pretender" The Platters "At My Front Door" The El Dorados [15]
January 14 "Hands Off" Priscilla Bowman with Jay McShann and his Orchestra [16]
January 21 [17]
January 28 "The Great Pretender" The Platters [18]
February 4 [19]
February 11 [20]
February 18 [21]
February 25 [22]
March 3 [23]
March 10 [24]
March 17 "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" The Teenagers featuring Frankie Lymon [25]
March 24 "Drown in My Own Tears" Ray Charles [26]
March 31 "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" The Teenagers featuring Frankie Lymon "Drown in My Own Tears" Ray Charles [27]
April 7 [28]
April 14 "Long Tall Sally" Little Richard "Long Tall Sally" / "Slippin' and Slidin'"[a] Little Richard [29]
April 21 "Long Tall Sally" / "Slippin' and Slidin'"[b] Little Richard [30]
April 28 [31]
May 5 [32]
May 12 [33]
May 19 "I'm in Love Again" Fats Domino [34]
May 26 [35]
June 2 "I'm in Love Again" / "My Blue Heaven"[b] Fats Domino "I'm in Love Again" Fats Domino "Long Tall Sally" / "Slippin' and Slidin'"[b] Little Richard [36]
June 9 "I'm in Love Again" / "My Blue Heaven"[b] Fats Domino [37]
June 16 [38]
June 23 [39]
June 30 [40]
July 7 [41]
July 14 [42]
July 21 "Fever" Little Willie John "Fever" Little Willie John [43]
July 28 "Treasure of Love" Clyde McPhatter [44]
August 4 "Rip It Up" Little Richard "I'm in Love Again" Fats Domino [45]
August 11 [46]
August 18 "Fever" Little Willie John "My Prayer" The Platters [47]
August 25 "Honky Tonk" (Parts 1 & 2)[b] Bill Doggett "My Prayer" The Platters [48]
September 1 "Let the Good Times Roll" Shirley & Lee "Fever" Little Willie John [49]
September 8 "My Prayer" The Platters "Let the Good Times Roll" Shirley & Lee [50]
September 15 "Let the Good Times Roll" Shirley & Lee "Don't Be Cruel" / "Hound Dog"[b] Elvis Presley [51]
September 22 [52]
September 29 "Honky Tonk" Bill Doggett [53]
October 6 [54]
October 13 "Let the Good Times Roll" Shirley & Lee
October 20 "Honky Tonk" Bill Doggett [55]
October 27 "Don't Be Cruel" / "Hound Dog"[b] Elvis Presley "Don't Be Cruel" / "Hound Dog"[b] Elvis Presley [56]
November 3[c] "Honky Tonk" (Parts 1 & 2)[b] Bill Doggett "Blueberry Hill" Fats Domino [57]
"Blueberry Hill" Fats Domino [57]
November 10 [58]
November 17 "Honky Tonk" Bill Doggett [59]
November 24 "Blueberry Hill" Fats Domino "Blueberry Hill" Fats Domino [60]
December 1 "Honky Tonk" (Parts 1 & 2)[b] Bill Doggett [61]
December 8 "Blueberry Hill" Fats Domino [62]
December 15 [63]
December 22 [64]
December 29 [65]

Notes[edit]

a. ^ "Slippin' and Slidin'" not listed jointly at number one in the issue dated April 14[29]
b. ^ Both sides listed jointly at number one
c. ^ Two songs tied for number one on the juke box chart.

References[edit]

  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. ^ Hoffmann 2016, p. 156.
  4. ^ Koda, Cub. "The Platters Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  5. ^ "500 Greatest Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. December 11, 2003. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  6. ^ "Grammy Hall of Fame". The Recording Academy. Retrieved November 8, 2020.
  7. ^ Palmer, Robert (April 19, 1990). "The 50s: A Decade of Music That Changed the World". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  8. ^ a b Whitburn 1988, p. 260.
  9. ^ Deming, Mark. "Little Richard Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  10. ^ Whitburn 1988, p. 333.
  11. ^ Unterberger, Richie. "Elvis Presley Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  12. ^ "Elvis: Remembering the King - 40 years on". BBC. August 16, 2017. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
  13. ^ Whitburn 1988, p. 22.
  14. ^ Browne, David (October 25, 2017). "Fats Domino, Rock and Roll Pioneer, Dead at 89". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
  15. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. January 7, 1956. p. 47. Retrieved January 21, 2021 – via Google Books.
  16. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. January 14, 1956. p. 55. Retrieved January 21, 2021 – via Google Books.
  17. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. January 21, 1956. p. 53. Retrieved January 21, 2021 – via Google Books.
  18. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. January 28, 1956. p. 62. Retrieved January 21, 2021 – via Google Books.
  19. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. February 4, 1956. p. 56. Retrieved January 22, 2021 – via Google Books.
  20. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. February 11, 1956. p. 46. Retrieved January 22, 2021 – via Google Books.
  21. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. February 18, 1956. p. 61. Retrieved January 22, 2021 – via Google Books.
  22. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. February 25, 1956. p. 62. Retrieved January 22, 2021 – via Google Books.
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  28. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. April 7, 1956. p. 47. Retrieved April 17, 2021 – via Google Books.
  29. ^ a b "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. April 14, 1956. p. 63. Retrieved April 17, 2021 – via Google Books.
  30. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. April 21, 1956. p. 55. Retrieved April 17, 2021 – via Google Books.
  31. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. April 28, 1956. p. 61. Retrieved April 17, 2021 – via Google Books.
  32. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. May 5, 1956. p. 51. Retrieved April 17, 2021 – via Google Books.
  33. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. May 12, 1956. p. 116. Retrieved April 17, 2021 – via Google Books.
  34. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. May 19, 1956. p. 36. Retrieved April 17, 2021 – via Google Books.
  35. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. May 26, 1956. p. 56. Retrieved April 17, 2021 – via Google Books.
  36. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. June 2, 1956. p. 40. Retrieved April 17, 2021 – via Google Books.
  37. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. June 9, 1956. p. 45. Retrieved April 17, 2021 – via Google Books.
  38. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. June 16, 1956. p. 43. Retrieved September 26, 2022 – via Google Books.
  39. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. June 23, 1956. p. 59. Retrieved September 26, 2022 – via Google Books.
  40. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. June 30, 1956. p. 52. Retrieved September 26, 2022 – via Google Books.
  41. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. July 7, 1956. p. 48. Retrieved September 26, 2022 – via Google Books.
  42. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. July 14, 1956. p. 43. Retrieved September 26, 2022 – via Google Books.
  43. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. July 21, 1956. p. 49. Retrieved September 26, 2022 – via Google Books.
  44. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. July 28, 1956. p. 77. Retrieved September 26, 2022 – via Google Books.
  45. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. August 4, 1956. p. 78. Retrieved September 26, 2022 – via Google Books.
  46. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. August 11, 1956. p. 62. Retrieved September 27, 2022 – via Google Books.
  47. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. August 18, 1956. p. 78. Retrieved September 27, 2022 – via Google Books.
  48. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. August 25, 1956. p. 52. Retrieved September 26, 2022 – via Google Books.
  49. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. September 1, 1956. p. 51. Retrieved September 26, 2022 – via Google Books.
  50. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. September 8, 1956. p. 54. Retrieved September 26, 2022 – via Google Books.
  51. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. September 15, 1956. p. 65. Retrieved September 26, 2022 – via Google Books.
  52. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. September 22, 1956. p. 74. Retrieved September 26, 2022 – via Google Books.
  53. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. September 29, 1956. p. 67. Retrieved September 26, 2022 – via Google Books.
  54. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. October 13, 1956. p. 51. Retrieved September 26, 2022 – via Google Books.
  55. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. October 20, 1956. p. 51. Retrieved September 26, 2022 – via Google Books.
  56. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. October 27, 1956. p. 63. Retrieved September 26, 2022 – via Google Books.
  57. ^ a b "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. November 3, 1956. p. 51. Retrieved November 8, 2020 – via Google Books.
  58. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. November 10, 1956. p. 135. Retrieved January 21, 2021 – via Google Books.
  59. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. November 17, 1956. p. 53. Retrieved January 21, 2021 – via Google Books.
  60. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. November 24, 1956. p. 48. Retrieved September 26, 2022 – via Google Books.
  61. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. December 1, 1956. p. 43. Retrieved September 26, 2022 – via Google Books.
  62. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. December 8, 1956. p. 57. Retrieved September 26, 2022 – via Google Books.
  63. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. December 15, 1956. p. 63. Retrieved September 26, 2022 – via Google Books.
  64. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. December 22, 1956. p. 49. Retrieved September 26, 2022 – via Google Books.
  65. ^ "Rhythm & Blues Records". Billboard. December 29, 1956. p. 38. Retrieved March 17, 2021 – via Google Books.

Works cited[edit]

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