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A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Other • Top 1000

Top Songs of the 1940s

1940

Video playlist

Cover

Date

Title

Album

US
country
peak

Comment

Video

1.

Pistol Packin' Mama by Al Dexter

395

✫1
US

✫1
country

5
R&B

as Al Dexter and His Troopers
[Okeh 6708]
written by Al Dexter

2.

Paper Doll by The Mills Brothers

387

✫1
US

2
R&B

written by Johnny Black (as Johnny S. Black)

3.

I've Heard That Song Before by Harry James and His Orchestra

381

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

[Columbia 36668]
written by Jule Styne & Sammy Cahn

4.

You'll Never Know by Dick Haymes

376

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

[Decca 18556]
written by Harry Warren, Mack Gordon & Dorothy Fern Norris

5.

Sunday, Monday or Always by Bing Crosby

370

✫1
US

3
R&B

[Decca 18561]
written by Jimmy Van Heusen & Johnny Burke

6.

My Heart Tells Me (Should I Believe My Heart?) by Glen Gray and the Casa Loma Orchestra

365

✫1
US

7
R&B

vocals by Eugenie Baird
[Decca 18567]
written by Harry Warren & Mack Gordon

7.

In the Blue of Evening by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra

358

✫1
US

10
R&B

vocals by Frank Sinatra
[Victor 201530]
written by Tom Adair (as Thomas Montgomery Adair) & Alfonso D'Artega

8.

Taking a Chance on Love by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra

351

✫1
US

10
R&B

vocals by Helen Forrest
written by Vernon Duke, John La Touche (as John Latouche) & Ted Fetter

9.

Comin' in on a Wing and a Prayer by Song Spinners

338

✫1
US

[Decca 18553]
written by Harold Adamson & Jimmy McHugh

10.

Moonlight Cocktail by The Glenn Miller Orchestra

338

✫1
US

[Bluebird 11401]
written by Kim Gannon & Lucky Roberts

11.

(As Long As You're Not in Love with Anyone Else) Why Don't You Fall in Love with Me? by Johnny Long and His Orchestra

337

✫1
US

vocals by Bob Houston & Helen Young
written by Mabel Wayne & Al Lewis

12.

Pistol Packin' Mama by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters

325

2
US

✫1
country

3
R&B

[Decca 23277]
written by Al Dexter

13.

(I've Got a Gal In) Kalamazoo by The Glenn Miller Orchestra

321

✫1
US

[Victor 27934]
written by Mack Gordon & Harry Warren

14.

Don't Get Around Much Anymore by The Ink Spots

313

2
US

✫1
R&B

written by Duke Ellington & Bob Russell

15.

There Are Such Things by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra

306

✫1
US

2
R&B

vocals by Frank Sinatra & The Pied Pipers
[Victor 27974]
written by Stanley Adams, Abel Baer & George W. Meyer

16.

It Can't Be Wrong by Dick Haymes

303

2
US

2
R&B

[Decca 18557]
written by Kim Gannon & Max Steiner

17.

White Christmas by Bing Crosby

302

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

[Academy Award for Best Original Song 1942]
[Decca 23778]
written by Irving Berlin

18.

All or Nothing at All by Frank Sinatra and Harry James

297

2
US

8
R&B

as Frank Sinatra & Harry James & His Orchestra
[Columbia 35587]
written by Arthur Altman & Jack Lawrence

19.

Brazil (Aquarela Do Brasil) by Xavier Cugat and His Waldorf-Astoria Orchestra

297

2
US

9
R&B

[instrumental]
[Columbia 36651]
written by Ary Barroso & Bob Russell

20.

I Had the Craziest Dream by Harry James and His Orchestra

296

✫1
US

4
R&B

vocals by Helen Forrest
[Columbia 36659]
written by Harry Warren & Mack Gordon

21.

Twelfth Street Rag by Pee Wee Hunt and His Orchestra

286

✫1
US

hit for Earl Fuller in 1917
[Capitol 15105]
written by Euday L. Bowman

22.

Sleepy Lagoon by Harry James and His Orchestra

279

✫1
US

written by Eric Coates & Jack Lawrence

23.

People Will Say We're in Love by Bing Crosby and Trudy Erwin

278

2
US

written by Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II

24.

You'll Never Know by Frank Sinatra

277

2
US

[Academy Award for Best Original Song 1943]
[Columbia 36678]
written by Harry Warren, Mack Gordon & Dorothy Fern Norris

25.

Tangerine by Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra

276

✫1
US

vocals by Bob Eberly & Helen O'Connell
written by Victor Schertzinger & Johnny Mercer

26.

Jingle Jangle Jingle by Kay Kyser and His Orchestra

274

✫1
US

vocals by Harry Babbitt
written by Frank Loesser & Joseph J. Lilley

27.

Shoo-Shoo Baby by Ella Mae Morse

273

4
US

✫1
R&B

[Capitol 143]
written by Phil Moore

28.

They're Either Too Young or Too Old by Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra

273

2
US

vocals by Kitty Kallen
written by Arthur Schwartz & Frank Loesser

29.

Blues in the Night (My Mama Done Tol' Me) by Woody Herman and His Orchestra

272

✫1
US

written by Harold Arlen & Johnny Mercer

30.

A String of Pearls by The Glenn Miller Orchestra

270

✫1
US

[Bluebird 11382]
written by Jerry Gray

31.

It Started All Over Again by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra

266

4
US

2
R&B

vocals by Frank Sinatra & The Pied Pipers
[Victor 201522]
written by Bill Carey & Carl Fisher

32.

As Time Goes By by Jacques Renard and His Orchestra

266

3
US

8
R&B

vocal by Frank Munn; originally from 1931
written by Herman Hupfeld

33.

Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree (With Anyone else But Me) by The Glenn Miller Orchestra

266

✫1
US

[Bluebird 11474]
written by Charles Tobias (as Charlie Tobias), Lew Brown & Sam H. Stept (as Sam Stept)

34.

You Always Hurt the One You Love by The Mills Brothers

262

✫1
US

5
R&B

B side to Till Then
written by Allan Roberts & Doris Fisher

35.

Slipping Around by Margaret Whiting and Jimmy Wakely

262

✫1
US

✫1
country

written by Floyd Tillman

36.

Nature Boy by Nat King Cole

260

✫1
US

2
R&B

as King Cole
[Capitol 15054]
written by Eden Ahbez

37.

Why Don't You Do Right by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra

259

4
US

4
R&B

vocals by Peggy Lee
written by Kansas Joe McCoy

38.

Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall by The Ink Spots and Ella Fitzgerald

259

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

written by Doris Fisher & Allan Roberts

39.

Riders in the Sky (A Cowboy Legend) by Vaughn Monroe

259

✫1
US

2
country

written by Stan Jones

40.

I'm Making Believe by The Ink Spots and Ella Fitzgerald

256

✫1
US

2
R&B

B side to Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall
written by James V. Monaco & Mack Gordon

41.

G.I. Jive by Louis Jordan

255

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

as Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five
[Decca 8659]
written by Johnny Mercer

42.

I'll Be Home for Christmas (If Only in My Dreams) by Bing Crosby

254

3
US

8
R&B

[Christmas]
[Decca 18570]
written by Buck Ram, Kim Gannon & Walter Kent

43.

The Gypsy by The Ink Spots

250

✫1
US

✫1
R&B

written by Billy Reid

44.

I'll Walk Alone by Dinah Shore

250

✫1
US

10
R&B

[Victor 1586]
written by Jule Styne & Sammy Cahn

45.

You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To by Dinah Shore

250

4
US

10
R&B

[Victor 1519]
written by Cole Porter

46.

Don't Fence Me In by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters

249

✫1
US

9
R&B

[Decca 23364]
written by Cole Porter & Robert Fletcher

47.

Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer by Gene Autry

247

✫1
US

✫1
country

as Gene Autry & The Pinafores
[Christmas]
[Columbia 38610]
written by Johnny Marks

48.

(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons by The King Cole Trio

246

✫1
US

3
R&B

[Capitol 304]
written by Pat Best (as William Best) & Deek Watson

49.

Moonlight Becomes You by Bing Crosby

246

3
US

[Decca 18513]
written by Jimmy Van Heusen & Johnny Burke

50.

Buttons and Bows by Dinah Shore

245

✫1
US

dinah shore & her happy valley boys
[Columbia 38284]
written by Jay Livingston & Ray Evans

51.

You Call Everybody Darlin' by Al Trace and His Orchestra

245

✫1
US

as Al Trace & his new orchestra
written by Sam Martin, Ben Trace & Al Trace (as Clem Watts)

52.

Love Somebody by Doris Day and Buddy Clark

245

✫1
US

written by Joan Whitney & Alex Kramer

53.

For Me and My Gal by Judy Garland and Gene Kelly

245

3
US

written by George W. Meyer, Edgar Leslie & E. Ray Goetz

54.

I'll Get by (As Long As I Have You) by Harry James and His Orchestra

245

✫1
US

vocals by Dick Haymes
written by Fred E. Ahlert & Roy Turk

55.

You Can't Be True, Dear by Ken Griffin

244

✫1
US

as Ken Griffin at the Organ
vocals by Jerry Wayne (added later)
written by Hans Otten, Gerhard Ebeler & Hal Cotten

56.

Now Is the Hour (Maori Farewell Song) by Bing Crosby

244

✫1
US

written by Clement Scott, Maewa Kaihau & Dorothy Stewart

57.

A Tree in the Meadow by Margaret Whiting

244

✫1
US

[Capitol 15122]
written by Billy Reid

58.

I Heard You Cried Last Night by Harry James and His Orchestra

244

4
US

vocals by Helen Forrest
written by Joseph Kruger & Ted Grouya (as Theodor Grouya)

59.

Swinging on a Star by Bing Crosby

244

✫1
US

[Academy Award for Best Original Song 1944]
[Decca 18597]
written by Jimmy Van Heusen & Johnny Burke

60.

You're Breaking My Heart by Vic Damone

243

✫1
US

[Mercury 5271]
written by Pat Genaro, Sunny Skylar & Ruggero Leoncavallo

61.

Some Enchanted Evening by Perry Como

243

✫1
US

[RCA 47-2896]
written by Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II

62.

Forever and Ever by Russ Morgan

243

✫1
US

[Decca 24569]
written by Franz Winkler & Malia Rosa

63.

(As Long As You're Not in Love with Anyone Else) Why Don't You Fall in Love with Me by Dinah Shore

243

3
US

written by Mabel Wayne & Al Lewis

64.

Mañana (Is Soon Enough for Me) by Peggy Lee

242

✫1
US

written by Peggy Lee & Dave Barbour

65.

A Little Bird Told Me by Evelyn Knight

242

✫1
US

written by Harvey O. Brooks

66.

I Can Dream, Can't I by The Andrews Sisters

242

✫1
US

hit for Tommy Dorsey in 1938
[Decca 24705]
written by Sammy Fain & Irving Kahal

67.

I'll Be Seeing You by Bing Crosby

242

✫1
US

[Decca 18595]
written by Sammy Fain & Irving Kahal

68.

Powder Your Face with Sunshine (Smile! Smile! Smile!) by Evelyn Knight

242

✫1
US

written by Carmen Lombardo & Stanley Rochinski

69.

Besame Mucho (Kiss Me Much) by Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra

241

✫1
US

vocals by Bob Eberly & Kitty Kallen
written by Consuelo Velázquez & Sunny Skylar

70.

I'm Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover by Art Mooney

240

✫1
US

written by Harry M. Woods & Mort Dixon

71.

That Lucky Old Sun by Frankie Laine

240

✫1
US

[Mercury 5316]
written by Beasley Smith & Haven Gillespie

72.

Cruising Down the River by Russ Morgan

240

✫1
US

[Decca 24568]
written by Eily Beadell & Nell Tollerton

73.

The San Fernando Valley by Bing Crosby

240

✫1
US

written by Gordon Jenkins

74.

My Darling, My Darling by Jo Stafford and Gordon MacRae

239

✫1
US

written by Frank Loesser

75.

I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm by Les Brown and His Orchestra

239

✫1
US

hit for Ray Noble in 1937
written by Irving Berlin

76.

Chattanooga Choo Choo by The Glenn Miller Orchestra

239

✫1
US

[Bluebird 11230]
written by Harry Warren & Mack Gordon

77.

Cruising Down the River by Blue Barron and His Orchestra

239

✫1
US

written by Eily Beadell & Nell Tollerton

78.

To Each His Own by The Ink Spots

238

✫1
US

3
R&B

written by Jay Livingston & Ray Evans

79.

Woody Woodpecker by Kay Kyser and His Orchestra

238

✫1
US

vocals by Gloria Wood
written by George Tibbles & Ramey Idriss

80.

Shoo-Shoo Baby by The Andrews Sisters

238

✫1
US

[from the movie Three Cheers for the Boys]
written by Phil Moore

81.

It's Love-Love-Love by Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians

238

✫1
US

vocals by Skip Nelson
written by Joan Whitney, Alex Kramer & Mack David

82.

Someday by Vaughn Monroe

237

✫1
US

written by Jimmie Hodges

83.

I Love You by Bing Crosby

237

✫1
US

[Decca 18595]
written by Cole Porter

84.

Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette) by Tex Williams

236

✫1
US

✫1
country

written by Merle Travis & Tex Williams

85.

Boogie Woogie by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra

236

5
US

6
R&B

[instrumental]
[Victor 26054]
written by Clarence "Pinetop" Smith

86.

A-You're Adorable by Perry Como

235

✫1
US

written by Sidney Lippman (as Sid Lippman), Buddy Kaye & Fred Wise

87.

Mairzy Doats by The Merry Macs

235

✫1
US

written by Milton Drake, Al Hoffman & Jerry Livingston

88.

Rum and Coca-Cola by The Andrews Sisters

234

✫1
US

3
R&B

[Decca 18636]
written by Lord Invader & Lionel Belasco

89.

(There'll Be a) Hot Time in the Town of Berlin (When the Yanks Go Marching In) by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters

234

✫1
US

written by Sgt. Joe Bushkin & Pvt. John De Vries

90.

Mule Train by Frankie Laine

233

✫1
US

as Frankie Laine & the Muleskinners
[Mercury 5345]
written by Johnny Lange, Hy Heath & Fred Glickman

91.

Temptation (Tim-Tayshun) by Red Ingle and the Natural Seven

233

✫1
US

2
country

featuring Jo Stafford on vocals
written by Arthur Freed & Nacio Brown (as Nacio Herb Brown)

92.

All I Want for Christmas (Is My Two Front Teeth) by Spike Jones and His City Slickers

233

✫1
US

vocals by George Rock
written by Donald Yetter Gardner

93.

Is You Is or Is You Ain't (Ma' Baby) by Louis Jordan

231

2
US

✫1
country

3
R&B

as Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five
[Decca 8659]
written by Louis Jordan & Billy Austin

94.

Who Wouldn't Love You by Kay Kyser and His Orchestra

231

2
US

written by Bill Carey & Carl Fischer

95.

To Each His Own by Eddy Howard

231

✫1
US

written by Jay Livingston & Ray Evans

96.

Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive by Johnny Mercer

231

✫1
US

4
R&B

[Capitol 180]
written by Harold Arlen & Johnny Mercer

97.

Let's Get Lost by Kay Kyser and His Orchestra

230

4
US

written by Frank Loesser & Jimmy McHugh

98.

Jersey Bounce by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra

229

2
US

written by Tiny Bradshaw, Eddie Johnson, Bobby Plater & Buddy Feyne (as Robert B. Wright)

99.

Five Minutes More by Frank Sinatra

229

✫1
US

[Columbia 37048]
written by Jule Styne & Sammy Cahn

100.

Prisoner of Love by Perry Como

228

✫1
US

hit for Russ Columbo in 1932
[RCA Victor 1814]
written by Russ Columbo, Clarence Gaskill & Leo Robin

US charts info based on Billboard (www.billboard.com) charts • UK charts info based on The Official UK Charts Company's charts

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