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The Number One Hits of 1938 |
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| Nov 27, 1937 – Jan 7, 1938 Tommy Dorsey Once In A While (7 weeks*) Tommy Dorsey (1905-1956) was an American jazz trombonist, composer, conductor, and bandleader. “Once In A While” is a popular song composed by Michael Edwards with lyrics by Bud Green, and it became a hit for Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra, staying at the top of the charts for 7 weeks. |
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| Jan 1, 1938 – Jan 7, 1938 Fred Astaire Nice Work If You Can Get It Fred Astaire (1899-1987) was an American dancer, singer, actor, choreographer, and television presenter. “Nice Work If You Can Get It” is a song by George and Ira Gershwin, which Astaire introduced in the 1937 film “A Damsel in Distress.” |
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| Jan 15, 1937 – Jan 29, 1938 Sammy Kaye Rosalie Sammy Kaye (1910-1987) was an American bandleader and songwriter. “Rosalie” is a song composed by Cole Porter for the 1937 musical of the same name. |
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| Jan 22, 1938 – Feb 25, 1938 Andrews Sisters Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen (5 weeks*) The Andrews Sisters were an American close harmony singing group consisting of sisters LaVerne, Maxene, and Patty Andrews. “Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen,” originally a Yiddish song, was reworked with English lyrics by Sammy Cahn and Saul Chaplin, becoming a hit for the sisters. |
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| Jan 29, 1938 – Feb 5, 1938 Dolly Dawn You’re A Sweetheart Dolly Dawn (1916-2002) was an American big band singer. “You’re A Sweetheart” is a song composed by Jimmy McHugh and Harold Adamson, featured in the 1937 film “You’re a Sweetheart.” |
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| Feb 26, 1938 – Mar 18, 1938 Shep Fields Thanks For The Memory Shep Fields (1910-1981) was an American bandleader who led the Shep Fields and His Rippling Rhythm orchestra. “Thanks For The Memory” is a song composed by Ralph Rainger with lyrics by Leo Robin, introduced in the 1938 film “The Big Broadcast of 1938.” |
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| Mar 19, 1938 – May 20, 1938 Horace Heidt Ti-Pi-Tin (6 weeks*) Horace Heidt (1901-1986) was an American pianist, big band leader, and radio and television personality. “Ti-Pi-Tin” is a song composed by María Grever with English lyrics by Raymond Leveen, and it became a hit for Heidt and his orchestra. |
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| Mar 19, 1938 – May 14, 1938 Benny Goodman Don’t Be That Way (5 weeks*) Benny Goodman (1909-1986) was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist, and bandleader known as the “King of Swing.” “Don’t Be That Way” is a song composed by Edgar Sampson, Benny Goodman, and Mitchell Parish. |
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| Apr 23, 1938 – May 6, 1938 Duke Ellington I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart Duke Ellington (1899-1974) was an American composer, pianist, and jazz orchestra leader. “I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart” is a composition by Ellington, with lyrics by Irving Mills, Henry Nemo, and John Redmond. |
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| May 7, 1938 – May 20, 1938 Red Norvo Please Be Kind Red Norvo (1908-1999) was an American jazz vibraphonist, “Mr. Swing.” “Please Be Kind” is a song composed by Saul Chaplin with lyrics by Sammy Cahn, and it became a hit for Norvo and his orchestra. |
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| May 14, 1938 – June 4, 1938 Sammy Kaye Love Walked In (3 weeks*) “Love Walked In” is a song composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by his brother Ira Gershwin, from the 1937 film “The Goldwyn Follies.” Sammy Kaye’s version of the song reached the top of the charts for 3 weeks. |
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| May 21, 1938 – June 17, 1938 Larry Clinton Cry, Baby, Cry (4 weeks*) Larry Clinton (1909-1985) was an American musician, bandleader, and arranger. “Cry, Baby, Cry” is a song composed by Saul Chaplin and Sammy Cahn, which became a hit for Clinton and his orchestra. |
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| May 28, 1938 – June 17, 1938 Shep Fields Cathedral in the Pines (3 weeks*) “Cathedral in the Pines” is a song composed by Charles Kenny and Nick Kenny, which became a hit for Shep Fields and His Rippling Rhythm orchestra. |
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| June 11, 1938 – June 17, 1938 Benny Goodman I Let A Song Go Out of My Heart This song is Benny’s version of the Duke Ellington hit on April 23, 1938 – May 6, 1938. |
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| June 18, 1938 – July 15, 1938 Red Norvo Says my Heart (4 weeks*) “Says my Heart” is a song composed by Burton Lane, with lyrics by Frank Loesser, featured in the 1938 film “Cocoanut Grove.” Red Norvo’s version of the song stayed at the top of the charts for four weeks. |
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| June 25, 1938 – Sep 16, 1938 Ella Fitzgerald with Chick Webb A-Tisket, A-Tasket (10 weeks*) Ella Fitzgerald (1917-1996) was an American jazz singer, and Chick Webb (1905-1939) was an American jazz and swing drummer and bandleader. “A-Tisket, A-Tasket” is a nursery rhyme adapted into a jazz song by Fitzgerald and Al Feldman. |
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| Jul 16, 1938 – Aug 20, 1938 Tommy Dorsey Music, Maestro, Please “Music, Maestro, Please” is a song composed by Allie Wrubel, with lyrics by Herb Magidson, and it became a hit for Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra. |
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| Sep 17, 1938 – Sep 30, 1938 Fred Astaire Change Partners “Change Partners” is a song composed by Irving Berlin for the 1938 film “Carefree,” in which Fred Astaire introduced the song. |
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| Sep 24, 1938 – Oct 8, 1938 Bing Crosby and Connee Boswell Alexander’s Ragtime Band Bing Crosby (1903-1977) was an American singer and actor, and Connee Boswell (1907-1976) was an American jazz singer. “Alexander’s Ragtime Band” is a song by Irving Berlin, which Crosby and Boswell recorded as a duet. |
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| Oct 1, 1938 – Nov 18, 1938 Larry Clinton My Reverie (8 weeks*) “My Reverie” is a song adapted by Larry Clinton from Claude Debussy’s “Rêverie,” with lyrics by Clinton. The song became a hit for his orchestra, staying at the top of the charts for 8 weeks. |
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| Oct 1, 1938 – Oct 28, 1938 Bing Crosby I’ve Got A Pocket Full of Dreams “I’ve Got A Pocket Full of Dreams” is a song composed by James V. Monaco, with lyrics by Johnny Burke, which became a hit for Bing Crosby. |
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| Oct 15, 1938 – Oct 28, 1938 Jimmy Dorsey Change Partners Jimmy Dorsey (1904-1957) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, and bandleader. His version of “Change Partners” was also a hit. |
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| Oct 29, 1938 – Nov 11, 1938 Russ Morgan I’ve Got A Pocket Full of Dreams Russ Morgan (1904-1969) was an American bandleader and arranger. His version of “I’ve Got A Pocket Full of Dreams” became a hit during this time. |
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| Oct 29, 1938 – Nov 4, 1938 Larry Clinton Heart and Soul “Heart and Soul” is a song composed by Hoagy Carmichael, with lyrics by Frank Loesser, which became a hit for Larry Clinton and his orchestra. |
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| Nov 5, 1938 – Dec 10, 1938 Artie Shaw Begin The Beguine (6 weeks*) Artie Shaw (1910-2004) was an American clarinetist, composer, and bandleader. “Begin The Beguine” is a song written by Cole Porter, and Shaw’s instrumental version became a hit, staying at the top of the charts for 6 weeks. |
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| Dec 17, 1938 – Dec 30, 1938 Fats Waller Two Sleepy People Fats Waller (1904-1943) was an American jazz pianist, organist, composer, and singer. “Two Sleepy People” is a song composed by Hoagy Carmichael, with lyrics by Frank Loesser, and it became a hit for Waller. |
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| December 31, 1938 – January 13, 1939 | Bing Crosby | You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby* | Crosby was an early advocate of recording techniques and was one of the first singers to use a microphone to enhance his voice. |
| December 31, 1938 – January 13, 1939 Andy Kirk I Won’t Tell a Soul (I Love You)* Andy Kirk was an American jazz saxophonist, tubist, and bandleader, born on May 28, 1898, in Newport, Kentucky. He is best known for leading his band, Andy Kirk and His Clouds of Joy, a highly successful and influential swing-era orchestra that included some of the most talented jazz musicians of the time. The band was active from the late 1920s to the late 1940s. |
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*ties, and sometimes interrupted by competing songs The Biggest Pop Artists of 1938 include: Charts based on Billboard music charts.
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