Country Music Big No. 1 Hits (1950-1960) The Battle for Chart Dominance

During the 1950s, the battle for chart dominance was highly completive and many of the Billboard records set during the era remain unchallenged today. Hank Snow, Ray Price, Webb Pierce and Hank Williams are the primary artists who battled it out for chart dominance and a summary of their competition is annotated here.

1950: I'm Moving On (Hank Snow) verses Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy (Red Foley): Dominating the Billboard Country Music (CM) chart for 21 consecutive weeks at No. 1, Hank Snow's I'm Moving On is the biggest song in CM all-time. Many versions of Chattanogie Shoe Shine Boy charted in 1950, but the biggest was by Red Foley's recording that went to No. 1 on the Billboard chart. It stayed at the top spot for 13 consecutive weeks.

1951: Slow Poke (Pee Wee King) verses The Shotgun Boogie (Tennessee Ernie Ford): Slow Poke debuted on the country charts in1951, topping out at No. 1 for 15 consecutive weeks and making it the biggest song in CM that year. The Shotgun Boogie was Ford's most successful release on the country charts. It held the No. 1 on Billboard spot for 14 consecutive weeks.

1952: The Wild Side of Life (Hank Thompson) verses Jambalaya (Hank Williams): The Wild Side of Life became one of the most popular recordings in the genre's history, spending 15 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on Billboard and solidified Thompson's status as a country music superstar. Jambalaya reached No. 1 on the Billboard country charts for 14 consecutive weeks and was the 2nd biggest song in CM that year.

1953: Kaw-Liga (Hank Williams) verses There Stands the Glass (Webb Pierce): Kaw-Liga claimed the No. 1 spot on Billboard for 13 consecutive weeks and was the biggest song in CM that year. There Stands the Glass which stayed at the Billboard top spot for 12 consecutive weeks was the 2nd biggest song in CM that year.

1954: I Don't Hurt Anymore (Hank Snow) verses Slowly (Webb Pierce): I Don't Hurt Anymore was Hank Snow's 4th No. 1 on the Billbaord chart where it spent 20 consecutive weeks at the top spot. It is ranked the 4th biggest song in CM all-time. Slowly was one of Pierce's more successful singles, spending 17 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard chart and was the 2nd biggest single in CM that year.

1955: In the Jailhouse Now (Webb Pierce) verses Love, Love, Love (Webb Pierce): In the Jailhouse Now is a song usually credited to Jimmie Rodgers. Webb took his version to No. 1 for 21 consecutive weeks and it is ranked the 3rd biggest song in CM all-time. This was a dominate year for Webb as Love, Love, Love spent 13 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard chart and the 2nd biggest song in CM that year.

1956: Crazy Arms (Ray Price) verses Heartbreak Hotel (Elvis Presley): Crazy was the biggest hit in CM that year (20 consecutive weeks at No. 1) and is ranked the 4th biggest song in CM all-time. Heartbreak Hotel, the 2nd biggest song in CM that year (17 consecutive weeks at No. 1) was Presley's first hit with RCA Victor and the 2nd biggest single in CM that year.

1957: Gone (Ferlin Husky) verses Young Love (Sonny James): Gone spent 10 consecutive weeks at No. 1 and was the biggest song in CM in 1957. Young Love was a No. 1 hit on Billboard for 9 consecutive weeks.

1958: City Lights (Ray Price) verses Alone With You (Faron Young): City Lights was a long-running No. 1 hit. It spent 13 consecutive weeks at No. 1 and was the biggest single in CM that year. Alone With You held the No. 1 spot for 13 consecutive weeks and was the 2nd biggest single in CM that year.

1959: The Battle of New Orleans (Johnny Horton) verses The Three Bells (The Browns): Johnny Horton took The Battle of New Orleans to No. 1 on the Billboard chart for 10 consecutive weeks and it was the biggest song in CM that year. The Three Bells is a song made popular by The Browns. The single reached No. 1 on the country and pop charts and spent 10 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard country chart.

1960: He'll have to Go (Jim Reeves) verses Please Help Me, I'm Falling (Hank Locklin): He'll Have to Go reached No. 1 on Billboard in 1960, where it remained for 14 consecutive weeks and was the biggest song in CM that year. One of only four songs to reach No. 1 on the Billboard chart during the entire year; Please Help Me, I'm Falling spent 14 consecutive weeks at No. 1 and was the 2nd biggest song in CM that year

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Researched, comiled and written by Richard bell, Roots of Country Music, Aug. 10, 2009