List of Top 30 Shellac Records by Billie Holiday

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Billie Holiday - Strange Fruit
Notes on using the list
This list contains the title and composer (s) of the pieces, date of recording, date of entry into the charts, highest position and length of stay in the charts. The presetting takes place according to the entry date in the charts. It can also be sorted by title, label, date, chart position and week.

In the list of top 30 shellac records of Billie Holiday are added all the pieces they under his own name or with the orchestras of Benny Goodman and Teddy Wilson recorded and that of January 1934 ( "Riffin 'the Scotch") to 1945 ( "Lover Man ”) hit the US Billboard magazine charts. For his book Pop Memories 1890–1954, the music historian Joel Whitburn evaluated various hit parades in parallel, including sales for sheet music, radio broadcasts, official record labels' sales lists and charts from the industry journal Variety . So the data doesn't just relate to Billboard magazine, which had only published a weekly hit parade in late 1935 / early 1936.

Title, composer (s) B side Label Date of recording Chart entry Highest position Weeks Remarks
Riffin 'the Scotch
(Goodman - McDonough - Buck)		 Benny Goodman:
Keep On Goin 'What You're Doin'		 Columbia 2867 Dec 18, 1933 Jan. 27, 1934 6th 5 Billie Holiday first chart success as a band singer in the Benny Goodman Orchestra. He played the song in February / March 1934 with almost the same line-up as an instrumental for a radio recording. "Riffin 'the Scotch" was composed by guitarist Dick McDonough ; Goodman was named as a co-author only because it was his recording; the text was written by Johnny Mercer, then 22 years old .
If You Were Mine
(Mercer - Malneck)		 Teddy Wilson:
Eeny Meeny Meeny Mon.		 Brunswick 7554 Oct 25, 1935 December 7, 1935 12 3 The Johnny Mercer / Matty Malneck song was taken from the film musical To Beat the Band . Billie Holiday was accompanied by Teddy Wilson's orchestra, in which u. a. Roy Eldridge , Benny Morton and Chu Berry played.
Twenty-Four Hours a Day
(Swanstrom - Hanley)		 Yankee Doodle Never Went to Town Brunswick 7550 Oct 25, 1935 Nov 23, 1935 6th 7th In the previous session, Billie Holiday interpreted a melody from the film Sweet Surrender (1935) as a band singer for Teddy Wilson & His Orchestra . The following year Joe Venuti hit the charts with his version.
You Let Me Down
(Dubin - Warren)		 Teddy Wilson:
Spreadin 'Rhythm Around		 Brunswick 7581 December 3, 1935 Jan. 18, 1936 18th 1 After Jimmy Dorsey , Teddy Wilson & Billie Holiday also had success with this Al Dubin / Harry Warren song from the movie musical Stars Over Broadway . He was also recorded by Jimmie Lunceford , Wingy Manone and others. a.
These Foolish Things
(Strachey - Mavel - Walker)		 Teddy Wilson:
Why Do I Love to Myself About You		 Brunswick 7694 June 30, 1936 Aug 1, 1936 5 5 After Benny Goodman had a number 1 hit with the song in July 1936, this was the jazz standard's second listing in the top 20 . Billie Holiday was accompanied by Teddy Wilson and his orchestra, to which u. a. Jonah Jones , Johnny Hodges , John Kirby, and Cozy Cole included.
It's Like Reaching for the Moon
(Sherman - Lewis)		 Teddy Wilson:
Guess Who		 Brunswick 7702 June 30, 1936 Aug 15, 1936 17th 2 The song was created during the "These Foolish Things" session.
No Regrets
(Tobias - Ingraham)		 Did I remember Vocalion 3276 July 10, 1936 Sep 12 1936 9 5 Billie Holiday's first hit under its own name. The contemporary pop song had already been recorded by Tommy Dorsey , who was in the top 20 from July 18, 1936 . Artie Shaw accompanied the singer with a pure studio band, in which u. a. Joe Bushkin , Bunny Berigan and Cozy Cole were seated. The song has no relation to "No Regrets (Non, je ne regrette rien)" by Edith Piaf .
Summertime
(Heyward - Gershwin - Gershwin)		 Billie's blues Vocalion 3288 July 10, 1936 Sep 12 1936 12 2 The song was recorded at the "No Regrets" session with Artie Shaw's band. Only Billie Holiday's version of the lullaby from George Gershwin's opera " Porgy and Bess " (1935) made it to the charts and only lasted two weeks. Later there were countless recordings of this standard. It did not hit the charts until the late 1950s with versions by Sam Cooke , Ricky Nelson and Billy Stewart .
A Fine Romance
( Dorothy Fields - Jerome Kern )		 I can't pretend Vocalion 3333 29 Sep 1936 Oct 31, 1936 9 3 The song from the Great American Songbook was first introduced by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers in the film musical Swing Time (1936). Billie Holidays version was the only swing version of "A Fine Romance" in the charts, alongside versions by Fred Astaire, Henry King and Guy Lombardo . In addition to Berigan and Cole, clarinetist Irving Fazola and guitarist Dick McDonough played in their backing band .
Let's Call a Heart a Heart
(Johnston - Burke)		 One, Two, Button Your Shoe Vocalion 3334 29 Sep 1936 Nov 7, 1936 18th 1 In the previous session, the title song from the music film Pennies from Heaven (1936) was interpreted, with which Wilson and Holiday came into the charts in 1937 as did Bing Crosby in 1936 .
The Way You Look Tonight
(Fields - Kern)		 Easy to love Brunswick 7762 Oct 21, 1936 Nov 14, 1936 3 5 The Jerome Kern composition was a hit from the film Swing Time (1936), with which Fred Astaire and Guy Lombardo also hit the charts that year. In addition to pianist Wilson, she was accompanied by Viso Musso (cl), Ben Webster (ts), Allan Reuss (g), Milt Hinton (b) and Gene Krupa .
Who Loves You?
(Davis)		 Teddy Wilson:
With Thee I Swing		 Brunswick 7768 Oct 28, 1936 Nov 14, 1936 4th 6th A week later, the singer with the same line-up recorded the relatively unknown song "Who Loves You?" This was the only chart notation of the song that the Original Dixieland Jazz Band recorded that year .
I Can't Give You Anything but Love
(Fields - McHugh)		 Sailing Brunswick 7781 Nov 19, 1936 Dec. 19, 1936 3 4th In December, Jimmy McHugh's classic hit the charts for the seventh time, with Teddy Wilson and Billie Holiday for the first time in a swing version. It was taken from Harry Delmar's Revels (1927), but was canceled before the premiere and was presented in the Broadway musical Blakbirds of 1928 by Aida Ward.
That's Life I Guess
(Lewis - DeRose)		 Pennies from Heaven Brunswick 7789 Nov 19, 1936 December 26, 1936 20th 1 The song was created during the previous session. It was the only version of the song that made it into the top 20 .
Pennies from Heaven
(Burke - Johnson)		 Teddy Wilson:
That's Life I Guess		 Brunswick 7789 Nov 19, 1936 Jan. 2, 1937 3 6th This was the third hit song from the November 19th session, where four tracks were recorded. “Pennies from Heaven” had a total of seven hit recordings in 1936/37.
I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm
(Berlin)		 One Never Knows Does One Vocalion 3431 Jan. 12, 1937 Feb 20, 1937 4th 10 The then brand new Irving Berlin song was already in the charts in a version by Mildred Bailey ; Billie Holiday took him on with a backing band, in addition to Wilson also Edgar Sampson (cl, as), Ben Webster (heard a solo), John Kirby (b) and Cozy Cole.
This Year's Kisses
(Berlin)		 Teddy Wilson: He Ain't Got Rhythm Brunswick 7824 Jan 25, 1937 Feb. 27, 1937 8th 3 Wilson brought the Count Basie Orchestra rhythm section and Lester Young into the studio for this recording of the Irving Berlin ballad . During this session the track "He Ain't Got Rhythm" was recorded.
Please Keep Me in You Dreams
(Seymor - Lawnhurst)		 If My Heart Could Only Talk Vocalion 3440 Jan. 12, 1937 Feb 25, 1937 13 3 Also Fats Waller was with the song by Tot Seymour (text) and Vee Lawnhurst (music) on the charts; later there was a version of the Casa Loma Orchestra .
(This Is) My Last Affair
(Johnson)		 Teddy Wilson: You Showed Me the Way Brunswick 7840 Feb. 18, 1937 March 27, 1937 10 3 With this version of Teddy Wilson and Billie Holiday, the classic hit the charts one last time. Besides Wilson and others, her accompanying musicians were a. Cecil Scott , Prince Robinson , and again John Kirby and Cozy Cole.
The Mood That I'm In
(Silver - Sherman)		 Teddy Wilson: Sentimental & Melancholy Brunswick 7844 Feb. 18, 1937 Apr 3, 1937 17th 1 Created during the previous “My Last Affair” session. Previously, Lionel Hampton was successful in the charts; however, there were no further quotations.
Carelessly
(Kenny - Kenny - Ellis)		 How could I Brunswick 7867 March 31, 1937 Apr 24, 1937 1 12 A number 1 hit by the singer that stayed at the top of the charts for three weeks. Despite its success, there were no subsequent versions of the song. Wilson also brought Ellington musicians Cootie Williams , Harry Carney and Johnny Hodges into the backing band .
How could you?
(Dubin - Warren)		 Carelessly Brunswick 7867 March 31, 1937 May 1, 1937 12 3 Al Dubin and Harry Warren wrote a song from the previous "Carelessly" session , which they wrote for the crime film San Quentin (with Humphry Bogart ). There were other versions by Tommy Dorsey , Miff Mole (with Harry James ), Jan Savitt and George Shearing .
They Can't Take That Away from Me
(Gerswhin - Gershwin)		 Let's Call the Whole Thing Off Vocalion 3520 Apr 1, 1937 May 15, 1937 12 4th The Gerswin song came from the film musical Shall We Dance and hit the charts for the last time with Holidays' version. Frank Sinatra later had success with it and became a standard for many singers and jazz musicians.
Moanin 'Low
(Dietz - Rainger)		 Fine and dandy Brunswick 7877 March 31, 1937 May 22, 1937 11 2 Howard Dietz and Ralph Rainger wrote the song for the Broadway musical The Little Show (1929); in the same year the Charleston Chasers had a hit with it.
Mean to Me
(Turk - Ahlert)		 I'll get by Brunswick 7903 May 11, 1937 June 26, 1937 7th 4th The song is closely related to Broadway singer Ruth Etting , who had success with him in 1929. Wilson and Holiday's version made the piece a jazz standard. Contributing musicians were in addition to Lester Young a. a. Johnny Hodges, Buck Clayton , Buster Bailey and Artie Bernstein .
Easy Living
(Robin - Rainger)		 Fooling myself Brunswick 7911 July 1, 1937 July 10, 1937 15th 2 The song by Leo Robin and Ralph Rainger was again accompanied by musicians from the Basie band, such as Jo Jones , Freddie Green , Walter Page and Lester Young.
Me, Myself and I
(Gordon - Roberts - Kaufman)		 Without your love Vocalion 3593 June 15, 1937 July 17, 1937 11 3 Even Nat Gonella made by the Mack Gordon recording -Song, but only the version of Billie Holiday entered the charts; here u. a. Edmond Hall (cl), Buck Clayton (tp) and again Lester Young, Green, Page and Jo Jones.
Yours and Mine
(Freed - Brown)		 Sun Showers Brunswick 7917 May 11, 1937 July 24, 1937 16 2 The song came from the film Broadway Melody of 1938 and was also successful with the Will Hudson / Eddie Delange orchestra , but only the Wilson / Holiday version made it into the top 20 . Clayton, Bailey, Young and Hodges played in the wind section.
A Sailboat in the Moonlight
(Loeb - Lombardo)		 Born to Love Vocalion 3605 June 15, 1937 Aug 7, 1937 10 3 The piece was from the "Me, Myself and I" session with Edmond Hall. Shortly before, Johnny Hodges had reached # 17 on the charts with his orchestra. Again the singer is accompanied by the Basie rhythm section.
Getting Some Fun Out of Life
(Leslie - Burke)		 Who Wants Love Vocalion 3701 13 Sep 1937 Oct 23, 1937 10 5 Although there were versions of Tommy Dorsey and Wingy Manone , only Billie Holidays version made it into the top 20 ; In addition to the Basie musicians from the previous sessions, this time Claude Thornhill played piano.
Trav'lin 'All Alone
(Johnson)		 He's Funny That Way Vocalion 3748 13 Sep 1937 Nov 20, 1937 18th 2 Jimmie Noone was already in the top 20 in 1931 when the piece that was written in the previous session with the basie combo . There were other recordings during this time by Ethel Waters (1929) and McKinney's Cotton Pickers (1930).
Nice Work If You Can Get It
(Gershwin - Gershwin)		 Teddy Wilson:
Things Are Looking Up		 Brunswick 8015 Nov 1, 1937 Dec 25, 1937 20th 1 The song was from the movie A Damsel in Distress ; the singer was again accompanied by a studio band around Teddy Wilson.
My Man
(Pollock - Yvain - Willemetz - Charles)		 Can't Help Lovin 'That Man Brunswick 8008 Nov 1, 1937 Jan. 8, 1938 14th 2 The song was originally a chanson ("Mon homme"), which the Mistinguett sang for the first time in 1921 in the Revue Paris qui jazz . In the USA it became known through the Ziegfeld Follies of 1921 and from then on was heard in many Broadway and film musicals and was a chart success u. a. for Paul Whiteman . Holiday's version, which made the song a jazz standard, came about during the previous "Nice Work" session.
You Go to My Head
(Gillespie - Coots)		 The Moon Looks Down and Laughs Vocalion 4126 May 11, 1938 July 30, 1938 20th 1 Shortly before, Teddy Wilson had recorded this song with the singer Nan Wynn; the Billie Holiday version is becoming the classic pieces today.
I'm Gonna Lock My Heart (And Throw Awy the Key)
(Eaton - Shand)		 I wish I had you Vocalion 4238 June 23, 1938 Aug 13, 1938 2 9 The daily hit made it to # 2 on the charts for a week and its version made it a jazz standard; Larry Clinton and Hot Lips Page made further recordings from this period .
Strange Fruit
(Allan)		 Fine and Mellow Commodore 526 April 20, 1939 July 15, 1939 16 2 Billie Holidays regular label Columbia did not want to release the protest song against racial discrimination and lynching; he then appeared on the small label Commodore. She was accompanied by an orchestra led by the trumpeter Frankie Newton . It was only with “God Bless the Child” in October 1941 that “Lady Day” had a chart success.
God Bless the Child
(Holiday - Herzog)		 Solitude Okeh 6270 May 9, 1941 Oct 18, 1941 26th 1 Holiday wrote this song with Arthur Herzog Jr. , which also resulted in "Don't Explain". She was accompanied by Eddie Heywood's orchestra, in which u. a. Roy Eldridge and Grachan Moncur II were seated. Only this version of "God Bless the Child" made the charts; There were no other notable recordings of this song at the time.
Trav'lin 'Light
(Mercer - Mundy - Young)		 You Were Never Lovelier Capitol 116 June 12, 1941 Oct 31, 1942 23 1 “Trav'lin 'Light” was composed by Jimmy Mundy and Trummy Young ; the text is from Johnny Mercer . Billie Holiday, only listed as "Lady Day" on the record label, recorded this song in Los Angeles with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra. On this day, she fulfilled her dearest wish to finally record with strings, which at that time was only reserved for the big stars like Frank Sinatra or Bing Crosby . After that she only had a song in the charts again in 1945 with “Lover Man”.
Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?)
(Davis - Sherman - Ramirez)		 That Ole Devil Called Love Decca 23391 Oct. 4, 1944 May 5, 1945 16 1 The song, written by Jimmy Davis, Ram Ramirez and Jimmy Sherman in 1941, was linked to Billie Holiday. With the two titles "Lover Man" and "No More" their era began at Decca and at the same time the era of their hit listings. It was also the first and last hit "Lady Days" in the "Harlem Hit Parade", which from 1945 traded under the name "Most-Played Juke Box Race Records". The B-side of the hit was "That Ole Devil Called Love."

References and comments

  1. ↑ 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 aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao Gerhard Klußmeier: Jazz in the Charts. Another view on jazz history. Liner notes and booklet for the 100 CD edition. Membrane International, ISBN 978-3-86735-062-4
  2. ↑ In addition, Whitburn lists from the late 1930s on a top 30, in the earlier years he only evaluated the 10-20 successful titles each week.
  3. ^ Joel Whitburn: Pop Memories 1890-1954 . Record Research, Menomone Falls WI 1986. Cf. Gerhard Klußmeier: Jazz in the Charts , p. 9.
  4. ^ A b c Donald Clarke: Billie Holiday - Wishing on the Moon. A biography. Piper Verlag 1995, ISBN 3-492-03756-9