Bing Crosby was the most popular recording artist of the pre-rock era, 1890-1954, according to Joel Whitburn, author of "Pop Memories: 1890-1954." During this era Bing charted more records (300+) and number one hits than any other artist. Forty-two of Bing's singles and one album went to the top of the charts during his career. One of these singles, Bing's 1942 recording of White Christmas, topped the pop charts in three different years (1942, '45 and '47). In comparison, Paul McCartney, with and without the Beatles, has had 31 chart-topping singles, and Elvis had 18 in his career.Here is a list of Bing's #1 hits. All are singles except for the album Merry Christmas, which topped the Billboard charts in 1957. Following each song in parentheses are the number of weeks it topped the charts.
1927
- My Blue Heaven (1) -- Jack Fulton sang the lead; Bing was part of the chorus.
1928
- Ol' Man River (1)
1929
- Great Day (2)
1930
- Three Little Words (3)
1931
- Out of Nowhere (3)
- Just One More Chance (2)
- At Your Command (3)
- Dinah (2)
1932
- Please (6)
- Brother, Can You Spare a Dime? (2)
1933
- You're Getting to be a Habit with Me (4)
- Shadow Waltz (2)
1934
- Little Dutch Mill (5)
- Love in Bloom (6)
- June in January (7)
1935
- Soon (1)
- It's Easy to Remember (2)
- Red Sails in the Sunset (2)
1936
- Pennies from Heaven (10)
1937
- Sweet Leilani (10)
- Too Marvelous for Words (1)
- The Moon Got in My Eyes (4)
- Remember Me? (3)
- Bob White (1)
1938
- I've Got a Pocketful of Dreams (4)
- Alexander's Ragtime Band (2)
- You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby (2)
1940
- Sierra Sue (4)
- Trade Winds (4)
- Only Forever (9)
1942
- White Christmas (11)
- Moonlight Becomes You (2)
1943
- Sunday, Monday or Always (7)
1944
- San Fernando Valley (5)
- I Love You (5)
- I'll Be Seeing You (4)
- Swinging on a Star (9)
- A Hot Time in the Town of Berlin (6)
- Don't Fence Me In (8)
1945
- It's Been a Long, Long Time (2)
- I Can't Begin to Tell You (6)
- White Christmas (2)
1947 (January)
- White Christmas (1)
1948
- Now is the Hour (3)
1957
- Merry Christmas (1) (long-playing album)
Bing Crosby was the most popular recording artist of the pre-rock era, 1890-1954, according to Joel Whitburn, author of "Pop Memories: 1890-1954." During this era Bing charted more records (300+) and number one hits than any other artist. Forty-two of Bing's singles and one album went to the top of the charts during his career. One of these singles, Bing's 1942 recording of White Christmas, topped the pop charts in three different years (1942, '45 and '47). In comparison, Paul McCartney, with and without the Beatles, has had 31 chart-topping singles, and Elvis had 18 in his career.