Top songs of 1942

Glenn Miller Orchestra

One of the happier moments of the World War II era was the popularity of Big Bands. Ever since I was a child, I have loved big band music, even though it was a few decades before my time. I even spent several years from middle school through college in a jazz group of some type. The sounds of musicians like Goodman, the Dorseys, Miller, Armstrong, Ellington, The Andrews Sisters, Bing Crosby, and many more created the soundtrack of a generation that still remains popular today.  I just wanted to share a look back at some of the top songs from the year 1942 as listed by the Billboard National Best Selling Retail Records from each week.*

Chattanooga Choo Choo                     Glenn Miller and his Orchestra                        Jan 3–Feb 6

A String of Pearls                                Glenn Miller and his Orchestra                        Feb 7–Feb 13

Blues in the Night                               Woody Herman and His Orchestra                   Feb 14–Feb 20

A String of Pearls                                Glenn Miller and his Orchestra                        Feb 21–Feb 27

Moonlight Cocktail                            Glenn Miller and his Orchestra                        Feb 28-May 8

Tangerine                                            Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra                    May 9–Jun 19

Sleepy Lagoon                                    Harry James and His Orchestra                        Jun 2–Jul 17

Jingle Jangle Jingle                             Kay Kyser and His Orchestra                         Jul 18–Sep 11

(I’ve Got a Gal In) Kalamazoo           Glenn Miller and his Orchestra                        Sep 12–Oct 30

White Christmas                                 Bing Crosby w/Ken Darby Singers                  Oct 31–Dec31

* Billboard. “National Best Selling Retail Records,” 1942, Vol 54, Issues 1-52