List of Billboard Best-Selling Popular Record Albums number ones of 1947

Summary

The Billboard magazine publishes a weekly chart that ranks the best-selling albums in the United States. The chart nowadays known as the Billboard 200 was titled Best-Selling Popular Record Albums in 1947 and was based on a "weekly survey among 4,970 dealers In all sections of the country."[note 1] During the year, seven albums by five artists topped the chart.

Two albums recorded by Al Jolson (pictured in 1929) topped the chart for a total of 34 weeks. Al Jolson, Vol. 1 spent 25 weeks and Al Jolson Souvenir Album spent nine weeks at number one.

Bing Crosby's Merry Christmas was the first album to top the chart in the year. It started its run in November of the previous year and continued to top the chart for the first week in 1947. Like in the previous year, the album returned to number one in November for seven more weeks. The album spent 20 weeks atop the chart between December 1945 and December 1947. It was certified gold 25 years after its release by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of 500,000 or more units.[3][4] The best-selling album of the previous year, Glenn Miller, topped the chart for three more weeks in early 1947, meaning the album topped the charts for 14 weeks over three years. The album finished as the third best-selling of the year and was certified gold by the RIAA in 1968.[5][6] The follow-up, Glenn Miller Masterpieces, Volume II later topped the chart for one week.

Al Jolson was the only artist to place two albums atop the chart; Al Jolson, Vol. 1[note 2] and Al Jolson Souvenir Album. The first of them ascended to number one for a single week in the issue dated February 1 and reached the top again on February 15. It was the number-one album in the US for 25 weeks until August 2, making it the longest-charting album on the chart at the time.[7] Furthermore, it was the best-selling album of the year and is estimated to have sold more than one million copies in the US.[5][8] Jolson's second album debuted atop the chart in mid-August and spent nine weeks at number one, bringing his total weeks spent at number one to 34. In between Jolson's spells at number one Dorothy Shay spent five weeks in the top spot with her debut album Dorothy Shay Sings. Her album finished as the second best-selling of 1947.[5]

Chart history edit

 
Bing Crosby's (pictured in 1930) Merry Christmas was able to top the chart in December for a third year in a row.
 
Dorothy Shay (pictured in the 1940s) was the first female singer to top the chart with Dorothy Shay Sings. The album spent five weeks at number one.
Key
Indicates best selling album of 1947[5]
Issue date Album Artist(s) Ref.
January 4 Merry Christmas Bing Crosby [9]
January 11 All the Favorites Harry James [10]
January 18 Glenn Miller Glenn Miller & His Orchestra [11]
January 25 [12]
February 1 Al Jolson, Vol. 1[note 2] Al Jolson [13]
February 8 Glenn Miller Glenn Miller & His Orchestra [14]
February 15 Al Jolson, Vol. 1[note 2] Al Jolson [15]
February 22 [1]
March 1 [2]
March 8 [16]
March 15 [17]
March 22 [18]
March 29 [19]
April 5 [20]
April 12 [21]
April 19 [22]
April 26 [23]
May 3 [24]
May 10 [25]
May 17 [26]
May 24 [27]
May 31 [28]
June 7 [29]
June 14 [30]
June 21 [31]
June 28 [32]
July 5 [33]
July 12 [34]
July 19 [35]
July 26 [36]
August 2 Dorothy Shay Sings Dorothy Shay [37]
August 9 [38]
August 16 Al Jolson Souvenir Album Al Jolson [39]
August 23 [40]
August 30 [41]
September 6 [42]
September 13 [43]
September 20 [44]
September 27 Dorothy Shay Sings Dorothy Shay [45]
October 4 Al Jolson Souvenir Album Al Jolson [46]
October 11 Dorothy Shay Sings Dorothy Shay [47]
October 18 Al Jolson Souvenir Album Al Jolson [48]
October 25 Dorothy Shay Sings Dorothy Shay [49]
November 1 Al Jolson Souvenir Album Al Jolson [50]
November 8 Glenn Miller Masterpieces Vol. II Glenn Miller & His Orchestra [51]
November 15 Merry Christmas Bing Crosby [52]
November 22 [53]
November 29 [54]
December 6 [55]
December 13 [56]
December 20 [57]
December 27 [58]

See also edit

Footnotes edit

  1. ^ The chart was based on a survey among 4,020 dealers until the issue dated February 22, 1947.[1] The following issue (March 1) it was increased to 4,970 dealers.[2]
  2. ^ a b c Other names used for Al Jolson, Vol. 1 include Al Jolson in Songs He Made Famous.[7] and Al Jolson.

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. February 22, 1947. p. 24. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. March 1, 1947. p. 26. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  3. ^ "Gold & Platinum: Bing Crosby". Recording Industry Association of America. November 13, 1970. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  4. ^ Sanchez, Luis (May 8, 2014). The Beach Boys' Smile. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 4. ISBN 9781623567996. Retrieved July 15, 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d "THE BILLBOARD SECOND ANNUAL MUSIC-RECORD POLL". Billboard. January 3, 1948. p. 19. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  6. ^ "Gold & Platinum: Glenn Miller & His Orchestra". Recording Industry Association of America. July 2, 1968. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  7. ^ a b Ruhrmann, William. "Al Jolson | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  8. ^ Friedwald, Will (November 2, 2010). A Biographical Guide to the Great Jazz and Pop Singers. Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group. p. 254. ISBN 978-0307379894. Retrieved July 12, 2021.
  9. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. January 4, 1947. p. 19. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  10. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. January 11, 1947. p. 28. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  11. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. January 18, 1947. p. 23. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  12. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. January 25, 1947. p. 24. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  13. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. February 1, 1947. p. 24. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  14. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. February 8, 1947. p. 194. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  15. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. February 15, 1947. p. 24. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  16. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. March 8, 1947. p. 24. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  17. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. March 15, 1947. p. 24. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  18. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. March 22, 1947. p. 27. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  19. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. March 29, 1947. p. 27. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  20. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. April 5, 1947. p. 26. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  21. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. April 12, 1947. p. 26. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  22. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. April 19, 1947. p. 28. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  23. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. April 26, 1947. p. 29. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  24. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. May 3, 1947. p. 28. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  25. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. May 10, 1947. p. 29. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  26. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. May 17, 1947. p. 29. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  27. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. May 24, 1947. p. 27. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  28. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. May 31, 1947. p. 20. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  29. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. June 7, 1947. p. 28. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  30. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. June 14, 1947. p. 32. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  31. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. June 21, 1947. p. 32. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  32. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. June 28, 1947. p. 29. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  33. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. July 5, 1947. p. 30. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  34. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. July 12, 1947. p. 28. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  35. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. July 19, 1947. p. 32. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  36. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. July 26, 1947. p. 29. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  37. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. August 2, 1947. p. 30. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  38. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. August 9, 1947. p. 31. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  39. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. August 16, 1947. p. 28. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  40. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. August 23, 1947. p. 30. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  41. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. August 30, 1947. p. 29. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  42. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. September 6, 1947. p. 26. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  43. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. September 13, 1947. p. 29. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  44. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. September 20, 1947. p. 35. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  45. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. September 27, 1947. p. 27. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  46. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. October 4, 1947. p. 116. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  47. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. October 11, 1947. p. 32. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  48. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. October 18, 1947. p. 28. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  49. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. October 25, 1947. p. 26. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  50. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. November 1, 1947. p. 31. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  51. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. November 8, 1947. p. 28. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  52. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. November 15, 1947. p. 27. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  53. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. November 22, 1947. p. 28. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  54. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. November 29, 1947. p. 28. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  55. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. December 6, 1947. p. 30. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  56. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. December 13, 1947. p. 28. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  57. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. December 20, 1947. p. 28. Retrieved January 9, 2022.
  58. ^ "Best-Selling Popular Record Albums". Billboard. December 20, 1947. p. 27. Retrieved January 9, 2022.