1945 in music

This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1945.

1945 in music
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Specific locations

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Events

Publications

Albums released

For each Year in Music (beginning 1940) and Year in Country Music (beginning 1939), a comprehensive Year End Top Records section can be found at mid-page (popular), and on the Country page. These charts are meant to replace the charts Billboard prints at the end of each year, because they are better. Keep reading.

The charts are compiled from data published by Billboard magazine, using their formulas, with slight modifications. Most important, there are no songs missing or truncated by Billboard's holiday deadline. Each year, records included enter the charts between the prior November and early December. Each week, fifteen points are awarded to the number one record, then nine points for number two, eight points for number three, and so on. This system rewards songs that reach the highest positions, as well as those that had the longest chart runs. This is our adjustment to Mr. Whitburn's formula, which places no. 1 records on top, then no 2 and so on, ordered by weeks at that position. This allows a record with 4 weeks at no. 1 that only lasted 6 weeks to be rated very high. Here, the total points of a song's complete chart run determines its position. Our chart has more songs, more weeks and may look nothing like Billboard's, but it comes from the exact same surveys.

Before the Hot100 was implemented in 1958, Billboard magazine measured a record's performance with three charts, 'Best-Selling Popular Retail Records', 'Records Most-Played On the Air' or 'Records Most Played By Disk Jockeys' and 'Most-Played Juke Box Records'. As Billboard did starting in the 1940s, the three totals for each song are combined, with that number determining the final year-end rank. For example, 1944's "A Hot Time in the Town of Berlin" by Bing and the Andrews Sisters finished at no. 19, despite six weeks at no. 1 on the 'Most-Played Juke Box Records'(JB) chart. It scored 126 points, to go with its Best-Selling chart (BS) total of 0. Martha Tilton's version of "I'll Walk Alone" peaked at no. 4 on the Juke Box chart, which only totalled 65 points, but her BS total was also 65, for a final total of 130, ranking no. 18. Examples like this can be found in "The Billboard" magazine up to 1958. By the way, the 'Records Most-Played On the Air' chart didn't begin until January 1945, which is why we only had two sub-totals.

Our rankings are based on Billboard data, but we also present info on recording and release dates, global sales totals, RIAA and BPI certifications and other awards. Rankings from other genres like 'Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs' or 'Most Played Juke Box Race Records', Country charts including 'Most Played Juke Box Folk (Hillbilly) Records', 'Cashbox magazine', and other sources are presented if they exist. We supplement our info with reliable data from the "Discography of American Historical Recordings" website, Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954[3] and other sources as specified.

The following songs appeared in The Billboard's 'Best Selling Retail Records', 'Records Most-Played On the Air' and 'Most Played Juke Box Records' charts during 1945.

Rank Artist Title Label Recorded Released Chart Positions
1Les Brown and his Orchestra (Vocal Chorus by Doris Day)"Sentimental Journey"[4]Columbia 36769November 20, 1944 (1944-11-20)January 22, 1945 (1945-01-22)US 1942 #3, US #1 for 8 weeks, 28 total weeks, CashBox #2, Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998, 1,000,000 sales[3]
2Perry Como"Till The End Of Time"[5]Victor 20-1709July 3, 1945 (1945-07-03)July 30, 1945 (1945-07-30)US BB 1945 #2, US #1 for 9 weeks, 17 total weeks, CashBox #3, Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998, 1,000,000 sales[3]
3Johnny Mercer And The Pied Pipers"On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe"[6]Capitol 195December 13, 1944 (1944-12-13)July 1945 (1945-07)US BB 1945 #3, US #1 for 7 weeks, 19 total weeks, CashBox #7
4Vaughn Monroe and his Orchestra"There! I've Said It Again"[5]Victor 20-1637December 17, 1944 (1944-12-17)February 1945 (1945-02)US BB 1945 #4, US #1 for 6 weeks (Air Play), 25 total weeks, CashBox #8
5The Andrews Sisters"Rum and Coca-Cola"[7]Decca 18636October 23, 1944 (1944-10-23)December 1944 (1944-12)US 1945 #1, US #1 for 10 weeks (Juke Box), 21 total weeks, CashBox #6, 1,000,000 sales[3]
6Les Brown and his Orchestra (Vocal Chorus by Doris Day)"My Dreams Are Getting Better All the Time"[4]Columbia 36779February 3, 1945 (1945-02-03)February 15, 1945 (1945-02-15)US 1945 #5, US #1 for 7 weeks, 16 total weeks, CashBox #1, 1,000,000 sales[3]
7Swing And Sway With Sammy Kaye"Chickery Chick"[5]Victor 20-1726August 8, 1945 (1945-08-08)September 1945 (1945-09)US 1945 #8, US #1 for 4 weeks, 16 total weeks, 1,000,000 sales[3]
8Harry James and his Orchestra (Vocal Chorus by Kitty Kallen)"It's Been a Long, Long Time"[4]Columbia 36838July 24, 1945 (1945-07-24)September 17, 1945 (1945-09-17)US BB 1945 #6, US #1 for 4 weeks, 17 total weeks, CashBox #5
9Johnny Mercer, Jo Stafford, and The Pied Pipers"Candy"[6]Capitol 183December 6, 1944 (1944-12-06)January 1945 (1945-01)US BB 1945 #14, US #1 for 1 week, 19 total weeks
10Bing Crosby with Carmen Cavallaro on piano"I Can't Begin to Tell You"[8]Decca 23457August 7, 1945 (1945-08-07)October 1945 (1945-10)US BB 1945 #10, US #1 for 6 weeks (Juke Box), 19 total weeks, 1,000,000 sales[9]
11Johnny Mercer and The Pied Pipers"Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive"[6]Capitol 180October 4, 1944 (1944-10-04)December 1944 (1944-12)US BB 1945 #11, US #1 for 2 weeks, 13 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998
12Bing Crosby and Les Paul"It's Been a Long, Long Time"[10]Decca 18708July 12, 1945 (1945-07-12)September 1945 (1945-09)US BB 1945 #13, US #1 for 2 weeks, 16 total weeks
13Carmen Cavallaro and His Orchestra"Chopin's Polonaise"[11]Decca 18677March 30, 1945 (1945-03-30)May 1945 (1945-05)US BB 1945 #14, US #3 for 10 weeks, 20 total weeks, 1,000,000 sales[9]
14Harry James and his Orchestra (Vocal Chorus by Kitty Kallen)"I'm Beginning To See The Light"[4]Columbia 36758November 24, 1944 (1944-11-24)December 18, 1944 (1944-12-18)US BB 1945 #10, US #1 for 2 weeks, 18 total weeks
15Tony Pastor and his Orchestra"Bell Bottom Trousers"[5]Victor 20-1661April 4, 1945 (1945-04-04)May 1945 (1945-05)US BB 1945 #16, US #2 for 2 weeks, 15 total weeks
16Benny Goodman and his Orchestra"Gotta Be This Or That"[4]Columbia 36813April 27, 1945 (1945-04-27)June 1945 (1945-06)US BB 1945 #18, US #2 for 1 week, 17 total weeks
17Hal McIntyre and His Orchestra"Sentimental Journey"[5]Victor 20-1643February 9, 1945 (1945-02-09)April 1945 (1945-04)US BB 1945 #18, US #3 for 1 week, 19 total weeks
18Helen Forrest & Dick Haymes"I'll Buy That Dream"[12]Decca 23434May 1, 1945 (1945-05-01)August 1945 (1945-08)US BB 1945 #19, US #2 for 1 week, 18 total weeks
19Stan Kenton and His Orchestra"Tampico"[6]Capitol 202February 26, 1945 (1945-02-26)July 1945 (1945-07)US BB 1945 #20, US #3 for 1 weeks, 14 total weeks
20The Pied Pipers"Dream"[6]Capitol 185December 10, 1944 (1944-12-10)February 1945 (1945-02)US BB 1945 #20, US #1 for 1 week, 18 total weeks

Top race records

At the start of 1945, Billboard magazine published a chart ranking the "most popular records in Harlem" under the title of "the Harlem Hit Parade" (HHP). Rankings were based on a survey of record stores primarily in the Harlem district of New York City, an area which has historically been noted for its African American population. This chart was published for the final time in the issue dated February 10. The following week the magazine launched a new chart in its place, "Most Played Juke Box Race Records", based on reports from juke box operators (details can be found in each issue). For the year-end list of 1945's top R & B records below, peak positions and numbers of weeks from the HHP charts were carried over. 1945 chronological list of records that reached number one on the "Most Played Juke Box Race Records" chart.

Rank Artist Title Label Recorded Released Chart positions
1Joe Liggins and His Honeydrippers"The Honeydripper"Exclusive 207August 11, 1944 (1944-08-11)July 1945 (1945-07)US BB 1945 #191, US #16 for 1 week, 4 total weeks, US Most-Played Race Records 1945 #1, Harlem/Race Records #1 for 18 weeks, 27 total weeks
2Lucky Millinder and His Orchestra"Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well"Decca 18674June 9, 1944 (1944-06-09)May 1945 (1945-05)US BB 1945 #90, US #9 for 1 week, 10 total weeks, US Most-Played Race Records 1945 #2, Harlem/Race Records #1 for 8 weeks, 20 total weeks
3Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five"Caldonia"[13]Decca 8670January 19, 1945 (1945-01-19)April 19, 1945 (1945-04-19)US BB 1945 #66, US #6 for 1 weeks, 8 total weeks, US Most-Played Race Records 1945 #3, Harlem/Race Records #1 for 7 weeks, 26 total weeks
4Roosevelt Sykes and His Piano"I Wonder"Bluebird 34-0721December 15, 1944 (1944-12-15)January 1945 (1945-01)US Most-Played Race Records 1945 #4, Harlem/Race Records #1 for 7 weeks, 13 total weeks
5Erskine Hawkins and His Orchestra"Tippin' In"Victor 20-1639January 10, 1945 (1945-01-10)March 1945 (1945-03)US BB 1945 #238, US #21 for 1 week, 2 total weeks, US Most-Played Race Records 1945 #5, Harlem/Race Records #1 for 6 weeks, 25 total weeks
6Pvt. Cecil Gant"I Wonder"Gilt-Edge 500August 30, 1944 (1944-08-30)September 1944 (1944-09)US BB 1945 #266, US #26 for 1 week, 1 total weeks, US Most-Played Race Records 1945 #6, Harlem/Race Records #1 for 2 weeks, 28 total weeks
7Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five"Mop Mop"[14]Decca 8668March 15, 1944 (1944-03-15)October 1944 (1944-10)US Most-Played Race Records 1945 #7, Harlem/Race Records #1 for 1 weeks, 17 total weeks
8Jimmie Lunceford and His Orchestra"The Honeydripper"Decca 23451February 26, 1945 (1945-02-26)April 1945 (1945-04)US BB 1945 #247, US #21 for 1 week, 4 total weeks, US Most-Played Race Records 1945 #8, Harlem/Race Records #2 for 8 weeks, 9 total weeks
9Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five"You Can't Get That No More"[15]Decca 8668March 15, 1944 (1944-03-15)October 1944 (1944-10)US BB 1945 #189, US #15 for 1 week, 1 total weeks, US Most-Played Race Records 1945 #9, Harlem/Race Records #2 for 4 weeks, 13 total weeks
10Lionel Hampton and His Orchestra"Beulah's Boogie"[16]Decca 18719May 21, 1945 (1945-05-21)November 1945 (1945-11)US Most-Played Race Records 1945 #10, Harlem/Race Records #2 for 4 weeks, 9 total weeks

Classical music

Premieres
ComposerCompositionDateLocationPerformers
Boulez, PierreThree Psalmodies for Piano1945-02-12ParisGrimaud[17]
Britten, BenjaminFour Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes1945-06-13Cheltenham Music Festival, UKLondon Philharmonic – Britten[18]
Britten, BenjaminPassacaglia from Peter Grimes1945-08-29LondonBBC Symphony – Boult[19]
Britten, BenjaminString Quartet No. 21945-11-21LondonZorian Quartet[20]
Carpenter, John AldenThe Seven Ages1945-12-02New York CityNew York Philharmonic – Rodzinski[21]
Copland, AaronJubilee Variation on a Theme of Goossens1945-03-23Cincinnati, OhioCincinnati Symphony – Goossens[22]
Finzi, GeraldEarth and Air and Rain (1935)1945-07-02LondonFalkner, Ferguson[23]
Ginastera, AlbertoLas horas de una estancia1945-06-11Montevideo, UruguayBaridon, Satalia de Perna[24]
Ginastera, AlbertoPsalm 1501945-04-07Buenos AiresTeatro Colón Regular Orchestra and Chorus – Wolff[25]
Jolivet, AndréLe chant de Linos (quintet version)1945-06-01ParisJamet Quintet[26]
Jolivet, AndréTrois chansons de ménestrels1945-02-10ParisDyonis, Soulage[27]
Khachaturian, AramFantasy on Russian Themes1945-11-06MoscowUSSR State Radio Symphony – Gorchakov[28]
Kodály, ZoltánMissa brevis1945-02-11Budapest[unknown performers][29]
Lutosławski, WitoldWind Trio1945-09-??Krákow, PolandSnieckowski, Rudnicki, Orlow[30]
Malipiero, Gian FrancescoSinfonia delle campane (Symphony No. 3)1945-11-04Florence[unknown orchestra] – Markevitch[31]
Martinů, BohuslavSymphony No. 31945-10-12BostonBoston Symphony – Koussevitzky[32]
Messiaen, OlivierTrois petites liturgies de la présence divine1945-04-21ParisLoriod, Martenot / Paris Conservatory Concert Society Orchestra – Désormière[33]
Messiaen, OlivierVingt regards sur l'enfant-Jésus1945-03-23ParisLoriod[34]
Novák, VítězslavMay Symphony1945-12-05Prague[unknown performers][35]
Piston, WalterSonatina for Violin and Harpsichord1945-11-30New York CitySchneider, Kirkpatrick[36]
Prokofiev, SergeiSymphony No. 51945-01-13MoscowUSSR State Symphony – Prokofiev[37]
Shostakovich, DmitriSymphony No. 91945-11-03LeningradLeningrad Philharmonic – Mravinsky[38]
Stravinsky, IgorElegy for Viola1945-01-26Washington DCPrévost[39]
Tippett, MichaelSymphony No. 11945-11-10LiverpoolRoyal Liverpool Philharmonic – Sargent[40]
Tubin, EduardCapriccio for Violin and Piano No. 21945-09-25StockholmAumere, Roots[41]
Villa-Lobos, HeitorString Quartet No. 71945-05-30Theatro Municipal (Rio de Janeiro)Quarteto Borgerth[42]
Castelnuovo-Tedesco / Milhaud / Schoenberg / Shilkret / Stravinsky / Tansman / TochGenesis Suite1945-11-18Los AngelesJanssen Symphony – Janssen[43]

Compositions

Opera

Film

Jazz
Main article: 1945 in jazz

Musical theatre

Musical films

Births

Deaths

References
  1. Billboard. 1945-01-27.
  2. Hewett, Ivan, "Rolling with the Punches", BBC Proms 2022, pp. 20–4
  3. Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Record Research.
  4. "COLUMBIA 78rpm numerical listing discography: 36500–37000". www.78discography.com. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  5. "RCA Victor 78rpm numerical listing discography: 20-1500–20-2000". www.78discography.com. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  6. "Capitol 100–499, 78rpm numerical listing discography". www.78discography.com. Retrieved 2022-04-14.
  7. "Decca matrix 72460. Rum and Coca Cola / The Andrews Sisters – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  8. "Decca matrix L 3904. I can't begin to tell you / Bing Crosby – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  9. "Decca Records 20th Anniversary". The Billboard: 46. August 28, 1954.
  10. "Decca matrix L 3889. It's been a long, long time / Bing Crosby – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  11. "Decca matrix L 3766. Chopin's Polonaise / Carmen Cavallaro Orchestra – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-05-17.
  12. "Decca matrix L 3835. I'll buy that dream / Helen Forrest; Dick Haymes – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-05-03.
  13. "Decca matrix 72711. Caldonia / Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
  14. "Decca matrix 71871. Mop mop / Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
  15. "Decca matrix 71873. You can't get that no more / Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
  16. "Decca matrix 72876. Beulah's boogie / Lionel Hampton Orchestra – Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-05-24.
  17. "Pierre Boulez: Three Psalmodies for Piano" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  18. The Making of Peter Grimes: Notes and Commentaries
  19. Oregon Symphony
  20. "Benjamin Britten: String Quartet No. 2" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  21. New York Philharmonic
  22. "Aaron Copland: Jubilee Variation on a Theme of Goossens" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  23. Boosey & Hawkes
  24. "Alberto Ginastera: Las horas de una estancia" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  25. "Alberto Ginastera: Psalm 150" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  26. "André Jolivet: Le chant de Linos" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  27. "André Jolivet: Trois chansons de ménestrels" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  28. "Review". Gramophone. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
  29. "Kodály Institute". Archived from the original on 2017-10-09. Retrieved 2015-07-10.
  30. "Witold Lutosławski: Wind Trio" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  31. Orchestra Virtuale del Flaminio
  32. "Bohuslav Martinů, Symphony No. 3". American Symphony Orchestra. 2017-02-10. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
  33. "Olivier Messiaen: Trois petites liturgies de la présence divine" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  34. "Olivier Messiaen: Vingt regards sur l'enfant-Jésus" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  35. Klassika
  36. Association for Recorded Sound Collections
  37. New York Philharmonic
  38. Naxos Records
  39. "Igor Stravinsky: Elegy for Viola" (work details) (in French and English). IRCAM.
  40. Schott Music
  41. 2014-04-01T00:00:00+01:00. "Tubin: Violin Sonata no.1, Suite on Estonian Dance Pieces, Three Pieces, Meditation, Prelude, Capriccio no.2, Cock's Dance Paganini Caprice op.1 no.24 (arr. Tubin)". The Strad. Retrieved 2022-05-09.
  42. Villa-Lobos, sua obra: Programa de Ação Cultural, second edition (Rio de Janeiro: MEC, DAC, Museu Villa-Lobos, 1972): 86.
  43. Milken Archive of Jewish Music
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