In 1940, The Billboard began compiling and publishing the National Best Selling Retail Records chart. Debuting in the issue dated July 27, it marked the beginning of the magazine's nationwide tracking of record sales in the United States. Initially titled the "National List of Best Selling Retail Records", the weekly ten-position chart was tabulated using sales figures received from a selection of merchants across the country. Prior to its introduction, The Billboard had produced lists ranking music by various metrics such as performance in vaudeville venues, jukebox plays, sheet music sales, and regional airplay.
The first National Best Selling Retail Records number-one single was "I'll Never Smile Again" by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra. Featuring vocals by Frank Sinatra and the vocal group the Pied Pipers, the song topped the chart for twelve consecutive weeks and elevated Sinatra to national popularity.
Chart history Issue dateSongArtist(s)July 27"I'll Never Smile Again"Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra with Frank Sinatra and the Pied PipersAugust 3August 10August 17August 24August 31September 7September 14September 21September 28October 5October 12October 19"Only Forever"Bing Crosby with John Scott Trotter and His OrchestraOctober 26November 2November 9November 16November 23November 30 December 7 December 14 December 21"Frenesi"Artie Shaw and His OrchestraDecember 28
Number-one artists +List of number-one artists by total weeks at number oneArtistWeeks at #1Tommy Dorsey12Bing Crosby9Artie Shaw2
See also 1940 in music
References