List of Billboard number-one singles of 1956

This is a list of number-one songs in the United States during the year 1956 according to Billboard magazine. Prior to the creation of the Billboard Hot 100, Billboard published multiple singles charts each week. In 1956, the following five charts were produced:

• Best Sellers in Stores – ranked the biggest selling singles in retail stores, as reported by merchants surveyed throughout the country.
• Most Played by Jockeys – ranked the most played songs on United States radio stations, as reported by radio disc jockeys and radio stations.
• Most Played in Jukeboxes – ranked the most played songs in jukeboxes across the United States.
• Honor Roll of Hits – a composite ten-position song chart which combined data from the three charts above along with three other component charts.^[1][2] It served as The Billboard's lead chart until the introduction of the Hot 100 in 1958 and would remain in print until 1963.^[3]
• Top 100 - an early version of the Hot 100, the first chart to feature a combined tabulation of sales, airplay and jukebox play.

Note: In the issues dated February 25, June 16, September 15, November 17, and December 22, Billboard reported a tie for the number-one single on the Top 100. In addition, Billboard considered the following B-sides as sharing the number-one spot with its A-side on one of its charts:

• "I Was the One" (Elvis Presley; Best Sellers in Stores; April 21–April 28);^[a]
• "I Was the One" (Elvis Presley; Most Played in Jukeboxes; May 5, May 12);^[b]
• "My Baby Left Me" (Elvis Presley; Best Sellers in Stores; July 28);
• "Heaven on Earth" (The Platters; Best Sellers in Stores; August 4–11);
• "Don't Be Cruel"/"Hound Dog" (Elvis Presley; Best Sellers in Stores; August 18–October 27);^[c]
• "Don't Be Cruel"/"Hound Dog" (Elvis Presley; Most Played in Jukeboxes; September 1–November 10);^[d]
• "Any Way You Want Me" (Elvis Presley; Best Sellers in Stores; November 10–17);^[e] and
• "Any Way You Want Me" (Elvis Presley; Most Played in Jukeboxes; December 8).

Notes

1. Following these two weeks, Billboard listed only "Heartbreak Hotel" for the remainder of the disc's occupation in the number-one slot.
2. With the exception of these two weeks, Billboard listed only "Heartbreak Hotel" as the number-one single on the "Most Played in Jukeboxes" chart during that disc’s occupation.
3. From August 18 to September 15, "Hound Dog" was considered by Billboard to be the A-side of the disc. Following the week after September 22, Billboard listed "Don't Be Cruel" as the A-side for the remainder of the disc's occupation in the number-one slot. (For September 22, only "Don’t Be Cruel" was listed as the number-one single.)
4. From September 1 to September 15, Billboard listed "Hound Dog" as the A-side of the disc. Afterwards, besides a brief return to the original listing on September 29, "Don't Be Cruel" was listed as the A-side for the remainder of the disc's occupation in the number-one slot.
5. With the exception of these two weeks, Billboard listed only "Love Me Tender" as the number-one single on the "Best Sellers in Stores" chart during that disc’s occupation.

See also

• 1956 in music

References

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2. "The Billboard Music Popularity Contest: Honor Roll of Hits – The Nation's 10 Top Tunes". The Billboard. 24 March 1945. p. 16. Retrieved 4 August 2020.
3. "DVD-rom: Honor Roll of Hits Charts". Joel Whitburn's Record Research. Retrieved April 23, 2015.
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