Well with a whole year under our belt, or at least the second half of one. Its time for us to visit a time before the Billboard top 100. Its time for us to look at the hits of the year 1900, a year famous for currency going on gold standard and the first sales of postage stamps. There is limited information about what sat in the number one spots, but thanks to tsort.info i'm able to bring you some insight on what people considered a hit. So without further ado, lets check it out.
In February Arther Collins "Mandy Lee" sat on the top of the charts for 8 weeks. This was a thrilling song about dancing with a super special female known as Mandy Lee.
In March there were actually two hits. The first was George J Gaskin "When Cloe Sings a Song" that stuck around for 7 weeks and speaks of how there are many beautiful sounds in the world but none as pretty as when Cloe sings. The song also features the ever tolerant word "Darkies". Heres a version covered by Sheet Music Singer Fred Field.
The second song to chart in March was Jere Mahoney "When You Were Sweet Sixteen". This one sat around for 11 weeks. The lyrics speak of a guys love of a young lady who is only sixteen who, from the sounds of it left because he got creepy or possibly died. Heres a version covered by Sheet Music Singer Fred Field.
In April Jere Mahoney continued to chart for 10 weeks with "A Bird In A Gilded Cage". This is a song about a woman who married someone just for money then regretted it for the rest of their life.
In May Steve Porter stole the spotlight for 11 weeks with.... hold up..."A Bird In A Gilded Cage".? Rough man, Must have been a popular song. Fun Fact there is also a third version from the same year that only got to the number two spot.
In July Len Spencer chilled for 10 weeks with "Ma Tiger Lily". Here is a instrumental version by The Peerless Orchestra in the same year.
By August Arthur Collins made a comeback for 11 weeks with his version of "Ma Tiger Lily". This one features lyrics about... oh god no. This song should be forever forgotten.
In October Haydn Quartet's "Because" hung around for 6 weeks. The songs about a fellas love for his lady and how much he praises her. Heres a version covered by Sheet Music Singer Fred Field.
In November George J Gaskin struck a cord for 10 weeks with his version of "When You Were Sweet Sixteen". Here is another version by Harry Macdonough recorded in 1901 but not heralded as good as George's version.
Finishing out the year, Bumping 11 weeks in December was Albert Campbell with "Ma Blushin' Rosie". The lyrics are basically the old school version of saying, "Get over here girl, I'm horny and trying to bang ya". Here is a version by Al Jolson.
... And that sums up the hits of 1900. Over all, not too happy about some of the themes in popular music of this time period. If this is the good old days that all the old farts speak of having superior music, I believe they are greatly mistaken. Id rather listen to the worst of the worst pop music from the current time period over hearing some of these bigoted tunes ever again. My favorite would have to be "Mandy Lee", but after listing to Arther Collins next song on this list I'm not too keen on him overall. "A Bird In A Gilded Cage" gets an honorable mention as well for having a fun cautionary tale thrown in there.