TopTenREVIEWS top Pop band of 1940s is Benny Goodman

Top Pop Bands of 1940s

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Bands are ranked according to overall score

1	Benny Goodman	2.9556	Classical, Classical: Instrumental, Dance & DJ	02/1935	266	1.Sing, Sing, Sing 2.On the Air 1937-1938 3.B.G. in Hi-Fi 4.Benny Goodman and His Great Vocalists See all Benny Goodman album rankings
2	Bunk Johnson	2.8973	Blues, Jazz, Pop	12/1941	19	1.Last Testament 2.Bunk Johnson: 1944-1947 3.Bunk and the New Orleans Revival 1942-1947 4.Song Of The Wanderer See all Bunk Johnson album rankings
3	Wardell Gray	2.8016	Jazz, Pop	11/1946	15	1.Wardell Gray Memorial, Vol. 1 2.Wardell Gray Memorial, Vol. 2 3.Masters of Jazz Vol 02 1946 4.Volume 3 See all Wardell Gray album rankings
4	Anita O'day	2.7400	Jazz, Pop, Broadway & Vocalists	01/1942	51	1.Anita Sings the Most 2.Pick Yourself Up with Anita O'Day 3.Anita O'Day Sings the Winners 4.This Is Anita See all Anita O'day album rankings
5	Frank Sinatra	2.7225	Alt. Rock, Blues, Broadway & Vocalists	12/1944	329	1.Come Fly with Me 2.Songs for Swingin' Lovers! 3.In the Wee Small Hours 4.Come Dance with Me! See all Frank Sinatra album rankings
6	Jo Stafford	2.6965	Broadway & Vocalists, Jazz, Opera & Vocal Music	10/1943	46	1.Coming Back Like a Song: 25 Hits 1941-47 2.Capitol Collectors Series 3.Jo + Jazz 4.The Magic of Jo Stafford See all Jo Stafford album rankings
7	Turk Murphy	2.6863	Jazz, Pop	12/1947	13	1.Turk Murphy's Jazz Band Favorites, Vol. 2 2.Turk Murphy's Jazz Band Favorites 3.Sentimental Journeys: The Best of Turk Murphy's San Francisco Jazz Band 4.Turk Murphy's San Francisco Jazz Band See all Turk Murphy album rankings
8	J.J. Johnson	2.6686	Jazz, Pop, Broadway & Vocalists	06/1946	38	1.The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Vol. 2 2.The Eminent Jay Jay Johnson, Vol. 1 3.Savoy And Prestige Recordings 4.Live In London See all J.J. Johnson album rankings
9	Sidney Bechet	2.6678	Blues, Interna., Jazz	09/1932	81	1.Master Takes: Victor Sessions 2.Runnin' Wild 3.The Fabulous Sidney Bechet 4.The Genius of Sidney Bechet See all Sidney Bechet album rankings
10	Mills Brothers	2.6587	Broadway & Vocalists, Jazz, Opera & Vocal Music	10/1931	50	1.Chronological, Vol. 1 2.Chronological, Vol. 2 3.Chronological, Vol. 3 4.The Essential Mills Brothers: Four Boys and a Guitar See all Mills Brothers album rankings
11	Woody Herman	2.6032	Country, Interna., Jazz	04/1939	118	1.Blues on Parade 2.Keeper of the Flame: The Complete Capitol Recordings 3.Big New Herd at the Montery Jazz 4.Blowin' Up a Storm: The Columbia Years, 1945-1947 See all Woody Herman album rankings
12	Johnny Mercer	2.5559	Broadway & Vocalists, Jazz, Opera & Vocal Music	04/1942	18	1.Capitol Collectors Series 2.Johnny Mercer: Some Of The Best 3.Johnny Mercer: More Of The Best 4.Songbook:blues In The Night See all Johnny Mercer album rankings
13	Lu Watters	2.5448	Jazz, Misc., Pop	12/1941	13	1.Dawn Club Favorites: San Francisco Style, Vol. 1 2.Doing The Hambone At Kelly's, Vol. 2 3.1937-1943, Vol. 1 4.Good Time Music: San Francisco Style See all Lu Watters album rankings
14	Django Reinhardt	2.5392	Blues, Broadway & Vocalists, Classical	12/1934	138	1.Jazz Tribute No. 39: The Indispensable Django Reinhardt, 1949-1950 2.First Recordings 3.Djangology, Vol. 1: 1934-35 4.Crazy Rhythm See all Django Reinhardt album rankings
15	Claude Thornhill	2.5373	Jazz, Pop	03/1941	11	1.1948 Transcription Performance 2.Claude Thornhill & His Orchestra - 1947 3.Original Studio Radio Transcriptions 4.1947 Transcription Performances See all Claude Thornhill album rankings
16	Billy Eckstine	2.5351	Broadway & Vocalists, Jazz, Pop	05/1945	45	1.Mister B and the Band 2.Everything I Have Is Yours: The Best of the M-G-M Years 3.Billy's Best! 4.Mister B. and the Band: The Savoy Sessions See all Billy Eckstine album rankings
17	Andre Previn	2.5147	Classical, Classical: Instrumental, Opera & Vocal Music	10/1945	56	1.Andre Previn Plays Vernon Duke 2.Double Play! 3.What Headphones? 4.Some of the Best See all Andre Previn album rankings
18	Fats Waller	2.5079	Blues, Classical, Classical: Instrumental	10/1922	102	1.Turn on the Heat: The Fats Waller Piano Solos 2.Fats Waller and His Buddies 3.If You Got to Ask, You Ain't Got It! 4.The Very Best of Fats Waller See all Fats Waller album rankings
19	Lester Young	2.5060	Blues, Broadway & Vocalists, Jazz	07/1942	88	1.The Complete Lester Young on Keynote 2.The Complete Aladdin Sessions 3.The Kansas City Sessions 4.Prez Conferences See all Lester Young album rankings
20	Lee Konitz	2.4854	Jazz, Pop, Misc.	01/1949	62	1.Subconscious-Lee 2.Live at the Half Note 3.The Lee Konitz Duets 4.Konitz See all Lee Konitz album rankings
21	George Lewis	2.4648	Jazz, Pop, Blues	07/1944	64	1.Jazz Funeral in New Orleans 2.George Lewis With Guest Artist Red Allen 3.Plays Hymns 4.Homage to Charles Parker See all George Lewis album rankings
22	Charlie Parker	2.4490	Alt. Rock, Blues, Broadway & Vocalists	10/1939	240	1.The Legendary Dial Masters, Vols. 1 & 2 2.Bird: The Complete Charlie Parker on Verve 3.Confirmation: The Best of the Verve Years 4.The Complete Savoy and Dial Studio Recordings 1944-1948 See all Charlie Parker album rankings
23	Jack Teagarden	2.4291	Jazz, Pop, Misc.	03/1928	44	1.The Indispensable 1928-1957 2.That's a Serious Thing 3.I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues 4.It's Time for Tea See all Jack Teagarden album rankings
24	Bud Powell	2.4156	Jazz, Misc., Pop	01/1947	65	1.The Genius of Bud Powell, Vol. 1 2.The Amazing Bud Powell, Vol. 1 3.The Complete Blue Note and Roost Recordings 4.The Best of Bud Powell on Verve See all Bud Powell album rankings
25	Johnny Hodges	2.3699	Jazz, Pop	03/1938	44	1.Passion Flower 2.Everybody Knows 3.Johnny Hodges with Billy Strayhorn and the Orchestra 4.Blues A Plenty See all Johnny Hodges album rankings
26	Stan Kenton	2.3679	Classical, Jazz, Misc.	11/1943	181	1.The Complete Capitol Studio Recordings of Stan Kenton 1943-1947 2.New Concepts of Artistry in Rhythm 3.The Innovations Orchestra 4.Retrospective See all Stan Kenton album rankings
27	Count Basie	2.3579	Blues, Broadway & Vocalists, Interna.	10/1929	250	1.April in Paris 2.Count Basie at Newport 3.The Complete Decca Recordings 4.The Complete Atomic Basie See all Count Basie album rankings
28	Illinois Jacquet	2.3444	Blues, Jazz, Pop	12/1947	36	1.The Black Velvet Band 2.The Blues: That's Me! 3.The Soul Explosion 4.Flying Home: The Best of Verve Years See all Illinois Jacquet album rankings
29	Harry James	2.3258	Broadway & Vocalists, Country, Interna.	01/1938	87	1.Bandstand Memories: 1938 to 1948 2.Stompin' at the Savoy 3.Verve Jazz Masters 55 4.You Made Me Love You See all Harry James album rankings
30	Nat King Cole	2.3098	Blues, Broadway & Vocalists, Christian & Gospel	12/1942	222	1.Jazz Encounters 2.The Christmas song 3.Jumpin' at Capitol 4.Penthouse Serenade See all Nat King Cole album rankings
31	Gene Ammons	2.2717	Jazz, Pop, R&B & Soul	10/1947	45	1.Boss Tenor 2.The Gene Ammons Story: Organ Combos 3.Gentle Jug 4.My Foolish Heart See all Gene Ammons album rankings
32	Duke Ellington	2.2659	Blues, Broadway & Vocalists, Classical	11/1924	423	1.Ellington Uptown 2.The OKeh Ellington 3.Duke's Men: The Small Groups, Vol. 1 4.The Best Of The Duke Ellington Centennial Edition See all Duke Ellington album rankings
33	Lee Wiley	2.2657	Broadway & Vocalists, Jazz, Opera & Vocal Music	06/1931	29	1.As Time Goes By 2.The Complete Young Lee Wiley 3.The Carnegie Hall Concert 4.Follow Your Heart See all Lee Wiley album rankings
34	Les Paul	2.2630	Jazz, Pop, Rock	02/1948	20	1.The Legend & the Legacy 2.Les Paul Now! 3.V-Disc Recordings 4.The Jazz Collector Edition: Les Paul Trio See all Les Paul album rankings
35	Big Joe Turner	2.2280	Blues, Jazz, Pop	12/1938	32	1.Big Joe Turner's Greatest Hits 2.Shake, Rattle & Roll 3.Classic Hits 1938-52 4.Big Joe Turner:Vol 01 1938-1940 See all Big Joe Turner album rankings
36	Buddy Rich	2.2172	Alt. Rock, Dance & DJ, Interna.	10/1945	68	1.Mercy, Mercy 2.Time Being 3.The Best Band I Ever Had 4.The Legendary: 1946-1948 See all Buddy Rich album rankings
37	Glenn Miller	2.2071	Blues, Classical, Dance & DJ	06/1938	228	1.The Essential Glenn Miller 2.Legendary Performer 3.Chattanooga Choo Choo: The #1 Hits 4.Secret Broadcasts See all Glenn Miller album rankings
38	Sonny Stitt	2.1325	Jazz, Misc., Pop	10/1949	59	1.Endgame Brilliance: Constellation & Tune-Up 2.Kaleidoscope 3.Stitt Plays Bird 4.Deuces Wild See all Sonny Stitt album rankings
39	Louis Armstrong	2.1129	Alt. Rock, Blues, Broadway & Vocalists	04/1923	379	1.Louis Armstrong Plays W.C. Handy 2.Satch Plays Fats: The Music of Fats Waller 3.I've Got the World on a String/Louis Under the Stars 4.Ambassador Satch See all Louis Armstrong album rankings
40	Yusef Lateef	2.1005	Interna., Jazz, Pop	05/1949	39	1.Eastern Sounds 2.Live at Pep's 3.Prayer to the East 4.Jazz Moods See all Yusef Lateef album rankings
41	Pearl Bailey	2.0953	Jazz, Pop, Broadway & Vocalists	04/1946	15	1.16 Most Requested Songs 2.Ain't She Sweet! 3.Some of the Best 4.More of the Best See all Pearl Bailey album rankings
42	George Shearing	2.0781	Broadway & Vocalists, Classical, Interna.	03/1939	77	1.Jazz Moments 2.Reflections: The Best of George Shearing, 1992-1998 3.Just For You-livein The 1950's 4.Complete Savoy Trio and Quintet Sessions See all George Shearing album rankings
43	Billie Holiday	2.0682	Blues, Broadway & Vocalists, Classical	11/1933	280	1.Lady in Satin 2.Lady in Autumn: The Best of the Verve Years 3.Body & Soul 4.The Ultimate Collection See all Billie Holiday album rankings
44	Miles Davis	2.0648	Alt. Rock, Blues, Classical	04/1945	291	1.Sketches of Spain 2.'Round About Midnight 3.Milestones 4.Miles Ahead See all Miles Davis album rankings
45	Dexter Gordon	2.0537	Broadway & Vocalists, Jazz, Misc.	10/1945	102	1.Go 2.Dexter Rides Again 3.Body & Soul 4.The Complete Blue Note Sixties Sessions See all Dexter Gordon album rankings
46	Sarah Vaughan	2.0531	Broadway & Vocalists, Classical, Interna.	05/1946	170	1.At Mister Kelly's 2.The Complete Sarah Vaughan on Mercury, Vol. 1 3.Sassy Swings the Tivoli 4.Sarah Sings Soulfully See all Sarah Vaughan album rankings
47	Johnny Hartman	2.0502	Broadway & Vocalists, Jazz, Pop	12/1947