In 1946, Douglas Watt, who also covered theater and later become the newspaper’s senior drama critic, reviewed the new records of the week for the News. In the Sunday paper on April 14, classical musical was his focus. He singled out two new recordings of Russian works from earlier in the century, Stravinsky’s "Song of a Nightingale" by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra conducted by Eugene Goosens, and Prokofiev's "Scythian Suite" by the Chicago Orchestra directed by Desire Defauw. Back then even people who read the News listened to classical music. In both cases these were the first full-length recordings of the works by an American orchestra. In 1946, the long-playing formats were a few years away and albums actually came in an album binder with individual sleeves for each of the 78 RPM recordings. Although vinyl gradually was coming into use, most records still were made of brittle shellac and were highly breakable. Both of the reviewed albums contained three 12-inch records.
The column also listed the top-selling singles of the week. For the most part they were from big bands, which were still dominant on the charts, although vocalists increasingly were being billed over the bands with which they recorded. Jo Stafford, for instance, was billed above her future husband's band in this week's charts but "You Won't Be Satisfied" was attributed to Les Brown rather than his vocalist, Doris Day. Some of the big bands broke up after the war. Smaller jazz ensembles became more common and swing gave way to bop, laying the groundwork for rock 'n roll.
Popular songs back then were recorded by many artists and often made the Top 40 in multiple versions. Jo Stafford's hit "Day by Day," for instance also was recorded in 1946 by Doris Day with Les Brown and his orchestra, as a duet by Bing Crosby and Mel Torme, and by Frank Sinatra, the reigning pop music king in 1946, who had an even bigger hit with the song than Stafford.
Here are the top six on April 14 per the Sunday News:
Oh, What It Seemed to Be - Frankie Carle (Columbia). This was one of bandleader Carle's biggest hits along with his theme song "Moonlight Serenade." It was also a hit that year for Frank Sinatra, Charlie Spivak, and as a duet between Helen Forrest and Dick Haymes
One-zy, Two-zy - Phil Harris (Ara). Harris was known as much as a screen actor as he was as a drummer and singer. This song was also a Top 40 hit in 1946 for Kay Kyser and Freddy Martin.
Shoo-Fly Pie- Stan Kenton (Capitol). Also a hit for Dinah Shore and Guy Lombardo that year.
You Won’t Be Satisfied- Les Brown (Columbia). Vocals by Doris Day. Also hit Top 40 for Perry Como and for Ella Fitzgerald with Louis Armstrong.
Personality- Johnny Mercer (Capitol). Composed by Mercer and sung by Dorothy Lamour in "Road to Utopia," a big hit movie still in first run in New York that weekend. Dinah Shore and Bing Crosby also had hits with the the song that year.
Day by Day- Jo Stafford (Capitol) with the Paul Weston Orchestra
Standouts among recent pop releases in Watt's opinion were:
Old MacDonald Had a Farm/Mother Goose Medley- Spike Jones (Victor). Novelty recording by a comic master.
Everytime We Say Goodbye/Only Another Boy and Girl- Dorothy Kirsten (Victor). Pop music from an opera singer.
Time on My Hands/Voice of the Turtle- Slam Stewart Quintet (Continental). Swing music from the "Flat Foot Floogie" guy.
Come Rain or Come Shine/Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man- Margaret Whiting (Capitol). Whiting had a Top 40 hit with this recording.
Bones,Bones,Bones/Moses Smote the Waters- Golden Gate Quartet (Columbia). A leading gospel group in the Jubilee style.
They Say It's Wonderful/September Song- Jack Leonard (Majestic). "They Say It's Wonderful," an Irving Berlin song from the soon-to-open musical "Annie Get Your Gun," was a Top 40 hit for Perry Como, Frank Sinatra and Andy Russell, but not for Leonard, who had been the very popular vocalist for Tommy Dorsey's band in the late 1930s before going solo.
Take All/Slowly-Vera Barton (Sonora)
There's Good Blues Tonight/Don’t Be a Baby, Baby- Tommy Dorsey (Victor)
Easter Parade/My Gal Sal- Danny O'Neil (Majestic). O'Neil was appearing at the Maisonette at the St. Regis Hotel that week,
Here is a playlist on Rhapsody of several of the above songs from Frankie Carle, Stan Kenton. Les Brown (with Doris Day), Johnny Mercer, Jo Stafford, Slam Stewart, Margaret Whiting, the Golden Gate Quartet and Tommy Dorsey.