1940. This was the year that Billboard magazine introduced its first national "Best Sellers" Top 10 music chart. Big Band music was prominent on the chart, represented in equal parts by Swing and Sweet Bands. Popular leaders of Swing Bands were Glenn Miller, Harry James and Benny Goodman. Popular Sweet Band leaders were Guy Lombardo, Sammy Kaye and Freddy Martin.

Here are two picks from 1940: Swing bandleader Charlie Barnet, a disciple of Duke Ellington, peaked at #17 on the regional East Coast Best Sellers chart with "Redskin Rhumba." Though Sweet bandleader Russ Morgan did not chart with fox trot "Do You Ever Think Of Me?," it is one of my favorites.