Answering my own query - Cashbox charts back to 1950. See
   http://www.members.aol.com/_ht_a/randypny/cashbox

So, my birthday song is:

  AUF WIEDERSEH'N SWEETHEART  -by- Vera Lynn
  London Records # 1227

Whah? This was the pre rock-n-roll era, where teens swooned and
sighed to the sounds of Al Martino, Rosemary Clooney, Johnnie Ray,
Nat "King" Cole, Peggy Lee, Perry Como & Eddie Fisher (a duet no
less!) Les Paul & Mary Ford, Patti Page, Tony Bennett, Doris Day 
& Frankie Laine (another duet) and 7 orchestra leaders. Of the 
50 charts positions, Eddie Fisher appreared on 6, Doris Day 
and/or Frankie Lane on 6, and Les Paul 3. Seven other singers
held 2 spots each. 

No wonder people lived in fear of Martian & communist invasions.

Fortunately by the time I started listening to the radio around 
the age of 5, things were quite different.

 - michael