# List of Billboard Best-Selling Popular Record Albums number ones of 1945

Billboard published its first popular albums chart, at the time known as Best-Selling Popular Record Albums, in 1945. The chart was first published in the magazine dated March 24 and included ten positions, "based on reports received from more than 200 dealers" throughout the United States. In the 40 weeks that followed, eight albums by five different artists reached the top.
The first number-one album on the chart was the King Cole Trio's self-titled debut released by Capitol. It topped the charts for three weeks until it was replaced by the soundtrack of Song of Norway, an operetta, written by Robert Wright and George Forrest. The soundtrack reached number one for one more week in May. Glenn Miller, a compilation album recorded by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra released posthumously by Victor, topped the charts for two weeks in May and later in summer for an additional six weeks. The album was certified gold 23 years after its release by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipments of 500,000 or more units.
The second album credited to an original cast to top the chart was Carousel, released by Decca. The musical was composed by Rodgers and Hammerstein and was atop for six consecutive weeks in August and September. Bing Crosby was the only artist to have two albums atop the chart: Selections from Going My Way for six weeks and Merry Christmas for four weeks. The latter album was certified gold by the RIAA in November 1970. The King Cole Trio was the longest reigning album of the year with 12 weeks at number one, followed by Glenn Miller with seven weeks. Albums released by Decca topped the charts for a total of 18 weeks, followed by Capitol at 17 weeks and Victor for 9 weeks.

## Chart history

| Issue date | Album | Artist(s) |
| March 24 | The King Cole Trio | The King Cole Trio |
| March 31 | The King Cole Trio | The King Cole Trio |
| April 7 | The King Cole Trio | The King Cole Trio |
| April 14 | Song of Norway | Original cast |
| April 21 | The King Cole Trio | The King Cole Trio |
| April 28 | The King Cole Trio | The King Cole Trio |
| May 5 | Song of Norway | Original cast |
| May 12 | Glenn Miller | Glenn Miller & His Orchestra |
| May 19 | Glenn Miller | Glenn Miller & His Orchestra |
| May 19 | The King Cole Trio | The King Cole Trio |
| May 26 | The King Cole Trio | The King Cole Trio |
| June 2 | The King Cole Trio | The King Cole Trio |
| June 9 | The King Cole Trio | The King Cole Trio |
| June 16 | The King Cole Trio | The King Cole Trio |
| June 23 | The King Cole Trio | The King Cole Trio |
| June 30 | Glenn Miller | Glenn Miller & His Orchestra |
| July 7 | Glenn Miller | Glenn Miller & His Orchestra |
| July 14 | Glenn Miller | Glenn Miller & His Orchestra |
| July 21 | Glenn Miller | Glenn Miller & His Orchestra |
| July 28 | Glenn Miller | Glenn Miller & His Orchestra |
| August 4 | The King Cole Trio | The King Cole Trio |
| August 11 | Glenn Miller | Glenn Miller & His Orchestra |
| August 11 | Carousel | Original cast |
| August 18 | Carousel | Original cast |
| August 25 | Carousel | Original cast |
| September 1 | Carousel | Original cast |
| September 8 | Carousel | Original cast |
| September 15 | Carousel | Original cast |
| September 15 | Boogie Woogie | Freddie Slack |
| September 22 | Boogie Woogie | Freddie Slack |
| September 29 | Boogie Woogie | Freddie Slack |
| October 6 | Boogie Woogie | Freddie Slack |
| October 13 | Boogie Woogie | Freddie Slack |
| October 20 | Selections from Going My Way | Bing Crosby |
| October 27 | Selections from Going My Way | Bing Crosby |
| November 3 | Selections from Going My Way | Bing Crosby |
| November 10 | Selections from Going My Way | Bing Crosby |
| November 17 | Selections from Going My Way | Bing Crosby |
| November 24 | Selections from Going My Way | Bing Crosby |
| December 1 | On the Moon-Beam | Vaughn Monroe |
| December 8 | Merry Christmas | Bing Crosby |
| December 15 | Merry Christmas | Bing Crosby |
| December 22 | Merry Christmas | Bing Crosby |
| December 29 | Merry Christmas | Bing Crosby |