In the Mood by Glenn Miller (1939)

This is the defining song of the Big Band and World War II eras. The song was released right before the Billboard charts debuted, so the song’s true popularity can not be measured in comparison to others. Undoubtedly, "In The Mood" is one of the most important works of the twentieth century.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teJfuKdzbOo





　

Leo Reisman: Happy Days Are Here Again (1929)

It’s ironic that “Happy Days Are Here Again” was recorded one month after the 1929 stock market crash. The song appeared in the 1930 film, Chasing Rainbows, but is best known as Franklin Roosevelt’s 1932 campaign theme song.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rqrb0Zsm4T8

The Year in Music: 1939

The Great Depression began its second decade while World War II broke out in Europe. The music of 1939 reflects the hopes for a better time as well as patriotism. Big band music evolved from swing and dominated the musical landscape beginning in 1935.

The following is a sample of what was popular in 1939:

The #1 song of 1939 was Judy Garland's "Over the Rainbow."

Over the Rainbow by Judy Garland:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HRa4X07jdE

and some other popular tunes.

Moonlight Serenade by Glenn Miller:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHBvksGdhxA

Little Brown Jug by Glenn Miller:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OYo6G8RBjAE

God Bless America by Kate Smith:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8QksTKRYS0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TnQDW-NMaRs

Strange Fruit by Billie Holiday:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXdnD39GYVU

When the Saints Go Marching In by Louis Armstrong:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wyLjbMBpGDA

The Ink Spots: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1989

Their career in links.

Rock Hall Bio: http://rockhall.com/inductees/the-ink-spots/bio/

The Ink Spots music helped lead to doo-wop, rock, and R&B.
The band formed in the early 1930s and recorded for the first time in 1935. The following year, they appeared on television, in the medium’s experimental phase.

If I Didn’t Care (1939):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvwfLe6sLis

Address Unknown (1939):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2A2AMU5JkQ

My Prayer (1939):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h7KJCns5v3g

When the Swallow Return to Capistrano (1940):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3-p71lleUY

Maybe (1940):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1j1_baQwH8

We Three (My Echo, My Shadow, and Me) (1940):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViDxZkPfdms

Until the Real Thing Comes Alone (1941):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ejtId5NLnP8

Don’t Get Around Much Anymore (1943):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SZHMySBX_A

Cow Cow Boogie w/Ella Fitzgerald (1944):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLGu2ArpzeA

The band began to break apart in 1944. The army drafted Charlie Fuqua, Hoppy Jones died, and Bill Kenney feuded with Deek Watson leading to the latter’s departure from the Ink Spots. Fuqua returned after being discharged in 1945.
Their biggest hit…

The Gypsy (1946):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5_4Wo-5E1I

To Each His Own (1946):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqb8GlXANT0

You’re Breaking My Heart (1949):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRxeWMsGB_Y

Kenny went solo in the 1950s.

Melody of Love (1954):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jd1_bNjsItU

The band continued until 1965.
In 2009, 105-year-old Huey Long died. He was the last surviving member of the Ink Spots.
Here is a You Tube video covering their intros:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIRz9pGEp4c

Dooley Wilson: As Time Goes By (1942)

The song was voted the second greatest song in  movie history. The original version was released in 1931. When it appeared in Casablanca, the only version available was from Rudy Vallee as Dooley was not available to record a version onto vinyl. "Over the Rainbow" from Wizard of Oz was voted #1.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d22CiKMPpaY

From Casablanca: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vThuwa5RZU

Rudy Vallee: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKW0QZgi79M

Billie Holiday: Strange Fruit (1939)

The song is about racism and its perplexing nature.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXdnD39GYVU

835. The Green Hornet Theme (1966)

The Green Hornet was creating in the 1930s as a modern day take on the Lone Ranger. In fact, the title character, Britt Reed, was the nephew of the Lone Ranger. In the 1966 television version, Van Williams starred in the title role with Bruce Lee playing Kato. The series ran one season. Hollywood kicked around the idea of a motion picture until 2011 when Seth Rogen finally brought the character back. The movie included the now iconic theme song used in the radio and television programs. The Green Hornet's theme is the interlude from Rinsky-Korsakov's turn-of-the century "Flight of the Bumblebee" featuring Al Hirt on trumpet. Quentin Tarrantino included this version in Kill Bill Vol. 1 which paid homage to Kato.

TV Intro:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuoNLnrPlFM

Full Version:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mtp3xpJ2Hk

852. Baby Please Don't Go by the Amboy Dukes (1967)

"Baby Please Don't Go" is a blues standard dating to 1935. Big Joe Williams recorded the original which has been covered over 1,000 times. The most famous version comes from Ted Nugent and the Amboy Dukes who recorded it in 1967. Van Morrison's band, Them, also covered it in 1964.  Others to record a version include Aerosmith, AC/DC, Bob Dylan, and Muddy Waters.

Big Joe Williams:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g22l1hnAnlA

Them (Van Morrison):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Wah7MqEHFg

The Amboy Dukes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vi8h9_KgFpc

911. I've Got You Under My Skin by Frank Sinatra (1956)

Cole Porter wrote "I've Got You Under My Skin" in 1936. It appeared in the musical Born to Dance that year. Sinatra adapted the song for himself in 1946, but it did not become fully Sinatra-ized until he recorded it a decade later with a band. Since '56, the song has been associated with Sinatra and is considered one of his signature works.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ab4VD_ll3h0

The Four Seasons scored a top 10 hit covering it in 1966.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnaeZTE7Pdo

The song re-emerged in the nineties as a duet between Sinatra and Bono from U2.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sL_EKEVtmSU

930. O Fortuna by Carl Orff (1936)

German composer Carl Orff's "O Fortuna" has become a staple of western popular culture. It's been used in Excalibur, Detroit Rock City, and The Doors. The New England Patriots and Milwaukee Brewers have incorporated it into their games. Orff himself was a Nazi favorite. However, he also had ties to the resistance movement. The true level of Orff's complicity with or opposition to Nazi Germany is a matter of great debate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDsffEtoF9A

978. Midnight Special by Creedence Clearwater Revival (1969)

Midnight Special was written in the twenties and popularized by Lead Belly in the thirties. It's been covered by artists ranging from Buckwheat Zydeco to ABBA. The most famous modern version comes from Creedence. I remember singing this at a Buckwheat Zydeco show in Mt. Pleasant one fine winter.

Best Line: You better not gamble, there, you better not fight, at all
Or the sheriff will grab ya and the boys will bring you down.
The next thing you know, boy, Oh! You're prison bound

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lrj5Kxdzouc