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





　

1949 in Music

Eddie Fisher is discovered. Ravi Shankar becomes musical director on Indian radio. Bob Hope suggests Anthony Benedetto change his name to Tony Bennett. Frankie Laine releases “Mule Train”, which some consider the first rock song.

I disagree, but decide for yourself…

Mule Train by Frankie Laine:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrludWIux8M

And some of the other songs of 1949:

Christmas songs seem to last forever.

All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth by Spike Jones:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sgpSDTuLys

The greatest song of the year! An all-time classic!

(Ghost Riders) In the Sky by Vaughn Monroe:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHo6ug6yAmw

Big year for country music and Laine.

The Lucky Old Sun by Frankie Laine:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELm86kwJUMc

Somewhat outdated by 1949.

I Can Dream Can’t I? by the Andrews Sisters:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pto68TqHxKg

1948 in Music

1948 witnessed several important technical innovations in the recording industry. Columbia Records introduced the 33 1/3 LP, which could hold 25 minutes a side as opposed to four minutes on the standard 78. Patti Page becomes the first person to use multi-track overdubbing. Perry Como televised his first television Christmas special.

Songs of 1948:

Twelfth Street Rag by Pee Wee Hunt

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SstMe2Th6Rg

I’m Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover by Art Mooney

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VY-_8XOrvTs

Nature Boy by Nat King Cole

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iq0XJCJ1Srw

Buttons and Bows by Dinah Shore

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9MLDhAOMXo

The Woody Woodpecker Song by Kay Kyser

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jc0Uytp0R3c

1947 in music

The music industry continued on in 1947 much in the way it did in 1946. Jazz was changing in Charlie Parker’s wake.  George Jones began his career and Patti Page signed a record deal.  Overall, 1947 was a rather drab year in music.

Near You by Francis Craig

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

Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah by James Baskett

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6bWyhj7siEY

Ballerina by Vaughn Monroe

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKALVe6P7oE

Always by Frank Sinatra

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLh-m1Z_feY

April Showers by Al Jolson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMCU7OF3sVM
 

1946 in Music

Big Band music helped Americans through World War II.  The jazz scene dramatically changed the following year. Charlie Parker released “Ko-Ko” ushering in a revolution in jazz. The genre became less viable commercially and more artist driven. As a result, people gravitated toward pop and away from jazz. It was a defining moment that helped lead to rock n roll because pop was boring and Jazz unlistenable. On a side note,  B.B. King, Bill Haley, and Chet Atkins all began their careers in 1946.

Ko-Ko by Charlie Parker:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_ZajJd-1kY

Prisoner of Love by Perry Como:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbNPg_Rp0ws

Five Minutes More by Frank Sinatra:

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

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! By Vaughn Monroe:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kbb3skLR0Bo

To Each His Own by the Ink Spots:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pRarUQD3L8

The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole:

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

1945 in Music

World War II ended in 1945. Hitler shot himself and partisans executed Mussolini. The Allied side witnessed changes as well. Churchill lost re-election and Roosevelt died leaving Stalin the only member of the Big Three to last the war. The war left most of the world in shambles and Americans wanted simply to return to normalcy.
In music, Bing Crosby was named male singer of the year for the ninth straight year. Charlie Parker records his first album as a lead. The recording also features Miles Davis.
The top hits of 1945:
Sentimental Journey by Les Brown and Doris Day:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7umIJj8UBo
Rum and Coca Cola by the Andrews Sisters:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zGxL2uNr7bk
Till the End of Time by Perry Como:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSJ-oT2ZBa0
Billie's Bounce by Charlie Parker:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72UeP0o68JA

1944 in Music: Bing Crosby's Year

World War II continued to wage into its fifth year. By the end of the year, Hitler’s defeat was just about ensured. While the Third Reich burned, Glenn Miller disappeared over the English Channel and the Metropolitan Opera House opened in New York. Bing Crosby dominated the charts in 1944 in the same way the Beatles did twenty years later.

Here are some offerings from 1944:

From Bing:
Swinging on a Star:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTUKHMlbYGA

Don’t Fence Me In (w/Andrews Sisters):

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

I’ll Be Seeing You:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ld7pkvZPQk

Ella Fitzgerald w/The Ink Spots:
I’m Making Believe:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CK15L55CtGc

Dick Haymes:

It Had To Be You:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW6Jd7zVpxM

Frank Sinatra:

Saturday Night (Is the Loneliest Night of the Week):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IP0P2hw31i0

　

　

1943 in Music

World War II continued to dominate the domestic scene. Meanwhile, Frank Sinatra causes a near riot in Times Square. Traffic was blocked for hours.

The songs of 1943:

The Mills Brothers: Paper Dollhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2m8VZBfRYo

Bing Crosby: Sunday, Monday or Always
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B5KZfKWheTg

Glenn Miller: That Old Black Magichttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kvq8k91sAco

Rudy Vallee: As Time Goes Byhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKW0QZgi79M

1942 in Music

World War II came to America in December 1941. As a result, the music of 1942 became the soundtrack of the GI Generation. Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” really touched a chord and emerged as one of the biggest hits of all time. It remains so to this day. By the end of 1942, the Allies had won amazing victories over the Axis, but the war dragged on until 1945. Here are some of the biggest hits of 1942:

White Christmas by Bing Crosby: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJSUT8Inl14

Moonlight Cocktail by Glenn Miller:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VniYZH5KnUE

I’ve Got a Gal in Kalamazoo by Glenn Miller:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TurG8WeEQk4

Jingle, Jangle, Jingle by Kay Kyser:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RcJLOl1nPk

Der Fuehrer’s Face by Spike Jones:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1583adUqSg

Don’t Sit Under the Apple Tree by The Andrews Sisters:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5u8E4s57I0

Night and Day by Frank Sinatra:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hsB7nvIohVw

Tangerine by Jimmy Dorsey:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-JDUnZv1N0

The Year in Music: 1941

1941 provided an Indian summer in the midst of the Great Depression and before World War II. Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams thrilled Americans throughout the baseball season and big band music dominated. The music continued to own the market until 1946 when dramatic changes occurred. Here are some of the top hits of 1941.

Chattanooga Choo-Choo (Glenn Miller)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XQybKMXL-k

A String of Pearls (Glenn Miller)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLTDo08giGk

Green Eyes (Jimmy Dorsey)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=neyj54oSHC0

Amapola (Jimmy Dorsey)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xx6I1dFnZnQ

God Bless This Child (Billie Holiday)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_1LfT1MvzI

Blueberry Hill (Gene Autry)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQzt0263Kj0

Take the “A” Train (Duke Ellington)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guYlCLmX59c&ob=av2n

　

Charlie Parker: Ko-Ko (1945)

Charlie Parker originated bebop music while playing "Cherokee." He hated the piece and reworked it until "Ko-Ko" emerged. Following the recording, other musicians abandoned more traditional jazz inadvertantly turning the genre elitist and killing off Big Band. Bebop proved unlistenable to the masses leading them to boring pop standards to fill the void.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_ZajJd-1kY

Frank Sinatra: Sunday, Monday, or Always (1943)

Sinatra-mania! When Frank appeared in New York on New Years, 1943, the girls went wild and rushed Times Square tying up traffic for hours.

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

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

Glenn Miller: Chattanooga Choo Choo (1941)

This appeared in the film Sun Valley Serenade in 1941. It was #1 the weekend of December 7, 1941. The war informed our view of pop culture and music during the 40s. However, the Big Band Era was brief. Bebop snobs took over sending popular music into an abyss for a decade.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIQq1j1-AQU

Woody Guthrie: Tom Joad (1940)

Woody Guthrie followed the exploits of John Steinbeck's anti-hero after the events in The Grapes of Wrath. Joad stood for justice and human dignity in the face of tradition in the midst of the Great Depression and Dust Bowl. Henry Fonda played Tom Joad in the movie version of the novel. Over 50 years later, the character inspired Bruce Springsteen's "Ghost of Tom Joad."

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

Joltin' Joe DiMaggio by The Les Brown Orchestra (1941)

In 1941, Joe DiMaggio hit in 56 consecutive baseball games. In honor of his accomplishment, Alan Courtney and Ben Homer wrote "Joltin' Joe DiMaggio" which was recorded by the Les Brown Orchestra. Betty Bonney provided the vocals. Since 1941, Pete Rose has come closest to DiMaggio when he hit in 44 straight in 1978.

Lyrics:

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/poetry/joltinjoedimaggio.shtml

and the song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1q6odQuCxFU

802. This Land Is Your Land by Woody Guthrie (1944)

Guthrie got sick of hearing Kate Smith's version of Irving Berlin's "God Bless America" on the radio. He felt the song disingenuous and decided to write a song he felt better reflected America. Guthrie sometimes changed the verses based on his mood. Some of the lyrics were overtly leftist and he modified them as he felt appropriate. Over time, the song has lost its overt political connotations.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxiMrvDbq3s

Kate Smith's "God Bless America":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pCavKL2zdjM

White Christmas by Bing Crosby (1941)

The greatest selling single of all time. Should be no surprise as soldiers were shipping off to the Far East and Europe. Crosby performed it for the first time on Christmas Day 1941 and recorded the song in May 29, 1942.  In October, it hit #1 and stayed there into 1943. Crosby's single has sold over 50 million copies.

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

908. Night On Bald Mountain by Modest Mussorgsky (1886)

Mussorgsky composed "Night On Bald Mountain" as a theme for a witches' Sabbath. The original version of the song was finished in 1867. He reworked it into a more popular version in 1886. This version appears in Disney's Fantasia.  When I was in elementary school (think 1970s), my music teacher (when they had music) played this piece and created a spooky slideshow to go along with it. Whenever, I hear the work, I think of 2nd grade and evil bird creatures pecking at some guy's feet.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCEDfZgDPS8

982. Steppin' Out With My Baby by Tony Bennett (1993)

Tony Bennett experienced an amazing comeback after releasing this Irving Berlin standard. Gen X loved it and he ended up on MTV Unplugged in 1994. The original version appeared in the 1948 movie Eastern Parade starring Fred Astaire. 

Best Line: If I seem to scintillate

It's because I've got a date

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St0HZCdPVx8