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





　

Jim Stewart: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2002

Rock Hall Bio: http://www.rockhall.com/inductees/jim-stewart/bio/

Jim Stewart worked at Sears and fought in World War II. He tried country music after the war, but found his true musical calling when he founded Satellite Records in 1957. They originally produced country records, but grew into something much bigger. They moved to the Capitol Theater in Memphis, which leant itself to unusual acoustics and a unique sound. It became a beacon for soul acts in the 1960s. Stax Records went bankrupt in 1976, but proved a major influence on the Soul Music genre.

Bob Willis and the Playboys: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1999

Rock Hall Bio: http://rockhall.com/inductees/bob-wills-and-his-texas-playboys/bio/

Bob Willis founded Country Swing music.

He was in several bands before forming the Playboys in 1934.

Steel Guitar Rag (1936): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxzxH6wIPCY

New San Antonio Rose (1940): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mw2k8VfX83o

Smoke on the Water (1945): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmzN5-7699Q

Stars and Stripes on Iwo Jima (1945): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OvveaI4RG1Q

New Spanish Two Step (1946): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiXoOFKk4kg

Willis influenced Merle Haggard and Buck Owens among others.

He died in 1975.

Ida Red ( 1951 and 1976):  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xvw4_YOWNXM

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

Rage Against the Machine: Sleep Now in the Fire (2000)

Rage Against the Machine wrote from an extreme left political standpoint. "Sleep Now in the Fire" attacks greed and the band filmed the video at Wall Street. Michael Moore directed the shoot. The song includes many historical references. During the song, the band criticizes Euro-American policies and actions in Vietnam, World War II, Africa, and the New World.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w211KOQ5BMI

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

　

　

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

　

Elmore James: Rock n Roll Hall of Fame Class of 1992

Rock Hall Bio:

http://rockhall.com/inductees/elmore-james/bio/

James was known as “the King of the slide guitar” and loudness.
He began playing music by age 12 and performed at dances as a teen.
James served in the Navy during World War II. After the war, he tinkered with amps and guitars to create his electric sound. He earned his first contract in 1952.

Dust My Broom (1952):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKo80b-QfK0

I Believe (1953):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tb7OmdiiKc

The Sky is Crying (1960):

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

Done Somebody Wrong (1960):

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNBk1faWI-k

Look on the Younder Wall (1961):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRVYj57Yl-Q

Stranger Blues (1962):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sI3Zoa-5KMI

Bleeding Heart (1965):

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kl8_pmSfJF0

Shake Your Moneymaker (1966):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vn77rGEV6XM&feature=related

Elmore James died of a heart attack, his third, in 1963.

The Year in Music: 1940

World War II raged in Europe and the Depression at home. Big Band began to take hold after being sneered at by the public. Meanwhile, Woody Guthrie releases Dust Bowl Ballads chronicling the struggles of people in the Midwest.

Glenn Miller In The Mood:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZJE-onnw2gM

Frenesi-Artie Shaw:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0F4k6klcmw

Only Forever-Bing Crosby:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mNCt6hkCUic

When You Wish Upon a Star- Cliff Edwards:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKh6XxYbbIc

Blueberry Hill-Gene Autry:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdJSBtuS0oc

When The Swallows Return to Capistrano-The Ink Spots:

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

The Woodpecker Song- Glenn Miller:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FynFKr9izA8

You Are My Sunshine-Jimmie Davis:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZdUigq5Q_Y

Dust Bowl Blues- Woody Guthrie:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-K5eMK1mqcU

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

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

865. The Unforgettable Fire by U2 (1985)

An art exhibit by survivors from Hiroshima and Nagasaki inspired "The Unforgettable Fire." In 1945, the United States dropped two atom bombs on Japan ending World War II. The blasts destroyed both Hiroshima and Nagasaki and left deep emotional scars on the survivor. Some parlayed their experience into art and U2 transformed that material into a spacy period piece. Although released in April, this song always reminds me of winter.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wHa4y0uGKZw

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