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Songs from the 1920s

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This page lists the top songs of the 1920s in the source charts. The way that the various charts are combined to reach this final list is described on the in the site generation page.

After the "Great War" there was an explosion of popular music, especially in the US. The chart data for this period is sparse, and mostly focused on the USA, this is actually fair since that was where most music revenue was being generated. The top 30 acts of the 1920s were:

#1: Paul Whiteman #2: Al Jolson #3: Ben Selvin #4: Bessie Smith #5: Marion Harris
#6: Louis Armstrong #7: Gene Austin #8: Isham Jones #9: Ted Lewis & his Orchestra #10: Fiddlin' John Carson
#11: Mamie Smith #12: Eddie Cantor #13: Clara Smith #14: Frank Crumit #15: Vernon Dalhart
#16: Jelly Roll Morton #17: Fred Waring & the Pennsylvanians #18: Nora Bayes #19: George Olsen #20: Nat Shilkret
#21: Ben Bernie #22: Papa Charlie Jackson #23: Ruth Etting #24: Cliff Edwards (Ukelele Ike) #25: Alberta Hunter
#26: Lonnie Johnson #27: Duke Ellington #28: Blind Lemon Jefferson #29: Jimmie Rodgers #30: Ma Rainey
# Artist Song Title Year Chart Entries
1 Al Jolson Swanee 1920 US Billboard 1 - May 1920 (18 weeks), US invalid BB 1 of 1920, Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 (1920), POP 1 of 1920, nuTsie 1 of 1920s, Library of Congress artifact added 2004 (1920), Brazil 5 of 1921, Music Imprint 8 of 1910s, Europe 22 of the 1930s (1920), RIAA 124, Acclaimed 912 (1919), aceterrier.com 100 of the 1920s (1920), RYM 5 of 1920
2 George Gershwin Rhapsody in Blue 1924 Grammy Hall of Fame in 1974 (1927), ASCAP song of 1924, Library of Congress artifact added 2002 (1924), US Billboard 3 - Oct 1924 (8 weeks), US invalid BB 3 of 1924, POP 3 of 1924, nuTsie 3 of 1920s, Europe 10 of the 1930s (1924), Brazil 28 of 1928, Acclaimed 763 (1924), aceterrier.com 50 of the 1920s (1924)
3 Paul Whiteman Whispering 1920 US Billboard 1 - Oct 1920 (20 weeks), Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 (1920), Music Imprint 1 of 1920s, ASCAP song of 1920, US invalid BB 3 of 1920, POP 3 of 1920, Brazil 12 of 1921, nuTsie 17 of 1920s, US CashBox 32 - Aug 1954 (4 weeks), RIAA 330, Acclaimed 1594 (1920), RYM 7 of 1920
4 Jimmie Rodgers T For Texas (Blue Yodel No 1) 1928 Grammy Hall of Fame in 1985 (1928), Library of Congress artifact added 2004 (1927), US Billboard 2 - 1928 (11 weeks), nuTsie 5 of 1920s, Daily Deuce 7, US invalid BB 11 of 1928, POP 11 of 1928, Music Imprint 12 of 1920s, Brazil 62 of 1928, RIAA 331, Acclaimed 600 (1928), aceterrier.com 16 of the 1920s (1927), RYM 4 of 1928, Guardian Folk/ World 5
5 Bessie Smith Down Hearted Blues 1923 US Billboard 1 - Jun 1923 (12 weeks), Grammy Hall of Fame in 2006 (1923), Library of Congress artifact added 2002 (1923), Music Imprint 2 of 1920s, US invalid BB 6 of 1923, POP 8 of 1923, Daily Deuce 16, nuTsie 19 of 1920s, Brazil 33 of 1925, RIAA 315, Acclaimed 852 (1923), RYM 1 of 1923, one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 500
6 Gene Austin Bye Bye, Blackbird 1926 US Billboard 1 - Jul 1926 (12 weeks), Grammy Hall of Fame in 2005 (1926), ASCAP song of 1926, US invalid BB 5 of 1926, Music Imprint 9 of 1920s, POP 16 of 1926, Brazil 18 of 1927, nuTsie 25 of 1920s, Daily Deuce 27, RIAA 189, Acclaimed 1339 (1926), RYM 22 of 1926
7 Ben Bernie Sweet Georgia Brown 1925 US Billboard 1 - Jun 1925 (13 weeks), US invalid BB 1 of 1925, POP 1 of 1925, ASCAP song of 1925, Music Imprint 7 of 1920s, Brazil 17 of 1926, nuTsie 35 of 1920s, RIAA 54, RYM 7 of 1925
8 Vernon Dalhart The Prisoner's Song 1925 US Billboard 1 - Dec 1925 (12 weeks), Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 (1925), US invalid BB 4 of 1926, POP 4 of 1926, Brazil 7 of 1925, nuTsie 7 of 1920s, Music Imprint 8 of 1920s, DMDB 91 (1925), RIAA 345, Acclaimed 1048 (1925), aceterrier.com 29 of the 1920s (1924), RYM 9 of 1926, Global 33 (5 M sold) - 1924
9 Fanny Brice My Man 1922 US Billboard 1 - Feb 1922 (9 weeks), Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 (1922), Library of Congress artifact added 2005 (1921), US invalid BB 6 of 1922, POP 6 of 1922, Brazil 16 of 1922, Daily Deuce 30, nuTsie 38 of 1920s, Acclaimed 1866 (1922), aceterrier.com 52 of the 1920s (1921)
10 Eddie Cantor Makin' Whoopee 1929 ASCAP song of 1929, US Billboard 2 - 1929 (10 weeks), US invalid BB 2 of 1929, POP 2 of 1929, nuTsie 10 of 1920s, Music Imprint 14 of 1920s, Brazil 16 of 1929, Daily Deuce 26, RIAA 126, Acclaimed 1362 (1928), RYM 8 of 1928
11 Isham Jones It Had to Be You 1924 US Billboard 1 - Jul 1924 (15 weeks), Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007 (1924), US invalid BB 2 of 1924, POP 2 of 1924, Music Imprint 5 of 1920s, nuTsie 15 of 1920s, Brazil 20 of 1925, RIAA 81, RYM 4 of 1924
12 Al Jolson California, Here I Come 1924 US Billboard 1 - May 1924 (12 weeks), US invalid BB 1 of 1924, Grammy Hall of Fame in 2005 (1924), POP 1 of 1924, Brazil 24 of 1925, nuTsie 27 of 1920s, RYM 12 of 1924
13 Hoagy Carmichael Stardust 1927 Grammy Hall of Fame in 1995 (1927), ASCAP song of 1927, Library of Congress artifact added 2004 (1927), Music Imprint 10 of 1920s, Jazz Standard 12, nuTsie 31 of 1920s, RIAA 40, DMDB 43 (1929), Acclaimed 654 (1927), RYM 13 of 1928
14 Bessie Smith St Louis Blues 1925 Grammy Hall of Fame in 1993 (1925), US Billboard 3 - Jun 1925 (6 weeks), Brazil 5 of 1926, POP 6 of 1925, nuTsie 8 of 1920s, Jazz Standard 20, Acclaimed 1036 (1925), Visconti song of 1925, aceterrier.com 2 of the 1920s (1925), RYM 1 of 1925, Guardian Jazz 5
15 Gene Austin My Blue Heaven 1927 US Billboard 1 - 1927 (26 weeks), Grammy Hall of Fame in 1978 (1928), US invalid BB 2 of 1927, POP 3 of 1927, nuTsie 12 of 1920s, Brazil 15 of 1928, DMDB 53 (1927), aceterrier.com 8 of the 1920s (1927), RYM 13 of 1927
16 Louis Armstrong West End Blues 1928 Grammy Hall of Fame in 1974 (1928), nuTsie 2 of 1920s, US Billboard 8 - 1928 (6 weeks), US invalid BB 14 of 1928, POP 14 of 1928, Daily Deuce 21, Acclaimed 479 (1928), Jazz Standard 648, aceterrier.com 4 of the 1920s (1928), RYM 1 of 1928, Guardian Jazz 7, one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 500
17 Duke Ellington Black & Tan Fantasy 1927 Grammy Hall of Fame in 1981 (1928), Peel list 2 of 1927, US invalid BB 8 of 1928, POP 8 of 1928, US Billboard 15 - 1928 (3 weeks), Daily Deuce 20, nuTsie 21 of 1920s, Acclaimed 1268 (1927), aceterrier.com 61 of the 1920s (1927), RYM 2 of 1927
18 Fats Waller Ain't Misbehavin' 1929 Grammy Hall of Fame in 1984 (1929), Library of Congress artifact added 2004 (1929), nuTsie 4 of 1920s, Music Imprint 16 of 1920s, US Billboard 17 - 1929 (1 week), Daily Deuce 22, RIAA 41, Acclaimed 778 (1929), RYM 1 of 1929, Song of 1936
19 Helen Kane I Wanna Be Loved By You 1928 Grammy Hall of Fame in 2009 (1928), US Billboard 2 - 1928 (11 weeks), US invalid BB 6 of 1928, POP 6 of 1928, Music Imprint 15 of 1920s, nuTsie 58 of 1920s, Brazil 80 of 1929, RIAA 128, aceterrier.com 27 of the 1920s (1928)
20 Pinetop Smith Pinetop's Boogie Woogie 1928 Grammy Hall of Fame in 1983 (1928), Daily Deuce 1, POP 9 of 1928, US invalid BB 15 of 1929, nuTsie 16 of 1920s, US Billboard 20 - 1929 (1 week), Jazz Standard 965, Acclaimed 1478 (1928), aceterrier.com 13 of the 1920s (1928), RYM 12 of 1928, one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 500
21 Al Jolson April Showers 1922 US Billboard 1 - Jan 1922 (17 weeks), US invalid BB 1 of 1922, POP 1 of 1922, Brazil 9 of 1922, nuTsie 42 of 1920s, aceterrier.com 56 of the 1920s (1921), RYM 41 of 1922
22 Mamie Smith Crazy Blues 1920 Grammy Hall of Fame in 1994 (1920), Library of Congress artifact added 2005 (1920), US Billboard 3 - Dec 1920 (11 weeks), nuTsie 11 of 1920s, Daily Deuce 29, Acclaimed 1496 (1920), aceterrier.com 6 of the 1920s (1920), RYM 1 of 1920, Guardian Folk/ World 1
23 Paul Whiteman Three O'Clock in The Morning 1922 US Billboard 1 - Nov 1922 (20 weeks), ASCAP song of 1922, US invalid BB 2 of 1922, POP 4 of 1922, Brazil 11 of 1923, nuTsie 67 of 1920s, RYM 42 of 1922
24 Al Jolson Toot Toot Tootsie (Goodbye) 1922 US Billboard 1 - Dec 1922 (10 weeks), Peel list 2 of 1922, US invalid BB 3 of 1923, POP 3 of 1923, Brazil 18 of 1923, nuTsie 34 of 1920s, RYM 12 of 1922
25 Paul Robeson Ol' Man River 1928 Grammy Hall of Fame in 2006 (1928), US invalid BB 3 of 1928, POP 3 of 1928, US Billboard 7 - 1928 (4 weeks), nuTsie 9 of 1920s, AFI 24, Brazil 86 of 1929, Song of 1932
26 Frankie Trumbauer Singin' the Blues 1927 Grammy Hall of Fame in 1977 (1927), Library of Congress artifact added 2005 (1927), US invalid BB 5 of 1927, POP 5 of 1927, US Billboard 9 - 1927 (6 weeks), nuTsie 49 of 1920s, Acclaimed 1917 (1927), RYM 49 of 1927
27 Ethel Waters Am I Blue? 1929 US Billboard 1 - 1929 (15 weeks), Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007 (1929), US invalid BB 8 of 1929, POP 8 of 1929, Brazil 19 of 1930, nuTsie 41 of 1920s, aceterrier.com 31 of the 1920s (1929)
28 Blind Willie McTell Statesboro Blues 1928 Grammy Hall of Fame in 2017 (1928), Library of Congress artifact added 2015 (1928), Peel list 4 of 1928, Daily Deuce 9, nuTsie 23 of 1920s, Acclaimed 1233 (1928), RYM 7 of 1928, one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 500
29 Al Jolson Sonny Boy 1928 US Billboard 1 - 1928 (19 weeks), Grammy Hall of Fame in 2002 (1928), US invalid BB 7 of 1928, POP 7 of 1928, nuTsie 13 of 1920s, Brazil 29 of 1929, RYM 19 of 1928
30 Isham Jones Swingin' Down the Lane 1923 US Billboard 1 - Aug 1923 (15 weeks), ASCAP song of 1923, US invalid BB 9 of 1923, Brazil 11 of 1924, POP 14 of 1923, nuTsie 81 of 1920s, RYM 68 of 1923
31 Arthur Gibbs & his Gang Charleston 1924 US Billboard 1 - Jan 1924 (7 weeks), Brazil 2 of 1925, Music Imprint 3 of 1920s, US invalid BB 4 of 1924, POP 6 of 1924, RIAA 103, RYM 17 of 1924
32 The Carter Family Wildwood Flower 1928 Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 (1929), Library of Congress artifact added 2006 (1928), US Billboard 3 - 1928 (10 weeks), Daily Deuce 19, nuTsie 48 of 1920s, Acclaimed 906 (1929), aceterrier.com 12 of the 1920s (1928), RYM 6 of 1928
33 Billy Jones Yes! We Have No Bananas 1923 US Billboard 1 - Jul 1923 (13 weeks), Music Imprint 4 of 1920s, US invalid BB 5 of 1923, POP 6 of 1923, Brazil 18 of 1924, nuTsie 32 of 1920s, RIAA 304
34 Jack Smith Me & My Shadow 1927 US Billboard 1 - 1927 (14 weeks), US invalid BB 4 of 1927, POP 4 of 1927, Music Imprint 11 of 1920s, Brazil 24 of 1927, nuTsie 80 of 1920s, RIAA 289
35 Marion Harris I Ain't Got Nobody 1921 US invalid BB 1 of 1921, POP 1 of 1921, US Billboard 3 - Jun 1921 (7 weeks), Brazil 18 of 1922, nuTsie 45 of 1920s, RYM 21 of 1921
36 Ma Rainey See See Rider Blues 1925 Grammy Hall of Fame in 2004 (1925), Library of Congress artifact added 2004 (1923), US Billboard 14 - Jan 1925 (1 week), nuTsie 22 of 1920s, Acclaimed 1475 (1925), RYM 2 of 1925, Guardian Jazz 4
37 Paul Whiteman Parade of the Wooden Soldiers 1923 US Billboard 1 - Apr 1923 (13 weeks), US invalid BB 2 of 1923, POP 2 of 1923, Brazil 8 of 1924, nuTsie 91 of 1920s, RYM 40 of 1923
38 Nora Bayes Make Believe 1921 US Billboard 1 - Jun 1921 (10 weeks), ASCAP song of 1921, Brazil 7 of 1922, US invalid BB 13 of 1921, POP 16 of 1921
39 Ted Lewis & his Orchestra When My Baby Smiles At Me 1920 US Billboard 1 - May 1920 (18 weeks), US invalid BB 2 of 1920, POP 2 of 1920, Brazil 13 of 1920, nuTsie 39 of 1920s
40 Eddie Cantor If You Knew Susie (Like I Know Susie) 1925 US Billboard 1 - Jul 1925 (12 weeks), US invalid BB 4 of 1925, POP 4 of 1925, Brazil 12 of 1926, nuTsie 70 of 1920s, aceterrier.com 74 of the 1920s (1925), RYM 12 of 1925
41 George Olsen Always 1926 US Billboard 1 - Apr 1926 (10 weeks), US invalid BB 2 of 1926, POP 2 of 1926, Brazil 22 of 1926, nuTsie 52 of 1920s
42 Van & Schenck Ain't We Got Fun? 1921 US Billboard 1 - Aug 1921 (9 weeks), US invalid BB 2 of 1921, POP 2 of 1921, Brazil 23 of 1922, nuTsie 79 of 1920s
43 Blind Willie Johnson Dark Was the Night, Cold Was the Ground 1927 Grammy Hall of Fame in 2011 (1927), Library of Congress artifact added 2010 (1927), Peel list 4 of 1927, Acclaimed 1799 (1927), aceterrier.com 57 of the 1920s (1927)
44 Al Jolson My Mammy 1928 Grammy Hall of Fame in 2011 (1927), US Billboard 2 - 1928 (7 weeks), US invalid BB 4 of 1930, nuTsie 18 of 1920s, Brazil 35 of 1922, RYM 61 of 1928
45 Blind Lemon Jefferson Matchbox Blues 1927 Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 (1927), Library of Congress artifact added 2014 (1928), Daily Deuce 5, nuTsie 24 of 1920s, Acclaimed 1061 (1927), RYM 1 of 1927, one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 500
46 Marion Harris Tea For Two 1925 US Billboard 1 - Jan 1925 (11 weeks), US invalid BB 2 of 1925, POP 2 of 1925, Brazil 6 of 1925, RYM 30 of 1924
47 Bix Beiderbecke In a Mist 1927 Grammy Hall of Fame in 1980 (1927), US invalid BB 10 of 1927, POP 10 of 1927, US Billboard 20 - 1928 (1 week), nuTsie 28 of 1920s, Acclaimed 1477 (1927), aceterrier.com 60 of the 1920s (1927), RYM 7 of 1927
48 Charley Patton Pony Blues 1929 Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 (1929), Library of Congress artifact added 2006 (1929), Daily Deuce 23, nuTsie 51 of 1920s, Acclaimed 903 (1929), RYM 10 of 1929
49 Jan Garber Baby Face 1926 US Billboard 1 - Sep 1926 (12 weeks), US invalid BB 3 of 1926, Brazil 4 of 1927, POP 5 of 1926, nuTsie 36 of 1920s
50 Cliff Edwards (Ukelele Ike) Singin' in the Rain 1929 US Billboard 1 - 1929 (12 weeks), US invalid BB 3 of 1929, POP 3 of 1929, Brazil 8 of 1930, nuTsie 54 of 1920s
51 Ben Selvin Dardanella 1920 US Billboard 1 - Jan 1920 (24 weeks), Brazil 5 of 1920, US invalid BB 5 of 1920, POP 8 of 1920, nuTsie 14 of 1920s, RYM 8 of 1920
52 Paul Whiteman I'll Build a Stairway to Paradise 1922 US Billboard 1 - Dec 1922 (9 weeks), US invalid BB 1 of 1923, POP 1 of 1923, RYM 23 of 1922
53 The Carter Family Keep on the Sunny Side 1928 Grammy Hall of Fame in 2006 (1928), Daily Deuce 3, US Billboard 9 - 1928 (5 weeks), Scrobulate 93 of best mouth in rock, Acclaimed 1648 (1928), RYM 21 of 1928, Guardian Folk/ World 8
54 Al Jolson I'm Sitting On Top of the World 1926 US Billboard 1 - Mar 1926 (11 weeks), US invalid BB 8 of 1926, POP 8 of 1926, Europe 20 of the 1930s (1925), Brazil 25 of 1926
55 Al Jolson When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob-Bob-Bobbin' Along 1926 US Billboard 1 - Sep 1926 (8 weeks), US invalid BB 1 of 1926, POP 3 of 1926, nuTsie 82 of 1920s, RYM 50 of 1926
56 Bertolt Brecht Mack the Knife 1928 US invalid BB 1 of 1928, POP 1 of 1928, ASCAP song of 1928
57 Gertrude Lawrence Someone to Watch Over Me 1927 Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008 (1927), US Billboard 2 - 1927 (11 weeks), US invalid BB 3 of 1927, POP 7 of 1927, nuTsie 77 of 1920s
58 Eddie Cantor Margie 1921 US Billboard 1 - Feb 1921 (12 weeks), Brazil 7 of 1921, US invalid BB 11 of 1921, POP 12 of 1921, nuTsie 90 of 1920s, RYM 55 of 1920
59 Ruth Etting Love Me Or Leave Me 1928 Grammy Hall of Fame in 2005 (1928), US Billboard 2 - 1929 (11 weeks), Brazil 71 of 1929, nuTsie 75 of 1920s, aceterrier.com 91 of the 1920s (1928), RYM 63 of 1928
60 Paul Whiteman The Birth of the Blues 1926 US Billboard 1 - Nov 1926 (12 weeks), US invalid BB 10 of 1926, POP 10 of 1926, Brazil 16 of 1927, nuTsie 72 of 1920s, RYM 87 of 1926
61 Paul Whiteman Valencia 1926 US Billboard 1 - Jun 1926 (17 weeks), US invalid BB 14 of 1926, POP 14 of 1926, Brazil 31 of 1926, nuTsie 46 of 1920s, RYM 48 of 1926
62 Nick Lucas Tip Toe Thru' The Tulips With Me 1929 US Billboard 1 - 1929 (19 weeks), US invalid BB 4 of 1929, Brazil 17 of 1930, POP 17 of 1929, nuTsie 55 of 1920s
63 Rudy Vallee & his Connecticut Yankees Honey 1929 US Billboard 1 - 1929 (15 weeks), US invalid BB 7 of 1929, POP 7 of 1929, Brazil 43 of 1930, nuTsie 89 of 1920s
64 Fred Waring & the Pennsylvanians Sleep 1924 US Billboard 1 - Dec 1923 (11 weeks), US invalid BB 6 of 1924, POP 11 of 1924, Brazil 40 of 1925, nuTsie 88 of 1920s
65 Fanny Brice Second Hand Rose 1921 Library of Congress artifact added 2005 (1921), POP 2 of 1922, US Billboard 3 - Feb 1922 (7 weeks), US invalid BB 3 of 1921
66 Ted Weems Somebody Stole My Gal 1924 US Billboard 1 - Feb 1924 (14 weeks), US invalid BB 9 of 1924, POP 9 of 1924, Brazil 35 of 1925, nuTsie 66 of 1920s
67 Al Jolson All Alone 1925 US Billboard 1 - Jan 1925 (9 weeks), US invalid BB 10 of 1925, POP 10 of 1925, Brazil 21 of 1925, nuTsie 93 of 1920s
68 Isham Jones & Ray Miller I'll See You in My Dreams 1925 US Billboard 1 - Mar 1925 (16 weeks), US invalid BB 11 of 1925, POP 11 of 1925, Brazil 18 of 1925, nuTsie 53 of 1920s
69 Sophie Tucker & Ted Lewis Some of These Days 1927 US Billboard 1 - 1927 (12 weeks), US invalid BB 12 of 1927, POP 12 of 1927, Brazil 20 of 1927, RIAA 314
70 Marion Harris St Louis Blues 1920 US Billboard 1 - Aug 1920 (9 weeks), US invalid BB 4 of 1920, POP 6 of 1920, Brazil 16 of 1921, RYM 15 of 1920
71 Paul Whiteman Among My Souvenirs 1928 US Billboard 1 - 1928 (13 weeks), US invalid BB 15 of 1928, POP 15 of 1928, Brazil 81 of 1928, nuTsie 95 of 1920s
72 Guy Lombardo Charmaine 1927 US Billboard 1 - 1927 (15 weeks), US invalid BB 18 of 1927, POP 18 of 1927, Brazil 32 of 1928, nuTsie 83 of 1920s
73 Red Nichols Ida, Sweet As Apple Cider 1927 US Billboard 1 - 1927 (15 weeks), US invalid BB 19 of 1927, POP 19 of 1927, Brazil 43 of 1928, nuTsie 63 of 1920s
74 Ben Bernie Ain't She Sweet? 1927 US Billboard 1 - 1927 (12 weeks), US invalid BB 1 of 1927, POP 2 of 1927
75 Louis Armstrong When You're Smiling 1929 US invalid BB 1 of 1929, POP 1 of 1929, US Billboard 15 - 1929 (2 weeks), RYM 35 of 1929, Song of 1932
76 Paul Whiteman Hot Lips 1922 US Billboard 1 - Sep 1922 (11 weeks), US invalid BB 5 of 1922, POP 9 of 1922, Brazil 13 of 1923, RYM 43 of 1922
77 Paul Whiteman Stumbling 1922 US Billboard 1 - Jul 1922 (12 weeks), US invalid BB 4 of 1922, POP 17 of 1922, Brazil 25 of 1924, RYM 25 of 1922
78 Edith Day Alice Blue Gown 1920 US Billboard 1 - Apr 1920 (9 weeks), US invalid BB 8 of 1920, POP 14 of 1920, Brazil 21 of 1924, aceterrier.com 95 of the 1920s (1920)
79 Paul Whiteman Song of India 1921 US Billboard 1 - Aug 1921 (14 weeks), US invalid BB 4 of 1921, POP 4 of 1921, Brazil 31 of 1922
80 Maurice Chevalier Louise 1929 US Billboard 3 - 1929 (10 weeks), US invalid BB 6 of 1929, POP 6 of 1929, nuTsie 30 of 1920s, Brazil 87 of 1930, aceterrier.com 82 of the 1920s (1929)
81 John Steel The Love Nest 1920 US Billboard 1 - Aug 1920 (10 weeks), US invalid BB 6 of 1920, POP 10 of 1920, Brazil 35 of 1921, RYM 29 of 1920
82 Bob Haring & his Orchestra Pagan Love Song 1929 US Billboard 1 - 1929 (11 weeks), US invalid BB 5 of 1929, POP 5 of 1929, Brazil 37 of 1930
83 Al Jolson I've Got My Captain Working For Me Now 1920 US Billboard 1 - Dec 1919 (7 weeks), US invalid BB 9 of 1920, Brazil 17 of 1920, POP 18 of 1920, RYM 13 of 1920
84 Eddie Cantor No, No Nora 1923 US Billboard 1 - Nov 1923 (9 weeks), US invalid BB 10 of 1923, Brazil 16 of 1924, POP 16 of 1923, RYM 69 of 1923
85 Paul Whiteman Bambalina 1923 US Billboard 1 - Jun 1923 (8 weeks), US invalid BB 11 of 1923, Brazil 13 of 1924, POP 18 of 1923, RYM 67 of 1923
86 Ernest Van Stoneman The Titanic 1925 Grammy Hall of Fame in 2013 (1924), US Billboard 3 - May 1925 (10 weeks), US invalid BB 9 of 1925, POP 9 of 1925, RYM 39 of 1925
87 Paul Whiteman Linger Awhile 1924 US Billboard 1 - Feb 1924 (10 weeks), US invalid BB 11 of 1924, POP 12 of 1924, Brazil 27 of 1925, RYM 39 of 1923
88 Paul Whiteman The Japanese Sandman 1920 US Billboard 1 - Nov 1920 (12 weeks), US invalid BB 11 of 1920, POP 20 of 1920, Brazil 21 of 1921, RYM 7 of 1920
89 Marion Harris Look For The Silver Lining 1921 US Billboard 1 - Apr 1921 (10 weeks), US invalid BB 12 of 1921, POP 14 of 1921, Brazil 34 of 1922, RYM 22 of 1921
90 Paul Whiteman Do it Again 1922 US Billboard 1 - Jun 1922 (9 weeks), US invalid BB 11 of 1922, POP 18 of 1922, Brazil 30 of 1924, RYM 24 of 1922
91 Gene Austin Yes Sir! That's My Baby 1925 US Billboard 1 - Aug 1925 (17 weeks), US invalid BB 13 of 1925, POP 14 of 1925, Brazil 34 of 1926, RYM 37 of 1925
92 Ben Selvin Blue Skies 1927 US Billboard 1 - 1927 (9 weeks), US invalid BB 6 of 1927, POP 6 of 1927, Brazil 37 of 1927
93 Paul Whiteman Say it With Music 1921 US Billboard 1 - Nov 1921 (14 weeks), US invalid BB 15 of 1921, POP 20 of 1921, Brazil 29 of 1922, RYM 10 of 1921
94 Art Hickman Hold Me 1920 US Billboard 1 - Jun 1920 (14 weeks), US invalid BB 7 of 1920, Brazil 8 of 1920, POP 12 of 1920
95 Fiddlin' John Carson Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane 1923 Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998 (1923), US Billboard 9 - Dec 1923 (2 weeks), Daily Deuce 18, Acclaimed 874 (1923), aceterrier.com 34 of the 1920s (1923), RYM 4 of 1923
96 Isham Jones Remember 1925 US Billboard 1 - Dec 1925 (8 weeks), US invalid BB 16 of 1925, POP 20 of 1925, Brazil 50 of 1927, RYM 72 of 1925
97 Al Jolson There's a Rainbow Round My Shoulder 1928 US Billboard 1 - 1928 (13 weeks), US invalid BB 19 of 1928, POP 19 of 1928, Brazil 38 of 1929, RYM 19 of 1928
98 Gene Austin Jeannine (I Dream of Lilac Time) 1928 US Billboard 1 - 1928 (15 weeks), US invalid BB 18 of 1928, POP 18 of 1928, Brazil 52 of 1929, RYM 60 of 1928
99 Fred Waring & the Pennsylvanians Laugh, Clown, Laugh! 1928 US Billboard 1 - 1928 (12 weeks), US invalid BB 17 of 1928, POP 17 of 1928, Brazil 94 of 1928, RYM 94 of 1928
100 Vincent Lopez Always 1926 US Billboard 1 - May 1926 (9 weeks), POP 2 of 1926, Brazil 8 of 1926, RYM 20 of 1926
Comment on the contents of the 'Songs from the 1920s' page
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Previous Comments (newest first)

1 Apr 2019

Old song

I'm looking for an old song for my 103 year old mother in law, with the words, pull up your legs [or dress] and show your pretty knees. I hope you can help me. Barb

27 Mar 2019

The train song

Also, want lyrics from a song about a young man on a train with a baby who iscrying and the people complain until he tells them the mother of the baby is dead and in the next car?? Grandma sang this one to us also.+

27 Mar 2019

Burglar Bold

My grandma used to sing us a song about a burglar who tried to rob an oldmaid's house. We are not sure if it was burglar "bold", "beau", or "bo"?? Can you help us?

16 Mar 2019

Does anyone know these song titles?

I am trying to find the titles of two songs that my parents sang to me. Thelyrics of the first are "I'm building a rainbow, to put on your finger" The second is a song that goes "He can mend any kind of shoe Popanicolini, he's your friend when your feeling blue, Popanicolini, people send all the troubles too, Popanicolini, he can mend all your heartaches and blues" I would love to know their title names if anyone has that info, thanks kindly, Debbie (New Zealand)

12 Sep 2018

Song Title

I only know that some of the lyrics go "Well you do".

11 Dec 2017

song words

Includes the words "when Madeline dances with me - holy g:

1 Oct 2017

saving my pennies to see my daddy ....

Does anyone know the song with the words ..."Saving all my pennies for the weekend to see my daddy again .......

21 Sep 2017

song title search

Looking for my granduncle Max's favourite song. +He was very little (born 1928) and all he can remember was the phrase "Mackie macadoo, summedai summedoo, everybody....." He sang it so much, was named "Max doo" Please help

We suspect this is "Johnny McEldoo" which we think is a traditional Irish song

5 Dec 2016

little orphan girl freezes to death at the rich man`s door

does anyone know this song? +I used to listen to it on anold victrola when Iwas very young.

18 Nov 2016

looking for song

trying to fine the title of a song from the 1920/30s, lyrics "Who'll bite yourneck when my lips are gone." the song is referenced in "The Last Flapper"

14 Oct 2016

Sunday

Sunday. + Caise that's the one day when I'm with you.

24 Sep 2016

Sad song

My dad used. To sing this song. + I know you will remember cos you've gotremembering eyes ,this world was mad for gladness & not for sad goodbyes , though seas may roll between us ,there's no need for tears or sighs , I know you will remember cos you've got remembring eyes .+ ++ ++ Shame if this song dies

23 Aug 2016

Silly Hobo Cooking Song from the 20s

My grandma used to sing a hobo cooking song with the lyrics, "so throw in somerags and some old paper bags" ... wish I could remember the rest. Anyone?

9 Jun 2016

Song Lyrics

Looking for lyrics to "Who'll bite your neck when my teeth are gone?" thissong is referenced in a book about F. Scott Fitzgerald.

This site is a list of chart entries, we have no lyrics here

20 May 2016

a boys mother who is dead comes to see him at night to comfort him. the first words are "When nurse has tucked the bedclothes in and stamped across the floor thesrs someone comes to see us then and stamped across the floor

6 Apr 2016

By the sea by the sea by the beautiful sea you and i you and I oh how happy we'll be.......

I would like to know all of the words please.

This site lists song charts, no lyrics here at all

12 Mar 2016

I Like You

Heard this sond last week...guessing it's from the 20-30 era...lyrics andother info, please

21 Dec 2015

song search

Greetings!

I was hoping to get some sheet music and choregraphy for the song 67 singlesets of shop soiled sheets, can anyone help me out?

14 Sep 2015

more

I wish that they had a bigger list and some songs would still like of the1920s a song that would make kids say I wish people still listen to that and can the list have all genres please thanks

Did you look at the CSV file?

And no, the list cannot have all the genres (because we think there is no such thing) why don't you do that work and publish it?

11 Sep 2015

waltz

I'M dancing with tears in my eyes- who wrote it? or who ade it popular?

We have no data about who wrote it. In 1930 it was a minor hit for Ben Selvin, Regent Club Orchestra, and Ruth Etting, the biggest success (in 1930) was Nat Shilkret. Since then that title has been a hit for Mantovani, Ultravox, Don Caballero and Novaspace.

Wesley Tuttle and Uriah Heep have both had hits with songs called "Tears In My Eyes"

27 Aug 2015

old song

love to know more words to "If you can't tell the world she's a good littlegirl then "Just say nothing at all." Don't tell the world what you know of her life. Some day she may make a wonderful wife.

27 Aug 2015

roll 'em girlies roll'em

+some of the words Don't let people tell you that it's shocking, put yousweeties picture in your stocking, roll 'em etc.

5 Jul 2015

A song I'm looking for +... If I could turn the clock back only just one year+

Been trying to find the words and who sang this song , our mother used to singit can you help me year must have been back in the 20/30/40 +thank you+

13 May 2015

song called Yvonne

Lyrics... Yvonne my Yvonne what am I to do now you're gone.......

21 Apr 2015

male vocalist+

1920-30 + Not sure of title + - It's a+ fine thing to sing - are the beginning?

29 Jan 2015

Response to Jan 3

"Two Sleepy People" by Hoagy Carmichael

3 Jan 2015

Need title of an old song

Words: "Here we are, out of cigarettes ++ ++ +Holding hands and yawning ++ ++ +Look how late it gets... ++ ++ +Two sleepy, by dawn's early light ++ ++ +And too much in love to say "Good NIght!"

Not sure of era or composer..just know it is "old!" THanks, Mary

28 Sep 2014

Song not on the list

The name of the song is "It's the Boy" and my sister and I used to sing and dance to the music of that song. +Does anyone remember it? +We were about 6 at the tome so it had to be in 1927

15 Sep 2014

THIS IS ONLY 60!!!!

I looked up for them to give me 100 top songs of the 1920s and this website only gave me 60!! This is not ok!!

7 Sep 2014

Reply to 14 August email

https://library.indstate.edu/about/units/rbsc/kirk/PDFs/sm1923_last.pdf

18 Aug 2014

song lyrics

My father sings this song- Roll 'em roll 'em roll 'em down and show your pretty knees'.He is 100 years old, we would like to know the complete lyrics, if possible. Thank you.

14 Aug 2014

Please help me find the name of this song and who sings it+

Oh I loved her in the morning and I loved her at night Yes I loved Yes I loved When the stars shine so bright

Oh I loved her in the spring time And I loved her in the fall But last night on the back porch I loved her best of all

Oh I+ love my Marianna When she plays the grand piana She's a pusha she's a pumpa with the feet She's got lips that taste so finea Use to like Italian winea She's a dolly she's a dolly she's a sweet

Oh she calls me her papa When she starts a lovin there's no stoppin With eyes so big so bright But last night she got +cholic When she at a lot of garlic And I loved her best of all+

13 Aug 2014

name of song

trying to find a song but don't know the name of it. +some of the words in it are playmates won't you come out & play & sliding down the cellar door.

11 Jul 2014

songs children would sing

Can you tell me what song children or young persons might have sung in the1920's? My town is holding a special anniversary and as part of it would like to do a tribute to childhood having people of all ages perform. Thank you so much.

That is a good question, which we don't know the answer to.

"The Ovaltineys" started in 1930, try looking them up on YouTube

8 Jul 2014

song title

I am looking for the title of a song my grandmom used to sing. I don't know ifit is from the 20's or 30's. It goes: Smile a while and kiss me sad adew, when the clouds roll by I'll come to you, when the sky turn to blue I'll meet you down in lovers lane my darling. This is all I remember. I hope you can help. Thank you

6 Apr 2014

13 Dec 2013

Responding to 12 Dec 2013, I believe those lyrics are from the light opera "The Vagabond King", sung by the second lead.

"Never try to bind me. Never make me stay. +Take me as you find me; love then go away. +All the loves you leave behind you die and fade away. +Never mind, you will be mine today."

Can't remember the name of the character. +Leif Ericson played the title role in the Hollywood Bowl production in 1950 or 1951.

Thanks for the suggestion

23 Mar 2014

llatin songs 1920s

Besides &* tea for two* can you tell me of other famous latin songs in this era?

2 Feb 2014

Betty Co-ed

My mother sang this to me I would like to have the lyrics

We have no lyrics here, just listing of hits. The song "Betty Coed" was a hit for (in 1930) for Rudy Vallee & his Connecticut Yankees and Bob Haring & his Orchestra.

30 Jan 2014

Lost artist

There is a song from the 30's (tea for two) that the waring girls sang, Was that a one hit wonder? I tried to search them and I cannot find the girls anywhere on the internet!

The song "Tea for Two" was a hit for many people. Never heard of the Waring Sisters

13 Dec 2013

lover take me as you find me.....never try to bind me

lover take me as you find me.....never try to bind me

6 Oct 2013

Old song

Is there any old song that includes the words (My wife she fights with me all day) Thanks Mike

28 Jun 2013

When we build our little home

Hello, can you please help me locate a song of the 1920/30's when we build our little home, also when my ship comes in.

Many thanks. N.P.Ciccone

Neither song was a hit

15 Jun 2013

I'm surprised George Gershwin is not on this list

From what I had heard from various sources I thought he was very popular during this time, didn't you say in an earlier post that you also used the sales figures of sheet music.

In this list we have the peformer not the author, that matches the way music charts worked from the 1950s onward. Gershwin wrote a lot of hits in this period but didn't perform them

11 Jun 2013

The year Honey was written

When was the song... From the 1920's HONEY written?

27 Apr 2013

river stay away from my door

river stay away from my door

The song "River Stay 'Way From My Door" was a hit for Frank Sinatra in 1960 (in the UK, Canada and the US) and for Paul Robeson in 1931

27 Feb 2013

A Place To Do It

A friend of mine shared an old song with me about "finding a place to do it." He believes it dates to 1920-1926 but I have no luck finding the artist. Has anyone here ever heard of it?

Thanks, Jeff

9 Feb 2013

song # 57 by Louis Armstrong

You say it is the Muscrat Ramble.. But I believe the correct word is The MUSCAT ramble..Check it out..

26 Jan 2013

Song of 1920's Poss early 30's

The song was called 'Daddy' The lyrics started off "Put your head on my shoulder daddy" It was a young boy singing to his daddy after his mothers death. I remember it as a child and it was on a 78" record.

24 Oct 2012

#31 Tea for Two

The title of this song is simply Tea for Two. It was re-arranged in the 1950s to a Cha Cha tempo and was titled as such, but the 1925 version and the original title of the song is just Tea for Two.

Your assertion looks correct. We have changed the titles of all versions to just "Tea for Two" to make sure that people will find them all together. While this means that the 1950s versions "should" be "Tea for Two (Cha Cha)" we think that this will make it easiest for most users.

Thanks for the suggested fix.

8 Oct 2012

when june comes and the roses bloom again+

The only song that is close to your lyrics is by Peggy Lee & Benny Goodman "When the Roses Bloom Again". I hope that helps.

21 Sep 2012

1920s songs

Would you please send me the words and music of these songs or tell me where I can purchase them. I need it for a skit I am putting on for charity.

thank you

We don't have lyrics or actual music files here (either for sale or for download). All we have are chart positions.

We would suggest iTunes or Amazon (but other good sources are available)

25 Jun 2012

song

looking for the words to a song my mum used to sing to us in the 1960s It start susie green was sweet16 and never had been kissed what she never had she new she never missed. i think it was called i want a boy

9 Apr 2012

lost song

i am looking for a song i have only herd my family sing pre 40s ? words when june comes and the roses bloom again when june comes youl be in my arms and then we'll soon forget we parted in september as arm in arm we stroll down lovers lane when june comes and the roses bloom again

9 Apr 2012

song

when june comes and the roses bloom again

8 Sep 2011

song identification?

I only remember part of the song: "How high's the water mama? 6 feet high and rising. How high's the water papa?" I've had this stuck in my head for years! Can you identify?

The song actually is "Five Feet High & Rising" which was written by Johnny Cash (apparently based on his childhood home in Arkansas which was flooded twice).

Cash had a minor hit with the song in 1959.

2 Sep 2011

Lost Song ... my Father used to sing

I am looking for a song that my father used to sing when I was a child in the 1950's. I believe the song may have been in the 1920's (or prior) or later to the 1940's.

The title, I do not know but the lyrics are along this line:

"I want to say hello, I want to see you smile, I want to hold you in my arms again ..... I want to do the little things we used to do before, Honey, I can't live without you anymore"

unfortunately, that is all that I can recollect

Please help me .... thank you

5 Apr 2011

missing Page yr1920.htm

Hi: I've tried to read yr1920.htm and can't find it.

Very good site -- Thanks.

We've checked the file "/music/yr1920.htm" and it looks OK to us.

5 Sep 2010

song

Who was the lady who sang "We'll meet again" in the early 1900s.

The most famous song with that title was written in 1939 (by Ross Parker & Hughie Charles) and was a hit for many including the Ink Spots, Guy Lombardo, Peggy Lee and (of course) Vera Lynn

We don't have any record of a hit from before 1939 with that title.

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