Songs from the Year 1930

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This page lists the top songs of 1930 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.

Between 1920 and 1940 there are few available charts (at least that we can find). These results should be treated with some caution since, with few exceptions, they are based on fairly subjective charts and biased towards the USA.

The top ten song artists of 1930 were:

1:Ben Selvin3:Guy Lombardo5:Ruth Etting7:Ted Lewis & his Orchestra9:Leo Reisman
2:Harry Richman4:Rudy Vallee & his Connecticut Yankees6:Paul Whiteman8:Louis Armstrong10:Duke Ellington
# Artist Song Title Year Chart Entries
1 Harry Richman Puttin' on the Ritz 1930 US Billboard 1 - 1930 (8 weeks), Grammy Hall of Fame in 2005 (1930), Library of Congress artifact added 2016 (1929), US invalid BB 2 of 1930, POP 2 of 1930, Music Imprint 7 of 1930s, Brazil 21 of 1930, nuTsie 37 of 1930s, Australian Nostalgia 54 of 1930-1939, RIAA 117, Acclaimed 1213 (1930)
2 Ben Selvin Happy Days Are Here Again 1930 US Billboard 1 - 1930 (7 weeks), US invalid BB 1 of 1930, Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007 (1930), POP 1 of 1930, Brazil 27 of 1930, RIAA 47, nuTsie 57 of 1930s, RYM 110 of 1930
3 Paul Whiteman Body & Soul 1930 US Billboard 1 - 1930 (15 weeks), Jazz Standard 1, US invalid BB 7 of 1930, POP 7 of 1930, Australian Nostalgia 15 of 1930-1939, Brazil 60 of 1931, RYM 24 of 1930
4 Ruth Etting Ten Cents a Dance 1930 Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 (1930), Library of Congress artifact added 2011 (1930), US Billboard 5 - 1930 (11 weeks), US invalid BB 5 of 1930, POP 5 of 1930, Brazil 84 of 1931, RYM 28 of 1930
5 Don Azpiazu & his Havana Casino Orchestra The Peanut Vendor 1930 US Billboard 1 - Nov 1930 (28 weeks), Latin Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001 (1930), Library of Congress artifact added 2005 (1930), Brazil 8 of 1931, nuTsie 77 of 1930s
6 Rudy Vallee & his Connecticut Yankees Stein Song (University of Maine) 1930 US Billboard 1 - 1930 (21 weeks), Australian Nostalgia 4 of 1930-1939, US invalid BB 8 of 1930, POP 8 of 1930, Brazil 23 of 1930, nuTsie 31 of 1930s, RYM 108 of 1930
7 Duke Ellington Three Little Words 1930 US Billboard 1 - 1930 (13 weeks), US invalid BB 6 of 1930, POP 6 of 1930, Brazil 11 of 1931, Europe 60 of the 1930s (1930), RYM 15 of 1930
8 Nat Shilkret Dancing With Tears in My Eyes 1930 US Billboard 1 - 1930 (11 weeks), Australian Nostalgia 13 of 1930-1939, US invalid BB 14 of 1930, POP 18 of 1930, Brazil 23 of 1931
9 Fred Waring & the Pennsylvanians Little White Lies 1930 US Billboard 1 - 1930 (12 weeks), US invalid BB 12 of 1930, Australian Nostalgia 14 of 1930-1939, POP 14 of 1930, Brazil 65 of 1931
10 Mississippi Sheiks Sitting on Top of the World 1930 Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008 (1930), Library of Congress artifact added 2017 (1930), nuTsie 88 of 1930s, RYM 11 of 1930
11 Roy Ingraham Chant of the Jungle 1930 US Billboard 1 - Dec 1929 (8 weeks), US invalid BB 11 of 1930, POP 12 of 1930, Brazil 69 of 1930
12 Ted Lewis & his Orchestra On the Sunny Side of the Street 1930 US Billboard 2 - 1930 (7 weeks), US invalid BB 3 of 1930, POP 3 of 1930, Brazil 48 of 1931
13 Guy Lombardo You're Driving Me Crazy! (What Did I Do?) 1930 US Billboard 1 - 1930 (12 weeks), US invalid BB 15 of 1930, POP 20 of 1930, Brazil 38 of 1932
14 Benny Meroff & his Orchestra Happy Days Are Here Again 1930 US Billboard 1 - 1930 (6 weeks), POP 1 of 1930
15 Jimmie Rodgers Blue Yodel No.9 (Standin' on the Corner) 1930 Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007 (1930), nuTsie 66 of 1930s, Acclaimed 1737 (1930), RYM 11 of 1931, one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 500
16 Hilo Hawaiian Orchestra When It's Springtime in The Rockies 1930 US Billboard 1 - 1930 (19 weeks), US invalid BB 10 of 1930, POP 10 of 1930
17 McKinney's Cotton Pickers If I Could Be With You One Hour Tonight 1930 US Billboard 1 - 1930 (12 weeks), US invalid BB 13 of 1930, POP 16 of 1930
18 Ben Selvin When It's Springtime in The Rockies 1930 US Billboard 1 - 1930 (11 weeks), POP 10 of 1930
19 Cannon's Jug Stompers Walk Right In 1930 Grammy Hall of Fame in 2007 (1930), nuTsie 62 of 1920s
20 Leo Reisman What Is This Thing Called Love? 1930 US Billboard 5 - 1930 (9 weeks), US invalid BB 9 of 1930, POP 9 of 1930
21 Son House My Black Mama 1930 Grammy Hall of Fame in 2013 (1930), RYM 20 of 1930
22 Al Jolson Let Me Sing & I'm Happy 1930 US Billboard 2 - 1930 (10 weeks), Brazil 74 of 1931
23 Rudy Vallee & his Connecticut Yankees Betty Coed 1930 US Billboard 4 - 1930 (7 weeks), POP 11 of 1930, RYM 109 of 1930
24 Canario & Su Grupo Lamento Borincano 1930 Library of Congress artifact added 2017 (1930)
25 Hoagy Carmichael Georgia On My Mind 1930 Grammy Hall of Fame in 2014 (1930)
26 Mary Lou Williams Nightlife 1930 Library of Congress artifact added 2008 (1930)
27 Ted Weems The Man from the South 1930 US Billboard 1 - 1930 (7 weeks)
28 Carmen Miranda Pra Voce Gostar De Mim (Tahi) 1930 Brazil 1 of 1930
29 Van Phillips I'm in The Market For You 1930 Peel list 1 of 1930
30 Duke Ellington Ring Dem Bells 1930 US Billboard 17 - 1930 (1 week), Scrobulate 55 of swing, RYM 15 of 1930, Song of 1930
31 Nat Shilkret Get Happy 1930 POP 4 of 1930, US Billboard 6 - 1930 (7 weeks)
32 Louis Armstrong Memories Of You 1930 US Billboard 18 - 1930 (1 week), Brazil 42 of 1931, RYM 45 of 1930
33 Fred Astaire Puttin' on the Ritz 1930 Peel list 2 of 1930, RYM 1 of 1930
34 Ted Weems My Baby Just Cares For Me 1930 US Billboard 4 - 1930 (7 weeks), POP 15 of 1930
35 Louis Armstrong On the Sunny Side of the Street 1930 Jazz Standard 55, Scrobulate 93 of swing, Song of 1934
36 Al Jolson To My Mammy 1930 US Billboard 7 - 1930 (7 weeks), POP 17 of 1930
37 Leo Reisman Time On My Hands 1930 US Billboard 6 - 1931 (4 weeks), Jazz Standard 156
38 Jack Hylton & his Orchestra Dancing On the Ceiling 1930 US Billboard 10 - 1932 (4 weeks), Jazz Standard 671
39 Maurice Chevalier My Ideal 1930 US Billboard 12 - 1931 (4 weeks), Jazz Standard 379
40 Cab Calloway & his Cotton Club Orchestra St Louis Blues 1930 US Billboard 16 - 1930 (2 weeks), Scrobulate 88 of swing
41 Isham Jones What's the Use 1930 US Billboard 2 - 1930 (7 weeks)
42 Paul Whiteman Old New England Moon 1930 US Billboard 2 - 1930 (8 weeks)
43 Ted Lewis & his Orchestra Three O'Clock in The Morning 1930 US Billboard 2 - 1930 (8 weeks)
44 Paul Whiteman Nobody's Sweetheart 1930 US Billboard 2 - 1930 (8 weeks)
45 Paul Whiteman It Happened in Monterey 1930 US Billboard 2 - 1930 (9 weeks)
46 Earl Burtnett & his Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel Orchestra So Beats My Heart for You 1930 US Billboard 2 - 1930 (9 weeks)
47 Regent Club Orchestra Dancing With Tears in My Eyes 1930 US Billboard 2 - 1930 (6 weeks)
48 Guy Lombardo Confessin' (That I Love You) 1930 US Billboard 2 - 1930 (6 weeks)
49 Red Nichols Embraceble You 1930 US Billboard 2 - Nov 1930 (9 weeks)
50 Almirante & O Bando de Tangaras Na Pavuna 1930 Brazil 2 of 1930
51 Gus Arnheim & his Orchestra Go Home & Tell Your Mother 1930 US Billboard 3 - 1930 (7 weeks)
52 Bert Lown Orchestra I am Yours 1930 US Billboard 3 - 1930 (7 weeks)
53 Leo Reisman Happy Days Are Here Again 1930 US Billboard 3 - 1930 (9 weeks)
54 Arden-Ohman Orchestra Should I 1930 US Billboard 3 - 1930 (11 weeks)
55 Rudy Vallee & his Connecticut Yankees If I Had a Girl Like You 1930 US Billboard 3 - 1930 (10 weeks)
56 Ted Wallace & his Campus Boys Little White Lies 1930 US Billboard 3 - 1930 (6 weeks)
57 Rudy Vallee & his Connecticut Yankees You're Driving Me Crazy! (What Did I Do?) 1930 US Billboard 3 - Dec 1930 (9 weeks)
58 Guy Lombardo Have a Little Faith in Me 1930 US Billboard 3 - 1930 (4 weeks)
59 Jacques Renard & his Orchestra Three Little Words 1930 US Billboard 3 - 1930 (6 weeks)
60 Nat Shilkret Chant of the Jungle 1930 US Billboard 3 - 1930 (6 weeks)
61 Libby Holman Body & Soul 1930 US Billboard 3 - 1930 (7 weeks)
62 Fred Waring & the Pennsylvanians So Beats My Heart for You 1930 US Billboard 3 - 1930 (6 weeks)
63 Rudy Vallee & his Connecticut Yankees A Little Kiss Each Morning (A Little Kiss Each Night) 1930 US Billboard 3 - 1930 (7 weeks)
64 Bing Crosby You Brought a New Kind of Love to Me 1930 US Billboard 3 - 1930 (8 weeks)
65 Guy Lombardo Swingin' in a Hammock 1930 US Billboard 3 - 1930 (7 weeks)
66 Fred Waring & the Pennsylvanians Cryin' for the Carolines 1930 US Billboard 3 - 1930 (6 weeks)
67 Ted Lewis & his Orchestra The Lonesome Road 1930 US Billboard 3 - 1930 (7 weeks)
68 Francisco Alves Dor de Recordar 1930 Brazil 3 of 1930
69 Jack Payne & his Orchestra My Baby Just Cares For Me 1930 Peel list 3 of 1930
70 Louis Armstrong If I Could Be With You One Hour Tonight 1930 US Billboard 13 - 1930 (2 weeks), RYM 7 of 1930
71 Big Bill Broonzy Somebody's Been Using That Thing 1930 POP 13 of 1930, RYM 27 of 1930
72 Isham Jones Trees 1930 US Billboard 13 - 1930 (4 weeks), RYM 47 of 1930
73 The Carter Family Worried Man Blues 1930 US Billboard 14 - 1930 (3 weeks), RYM 4 of 1930
74 Louis Armstrong After You've Gone 1930 US Billboard 15 - 1932 (2 weeks), RYM 14 of 1930
75 Son House Preachin' Blues 1930 POP 19 of 1930, RYM 9 of 1930
76 Jimmie Rodgers Anniversary Blue Yodel 1930 US Billboard 19 - 1930 (1 week), RYM 68 of 1930
77 Wayne King The Waltz You Saved For Me 1930 US Billboard 4 - Dec 1930 (15 weeks)
78 Ted Lewis & his Orchestra Yellow Dog Blues 1930 US Billboard 4 - 1930 (5 weeks)
79 Bob Haring & his Orchestra Betty Coed 1930 US Billboard 4 - 1930 (10 weeks)
80 Harry Richman There's Danger in Your Eyes, Cherie 1930 US Billboard 4 - 1930 (8 weeks)
81 Bing Crosby It Must Be True 1930 US Billboard 4 - 1930 (6 weeks)
82 Guy Lombardo Singing a Song to the Stars 1930 US Billboard 4 - 1930 (7 weeks)
83 Ted Lewis & his Orchestra You've Got That Thing 1930 US Billboard 4 - 1930 (5 weeks)
84 Guy Lombardo A Cottage for Sale 1930 US Billboard 4 - 1930 (10 weeks)
85 Rudy Vallee & his Connecticut Yankees Confessin' (That I Love You) 1930 US Billboard 4 - 1930 (5 weeks)
86 Earl Burtnett & his Los Angeles Biltmore Hotel Orchestra Little White Lies 1930 US Billboard 4 - 1930 (5 weeks)
87 Colonial Club Orchestra Stein Song (University of Maine) 1930 US Billboard 4 - 1930 (5 weeks)
88 Francisco Alves Da Nele 1930 Brazil 4 of 1930
89 Leslie Sarony Bunkey-Doodle-I-Doh 1930 Peel list 4 of 1930
90 Louis Armstrong I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me 1930 Jazz Standard 166, Song of 1930
91 Louis Armstrong Them There Eyes 1930 Jazz Standard 264, RYM 36 of 1931
92 Tom Gerun & his Orchestra If I Could Be with You 1930 US Billboard 5 - 1930 (4 weeks)
93 Ben Selvin Dancing With Tears in My Eyes 1930 US Billboard 5 - 1930 (10 weeks)
94 Regent Club Orchestra It Happened in Monterey 1930 US Billboard 5 - 1930 (5 weeks)
95 Guy Lombardo I Still Get a Thrill (Thinking of You) 1930 US Billboard 5 - 1930 (4 weeks)
96 Bert Lown Orchestra Bye Bye Blues 1930 US Billboard 5 - 1930 (7 weeks)
97 Guy Lombardo Under a Texas Moon 1930 US Billboard 5 - 1930 (10 weeks)
98 Ray Miller & his Orchestra When It's Springtime in The Rockies 1930 US Billboard 5 - 1930 (7 weeks)
99 George Olsen Beyond The Blue Horizon 1930 US Billboard 5 - 1930 (6 weeks)
100 Francisco Alves & Mario Reis Deixa Essa Mulher Chorar 1930 Brazil 5 of 1930

Comment on the contents of the 'Songs from the Year 1930' page
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Previous Comments (newest first)

28 May 2017

#2 - Harry Richman - Puttin' On the Ritz

This was selected for Library of Congress (National Recording Registry) in2016. There are also (10) other Singles & (10) Albums from 2016 that need to be updated.

We've grabbed the entries from 2016, but may have confused some albums and singles, If we have please tell us.

Thanks


3 Nov 2016

i never heard these songs befor


28 Jan 2016

Expanded Lists

I know you have been asked this before but ... Isn't there any way you wouldconsider expanding your Yearly Lists of Songs? For example 1920 - 1939 from 50 or 60 to 80. From 1940 - 1949 from 80 to 100. It seems like a lot of important recordings from Europe, UK & Brazil have dropped off these lists over the last few months. I know you have those expanded Excel files but it's not the same as seeing them chronologically. Please!!!

We have always been wary of making the earlier years too long, if you want longer lists it is easy for us to change the limits. Of course the significance of songs lower down the list is questionable (since they normally come from just a single chart) but given that you are aware of that we will expand the lists.

We've changed the limits to the top 75 songs before 1920 and top 100 after that.


27 Aug 2015

#1 song on june 13 1930

What was the #1 song played that day


9 Apr 2015

Find a song

Heard on the radio in the 1930's - No Title - Words remembered were:- Come close to your Daddy my darling, I have something to say unto you tommorrow they're taking you from me It might be for years perhaps for life.you're going to live with your mother the woman I first made my wife.


15 Dec 2014

school

hi what are the 1930 song of lyrics of any song from(: so I want to no what your I need for soc studies (: so no I am going to school so bye): (:


15 Dec 2014

1930s song lyrics from the 30 centy


15 Aug 2014

#6-Don Azpiazu

This recording of "The Peanut Vendor" was also elected to Library of Congress (NRR)in 2005 along with Rita Montaner's 1927 recording of the same song.

You are right, the data has been fixed, thanks


7 Jun 2014

#20-Earl Burtnett-Puttin' On the Ritz

This recording should probably not be on this list. Burtnett's band was the backup band on Harry Richman's famous recording of the same name (#2) which was awarded a Grammy Hall of Fame award in 2005; but this cover version is not a Hall of Fame winner. Thanks.

The original source does mention Earl Burtnett, but it could be, as you suggest, that this is just mentioing the band. Your suggestion looks reasonable (and there is enough doubt in the original), we've taken the Earl Burtnett entry out. Thanks for the suggestion


22 Mar 2014

Looking for a song, around 1935-1950 timeframe

The song has theses words, I know I've got the prettiest girl, That can't be beat. All the guys make big eyes, as she goes down the street. She's 5 foot 2, with eyes of blue, And hair a loving brown. She'd make a freight train jump the track And turn right upside down.


16 Jan 2013

1930'S COPPER METAL MOTHER+

I HAVE A LARGE COPPER METAL MOTHER DATED JUNE 11, 1930 MARKED W2 8002 OF A SONG CALLED "LIMOUSINE LADIES". I CAN'T FIND ANYTHING ABOUT IT. ANY HELP OUT THERE ?

REGARDS, +TOM


4 Dec 2012

trying to find song I think is from the 30's, "someone is coming to our house"


30 Jul 2012

Find Song

Trying to find music to old song. "Bright and Shinning City"


28 Sep 2011

# 19 Puttin' on the Ritz

Oops, I spoke too soon. There are two recordings. Astaire's was issued on Columbia DB-96 while the Garber recording was Columbia 2115-D.

Indeed, as we said it's complicated.


28 Sep 2011

# 19 Puttin' on the Ritz

This recording is by Jan Garber & His Orchestra with Fred Astaire doing the vocal.

The songs of the 1930s are credited in many different ways, some sources list the band leader, some the band, some the singer and some combinations of these. This particular song is best known as being by Fred Astaire.

We are aware of the fact that there is a lack of consistency and try to reflect that in the comments on the artist's pages.


5 Apr 2011

the crazy gang 1937

Was 'Free' by the Crazy Gang in the film 'Okay for sound' a big hit.

We can't see any songs by the Crazy Gang that were hits. Or any song called "Free" that were hits before Tommy Leonetti in 1956.


30 Dec 2010

This is great!

What an amazing way to bring back all my old memories. I still have my records.


28 Jul 2010

top song sept. 1930

what was the most popular songs in September 1930

The few charts we have for 1930 don't provide that level of detail.


25 Feb 2010

What was the no. 1 song on 27th Oct 1930 in England

Thanks, Doug Smith

The most widely accepted UK charts start on the 14 Nov 1952 (in the "New Musical Express"). There were some occasional sheet music charts going back to 1936, however there really are no UK charts from 1930.