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Songs from the Year 1931 |
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| Other Years: | 1900s | 1910s | 1920s | 1930s | 1927 | 1928 | 1929 | 1930 | 1931 | 1932 | 1933 | 1934 | 1935 | 1940s | 1950s | 1960s | 1970s | 1980s | 1990s | 2000s | 2010s |
This page lists the top songs of 1931 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 1931 were: | ||||
| 1:Bing Crosby | 3:Guy Lombardo | 5:Ted Lewis & his Orchestra | 7:Louis Armstrong | 9:Fred Waring & the Pennsylvanians |
| 2:Cab Calloway & his Cotton Club Orchestra | 4:Wayne King | 6:Duke Ellington | 8:Ben Selvin | 10:Ruth Etting |
| # | Artist | Song Title | Year | Chart Entries |
| 1 | Cab Calloway & his Cotton Club Orchestra | Minnie the Moocher | 1931 | US Billboard 1 - 1931 (17 weeks), Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999 (1931), US invalid BB 3 of 1931, POP 3 of 1931, Music Imprint 3 of 1930s, nuTsie 6 of 1930s, Brazil 32 of 1931, Australian Nostalgia 51 of 1930-1939, RIAA 82, Scrobulate 87 of swing, Acclaimed 649 (1931), Visconti song of 1931, RYM 1 of 1931 |
| 2 | Ted Lewis & his Orchestra | Just a Gigolo | 1931 | US Billboard 1 - 1931 (8 weeks), US invalid BB 1 of 1931, POP 1 of 1931, Brazil 41 of 1931 |
| 3 | Duke Ellington | Mood Indigo | 1931 | Grammy Hall of Fame in 1975 (1931), US Billboard 3 - 1931 (10 weeks), US invalid BB 7 of 1931, POP 7 of 1931, nuTsie 11 of 1930s, Acclaimed 518 (1930), RYM 3 of 1931, Song of 1930 |
| 4 | Bing Crosby | Out of Nowhere | 1931 | US Billboard 1 - 1931 (8 weeks), US invalid BB 13 of 1931, POP 13 of 1931, Europe 54 of the 1930s (1931), Brazil 57 of 1931 |
| 5 | Wayne King | Dream a Little Dream of Me | 1931 | US Billboard 1 - 1931 (12 weeks), ASCAP song of 1930, US invalid BB 9 of 1931, POP 9 of 1931, RYM 14 of 1931 |
| 6 | The Mills Brothers | Tiger Rag | 1931 | US Billboard 1 - 1931 (13 weeks), US invalid BB 10 of 1931, POP 10 of 1931, Brazil 50 of 1932, nuTsie 76 of 1930s |
| 7 | Isham Jones | Stardust | 1931 | US Billboard 1 - Sep 1930 (20 weeks), US invalid BB 5 of 1931, POP 5 of 1931, Brazil 29 of 1932, RYM 47 of 1930 |
| 8 | Guy Lombardo | Goodnight Sweetheart | 1931 | US Billboard 1 - 1931 (11 weeks), US invalid BB 4 of 1931, POP 4 of 1931, nuTsie 84 of 1930s, RYM 40 of 1931 |
| 9 | Bing Crosby | Just One More Chance | 1931 | US Billboard 1 - 1931 (19 weeks), US invalid BB 15 of 1931, POP 15 of 1931, Europe 19 of the 1930s (1931) |
| 10 | Gus Arnheim & his Orchestra | Sweet & Lovely | 1931 | US Billboard 1 - 1931 (14 weeks), Australian Nostalgia 16 of 1930-1939, US invalid BB 20 of 1931, POP 20 of 1931 |
| 11 | Bing Crosby | At Your Command | 1931 | US Billboard 1 - 1931 (9 weeks), US invalid BB 17 of 1931, POP 17 of 1931, Europe 48 of the 1930s (1931) |
| 12 | Wayne King | Goodnight Sweetheart | 1931 | US Billboard 1 - 1931 (15 weeks), POP 4 of 1931, Brazil 41 of 1932 |
| 13 | Louis Armstrong | Stardust | 1931 | Grammy Hall of Fame in 2009 (1931), US Billboard 16 - 1931 (2 weeks), nuTsie 39 of 1930s, RYM 16 of 1931 |
| 14 | Red Nichols | I Got Rhythm | 1931 | US invalid BB 2 of 1931, POP 2 of 1931, US Billboard 5 - Dec 1930 (8 weeks) |
| 15 | Guy Lombardo | (There Ought to Be A) Moonlight Savings Time | 1931 | US Billboard 1 - 1931 (8 weeks), US invalid BB 14 of 1931, POP 14 of 1931 |
| 16 | Fred Waring & the Pennsylvanians | I Found a Million Dollar Baby (In a Five & Dime store) | 1931 | US Billboard 1 - 1931 (6 weeks), US invalid BB 16 of 1931, POP 16 of 1931 |
| 17 | Guy Lombardo | By the River St Marie | 1931 | US Billboard 1 - 1931 (11 weeks), US invalid BB 18 of 1931, POP 18 of 1931 |
| 18 | Kate Smith | When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain | 1931 | US Billboard 1 - 1931 (8 weeks), US invalid BB 19 of 1931, POP 19 of 1931 |
| 19 | Clyde McCoy & his Orchestra | Sugar Blues | 1931 | US Billboard 2 - 1931 (20 weeks), nuTsie 67 of 1930s, Brazil 78 of 1932 |
| 20 | Duke Ellington | Rockin' in Rhythm | 1931 | US invalid BB 11 of 1931, POP 11 of 1931, US Billboard 19 - 1931 (1 week), RYM 15 of 1931, Song of 1931 |
| 21 | Bing Crosby | Just a Gigolo | 1931 | Peel list 3 of 1931, US Billboard 12 - 1931 (2 weeks), nuTsie 65 of 1930s |
| 22 | The Boswell Sisters | It's the Girl | 1931 | Library of Congress artifact added 2010 (1931), US Billboard 9 - 1931 (4 weeks) |
| 23 | Louis Armstrong | Lazy River | 1931 | Grammy Hall of Fame in 2010 (1931), RYM 9 of 1931, Song of 1931 |
| 24 | Ray Noble | Lady of Spain | 1931 | US Billboard 5 - 1931 (15 weeks), US invalid BB 12 of 1931, POP 12 of 1931 |
| 25 | Ben Selvin | Smile Darn Ya Smile | 1931 | US invalid BB 8 of 1931, POP 8 of 1931, US Billboard 14 - 1931 (2 weeks) |
| 26 | Ethel Waters | I Got Rhythm | 1931 | POP 2 of 1931, US Billboard 17 - 1931 (1 week) |
| 27 | Fred Waring & the Pennsylvanians | Dancing in the Dark | 1931 | US Billboard 3 - 1931 (11 weeks), Brazil 18 of 1932 |
| 28 | Bing Crosby | Dancing in the Dark | 1931 | US Billboard 3 - 1931 (6 weeks), Brazil 31 of 1932 |
| 29 | Will Rogers | Bacon, Beans and Limousines | 1931 | Library of Congress artifact added 2012 (1931) |
| 30 | Orquestra Colbaz | Tico-Tico no Fuba | 1931 | Brazil 1 of 1931 |
| 31 | Layton & Johnstone | Oh Donna Clara | 1931 | Peel list 1 of 1931 |
| 32 | Russ Columbo | Goodnight Sweetheart | 1931 | US Billboard 3 - 1931 (5 weeks), Brazil 100 of 1932 |
| 33 | Libby Holman | Love for Sale | 1931 | US Billboard 5 - 1931 (8 weeks), Brazil 98 of 1931 |
| 34 | Smith Ballew & his Orchestra | Time On My Hands (You In My Arms) | 1931 | US Billboard 6 - 1931 (6 weeks), Brazil 99 of 1932 |
| 35 | Louis Armstrong | (I'll Be Glad When You're Dead) You Rascal You | 1931 | US Billboard 13 - 1931 (3 weeks), Jazz Standard 568, RYM 6 of 1931 |
| 36 | Jacques Renard & his Orchestra | Cuban Love Song | 1931 | US Billboard 7 - 1931 (4 weeks), Brazil 67 of 1932 |
| 37 | Alfredo Brito & his Siboney Orchestra | Siboney | 1931 | Brazil 15 of 1932, US Billboard 17 - 1931 (2 weeks) |
| 38 | Paul Whiteman | Cuban Love Song | 1931 | US Billboard 13 - 1931 (2 weeks), Brazil 90 of 1932 |
| 39 | Leo Reisman | Out of Nowhere | 1931 | US Billboard 6 - 1931 (4 weeks), Jazz Standard 68 |
| 40 | Paul Whiteman | When It's Sleepy Time Down South | 1931 | US Billboard 6 - 1931 (10 weeks), Jazz Standard 331 |
| 41 | Rudy Vallee & his Connecticut Yankees | The Thrill is Gone | 1931 | US Billboard 10 - 1931 (3 weeks), Jazz Standard 760 |
| 42 | Cab Calloway & his Cotton Club Orchestra | St James Infirmary | 1931 | US Billboard 3 - 1931 (8 weeks), RYM 43 of 1931 |
| 43 | Guy Lombardo | Now That You're Gone | 1931 | US Billboard 2 - 1931 (8 weeks) |
| 44 | Hal Kemp | (There Ought to Be A) Moonlight Savings Time | 1931 | US Billboard 2 - 1931 (7 weeks) |
| 45 | Ted Lewis & his Orchestra | An Ev'ning in Caroline | 1931 | US Billboard 2 - 1931 (7 weeks) |
| 46 | Wayne King | I Don't Know Why (I Just Do) | 1931 | US Billboard 2 - 1931 (6 weeks) |
| 47 | Rudy Vallee & his Connecticut Yankees | When Yuba Plays the Rhumba on the Tuba | 1931 | US Billboard 2 - 1931 (7 weeks) |
| 48 | Peter Van Steeden & his Orchestra | Home | 1931 | US Billboard 2 - Dec 1931 (9 weeks) |
| 49 | Guy Lombardo | Sweet & Lovely | 1931 | US Billboard 2 - 1931 (9 weeks) |
| 50 | Bing Crosby | I Found a Million Dollar Baby (In a Five & Dime store) | 1931 | US Billboard 2 - 1931 (6 weeks) |
| 51 | Ted Lewis & his Orchestra | Somebody Loves You | 1931 | US Billboard 2 - Apr 1931 (9 weeks) |
| 52 | Francisco Alves & Mario Reis | Se Voce Jurar | 1931 | Brazil 2 of 1931 |
| 53 | Al Bowlly | Goodnight Sweetheart | 1931 | Peel list 2 of 1931 |
| 54 | Wayne King | Wabash Moon | 1931 | US Billboard 4 - 1931 (11 weeks), RYM 14 of 1931 |
| 55 | Cab Calloway & his Cotton Club Orchestra | Kickin' the Gong Around | 1931 | US Billboard 4 - 1931 (7 weeks), RYM 20 of 1931 |
| 56 | Bessie Smith | I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl | 1931 | Visconti song of 1931, RYM 8 of 1931, Song of 1931 |
| 57 | Gene Autry & Jimmy Long | That Silver Haired Daddy of Mine | 1931 | US Billboard 7 - 1935 (5 weeks), RYM 65 of 1931 |
| 58 | Ruth Etting | I'm Good for Nothing but Love | 1931 | US Billboard 7 - 1931 (6 weeks), RYM 85 of 1931 |
| 59 | Bing Crosby | I'm Through With Love | 1931 | US Billboard 3 - 1931 (7 weeks) |
| 60 | Guy Lombardo | Without That Gal! | 1931 | US Billboard 3 - 1931 (5 weeks) |
| 61 | Bert Lown Orchestra | I Wanna Sing About You | 1931 | US Billboard 3 - 1931 (6 weeks) |
| 62 | Bing Crosby | I Apologize | 1931 | US Billboard 3 - 1931 (5 weeks) |
| 63 | Gene Austin | Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone | 1931 | US Billboard 3 - 1931 (5 weeks) |
| 64 | Rudy Vallee & his Connecticut Yankees | Life Is Just a Bowl Of Cherries | 1931 | US Billboard 3 - 1931 (5 weeks) |
| 65 | Ben Bernie | To Whom it May Concern | 1931 | US Billboard 3 - 1931 (5 weeks) |
| 66 | Bing Crosby | I Surrender, Dear | 1931 | US Billboard 3 - 1931 (10 weeks) |
| 67 | Bing Crosby & Boswell Sisters & The Mills Brothers | Gems from George White's Scandals | 1931 | US Billboard 3 - 1931 (11 weeks) |
| 68 | The Boswell Sisters | I Found a Million Dollar Baby (In a Five & Dime store) | 1931 | US Billboard 3 - 1931 (5 weeks) |
| 69 | Guy Lombardo | Whistling in the Dark | 1931 | US Billboard 3 - 1931 (9 weeks) |
| 70 | Bert Lown Orchestra | Now You're in My Arms | 1931 | US Billboard 3 - 1931 (7 weeks) |
| 71 | Bing Crosby | Many Happy Returns Of The Day | 1931 | US Billboard 3 - 1931 (9 weeks) |
| 72 | Ben Bernie | Just a Gigolo | 1931 | US Billboard 3 - 1931 (5 weeks) |
| 73 | Gastao Formenti | De Papo Pro Ar | 1931 | Brazil 3 of 1931 |
| 74 | Cab Calloway & his Cotton Club Orchestra | Tickeration | 1931 | US Billboard 8 - 1931 (4 weeks), RYM 23 of 1932 |
| 75 | Skip James | Devil Got My Woman | 1931 | Scrobulate 7 of blues, Guardian Folk/ World 10 |
| 76 | Duke Ellington | Blue Again | 1931 | US Billboard 12 - 1931 (2 weeks), RYM 48 of 1931 |
| 77 | Duke Ellington | Limehouse Blues | 1931 | US Billboard 13 - 1931 (3 weeks), RYM 5 of 1931 |
| 78 | Cab Calloway & his Cotton Club Orchestra | Nobody's Sweetheart | 1931 | US Billboard 13 - 1931 (2 weeks), RYM 43 of 1931 |
| 79 | Cab Calloway & his Cotton Club Orchestra | Six or Seven Times | 1931 | US Billboard 14 - 1931 (2 weeks), RYM 40 of 1933 |
| 80 | Cab Calloway & his Cotton Club Orchestra | Between the Devil & the Deep Blue Sea | 1931 | US Billboard 15 - 1931 (3 weeks), RYM 20 of 1931 |
| 81 | Louis Armstrong | The Peanut Vendor | 1931 | US Billboard 15 - 1931 (2 weeks), RYM 33 of 1931 |
| 82 | The Carter Family | Lonesome Valley | 1931 | US Billboard 15 - 1931 (2 weeks), RYM 92 of 1935 |
| 83 | Ruth Etting | Goodnight Sweetheart | 1931 | US Billboard 17 - 1931 (2 weeks), RYM 84 of 1931 |
| 84 | Duke Ellington | Creole Rhapsody (Parts 1 & 2) | 1931 | US Billboard 18 - 1931 (2 weeks), RYM 17 of 1931 |
| 85 | Mildred Bailey | Georgia On My Mind | 1931 | US Billboard 19 - 1932 (1 week), Song of 1931 |
| 86 | Frank Luther & Carson Robison | When Your Hair Has Turned to Silver | 1931 | US Billboard 4 - 1931 (12 weeks) |
| 87 | Leo Reisman | I Love Louisa | 1931 | US Billboard 4 - 1931 (7 weeks) |
| 88 | Rudy Vallee & his Connecticut Yankees | Would You Like to Take a Walk? | 1931 | US Billboard 4 - 1931 (7 weeks) |
| 89 | The Mills Brothers | Nobody's Sweetheart | 1931 | US Billboard 4 - Nov 1931 (9 weeks) |
| 90 | Bing Crosby | The Little Things In Life | 1931 | US Billboard 4 - 1931 (5 weeks) |
| 91 | Joe Venuti & his Orchestra | Little Girl | 1931 | US Billboard 4 - 1931 (6 weeks) |
| 92 | Guy Lombardo | Begging for Love | 1931 | US Billboard 4 - 1931 (6 weeks) |
| 93 | Ruth Etting | Guilty | 1931 | US Billboard 4 - 1931 (7 weeks) |
| 94 | Paul Whiteman | A Faded Summer Love | 1931 | US Billboard 4 - 1931 (5 weeks) |
| 95 | Bing Crosby | Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams | 1931 | US Billboard 4 - 1931 (6 weeks) |
| 96 | Noel Rosa | Com Que Roupa? | 1931 | Brazil 4 of 1931 |
| 97 | Ruth Willis | Experience Blues | 1931 | Peel list 4 of 1931 |
| 98 | Cab Calloway & his Cotton Club Orchestra | Blues in my Heart | 1931 | Jazz Standard 594, RYM 56 of 1931 |
| 99 | Cab Calloway & his Cotton Club Orchestra | I'm Crazy 'Bout My Baby | 1931 | Jazz Standard 686, RYM 79 of 1931 |
| 100 | Bing Crosby | Stardust | 1931 | US Billboard 5 - 1931 (5 weeks) |
Previous Comments (newest first)
10 Apr 2016
When I Take My Sugar To Tea
Why is this song by the Boswell Sisters mission from this list? +
Because it was not one of the top 100 songs of 1931 (it only reached number 6 in the Billboad chart)
31 May 2015
1931 Movie and Song
The One Way Trail, a 1931 Western, features a song: Si, Si Senor. Who wrote it? Who sang it?
11 Nov 2012
I Don't Know why I Love You Like I do
wasn't "I Don't Know Why I Love You Like I Do" a big hit in 1931 along with "Guilty" and Prisoner of Love?
Tommy
There is a song "I Don't Know Why (I Just Do)" by Wayne King that was number 2 in the US in 1931. Also two songs called "I Don't Know Why" were hits in 1931 one by Benny Krueger the other by Kate Smith (we guess they are both the same song). None make it to the year list.
We don't have a song called "I Don't Know Why I Love You Like I Do" in our listings. Of course different versions would have had variations on the names.
"Guilty" was a hit in 1931 for Ruth Etting (peak 4), Wayne King (peak 11) and Russ Columbo (peak 13). None of them high enough to reach the year list.
"Prisoner of Love" was a hit in 1932 (and is listed there)
30 Dec 2010
Love it! :)