Bing Crosby
Dancing in the Dark
The music for this song was by Arthur Schwartz and lyrics by Howard Dietz, and was originally performed by John Barker in the 1931 revue The Band Wagon. Besides Bing Crosby the song was recorded by Fred Astaire, Frank Sinatra and Tony Bennet. The song was also used as a ballet sequence danced by Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse in the 1953 MGM film version of The Band Wagon.Cab Calloway and his Cotton Club Orchestra
Minnie the Moocher
This song would be recorded and rerecorded by Cab Calloway. The song would be known for it's skat lyrics which would have Callaway sing a phrase and then the audience would repeat the phrase. Calloway would make the phrases more and more complicated until the audience could no longer follow him. Max Fleisher would animate the song using Betty Boop as its main character.
The song would be used in many TV shows such as That Girl and Family Guy. In movies the song would be used in The Blues Brothers, Calloway would sing the song himself in the film. Cab Calloway would have a long and successful career. He would even star with Pearl Bailey in an all black version of Jerry Herman's Hello Dolly
Ethel Waters
I Got Rhythm
This song would span the decades. Written by The Gershwin brothers, the song was originally sung by the great Ethel Merman in the show Girl Crazy. It would be used in An American in Paris starring Gene Kelly and made it to # 3 on the charts in 1967 when sung by The Happenings. Barbra Streisand and Brian Wilson also recorded the song and Merman would record a disco version in the 1970s.
Guy Lombardo
Goodnight Sweet Heart
The song was written by the British song-writing team of Ray Noble,Jimmy Campbell and Reg Connelly,and performed by such artists as Rudy Vallée, Bing Crosby and Dean Martin, among others. The song appeared in two different films Stage Door Canteen and Holiday in Mexico.
Jacques Renard and his Orchestra
As Time Goes By
As Time Goes By was written by Herman Hupfeld and performed as hit by Jacques Renard and his Orchestra as well as Rudy Vallee that year. The song was performed first in the Broadway musical Everybody's Welcome. This song would come in to it's full popularity in 1942 when it was song in the film Casablanca. This song would appear on AFI's 100 years 100 songs at #2.
Libby Holman
Love For sale
This was written in 1930 for the Broadway musical The New Yorkers. although it became popular it was considered scandalous at the time as it was sung by a prostitute describing her profession. The song was banned by radio stations at the time, but it would go on to be recorded many times in subsequent years.
Louis Armstrong
Lazy River This song was written by Hoagy Carmichael and Sidney Arodin and published in 1930. The song began making it's mark in 1931 when it was recorded by Louis Armstrong. The song would be recorded over and over by such artists as The Mills Brothers and Harry Connick Jr. The song was sung as a duet by Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett in an episode of The Lucy Show.
Paul Whiteman
Cuban Love Song
This song was the title for a 1931 film that told the story of a U.S. soldier who returns to Cuba to seek his illegitimate child. Directored by W.S. Van Dyke, and produced at MGM in 1931, the film starred Lawrence Tibbett, Lupe Velez, Jimmy Durante.
Ray Noble
Lady Of Spain
This song was written in 1931 by Robert Hargreaves, Tolchard Evans, Stanley J. Damerell, and Henry Tilsley. It would continue to be recorded and gain in popularit over the next decade and more. Artist like Bing Cosby, Eddie Fisher. The song was a sort of signature song for Lawrence Welk's Accordionist Myron Floren. |
| | Top Artists and Songs of 1931 |
![Buy It!]() | Ben Selvin
Smile Darn Ya Smile |
![Buy It!]() | Bing Crosby
At Your Command
Dancing in the Dark
Just a Gigilo
Just One More Chance
Out of Nowhere |
![Buy It!]() | Cab Calloway and his Cotton Club Orchestra
Betwen the Devil and the Deep Blue SeaDoin' The Rhumba
Kickin The Gong Around
Minnie The Moocher
Nobody's Sweetheart
Six or Seven Times
St. James Infirmary
Tickeration |
![Buy It!]() | Clyde McCoy and his Orchestra
Sugar Blues |
![Buy It!]() | Duke Ellington
Blue Again
Creole Rhapsody (parts 1 & 2)
Limehouse Blues
Mood Indigo
Rockin' In Rhthym |
![Buy It!]() | Ethel Waters
I Got Rhthym |
![Buy It!]() | Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians
Dancing in the Dark
I Found A Million Dollar Baby (In A Five and Dime Store) |
![Buy It!]() | Gene Autry and Jimmy Long
That Silver haired Daddy of Mine |
![Buy It!]() | Gus Arnheim and his Orchestra
I Surrender Dear
Sweet and Lovely |
![Buy It!]() | Guy Lombardo
By The River St. Marie
Good Night, Sweetheart
(There Ought To Be A) Moonlight Savings Time |
![Buy It!]() | Isham Jones
Stardust |
![Buy It!]() | Jacques Renard and his Orchestra
As Time Goes By
Cuban Love Song |
![Buy It!]() | Kate Smith
When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain |
![Buy It!]() | Layton and Johnstone
Oh Donna Clara |
![Buy It!]() | Libby Holman
Love For Sale |
![Buy It!]() | Louis Armstrong
(I'll Be Glad When You're Dead) You Rascal You
Lazy River
Stardust
The Peanut Vendor |
![Buy It!]() | Mills Brothers
Tiger Rag |
![Buy It!]() | Paul Whiteman
Cuban Love Song |
![Buy It!]() | Ray Noble
Lady of Spain |
![Buy It!]() | Red Nichols
I Got Rhthym |
![Buy It!]() | Rudy Vallee
As Time Goes By |
![Buy It!]() | Russ Columbo
Goodnight Sweetheart |
![Buy It!]() | Ruth Etting
Goodnight Sweetheart |
![Buy It!]() | Ruth Willis
Experience Blues |
![Buy It!]() | Smith Ballew
Time on my Hands (You in My Arms) |
![Buy It!]() | Ted Lewis and his Orchestra
Just A Gigilo
Somebody Loves You |
![Buy It!]() | The Carter Family
Lonesome Valley |
![Buy It!]() | Wayne King
Dream A Little Dream of Me
Good Night, Sweetheart
Wabash Moon |
