The 31 best songs of 1933
Jazz was a popular musical genre in 1933, and many different musicians were at the forefront of this American and European wave. If you’re wondering what was popular that year, read on for the 31 best songs of 1933 below.
1. You’re Getting To Be a Habit With Me – Bing Crosby
First on our list is Bing Crosby with You’re Getting To Be A Habit With Me, and he’s one of the most famous musicians of the decade. This song is about addiction. Harry Warren and Al Dubin wrote the music and lyrics, and it appeared in the film 42nd Street. The lyrics were inspired by a woman who compared the man she was seeing to a habit. Crosby recorded the song, which reached #1 on the Billboard charts and was used in the film Please.
2. Stormy Weather (Keeps Rainin’ All The Time) – Ethel Waters
Next, Ethel Waters performs Stormy Weather (Keeps Rainin’ All The Time), a song that was covered by many throughout the ’30s. She sang it at a club called The Cotton Club, and her version of the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2003. The Library of Congress also entered it in the National Recording Registry the following year.
3. Lazy Bones – Ted Lewis And His Orchestra
Ted Lewis And His Orchestra was one of the biggest bands of the ’30s, and it scored a hit with Lazy Bones. The song went to number one on the Billboard charts, and was his fourth number-one hit. His nickname was Mr. Entertainment, as he was one of the most popular musicians, bandleaders and performers of the decade.
4. Smoke Gets In Your Eyes – Paul Whiteman And His Orchestra
The next song on our list is Smoke Gets In Your Eyes, which was recorded by Paul Whiteman And His Orchestra, but didn’t reach #1 on the charts until 1934. This song was sung by Bob Lawrence, and is one of the most popular versions of the title to date.
5. Shadow Waltz – Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby is back on our list with Shadow Waltz, which reached number four on the Billboard charts. It’s one of the most iconic pop songs of the era, and he was one of the most popular and important musicians in the world in the 20s and 30s.
6. Easter Parade – Leo Reisman
Next on the list is Leo Reisman with his cover of Easter Parade, which earned him a record deal that year. This song was first written in 1917 to lift the spirits of a woman whose boyfriend had gone off to fight in the First World War. It was later rewritten with Easter lyrics for As Thousands Cheer in 1933, which was a Broadway show.
7. Sophisticated Lady – Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington scored a hit with Sophisticated Lady, and this jazz song is one of the greatest instrumental numbers of its time. The inspiration for the song came from three female teachers he’d had at elementary school. These women had toured all over Europe during the summer months while teaching all winter, and he thought they were sophisticated. The song reached number three on the Billboard charts that year.
8. Love Is The Sweetest Thing – Ray Noble
The next list is Ray Nobile’s Love Is The Sweetest Thing, which was incredibly popular, and included Al Bowlly on vocals. He had his first hit in America when this song was released, and it was also successful in the UK, where he was originally from.
9. Hold Me – Ted Fio Rito
Ted Fio Rito’s song Hold Me, originally covered by Ira Schuster, Dave Oppenheim and Jack Little, reaches number 12 on the Billboard charts. Three versions of this song were released in 1933, but Rito’s is special in that he was both Hammond organist and pianist, which added value to the tune.
10. Did You Ever See a Dream Walking – Eddy Duchin
Eddy Duchin is one of the many musicians who have covered the song Did You Ever See A Dream Walking. In 1933 alone, four versions of the song were released, but Eddy Duchin’s reached number one on the Billboard charts, while the others went unnumbered that year.
11. Just An Echo In The Valley – Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby had another hit with Just An Echo In The Valley, which reached number 18 on the charts in 1933. The song was part of a short film he starred in called Just An Echo, and it was his second short released that year. Since he was the star of the film, it was logical that this song should be recorded by him, given that he was one of the greatest musicians of the time.
12. Lover – Paul Whiteman
A great jazz song from this period is Paul Whiteman’s Lover, with Jack Fulton on vocals. It’s a jazz vacation song from the film Love Me Tonight, released the previous year.
13. The Gold Digger’s Son (We’re In The Money) – Ted Lewis
Next up is Ted Lewis with The Gold Digger’s Son (We’re In The Money), which was a song for the film Gold Diggers Of 1933. He was the first musician to record a hit with this song, although many musicians covered it the same year.
14. Who’s Afraid Of The Big Bad Wolf? – Don Bestor And His Orchestra
Don Bestor And His Orchestra makes the list with Who’s Afraid Of The Big Bad Wolf? This song reached number 16 in the charts. What’s interesting about him is that he’s best known for composing the Jello jingle, but he was also the conductor of the Jack Benny show.
15. Yesterdays – Leo Reisman
Leo Reisman makes the list again with the song Yesterdays, which was released in November 1933, just one month after Fay Templeton released the original version of the track. He scored a huge hit with his version, and it’s one of the many covers he released during his career.
16. The Wedding Of Mr. Mickey Mouse – The B.B.C. Dance Orchestra
Next on our list is the B.B.C. Dance Orchestra with The Wedding Of Mr. Henry Hall, who was in charge at the time, and was one of the most popular big bands of the decade.
17. It’s The Talk Of The Town – Fletcher Henderson & His Orchestra
Fletcher Henderson & His Orchestra is on the list with It’s The Talk Of The Town, a blend of swing and big band. The song, released in October, was a hit for him, and entered the Billboard Top 40.
18. April In Paris – Henry King & His Orchestra
Next up was Henry King And His Orchestra with April In Paris, one of the most popular songs of the year. His version of the song was one of the first to be released that year, and was a huge success. The song was taken from the Broadway show Walk A Little Faster, and Freddy Martin was the original performer, with King covering it shortly afterwards.
19. The Last Round-Up – Gene Autry
You’ve probably heard the name Gene Autry, as he was incredibly popular and one of his hit songs was The Last Round-Up, which was a cover of a George Olsen tune. Autry’s published version was more folk and country, and was a smash hit in November 1933.
20. I Like A Guy What Takes His Time – Mae West
Talented singer Mae West is next with I Like A Guy What Takes His Time, which was released as a song on her single Easy Rider. This track is a mix of pop, jazz and classical, and is one of the most intriguing songs on our list. She was known for her many double entendres, and was one of the first musicians to have her music censored for its sexual lyrics.
21. Shuffle Off To Buffalo – Hal Kemp & His Orchestra
Shuffle To Buffalo by Hal Kemp & His Orchestra, which was incredibly popular in 1933, reached number two on the charts. Hal Kemp was known for his gentle, soothing dance music in the ’30s, when the Great Depression was setting in and people were very worried about the future.
22. Young And Healthy – Bing Crosby And Guy Lombardo
This time it’s Bing Crosby and Guy Lombardo with the smash hit Young And Healthy, which reached number 45 on the charts in 1933. It’s one of those songs that’ll make you happy and have you singing or dancing all over your house, thanks to Crosby’s crooners and Lombardo’s sweet musical talents. They were a great team, and in this song, you can really feel the jazz elements coming through.
23. That’s My Home – Louis Armstrong
Jazz singer Louis Armstrong had a big hit with That’s My Home, which reached number 47 on the charts. Considered one of the most influential jazz musicians of all time, due to his unique, gravelly style and voice, he was posthumously awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1972.
24. The Moon Song (That Wasn’t Meant For Me) – Wayne King
The next song on our list is Wayne King’s The Moon Song (That Wasn’t Meant For Meat), which is one of the best-known jazz standards on the list. Her version is the third that Kate Smith originally sang, although her version was used for the film Hello, Everybody. Jack Denny did the second version of the song, but King’s is one of the most popular, and also reached number 53 on the charts that year.
25. The Old Spinning Wheel – Ray Noble And His Orchestra
Next came Ray Noble And His Orchestra’s The Old Spinning Wheel, which reached number one in the charts. Written by Billy Hill, this song is sung by Al Bowlly and was one of the best dance tunes of 1933.
26. Farewell To Arms – Paul Whiteman
Paul Whiteman is back on the list with the song Farewell To Arms, which reached number 50 in the charts. He was one of the world’s finest jazz musicians and was often called the King of Jazz, and this track gives you an idea of his talent.
27. Hobo, You Can’t Ride This Train – Louis Armstrong
Louis Armstrong had another big hit in 1933 with Hobo, You Can’t Ride This Train, which was one of the biggest jazz, swing and big band songs of the year. It was ranked as the number 17 song of the year and featured saxophones, trumpets, drums, tubas, bass and guitars.
28. Learn To Croon – Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby is back on the list with Learn To Croon, which was part of the film College Humor, and reached number 57 in the charts. He was the first to record and release the song, although several other artists covered it in 1933 and beyond.
29. I Cover The Waterfront – Eddy Duchin
Eddy Duchin appears on the list with I Cover The Waterfront, which reached #55 on the Top 100 in 1933. It also reached number three in the pop charts, and this version was the most successful.
30. How Come You Do Me Like You Do – Spike Hughes And His All American Orchestra
The next album was Spike Hughes And His All American Orchestra’s How Come You Do Me Like You Do, which reached number 49 on the charts. He was British and considered one of the first British composers of jazz music, and later in his life was both songwriter and broadcaster.
31. It’s Only a Paper Moon – Paul Whiteman
Last on our list is Paul Whiteman’s It’s Only A Paper Moon, with Peggy Healy on vocals and Bunny Berigan on trumpet. This track was originally dubbed If You Believed In Me, but was replaced by a more popular title. Interestingly, this song was written for The Great Magoo, a bombshell Broadway show in 1932, and was later used in the 1933 film Take A Chance. It was just after this that Whiteman decided to record a version of the song.