The 31 best songs of 1943
Many iconic musicians topped the charts in the early ’40s with songs that are still popular today, and we wanted to tell you about them. Read on below to discover the 31 best songs of 1943, so you can add the best of the best to your playlist.
1. I’ll Be Home For Christmas – Bing Crosby
The first song on the list is I’ll Be Home For Christmas by crooner Bing Crosby. This song reached number three on the Billboard charts and stayed there for over 11 weeks.
2. You’ll Never Know – Dick Haymes
On the list is Dick Haymes with the song You’ll Never Know, about loving your better half and detailing the depth of that devotion and the feeling of true love. This song is a classic that resonates around the world because it’s touching and beautiful.
3. Irene – Leadbelly
Leadbelly’s Irene is on this list, and the song was originally recorded by him 10 years earlier. It didn’t attract attention until he released a new version in 1943, and it quickly became an anthem for people during the war. In the song, a man thinks of his love, Irene, and longs for her. It was this longing for love that made the song so successful, and it remains one of the most beautiful folk and blues songs of all time.
4. Pistol Packin’ Mama – Al Dexter
Al Dexter’s Pistol Packin’ Mama is on our list, and this song is about a woman who carries a gun with her and isn’t afraid to use it when needed. The rhythm is upbeat and the harmonies are perfect, which partly explains why this song became so popular so quickly. If you’ve never heard western swing music, this is a timeless, classic example.
5. Don’t Cry Baby – Erskine Hawkins
Erskine Hawkins’ Don’t Cry Baby makes the list. This song reached number one on the Harlem Hit Parade, and no other version has stayed there for 14 weeks. It also finished at number 15 on the Billboard Pop chart, and is a song about pain and the loss of someone you love. As the war raged on, this song became very popular and understandable, as most people were dealing with the loss of a loved one at the time.
6. Sunday, Monday Or Always – Bing Crosby
Next comes Bing Crosby with Sunday, Monday Or Always, which was featured in the film Dixie, and stayed on the Billboard charts for 18 weeks, reaching number one. The song is about the devotion of someone who tells her she’ll be there for her any day of the week. The song gives hope and optimism in knowing that someone will be there for you in difficult times.
7. Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me – Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington enjoyed success with Do Nothin’ TIll You Hear From Me, which was originally an instrumental, until Al Hibbler added lyrics to the song and recorded it alongside Ellington. It took a while, but by the end of 1943 and into 1944, the song had reached the Billboard R&B chart and remained at number one for eight weeks. It also reached number six on the Billboard Pop chart.
8. Shoo-Shoo Baby – The Andrews Sisters
Next up is Shoo-Shoo Baby by the Andrews Sisters, which they performed in the film Three Cheers For The Boys. The harmonies between the sisters are what set this version apart. The lyrics tell of bomber planes flying over enemy lines, and those on board hoping to return home safely. Soldiers and those waiting for them at home found this song entertaining, and it was one of the biggest hits of the war era.
9. As Time Goes By – Rudy Vallee
Rudy Vallee is next with As Time Goes By, which was originally released in 1931, but when the film Casablanca came out in 1942, RCA Victor reissued Vallee’s version of the song, which topped the Billboard charts. It’s one of those classics about the passage of time and eternal love, and it’s one of those songs that musicians still perform today.
10. Jingle Bells – Bing Crosby, The Andrews Sisters
Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters feature on the list with the very popular Christmas song Jingle Bells. This version reached number 19 on the Billboard charts and sold over a million copies. Her voice was perfect for this festive tune, and the Andrews Sisters had amazing harmonies that contrasted well with her soft voice. Today, this song is as popular as ever, and is constantly played at Christmas and other winter events.
11. That Old Black Magic – Glenn Miller
Glenn Miller scored a smash hit with That Old Black Magic, which reached #1 on the Billboard charts and stayed there for over 14 weeks. The song is about the charm of the lover and compares this charm to that of a spell, as if it were black magic.
12. Vict’ry Polka – Bing Crosby And The Andrews Sisters
The ever-popular Bing Crosby makes the list with Victory Polka, as do the Andrews Sisters. This song showcases the sisters’ harmonies, which blend perfectly with Crosby’s suave voice, and is one of the most patriotic tunes of 1943. It’s all about celebrating the end of the war, and it’s a high-energy, upbeat tune that quickly became an anthem celebrating moments of triumph.
13. Solo Flight – Benny Goodman Feat. Charlie Christian
One of the biggest hits of 1943 was Solo Flight by Benny Goodman and Charlie Christian. The song reached number one on the Harlem Hit Parade and number 16 on the Billboard Pop Chart. It’s one of the best-known jazz songs, and Christian plays guitar on it, making it one of the most influential pieces of the decade.
14. Five Guys Named Moe – Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five
Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five features on the list with the hit Five Guys Named Moe, which entered the Billboard Race Record at #3 and stayed there for over 10 weeks. It’s a bluesy tune with plenty of saxophone solos, and it’s upbeat, energetic and fun to listen to. You’ll find yourself smiling and wanting to dance to this popular jump-blues hit.
15. They’re Either Too Young or Too Old – Jimmy Dorsey And Kitty Kallen
Next comes Jimmy Dorsey’s They’re Either Too Young Or Too Old, a swing tune about the difficulty of finding a mate during the war. It’s light, funny and sweet, and one of those songs that appealed to young people during the war.
16. In My Arms – Dick Haymes
Dick Haymes’ In My Arms is next, and this song climbed to number seven on the Billboard charts and stayed there for seven weeks. It’s a song about how someone would like to be in their lover’s arms, and how comforting it would be for them. The song is a timeless piece about someone’s wish for love and affection, and was later covered by Jeff Buckley.
17. Velvet Moon – Harry James
Then comes Harry James’s Velvet Moon, a moving instrumental track featuring the trumpet. There’s a lot of swing music, but this song really shows the romantic, whimsical side of this style of music. It’s a classic from the ’40s that you should discover.
18. Don’t Stop Now – Bunny Banks Trio Featuring Bonnie Davis
Bunny Banks Trio scored a hit with Don’t Stop Now, featuring vocals by Bonnie Davis. It’s a fast song with a catchy melody. The song’s lyrics are about letting nothing stand in your way and chasing your dreams. It’s a fun, inspiring and playful song that tells you to keep moving forward no matter what.
19. Holiday For Strings – David Rose
Next up is David Rose with Holiday For Strings, which you may know from The Red Skelton Show since it’s the theme song. This instrumental has a distinctive sound thanks to the pizzicato strings used, and is one of the best-known pieces of classical music from the ’40s.
20. It Started All Over Again – Tommy Dorsey And Frank Sinatra
Next up is Tommy Dorsey with It Started All Over Again, and Frank Sinatra provides the vocals in this song about losing a lover and the emotional toll of seeing that person again. The theme of this song is timeless, and it’s a great reminder of the heartache we feel when we see our former lover with someone else.
21. I Heard You Cried Last Night – Harry James Featuring Helen Forrest
Harry James appears on the list with the song I Heard You Cried Last Night, and Helen Forrest provides the vocals on this track. It’s one of those romantic songs where emotion runs high and a trumpet provides a haunting backdrop to the singer’s powerful voice. The lyrics describe someone consoling the person they love after finding them crying over someone else, so the theme of unrequited love is what makes this song both a melancholy and beautiful ballad.
22. Let’s Get Lost – Vaughn Monroe
Attention all lovers of romantic ballads: Vaughn Monroe’s Let’s Get Lost is on our list. This song is a jazz standard about getting lost in love and disappearing for a while. Vaughn Monroe released his version of the song shortly after it was used in the film Happy Go Lucky earlier this year.
23. My Heart Tells Me – Glen Gray
Glen Gray scored a hit with My Heart Tells Me, which was released as the theme song for the film Sweet Rosie O’Grady. It was this film that gave him a hit version of the song, which reached #1 on Billboard’s National Retail Chart. The song is about the feelings and emotions involved in falling in love with someone, making it a timeless classic that’s still relevant today.
24. Star Eyes – Jimmy Dorsey
Jimmy Dorsey appears on this list with the song Star Eyes, now considered a jazz standard and one of the biggest hits of 1943. The song first appeared in the film I Dood It, and is one of those romantic pieces that includes a saxophone and talks about how a lover’s eyes are like the stars in the sky at night.
25. I Can’t Stand Losing You – The Ink Spots
Calling all fans of big band music, I Can’t Stand Losing You by The Ink Spots was a hit that went to #1 on the Harlem charts and stayed there for seven weeks. The song is about someone who can’t stand the thought of losing their significant other or lover, and it’s a beautiful, soulful song about love and the emotions that go with it.
26. Ration Blues – Louis Jordan & His Tympany Five
Next came Ration Blues by Louis Jordan And His Tympany Five, a song in which he complained about the rationing of products such as gasoline, sugar and meat during the war. The song was a huge hit with the public, as everyone was frustrated by the rations, and it reached number one on the Billboard R&B and Country charts, while peaking at number 11 on the Billboard Pop chart. It also stayed on the Harlem Hit Parade chart for 21 weeks, reaching number one.
27. Shame and Scandal In The Family – Sir Lancelot
Sir Lancelot is on our list with Shame And Scandal In The Family, for the film I Walked With A Zombie. In this version, there was a lot of gossip about a family called San Sebastian who lived on a Caribbean island. One man had discovered that his daughter was having an affair, and that the man she was having the affair with belonged to a rival family. This is one of those funny, light-hearted songs that was one of the many dance hits of 1943.
28. Johnny Zero – The Song Spinners
The Song Spinners had a hit with Johnny Zero, inspired by a World War II air force gunner nicknamed Johnny Zero. The lyrics tell of a little boy who was made fun of at school when he failed an exam, but who grew up to become a fighter pilot and showed everyone that he was, in fact, a smart boy. The song reached number seven on the Billboard charts and is a classic because of the emotional rollercoaster it provokes.
29. “Murder”, He Says – Dinah Shore
Dinah Shore makes the list with “Murder”, He Says, about a man with no good intentions who tries to pursue a particular woman. While this guy intrigues, this woman senses a little danger. She has an amazing, soft voice that lends itself perfectly to these complicated feelings and situations.
30. If You Please – Bing Crosby
Next up is Bing Crosby with the song If You Please, about a man who dances to impress a woman, but she doesn’t care and pays him no mind. Swing music is known for being charming and witty, and in this song you can feel that feeling and understand why this type of music was so popular in the ’40s because it’s funny and catchy.
31. Down In The Valley – The Andrews Sisters
Finally, we have the Andrews Sisters with the song Down In The Valley. This song is about all the struggles we go through every day in life, and it’s a bit dark and melancholy. There’s a folk element to this song as it’s stripped down to just vocals and guitar, making it simple but powerful.