Your favorite music from 1940

Can be a single track, a 78 with multiple tracks, early albums (as in literal albums of 78s bound together), a classical piece, a later compilation focusing on the year . . . whatever.

Doesn't have to be a list, though of course you can post a list if you want. You can also just post one title at a time as you think of it/run across it (which is what I do in these threads).

 

Muggsy Spanier - "At Sundown"

This youtube video has it listed as 1939, but discogs has 1940, so I'm going with discogs:

 

Pinocchio soundtrack

 

Usually...
Glenn Miller
Andrews Sisters





^ and sometimes, even together!

 

The Carter Family


The Carter Family – I'll Never Forsake You / Lonesome For You Darling (1940, Shellac)

 

Sonny Boy Williamson



the first SBW; aka John Lee Williamson
Sonny Boy Williamson – I Been Dealing With The Devil / War Time Blues (1940, Shellac)

 

The very first #1 single on a Billboard best-selling record chart was this classic, which topped the chart starting in the July 27, 1940 issue. Before this, the charts were based on songs, and all the versions thereof, rather than individual records.

"I'll Never Smile Again" by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra, vocal by Frank Sinatra and The Pied Pipers:

 

Lil Green


Lil Green – Romance In The Dark / What Have I Done? (1940, Shellac)

 

Tommy McClennan


Tommy McClennan – New Highway 51/ I'm Goin', Don't You Know (1940, Shellac)

 

Was there a guy singing through a megaphone? If so then the megaphone guy is my favorite.

 

Blind Boy Fuller


Blind Boy Fuller – Step It Up And Go / Little Woman You're So Sweet (1940, Shellac)
Cover versions of Step It Up and Go written by Blind Boy Fuller, J.B. Long | SecondHandSongs

 

Bukka White


Bukka White – Parchman Farm Blues / District Attorney Blues (1940, Shellac)

 

.
“Solitude” , “Mood Indigo”, “Sepia Panorama” , “Harlem Air-Shaft”, “Sophisticated Lady”, “In a Mellotone”, “You, you Darlin” , “So far, so Good”, “Dusk” , “Blue Goose”, “Warm Valley” , “The Flaming Sword”⸻Duke Ellington


“Night and Day” , “The man I Love” , “Body and Soul” , “What is This Going to get Us?”, “Laughing at Life” , “Tell me More”, “Ghost of Yesterday” , “Falling in Love Again” , “You're Just a no Account” , “You're a Lucky Day”, “Practice Makes Perfect” , “The Same old Story”, “I Hear Music” , “I'm all for You”⸻Billie Holiday

.

 

The Blue Sky Boys


The Blue Sky Boys (Bill And Earl Bolick) – The Convict And The Rose / Father, Dear Father, Come Home (Shellac)

 

“Special Delivery Stomp” , “Keepin' Myself for You” , “Summit Ridge Drive” , “Cross Your Heart”⸻Artie Shaw & his Gramercy Five


here's, “Summit Ridge Drive”─just had to post this because of how unusual it is , featuring harpsichord part played by Guarnieri


Artie Shaw (clarinet), Billy Butterfield (trumpet), John Guarnieri (harpsichord), Al Hendrickson (guitar), Jud DeNaut (bass), Nick Fatool (drums)

 

Glenn Miller - Tuxedo Junction

There is just something about Glenn Miller. Completely outside of my general listening, but I love this guys music.

 

“You've got me This Way”⸻Frankie Masters

 

“No Name Jive pts. 1 & 2”⸻Glen Gray
(flip side starts at 3:15 in the video)


original version of the swing classic composed by Larry Wagner

 

Lonnie Johnson



Lonnie Johnson – Get Yourself Together / Don't Be No Fool (1940, Shellac)

 

'Down the Road a Piece' - Will Bradley Trio (vocal by Ray McKinley and Will Bradley)


Will Bradley & His Orchestra / Will Bradley Trio – Celery Stalks At Midnight / Down The Road A Piece (1940, Shellac)
Cover versions of Down the Road a Piece written by Don Raye | SecondHandSongs

 

'Four Day Creep' - Ida Cox and her all star band


aka 'Fore Day Creep' first recorded by Ida Cox in 1927 with piano accompaniment
78 Record: Ida Cox And Her All Star Band - Hard Times Blues (1940)
The Okeh 78 appears to be a reissue of the original Vocalion release using the same catalogue number
Cover versions of 'Fore Day Creep by Ida Cox - Piano Acc. Jesse Crump | SecondHandSongs

 

"Harlem Air-Shaft" with Blanton on bass and Cootie Williams on trumpet.

 

A few hours after I posted this yesterday the YT posting seems to have been "removed by the user".... I'll try again -