1925 Popular Music, Songs and Artists

Vincent Lopez
I Want To Be Happy
The song was written for the 1925 musical No No Nannette and is one of the most remembered pieces from the show. It was recorded first by Carl Fenton but hit the charts with the Vincent Lopez recording. The song would go onto be recorded by orchestra leader great Benny Goodman and crooner, Bing Crosby.

Ben Bernie
Sweet Georgia Brown
Sweet Georgia Brown is both a jazz and pop tune standard it was originally written in 1925 by Maceo (music) and Ben Bernie (lyrics). Ben Bernie would be the first to record it along with his Hotel Roosevelt Orchestra on March 19th. The song would stay at #1 for five weeks. The song would go on to be recorded by Ray Charles, Nancy Sinatra and Roberta Flack. Dixie Carter did a hysterical version in an episode of Designing Women. But the song is most widely known as the theme song for basketball’s Harlem Globetrotters. 

Ben Selvin
Manhattan
Manhattan was written by the songwriting team of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart and would endure as one of their most popular songs. The song was originally written for the Garrick Gaieties Revue in 1925 and was sung by Sterling Halloway who would later become the original voice of Walt Disney’s Winnie the Pooh.

Manhattan would long endure and be recorded by such artists as Mickey Rooney, Rod Stewart, and Bette Midler. It was recently recorded by John Barrowman Doctor Who and Torchwood’s Captain Jack Harkness.

Blossom Seeley
Yes sir that’s my Baby
Music by Walter Donaldson and lyrics by Gus Kahn, the song has a fascinating story about its composition, which may or may not be true. The story is reprinted here from Wikipedia.

According to one source, the song was written when Donaldson & Kahn were visiting Eddie Cantor. Cantor’s daughter Marjorie brought out one of her favorite toys, a walking mechanical pig. She wound it up and it started walking in rhythm while 2 notes kept coming from the little creature. Kahn was inspired and started working lyrics to these notes in rhythm with the pig, coming up with the title and the opening line of the chorus in short order. The song has been recorded in many different styles, such as Jazz, Rock, Marimba and Country.

Eddie Cantor
If You knew Susie
“If You Knew Susie” written by Buddy DeSylva and Joseph Meyer. The song, written in 1925 was Cantor’s best-known hit from the 1920s. It stayed as the United States Number One song for five weeks.

John McCormack
John McCormack, an Irish tenor and one of the most celebrated singers of the early 20th century, was known for his diverse repertoire that ranged from opera to Irish folk songs.
Moonlight and Roses
Moonlight and Roses originally had no title but was simply known as op. 83 #2 when it was first written in 1888 by Edwin Lemare. Lemare did not attach any words to the song either. It was in 1921 that American Songwriters Ben Black and Neil Moret added words to the music without permission. Lamare, still alive threatened legal action in 1925 and received a share of the royalties. Lamare originally received 3 shillings in 1892 for his composition in 1925 he finally received good money for his work.

Marion Anderson
Nobody Knows The Trouble I’ve Seen
This song is actually a spiritual or worship song. Though originally sung and on the charts by Marion Anderson, the best-known version is probably the one recorded by Louis Armstrong. The song has been used many times both in TV and Films the interesting point here is it has been used mostly in comedies and children’s entertainment.

Marion Harris
Tea For Two
Tea for Two was another memorable hit from the musical No No Nannette. It is a simple song and easy to remember and whistle. Recorded several times, by many different artists. The name of the song was used as a title for the 1950 movie musical which was a reworking of the original Broadway show and starred Doris Day. The song has been recorded by Tommy Dorsey, Liberace, and was used many times on the popular Television show The Lawrence Welk Show.

Paul Whiteman
Charleston
Charleston is a song that was created to go specifically with the Charleston dance which was all the rage in the 1920s. It was originally performed by Paul Whiteman and popular on both sides of the Atlantic. One memorable movie that used the song was It’s A Wonderful Life as Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed dance themselves into the school swimming pool.

Paul Whiteman
Lady Be Good
Lady Be Good was the title song of a Broadway show that debuted in 1924. The song was written by Guy Bolton, Fred Thompson, and the Gershwin brothers. The song was sung in the show by Walter Catlett, but the show’s stars were Fred and Adele Astaire. Fred would later go on to become a movie legend. Eventually, the song would be recorded by Astaire as well as the likes of Benny Goodman and Ella Fitzgerald.

Top Artists and Songs of 1925