1941 Popular Music, Songs and Artists

Andrews Sisters
I’ll be With You In Apple Blossom Time
The song was written by Albert Von Tilzer and Neville Freeson, it was copyrighted in 1920 and recorded a number of times before it hit #5 on the charts when recorded by The Andrews Sisters. It would go on to be recorded by such artists as Wayne Newton and Barry Manilow It hit the charts at 31on the US charts when recorded by Tab Hunter and #41 that same year on the UK charts when recorded by Rosemary June.

Artie Shaw
Stardust
This song is again hitting the charts after its initial recording in 1926, by it’s composer Hoagy Carmichael. In 1956 on a disc jockey survey of their favorite records of all time Stardust would come out as number one.

Billie Holiday
God Bless The Child
This song was written by the original performer Billie Holiday along with Arthur Herzog Jr, in 1939, it took until 1941 for the song to get recorded but in 1976 this version of the song would be honored with the Grammy Hall Of Fame Award.

The back story of the song is particularly interesting. Billie Holliday tells the tale in her autobiography Lady Sings The Blues, Holiday and her mother are having an argument over money at some point Holiday says “God bless the child that’s got his own.” This became the starting point for a song. God Bless the Child would go on to be recorded throughout the 20th century and into the 21st, by such artists as Lou Rawls, Liza Minnelli, Diana Ross and in the 21st century Moby.

Duke Ellington
Take The A Train
The song was written by Billy Strayton as a new signature song for Duke Ellington and His Orchestra after Ellington found he could no longer use the song that had been his signature, “Sepia Panorama” due to issues with licensing. The song would stay Duke Ellington’s as very few others would record the song

Eddie Duchin
I Could Write A Book
The Musical Pal Joey was where this song made its debut written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. It was first sung by Gene Kelly who would go on to become one of the biggest stars in MGMs Galaxy. Pal Joey concerned the love affair between an amoral nightclub performer and the wife of a rich man. It was cynical, which was different for a Broadway show at the time. Critics would not agree about its merits, but it would be revived several times over the years. A film was made of the show which starred Frank Sinatra.

Glenn Miller Orchestra
Chattanooga Choo Choo
Chattanooga Choo Choo was written by Harry Warren, the music and Mack Gordon, lyrics, and originally performed in the movie Sun Valley Serenade. The film starred Sonja Henie and Milton Berle. The Orchestra leader Glenn Miller also had a lead role in the film. The song was originally performed as a vocal number that went into a production number. It would be recorded as a single by Glenn Miller for RCA Victor and would remain 9 weeks on the Billboard charts at number one. The recording would be honored with the first Gold Record on February 10, 1942.

Harry James
I Don’t Want To Walk Without You
With music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Frank Loesser and was first performed by Betty Jane Rhodes in the film Sweater Girl released by paramount Pictures. Irving Berlin would say of all the songs he had heard this song was the one he wished he had written. When recorded by Harry James and his orchestra it would hit number one and would again appear on the charts at number 36 when recorded by Barry Manilow in early 1980.

Judy Garland
It’s a Great Day For The Irish
The Irish love their music especially on St. Patrick’s Day. This song was written by one of the music directors for MGM Studios, Rodger Edens. The song, written especially for Judy Garland, to show off her strong vocal talents was added to the score of the George m Cohan Musical Little Nellie Kelly. The song was sung during a recreation of New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade. Garland would sing this song in many of her concerts, and for many Irish Americans this song is considered an Anthem for the St. Patrick Holiday.

Top Artists and Songs of 1941