1945 Popular Music, Songs and Artists
Perry Como
If I Loved You
One of the most beloved songs from Carousel (1945), If I Loved You is a duet between Billy Bigelow and Julie Jordan, where they shyly explore their feelings for each other. Perry Como’s smooth rendition brought the song beyond Broadway to mainstream popularity. The conversational structure of the song made it a unique and poignant expression of unspoken love, cementing it as a Broadway standard.
Billy Bigelow
Soliloquy
Billy Bigelow sings this powerful seven-minute song as he contemplates his impending fatherhood. Starting with excitement over having a son and transitioning to fear about raising a daughter, Soliloquy explores Billy’s hopes, dreams, and insecurities. Rodgers and Hammerstein originally wrote it to fill time during a scene change, but it became a standout moment in the musical. In the 1956 film adaptation, Gordon MacRae performed the song against the backdrop of Maine’s coastline, further emphasizing Billy’s introspection.
Frank Sinatra
You’ll Never Walk Alone
A timeless anthem of comfort and resilience, You’ll Never Walk Alone is sung by Nettie Fowler to Julie Jordan after Billy’s death, assuring her that she will find strength in her darkest moments. Frank Sinatra’s iconic recording brought the song into broader cultural awareness. The song has since been adopted by Christian hymnals and sports fans worldwide, notably becoming the anthem for Liverpool Football Club.
Dick Haymes
It Might as Well Be Spring
From Rodgers and Hammerstein’s State Fair (1945), It Might as Well Be Spring captures Margy Frake’s yearning for something more in life. Dick Haymes’s heartfelt rendition earned the song an Academy Award for Best Original Song. Its reflective, wistful lyrics make it a standout from this family-friendly musical.
Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters
Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive
Written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer in 1944, this upbeat tune blends humor and optimism with biblical references to Noah and Jonah. Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters turned it into a chart-topping hit, encouraging audiences to focus on the positive even during tough times. Its infectious rhythm and memorable lyrics have kept it popular for decades.
The Andrews Sisters
Rum and Coca-Cola
Lord Invader and Lionel Belasco wrote this calypso-inspired tune and became a major hit for The Andrews Sisters in 1945. Despite copyright controversies, the song spent ten weeks at the top of the Billboard charts. Its playful lyrics and catchy melody made it an enduring favorite, albeit with some criticism for its subtle nods to cultural issues in the Caribbean.
Harry James
It’s Been a Long, Long Time
This romantic ballad, written by Jule Styne with lyrics by Sammy Cahn, captures the joy of lovers reuniting after World War II. Harry James’s version, featuring vocals by Kitty Kallen, topped the charts in 1945. Bing Crosby and Les Paul’s duet also became a hit, with its emotional delivery resonating deeply with post-war audiences.
Les Brown and Doris Day
Sentimental Journey
Released in 1945, this song was written by Les Brown and Ben Homer with lyrics by Arthur Green. Doris Day’s vocals turned Sentimental Journey into an instant classic, becoming a favorite among soldiers returning home after the war. Its nostalgic tone and uplifting melody kept it on the charts for 23 weeks.
Vaughn Monroe
There I’ve Said It Again
Written by Redd Evans and David Mann, this romantic ballad became a hit for Vaughn Monroe in 1945. The song saw a resurgence in 1963 when Bobby Vinton’s version reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, marking a transition in music history. It was the last chart-topper of the pre-Beatles era, paving the way for the modern rock revolution with I Want to Hold Your Hand.
Judy Garland
On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe
This lively tune from The Harvey Girls (1946), written by Harry Warren and Johnny Mercer, showcases the excitement of westward expansion. Judy Garland led the vibrant production number, which won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. The film, which also starred Ray Bolger and Angela Lansbury, celebrated the women who worked at Harvey House Restaurants across the American railroad.
Top Artists and Songs of 1945
Rum and Coca-Cola
The Blonde Sailer
Gotta Be This Or that
Chicago Breakdown
Lover Man (Oh Where Can You Be?)
My Ideal
It’s Been a Long Ling Time
I Can’t Begin To Tell You
Ac-Cent-tchu-ate the Positive
Along the Navajo Trail
A Friend of Yours
Amor, Amor
I Can’t Begin To Tell You
On The Atchison, Topeka and the Sante Fe
You Belong To My Heart
Chopin’s Polonaise
Billie’s Bounce
Rifftide
Somebody’s Gotta Go
It Might As well Be Spring
Laura
Love Letters
The More I See You
Till The End of Time
Sioux City Sue
Groovin High
Salt Peanuts
I’m Beginning To See The Light
Begin The Beguine
I’m Beginning To See The Light
Tippin’ In
A Friend of Yours
Dream (When You’re Feeling Blue
I Dream of You
Nancy With The Laughing face
Saturday Night (Is The Loneliest Night)
Try A Little Tenderness
You’ll Never Walk Alone
A Little On The Lonely Side
I Can’t Begin To Tell You
Bell Bottom Trousers
I’ll Buy That Dream
I’m Beginning To See The Light
It’s Been A Long, Long Time
I’ll Buy That Dream
Symphony
That’s For Me
The Honeydripper (parts 1 & 2)
Candy
Ac-cent-tchu-ate the Positive
On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe
On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe
Sentimental Journey
My Dreams Are Getting Better All The Time
Caledonia
Angelina
Bell Bottom Trousers
Who Threw The Whiskey In The Well
Waiting For The Train To Come In
Dream
(Did You Ever Get) That Feeling In The Moonlight
Dig You Later (A-Hubba Hubba Hubba)
I’m Gonna Love That Gal
If I Loved You
Till The End of Time
My Dreams Are Getting Better All The Time
I Wonder
There Goes That Song Again
Chickery Chick
Cocktails For Two
Tampico
You Two-Timed Once Too Often
You Will Have To pay
I Wish
Opus One
Bell Bottom Blues
There! I’ve said It Again
Caledonia
Laura