UNDERAPPRECIATED MUSIC: HITS FROM A CENTURY AGO

 In 1920 my father was just four years old and my mother had not been born yet.  Then again, neither was I.

Let's take a look back and see what was popular, music-wise, a century ago.

The #1 song of 1920 was this one by Al Jolson:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTRLJ9lom2Y

The #2 song was this fox trot by Paul Whiteman and his Ambassador Orchestra: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZE8Ab_t950

Mamie Smith & Her Jazz Hounds came in at #3 with "Crazy Blues":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCp79WjDQeA

The Ted Lewis Jazz Band introduced Lewis' signature song to take the #4 spot:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhX0izlPIUE

Although first released in 1919, this song from Ben Selvin Novelty Orchestra came in at #5 in 1920:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OiQjb3Do5mg

Marion Harris took this W. C. Handy song to the #6 spot:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UmD5Maujxc

Coming in at #7 is this song from the musical comedy Mary, performed by John Steel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5jq-J85VUs

Al Jolson returned to take the #8 spot with this tune written by Irving Berlin:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BBzMR9f1-FI

Paul Whiteman followed Jolson on the charts for a second time to come in at #9 with this flip side of "Whispering":

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GZVpyv6c_E

Rounding out the top 10 is this song from Art Hickman's Orchestra which hung in at #1 for three weeks in August 1920:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7thcLhcyII

Other top songs from 100 years ago include "I'll Be With You in Apple Blossom Time," "Avalon," "That Old Irish Mother of Mine," "Look for the Silver Lining," "Pretty Kitty Kelly," "Let the Rest of the World Go By," "You Ain't Heard Nothing Yet," and "You Can't keep a Good Man Down," as well as lesser-known songs such as "I Know where the Flies Go in Summertime," "The Moon Shines on the Moonshine," "My Little Bimbo Down on the Bamboo Isle," and "Sweet Mama (Papa's Getting Mad)."

Good times.