We continue our series covering “The Great American Songbook” to the end of its first classic decade. The ‘20s represented a monumental shift in popular music in virtually every aspect imaginable.

The popularity of commercially available records was certainly a primary factor, as was the increasing popularity of radio, not to mention movies, which by the end of the decade included sound. Taken together, these technological developments had an astounding effect on culture, pushing jazz to a level of popularity that otherwise would have been impossible, while also spreading the music of Broadway to a global audience.

Songwriters (most often in teams of two) provided material for the stylistic transitions, often providing clever melodic tunes that worked outside the context of the show for which it was written.

Featured tracks include:

Glad Rag Doll

Honey

Honeysuckle Rose

I Guess I’ll Have to Change My Plan

More Than You Know

Pagan Love Song

She’s Funny That Way

Singin’ in the Rain

What Is This Thing Called Love?

Without a Song

You Do Something to Me

You Were Meant for Me