Before there were records, there was sheet music. Popular songs could be enjoyed over and over again at home, if only you had someone who could play the piano and sing all right. Thanks to the New York Public Library's collection of popular American sheet music, we can still enjoy these songs over and over again. Or at least the titles and covers, which are pretty great.
In February we had a look at love songs of the 1890s; this time around the decade is the 1910s. By then, of course, there were also records, and of course, by now, there's Youtube, so, amazingly, a few of the selections below come with the chance to listen, too.
So what did people like in their songs in the 1910s? Apparently rags, romance, and air travel.
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| New York Public Library |
Published 1910. Source
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| New York Public Library |
Published 1913. This one actually stayed popular for a long time, at least into the 1950s. You can listen to a 1913 recording, although it doesn't have the words. Source
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| New York Public Library |
Published 1912, and apparently a classic rag. On Youtube. Source
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| New York Public Library |
Published 1913 and brought to you by the Cunard Steamship Co. Sadly not on Youtube. Source
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| New York Public Library |
Published 1910. Source
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| New York Public Library |
Published 1918. This one went on to be THE mopey break-up song of the 1920s. Also popular for a long time-- I once heard it in Starbucks. (Original on Youtube). Source
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| New York Public Library |
Published 1910. Source
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| New York Public Library |
"The Titanic is Doomed and Sinking," published 1912. Too soon? Source
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| New York Public Library |
Published 1910. Source
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| New York Public Library |
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| New York Public Library |
"That X Rag" was just a winning formula. Published 1913. Source
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| New York Public Library |
Rags and air travel! Published 1912. Source (edited to add: a different 'aeroplane rag,' also from 1912, can be heard here)
Rags and romance! Source
Romance and, um pickles (the rag). Published 1910. On Youtube! Source
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