The year 1935 was a very good one for music with the likes of Fred Astaire and Benny Goodman, and swing music was everywhere. We’re going to tell you the 31 best songs from 1935 so that you can listen to some of the best that year had to offer.
1. On The Good Ship Lollipop – Shirley Temple
First up on our list is Shirley Temple with the classic song On The Good Ship Lollipop, which was used in the movie Bright Eyes. This track quickly became her signature song and was linked to her throughout her career and beyond. You can hear parodies of this track on multiple television shows such as The Simpsons, Shrek The Third, and The Brady Bunch.
2. Cheek To Cheek – Fred Astaire
Cheek To Cheek is one of the most famous Fred Astaire songs out there, and it was a big hit in 1935. It comes from the movie Top Hat, which he starred in alongside Ginger Rogers. This track hit the Billboard charts and peaked at number one for 11 weeks with a total run of 18 weeks on the chart. It was such a significant and important song that the Grammy Hall of Fame inducted it in 2000. It is also often rated as one of the best tracks of the century.
3. Lullaby Of Broadway – The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra
The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra is next with Lullaby Of Broadway, which spent 11 weeks on the Billboard charts and peaked at number one for two weeks. Harry Warren and Al Dubin wrote the song, and it was an incredibly popular tune for The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra.
4. You’re The Top – Cole Porter
Next is Cole Porter with You’re The Top, which was for the musical hit Anything Goes, released a year before. This song is all about two people who enjoy complementing one another, and it became the most famous one from the musical. When you listen to this track, you might be interested or impressed with his ability to rhyme, and it’s a very unique song for its time.
5. I Won’t Dance – Eddy Duchin and His Orchestra
Topping the Billboard charts for three weeks was the song I Won’t Dance by Eddy Duchin. The track managed to stay on the Billboard charts for 14 weeks. It is a jazz standard, which means that it has been covered by multiple artists and is one of the loved songs of that era.
6. Life Is A Song – Ruth Etting
Next is Ruth Etting with Life Is A Song, which was a big hit for her since it spent 12 weeks on the Billboard charts and hit number one for two weeks. Rudy Vallee And His Connecticut Yankees originally recorded it, but other artists including Etting released their renditions that overshadowed his. When you listen to this track, you’ll understand why it’s one of the most famous versions of the song to date.
7. King Porter Stomp – Benny Goodman and His Orchestra
Benny Goodman had a hit with King Porter Stomp, which was originally back in 1923 by Jelly Roll Morton. This tune is thought to be one of the most important songs for the formation of jazz music, and it was when swing music became popular that it really took off. It was Goodman’s recording that got it noticed and became one of the most loved of the big band era.
8. Can The Circle Be Unbroken – The Carter Family
If you’re religious then you’ll know the next track as it’s a folk and country song that is often used in churches. We’re talking about Can The Circle Be Unbroken by The Carter Family. You’ll be familiar with this track since it’s a common tune for funerals and wakes. The lyrics go on about mourning and death, and many artists have since recorded their version of it, including Jerry Lee Lewis, Bob Dylan, and Johnny Cash. It was placed into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998.
9. Blue Moon – Glen Gray
Glen Gray is on our list with the song Blue Moon, which spent eight weeks on the Billboard chart and hit number one for three weeks. This track was incredibly popular when it was released and has remained a standard in pop ballads. It has since also become a jazz standard and has been covered by many different artists through the years such as Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.
10. Isle Of Capri – Ray Noble & His Orchestra
Isle Of Capri by Ray Noble made the list, and this song spent 16 weeks on the Billboard chart. It hit number one for seven weeks and quickly became a hit for him. Al Bowlly was featured as the vocalist for this track, and it’s one of the most famous versions of this foxtrot and tango-style song.
11. Stop That Thing – Sleepy John Estes
Sleepy John Estes had a hit with Stop That Thing, which is a blues song that is a prime example of what early blues music sounded like and was famous for. This track was a big hit for him and was the A-side to the record featuring Down South Blues on the B-side.
12. The Lady In Red – Louis Prima & His New Orleans Gang
Up next is Louis Prima & His Orchestra with The Lady In Red, which was written by Allie Wrubel and Mort Dixon. This song was a hit on the charts, and you can hear a mixture of swing and dixie in his styling. That mixture made sense given that they consisted of instruments including bass, clarinet, piano, guitar, and other instruments.
13. Thrilled – Hal Kemp
Hal Kemp had a hit with Thrilled, which is a pop-like song and had elements of fox trot in it. This was one of the many great tracks that he would release in his career, and when you hear it, you can hear the uniqueness of his music. He would often use a megaphone to play the clarinet, and it gave his songs a style much different from everyone else.
14. Tell Me That You Love Me – Freddy Martin
Freddy Martin had a hit with Tell Me That You Love Me, which featured Elmer Feldkamp on vocals. The song was written by Al Stillman, Ennio Neri, and Cesare Andrea Bixio. When you hear this track, you will see why he was known as one of the best saxophone players of that time and how his style of playing created some of the most beautiful music.
15. Clouds – Ray Noble and His Orchestra
Ray Noble And His Orchestra makes the list with Clouds, which features Al Bowlly on vocals. This is one of the most popular renditions of the song, even though the original was released by Connie Boswell. It was written by Walter Donaldson and Gus Khan and was one of the biggest tracks of 1935, and was one of the multiple hits Noble had that year.
16. Red Sails In The Sunset – Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians
Red Sails In The Sunset by Guy Lombardo & His Royal Canadians was very popular in 1935. This song got its inspiration from the Northern Ireland festival called Red Sails and a yacht that was commonly seen off the coast. There was a play called Provincetown Follies, which was released in late 1935 that used the track in its Broadway musical.
17. Silent Night – Bing Crosby
Silent Night was recorded by Bing Crosby and quickly became one of his smash hits. In fact, it became his best-selling song of the decade and has been a Christmas classic for many. What’s interesting about this is that he was Catholic, and did not want to record this track, but he met with a priest and talked it over with him, changed his mind, and decided to donate the proceeds of the sales to a charity.
18. Lovely To Look At – Eddy Duchin & His Orchestra
Eddy Duchin & His Orchestra are on our list with Lovely To Look At, which spent 12 weeks on the Billboard charts and seven weeks at number one. It was written by Jimmy McHugh, Jerome Kern, and Dorothy Fields. This song comes from the single record I Won’t Dance and was released on Victor.
19. Truckin’ – Fats Waller
Fats Waller is next with the hit song Truckin’, which spent 13 weeks on the Billboard charts and hit number one for three weeks. The track was one of several hits that he had over the decade and is a classic example of both jazz and swing music. If you haven’t had a chance to check out his music yet, we suggest listening to this song to get a good idea of his style and you’ll see why he was such a big deal.
20. And Then Some – Ozzie Nelson
Ozzie Nelson had a hit with And Then Some, which was a decent hit for him. He had a very calming voice, and it was soothing, which made it perfect for the era. When you hear this song, you’ll feel a sense of relief and feelings of joy.
21. The Object Of My Affection – The Boswell Sisters And Jimmie Grier
The Boswell Sisters are next with The Object Of My Affection, which featured Jimmie Grier. This is one of their most well-known songs, and it’s a track that was popular among the public too. It hit the Billboard charts and went to number one for two weeks while staying on the chart for a total of 10 weeks.
22. I Wished On The Moon – Bing Crosby and The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra
Making our list once again is Bing Crosby with the hit I Wished On The Moon, which features The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra. It can be found in The Big Broadcast Of 1936, and he famously sang it in the movie. It was one of his biggest hits, although he had several that went on the charts that decade.
23. Top Hat White Tie & Tails – Ray Noble & His Orchestra
Next is Ray Noble & His Orchestra with the song Top Hat White Tie & Tails. This track was used in the movie Top Hat, and Fred Astaire sang it in the film. The lyrics and title are about how you should wear formal clothing to a party. In Noble’s version of the song, Al Bowlly provides the vocals. This track is one of his most famous and loved songs and one that a lot of people can relate to, even today.
24. Every Man A King – Huey Long
Huey Long makes our list with Every Man A King, and if you didn’t know, he was a senator from Louisiana. He is best known for coming up with various slogans for politics, including “Share our wealth,” which was a common feeling among those experiencing the Great Depression.
25. That Silver-Haired Daddy Of Mine – Gene Autry
Gene Autry had a hit with That Silver-Haired Daddy Of Mine, which became one of his most well-known and loved hits. He sang the song in the movies Tumbling Tumbleweeds and The Phantom Empire, which led it to become popular with the crowd. This track is talking about how a guy wants to pay his father back for raising him, and it’s a thought or feeling a lot of us can relate to.
26. Fanlight Fanny – George Formby
Fanlight Fanny by George Formby makes the list, and this song was featured in Trouble Brewing, which was released in 1939. It’s about how an older woman who likes to drink is dubbed the queen of the nightclub, and she’s working hard for little money. In recent times, the track can be found in the 2008 movie Chemical Wedding. It is one of those songs that you’ll remember even if you’ve only heard it once, and Fomby recorded one of the most iconic versions of the song.
27. I’m In The Mood For Love – Little Jack Little
Little Jack Little makes the list with I’m In The Mood For Love, which was one of the biggest hit songs of that year. It went onto the Billboard charts for 14 weeks where it peaked at number one for three weeks. This was first recorded by Leo Reisman And His Orchestra, but the version by Little Jack Little is thought of as one of the best, even though several other artists have since covered it.
28. About a Quarter To Nine – Johnny Green
Next up is Johnny Green with About A Quarter To Nine, which is famous for being in the film Go Into Your Dance. It was the biggest song from that musical, and Al Jolson introduced it, which put it into the spotlight even more. Harry Warren and Al Dubin wrote this track, and it was one of Green’s most well-known and liked songs.
29. I’m On A See-Saw – Ambrose
Ambrose makes the list with the tune I’m On A See-Saw, which was written by Vivian Ellis and Desmond Carter. This song is the original, and it was very popular, but Fats Waller recorded a version of it, which became the most well-known and gained even more popularity than the one released by Ambrose.
30. East Of The Sun (And West Of The Moon) – Tom Coakley and His Orchestra
Tom Coakley And His Orchestra had a smash hit with East Of The Sun (And West Of The Moon), and Carl Ravazza sang the vocals for the song. It made it onto the Billboard charts where it spent two weeks at number one. In total, the track spent 15 weeks on the Billboard charts and was one of the biggest songs of the year.
31. In A Little Gypsy Tea Room – Bob Crosby
Last on the list is In A Little Gypsy Tea Room by Bob Crosby. This song was a major hit and spent 13 weeks on the Billboard chart. It peaked at number one on the Billboard chart for three weeks, and it was one of the biggest hits that he had throughout his career.
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From the time she was little, Florence loved listening to music and quickly learned how music can make you happy and feel fulfilled. One of her favorite memories is being in the garage with her dad working on classic cars with the local rock station blaring in the background. Ever since Florence was 3, she loved grunge music and spent hours listening to bands such as Alice in Chains, Mad Season, Soul Asylum, and Soundgarden.
She also enjoys classic rock, modern rock, nu metal, alternative rock, and old 90’s R&B. Her love of music grew as she got older, and used music to help her get through tough times in her life. More often than not, you’ll see Florence with earbuds in while she’s writing, cooking, cleaning, and doing other tasks. She also loves to debate music with her friends such as which lead singer is the best vocalist, the most iconic guitar solos in music, and what songs are really the best of the decade.
