Music Lists Are Us: Favorite 1920s Songs by Year

1920

Crazy Blues by Mamie Smith

Simply Full of Jazz by Noble Sissle

Sphinx by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band

Lovin' Sam from Alabam' by Mamie Smith

Broadway Rose by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band

St. Louis Blues by Marion Harris

Soudan by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band

It's Right Here for You by Mamie Smith

My Baby's Arms by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band

I Told You So by Marion Harris

Tell Me by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band

The Road is Rocky by Mamie Smith

I've Got My Captain Working for Me Now by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band

I'm a Jazz Vampire by Marion Harris

1921

Keep off the Grass by James P. Johnson

Harlem Strut by James P. Johnson

Carolina Shout by James P. Johnson

Get Hot by Mamie Smith

Ain't We Got Fun by Van and Schenk

Oh Joe (Please Don't Go) by Mamie Smith

Home Again Blues by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band

Beale St. Blues by Marion Harris

Sweet Man o' Mine by Mamie Smith

St. Louis Blues by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band

Jazzbo Ball by Mamie Smith

Baltimore Buzz by Eubie Blake

I'm Nobody's Baby by Marion Harris

What Have I Done by Mamie Smith

1922

Wabash Blues by Mamie Smith

Bugle Call Blues by the New Orleans Rhythm Kings

Stuttering by Mamie Smith's Jazz Hounds

My Honey's Lovin' Arms by the California Ramblers

Doo Dah Blues by Mamie Smith

Ukulele Baby by Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake

Sugar Blues by Sara Martin

Downhearted Blues by Bessie Smith

Some of These Days by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band

Got to Cool My Doggies Now by Mamie Smith

I'm Just Wild About Harry by Marion Harris

Strut Your Material by Mamie Smith's Jazz Hounds

Sheik of Araby by Ray Miller

Achin' Hearted Blues by Sara Martin

Toddlin' Blues by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band

1923

T'aint Nobody's Bizness If I Do by Bessie Smith

Railroad Man by James P. Johnson

12th Street Rag by Eva Taylor

Froggie Moore by King Oliver

Tiger Rag by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band

Scouting Around by James P. Johnson

Alligator Hop by King Oliver

Midnight Blues by Bessie Smith

Yes We Have No Bananas by Billy Jones

You Got to See Mama Ev'ry Night (or You Can't See Mama at All) by Mamie Smith

I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate by The Georgians or Eva Taylor

Dippermouth Blues by King Oliver

Baby Won't You Please Come Home by Bessie Smith

Mama's Got the Blues by Sara Martin

Weather Bird Rag by King Oliver

Weeping Blues by James P. Johnson

Nobody in Town Can Bake a Sweet Jelly Roll Like Mine by Bessie Smith

Canal St. Blues by King Oliver

Downhearted Blues by Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle

Southern Blues by Ma Rainey

Zulu's Ball by King Oliver

Barnyard Blues by the Original Dixieland Jazz Band

Lonesome Woman Blues by Rosetta Crawford

In Honeysuckle Time by Noble Sissle

Moonshine Blues by Ma Rainey

1924

King Porter Stomp by Jelly Roll Morton

Off and On Blues by Sippie Wallace

Arkansaw Blues by Eva Taylor

Everybody Loves My Baby by Alberta Hunter

Perfect Rag by Jelly Roll Morton

Texas Moaner Blues by Sidney Bechet

Wicked Monday Morning Blues by Sippie Wallace

Honey Where You Been So Long by Ma Rainey

Why He Left Me I Don't Know by Irene Scruggs

Lou'siana Lowdown Blues by Bessie Smith

Rock All Our Babies to Sleep by George Riley Puckett

Caldonia Blues by Sippie Wallace

How Come You Do Me Like You Do by Marion Harris

Lucky Rock Blues by Ma Rainey

Whistling the Blues Away by Wendell Hall and Carson Robinson

Early Every Morn by Alberta Hunter

Charleston by Arthur Gibbs

Weeping Willow Blues by Bessie Smith

Tia Juana by Jelly Roll Morton

Leaving Me Daddy is Hard to Do by Sippie Wallace

Old Fashioned Love by Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake

1925

Shake That Thing by Ethel Waters

Papa De-Da-Da by Eva Taylor and Clarence Williams

Ukulele Lady by Vaughn De Leath

Sweet Man by Ethel Waters

Yes Sir, That's My Baby by Gene Austin

Careless Love Blues by Bessie Smith

Mr. Johnson Blues by Lonnie Johnson

Brother, You've Got Me Wrong by Ethel Waters

Sweet Georgia Brown by Ben Bernie

The Man I Love by Sippie Wallace

No One Can Love Me (Like the Way You Do) by Ethel Waters

Cake Walking Babies (From Home) by Sidney Bechet

Maybe Not at All by Ethel Waters

Brown Eyes Why Are You Blue by Nick Lucas

You've Been a Good Ole Wagon by Bessie Smith

Falling Rain Blues by Lonnie Johnson

Morning Dove Blues by Sippie Wallace

Sweet Georgia Brown by Ethel Waters

Yearning (Just for You) by Gene Austin

The St. Louis Blues by Bessie Smith

Manhattan by Ben Selvin

Far as I'm Concerned by Eva Taylor

Milenberg Joys by the New Orleans Rhythm Kings featuring Jelly Roll Morton

Cold in Hand Blues by Bessie Smith

Won't, Don't Blues by Lonnie Johnson

If You Knew Susie (Like I Know Susie) by Eddie Cantor

Go Back Where You Stayed Last Night by Ethel Waters

Original Charleston by Ben Selvin

Take That Thing Away by Alberta Hunter

Broken Busted Blues by Eubie Blake and Noble Sissle

Dinah by Ethel Waters

Remember by Isham Jones

Wreck of the Old 97 by Vernon Dalhart

1926

East St. Louis Toodle-Oo by Duke Ellington

Grandpa's Spells by Jelly Roll Morton

I'm Saving it All for You by Ethel Waters

When the Red, Red Robin Goes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along by Eva Taylor

I Have No Sweet Woman Now by Lonnie Johnson

After All These Years by Ethel Waters

Someday Sweetheart by Jelly Roll Morton

A Man for Every Day of the Week by Sippie Wallace and Louis Armstrong

Black Snake Blues by Victoria Spivey

Dr. Jazz Stomp by Jelly Roll Morton

I Feel Good by Sippie Wallace and Louis Armstrong

Got the Blues So Bad by Victoria Spivey

Senorita Mine by the Savoy Bearcats

Satisfyin' Papa by Ethel Waters

Steamboat Stomp by Jelly Roll Morton

Home Town Blues by Irene Scruggs

Woman Changed My Life by Lonnie Johnson

Special Delivery Blues by Sippie Wallace and Louis Armstrong

Way Down the Old Plank Road by Uncle Dave Macon & Sam McGhee

You've Got What I Want by Irene Scruggs

A Good, Happy Home by Lonnie Johnson

A Jealous Woman Like Me by Sippie Wallace and Louis Armstrong

Cannon Ball Blues by Jelly Roll Morton

Dinah by Ethel Waters

Bye Bye Blackbird by Gene Austin

Very Lonesome Blues by Lonnie Johnson

The Mail Train Blues by Sippie Wallace and Louis Armstrong

Lennox Avenue Blues by Fats Waller

Black Bottom Stomp by Jelly Roll Morton

Big Butter and Egg Man by Louis Armstrong

Five O'clock Blues by Lonnie Johnson

I'm Tired Blues by Alberta Hunter

St. Louis Blues by Fats Waller

The King of the Zulus by the New Orleans Blue Five

Good Old Wagon by Lonnie Johnson

Spider Web Blues by Victoria Spivey

Heebie Jeebies by Louis Armstrong

1927

Stardust by Hoagy Carmichael

East St. Louis Toodle-oo by Duke Ellington

I Done Told You by Lonnie Johnson

Wild Man Blues by Jelly Roll Morton

Black and Tan Fantasy by Duke Ellington

My Blue Heaven by Gene Austin (the 2nd biggest selling non-holiday record of the pre-rock era)

St. Louis Shuffle by Fletcher Henderson

Washington Wabble by Duke Ellington

Mr. Jelly Lord by Jelly Roll Morton

Tonight You Belong to Me by Gene Austin

Creole Love Song by Duke Ellington

Baby Will You Please Come Home by Lonnie Johnson

Beale St. Blues by Alberta Hunter and Fats Waller

Harlem River Quiver by Duke Ellington

Sugar by Alberta Hunter and Fats Waller

Steppin' On the Blues by Lonnie Johnson

Some of These Days by Ethel Waters

Sloppy Water by Fats Waller

Ain't She Sweet by Ben Bernie

Jelly Look What You Done Done by Victoria Spivey

Stompin' the Bug by Fats Waller

Sail Away Ladies by Uncle Dave Macon

Soothin' Syrup by Fats Waller

'Deed I Do by Ruth Etting

T.B. Blues by Victoria Spivey and Lonnie Johnson

Russian Lullaby by Roger Wolfe Kahn

Nightmare Blues by Victoria Spivey

Blue Skies by Irving Berlin, performed by Ben Selvin & his Orchestra

Me and My Shadow by Whispering Jack Smith

In the Jailhouse Now by Jimmie Rodgers

Black Beauty by Duke Ellington

West End Blues by Louis Armstrong

Two Tone Stomp by Lonnie Johnson and Eddie Lang

Standin' in the Rain Blues by Bessie Smith

Playing With the Strings by Lonnie Johnson

Shoe Shiner's Drag by Jelly Roll Morton

Sugar Foot Strut by Louis Armstrong

Jubilee Stomp by Duke Ellington

Keep on the Sunny Side by the Carter Family

Stompin' 'em Along Slow by Lonnie Johnson

Basin Street Blues by Louis Armstrong

Georgia Swing by Jelly Roll Morton

Pine Top Blues by Pine Top Smith

Careless Love by Lonnie Johnson

Squeeze Me by Louis Armstrong

Waiting for a Train by Jimmie Rodgers

I Got Everything But You by Duke Ellington

My Handy Man by Ethel Waters and James P. Johnson

Two Deuces by Louis Armstrong

Away Down in the Alley Blues by Lonnie Johnson

Ol Man River by Paul Robeson

I Can't Give You Anything but Love by Duke Ellington, Irving Mills and Baby Cox

My Melancholy Baby by Gene Austin

I Done Caught You Blues by Duke Ellington

Struttin' with Some Barbecue by Louis Armstrong

The Moocher by Duke Ellington and Baby Cox

I Can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby by Cliff (Ukulele Ike) Edwards

Organ Grinder Blues by Victoria Spivey

Fireworks by Louis Armstrong

Memphis Yodel by Jimmie Rodgers

Empty Bed Blues by Bessie Smith

Boogaboo by Jelly Roll Morton

Willow Tree by the Louisiana Sugar Babes

Ain't Misbehavin' by Louis Armstrong

Handful of Keys by Fats Waller

Flaming Youth by Duke Ellington

Walkin' the Dog by Hoagy Carmichael

Am I Blue by Ethel Waters

Seattle Hunch by Jelly Roll Morton

St. James Infirmary by Louis Armstrong

You've Got to Give Me Some by Bessie Smith and Eddie Lang

Handful of Riffs by Lonnie Johnson and Eddie Lang

Jump Steady Blues by Pine Top Smith

Smashing Thirds by Fats Waller

Guess Who's in Town by Ethel Waters and James P. Johnson

Deep Minor Rhythm Stomp by Lonnie Johnson and Eddie Lang

Burnin' the Iceberg by Jelly Roll Morton

That Rhythm Man by Louis Armstrong

Stevedore Stomp by Duke Ellington

Makin' Whoopee by Eddie Cantor

Long, Lean, Lanky Mama by Ethel Waters

Statesboro Blues by Blind Willie McTell

The Minor Drag by Fats Waller

When You're Smiling by Louis Armstrong

He's Got Me Goin' by Bessie Smith and James P. Johnson

An American in Paris by George Gershwin

Blue Spirit Blues by Bessie Smith and James P. Johnson

Any Old Time by Jimmie Rodgers

Pinetop's Boogie Woogie by Clarence 'Pinetop' Smith

(What Did I Do to Be So) Black and Blue by Louis Armstrong

Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out by Bessie Smith

Japanese Dream by Duke Ellington

Worn Out Papa Blues by Bessie Smith and James P. Johnson

Pretty Lil by Jelly Roll Morton

Ain't Misbehavin' by Fats Waller

Wabash Cannonball by the Carter Family

Saratoga Swing by Duke Ellington

Blue Guitars by Lonnie Johnson and Eddie Lang

Pep by Jelly Roll Morton

I'm Wild About That Thing by Bessie Smith

The Duke Steps Out by Duke Ellington

Numb Fumblin' by Fats Waller

Try Me Out by Jelly Roll Morton

Lulu Wall by the Carter Family

Haunted Nights by Duke Ellington

Kitchen Man by Bessie Smith

Hobo Bill's Last Ride by Jimmie Rodgers

My Particular Man by Alberta Hunter