Top 100 Instrumentals 1920-1929

Paul Whiteman Orchestra #1 Artist of the Decade
Paul Whiteman Orchestra #1 Artist of the Decade

The Top 100 Instrumentals 1920-1929 had some big entries into the charts during the decade of the “Roaring Twenties“. One of them was Paul Whiteman (pictured) and his orchestra as they had 28 #1 hits on the charts. This was the decade of the big jazz bands and many were charting hit records. The “Charleston” was the dance craze for this era when it hit #1 in January, of 1924.

This ten year period saw the most instrumental songs to peak at the #1 position with 40 which is more than all the other decades from 1890-2011. There were 121 instrumental songs that peaked at the #1 position for the entire 10 year span. Many of these instrumentals hits are still being recorded by artists today.

Interesting Facts & New Items For This Era

    • In 1920, The Women’s Suffrage amendment, the 19th, is ratified. A bomb explodes in the J.P. Morgan bank building in New York City, killing 30. KDKA a station in Pittsburg transmits the first commercial radio signal. Speakeasies replace saloons as the center of activity. US unemployment rate is 5.2%.
    • In 1921, Congress passes Budget & Accounting Act, which creates the Bureau of Budget. First burial is held at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery. Vitamins D and E are discovered. US unemployment rate is 11.7%.
    • In 1922, The Lincoln Memorial is dedicated in Washington D.C. Coal miners strike for six months and cripples the coal mining industry. Reader’s Digest debuts. The unemployment rate is 6.7%.
    • In 1923, An earthquake destroys one-third of Tokyo. Hitler writes Mein Kampf. President Harding dies and Coolidge become president . Time magazine debuts. The A.C. Nielsen Company is founded. Bessie Smith records her first song “Down Hearted Blues” that becomes a huge success. The KKK movement grows. The unemployment rate is 2.4%.
    • In 1924, Lenin Dies and Stalin gains power until 1953. The Teapot Dome Scandal is made known. IBM is organized. Macy’s first Thanksgiving Day Parade takes place. George Gershwin introduces “Rhapsody in Blue” and is indoctrinated in the National Music Hall of Fame in 1974 with 7 others. George & Gladys Dick discover the cause of scarlet fever. Coolidge is reelected. The unemployment rate is 5.0%.
    • Paul Whiteman My Mammy Record Victor Label
      Paul Whiteman My Mammy Record Victor Label

      In 1925, Adolf Hitler publishes his book Mein Kampf. Al Capone takes over Chicago’s bootlegging racket. The Scopes Trial begins. Radios first soap opera is introduced with “The Smith Family“. John Baird transmits the first television image in London. Lecia markets the 35mm camera. The unemployment rate is 3.2%.

    • In 1926, U.S. Marines are dispatched to Nicaragua and remain until 1933. Father Coughlin makes his first radio broadcast that begins a 20-year career. Antifreeze allows people to use cars year-round. The Book of the Month Club is founded. The unemployment rate is 1.8%.
    • In 1927, Babe Ruth hits his 60th homerun and his record will stand until broken by Roger Maris with 61 in 1961. The Holland Tunnel opens connecting Manhattan and New Jersey under the Hudson River. The unemployment rate is 3.3%
    • In 1928, Hoover is elected president. Richard E. Byrd begins expedition to the Antarctic and returns in 1930. GE introduces a TV set with a 3″ x 4″ screen. The first television is sold–a Daven for $75. The Academy Awards are handed out for the first time. The unemployment rate is 4.2%.
    • In 1929, Trotsky is expelled from the U.S.S.R. St. Valentine’s Day massacre in Chicago. Stock market prices plummet in October, setting off the events of the Great Depression. The Museum of Modern Art open in New York City. CBS is founded by William S. Paley. Penicillin is first used to fight an infection. The unemployment rate is 3.2%.

In unrelated news, now there is a way to preserve your vinyl records and convert them to the CD format. Click here for more information.

 Musical Chart Facts

  • To make the top 100 chart, the song had to peak at the #4 position or higher.
  • To make the Top 40 and Top 10 the song had to peak at the #1 position.
  • There were a total of 542 instrumentals that charted in this era. The second most. The sixties had more with 556.
  • The year of 1921 had the most songs on the chart with 20.
  • The artist with the most songs on the chart is Paul Whiteman with 38.
  • Three songs tied for the longevity record with 20 weeks and they are “Three O’ Clock In the Morning” #3, & “Whispering” #2 by Paul  Whiteman and “Dardanella” #1, by Ben Selvin.
  • The years of 1928 and 1929 had no songs on the top 100 chart as they did not have any instrumental to peak at the #4 position or higher.
  • The year of 1926 had the fewest songs to chart with 4.
  • There are a total of 24 artists that charted an instrumental on the top 100 chart.

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Ben Selvin Dardanella Victor Label #1 Song of the Decade
Ben Selvin Dardanella Victor Label #1 Song of the Decade

The Top 100 Instrumentals 1920-1929

The top 100 instrumentals will include the rank, title, artist, peak position #, weeks at peak position (), year song peaked.

Rank   Title/Artist / Peak / Peak Weeks / Year

  1. Dardanella / Ben Selvin #1 (13) 1920
  2. Whispering / Paul Whiteman #1 (11) 1920
  3. Three O’ Clock In The Morning / Paul Whiteman #1 (8) 1922
  4. I’ll See You In My Dreams / Isham Jones #1 (7) 1925
  5. I’ll See you In My Dreams / Ray Miller #1 (7) 1925
  6. Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers / Paul Whiteman #1 (7) 1923
  7. Wang Wang Blues / Paul Whiteman #1 (6) 1921
  8. Swingin’ Down The Lane / Isham Jones #1 (6) 1923
  9. Wabash Blues / Isham Jones #1 (6) 1921
  10. Cherie / Paul Whiteman #1 (6) 1921
  11. Stumbling / Paul Whiteman #1 (6) 1922
  12. Hot Lips / Paul Whiteman #1 (6) 1922
  13. What’ll I Do? / Paul Whiteman #1 (5) 1924
  14. It Had To Be You / Isham Jones #1 (5) 1924
  15. Say It With Music / Paul Whiteman #1 (5) 1921
  16. Song of India / Paul Whiteman #1 (5) 1921
  17. Somebody Stole My Gal / Ted Weems #1 (5) 1924
  18. My Mammy / Paul Whiteman #1 (5) 1921
  19. Somebody Loves Me / Paul Whiteman #1 (5) 1924
  20. Sweet Georgia Brown / Ben Bernie #1 (5) 1925
  21. All By Myself / Ted Lewis & His Band #1 (4) 1921
  22. Linger Awhile / Paul Whiteman #1 (4) 1924
  23. On The Alamo / Isham Jones #1 (4) 1922
  24. Manhattan / Ben Selvin #1 (4) 1925
  25. Ida, Sweet As Apple Cider / Red Nichols & His Five Pennies #1 (3) 1927
  26. Hold Me / Art Hickman #1 (3) 1920
  27. Oh, How I Miss You Tonight / Ben Selvin #1 (3) 1925
  28. Dreamy Melody / Art Landry #1 (3) 1923
  29. Love Sends A Little Gift Of Roses / Carl Fenton #1 (3) 1923
  30. All Along / Paul Whiteman #1 (3) 1925
  31. The Japanese Sandman / Paul Whiteman #1 (2) 1920
  32. Spain / Isham Jones #1 (2) 1924
  33. Do It Again / Paul Whiteman #1 (2) 1922
  34. Always / Vincent Lopez #1 (2) 1926
  35. The Love Nest / Art Hickman #1 (2) 1920
  36. I’ll Build A Stairway To Paradise / Paul Whiteman #1 (1) 1922
  37. O! Katharina / Ted Lewis & His Band #1 (1) 1925
  38. Bambalina / Paul Whiteman #1 (1) 1923
  39. Remember / Isham Jones #1 (1) 1925
  40. Charleston / Arthur Gibbs & His Gang #1 (1) 1924
  41. When The Day Is Done / Paul Whiteman #2 (4) 1927
  42. Bright Eyes / Paul Whiteman #2 (4) 1921
  43. Crinoline Days / Paul Whiteman #2 (3) 1923
  44. Tell Me, Little Gypsy / Art Hickman #2 (3) 1920
  45. My Man / Paul Whiteman #2 (3) 1921
  46. Make Believe / Paul Whiteman #2 (2) 1921
  47. Indiana Moon / Ben Selvin #2 (2) 1923
  48. Sweet And Low / Art Hickman #2 (2) 1920
  49. Swinging Down The Lane / Ben Bernie #2 (2) 1923
  50. Sunny / George Olsen #2 (2) 1926
  51. Second Hand Rose / Ted Lewis & His Band #2 (2) 1921
  52. Oh! Lady Be Good / Paul Whiteman #2 (2) 1925
  53. Peggy / Art Hickman #2 (2) 1920
  54. When Buddha Smiles / Paul Whiteman #2 (2) 1922
  55. I Want To Be Happy / Vincent Lopez #2 (2) 1924
  56. Journey’s End / Paul Whiteman #2 (2) 1923
  57. June Night / Ted Lewis & His Band #2 (2) 1924
  58. Sentimental Me / Ben Selvin #2 (2) 1925
  59. I Cried For You / Benny Krueger #2 (1) 1923
  60. It All Depends On You / Paul Whitemen #2 (1) 1927
  61. Darling / Art Hickman #2 (1) 1921
  62. Broken Hearted Melody / Isham Jones #2 (1) 1923
  63. Home Again Blues / Original Dixieland Jazz Band #2 (1) 1921
  64. The World Is Waiting For The Sunrise / Isham Jones #2 (1) 1922
  65. I’ve Found A New Baby / Ted Lewis & His Band #2 (1) 1926
  66. April Showers / Paul Whiteman #2 (1) 1922
  67. Nobody’s Sweetheart / Isham Jones #2 (1) 1924
  68. Rose Of Washington Square / Kentucky Serenaders #3 (1) 1920
  69. Nola / Vincent Lopez #3 (1) 1922
  70. Who’s Sorry Now? / Isham Jones #3 (1) 1923
  71. Rhapsody In Blue Parts 1 & 2 / Paul Whiteman #3 (1) 1924
  72. Indian Love Call / Paul Whiteman #3 (1) 1925
  73. Rhapsody In Blue / George Gershwin #3 (1) 1924
  74. Just A Memory / Paul Whiteman #3 (1) 1927
  75. Parade Of The Wooden Soldiers / Vincent Lopez #3 (1) 1922
  76. Someone To Watch Over Me / George Olsen #3 (1) 1927
  77. I Wish I Could Shimmy Like My Sister Kate / Virginians #3 (1) 1923
  78. Sweetheart / Paul Whitman #3 (1) 1921
  79. Everybody Step / Ted Lewis & His Band #3 (1) 1922
  80. Manhattan / Paul Whiteman #3 (1) 1925
  81. Rose Marie / Paul Whiteman #3 (1) 1925
  82. Black Bottom / Johnny Hamp #3 (1) 1926
  83. Cuban Moon / Carl Fenton #3 (1) 1920
  84. Sometime / Green Brothers Novelty Band #3 (1) 1921
  85. Wonderful One / Paul Whiteman #3 (1) 1923
  86. I Love You / Paul Whiteman #3 (1) 1924
  87. I’m Tired Of Everything But You / Isham Jones #3 (1) 1925
  88. The Naughty Waltz / Joseph C. Smith’s Orchestra #3 (1) 1920
  89. Grieving For You – Feather Your Nest / Paul Whiteman #3 (1) 1921
  90. Sally – Medley / Joseph C. Smith’s Orchestra #3 (1) 1922
  91. Palesteena / Original Dixieland Jazz Band #3 (1) 1921
  92. Learn To Smile / Paul Whiteman #3 (1) 1921
  93. Marie / Yerkes Jazarimba Orchestra #3 (1) 1921
  94. The Sheik (Of Araby) / Ray Miller #3 (1) 1922
  95. Wildflower / Ben Bernie #3 (1) 1923
  96. Cherie / Carl Fenton #3 (1) 1921
  97. The Sheik / Club Royal Orchestra #3 (1) 1922
  98. Blue Eyed Sally / Ted Weems #3 (1) 1925
  99. When You Walked Out, Someone Else Walked In / Isham Jones #4 (1) 1923
  100. One Along / Nat Shilkret & The Victor orchestra #4 (1) 1927

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