1932 in music


This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1932.

Specific locations

Specific genres

Events

Published popular music

Top popular recordings 1932

1932 marked the lowest trough the recording industry would experience during the Great Depression, as the record industry struggled for its existence. Only Victor, ARC and Columbia released records, and Columbia would be in bankruptcy by 1934. In the United States, revenues went from 104 million units in 1927 to 6 million in 1932, and did not start to rebound until 1937. The top selling records of 1929 ranged from $500,000 and up, fell under $100,000 in 1930, $60k in 1931 and $20k in 1932, where they stayed for several years. Keep this in mind when reviewing sales figures. You may also notice less artists and records. Record companies were afraid of taking more losses, such as gambling on new artists and new styles. Three of the six top selling 10" 78s were recorded by Jimmie Rodgers, who would die of Tuberculosis in May 1933. They can be found on the 1932 Country (Hillbilly) page.
The top popular records of 1932 listed below were compiled from Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890–1954, record sales reported on the "Discography of American Historical Recordings" website, and other sources as specified. Numerical rankings are approximate, there were no Billboard charts in 1932, the numbers are only used for a frame of reference.
RankArtistTitleLabelRecordedReleasedChart positions
1Ted Lewis and His Band"In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town"Columbia 2652-DUS Billboard 1932 #1, US #1 for 10 weeks, 22 total weeks
2Bing Crosby"Please"Brunswick 6394US Billboard 1932 #3, US #1 for 6 weeks, 16 total weeks
3Leo Reisman and His Orchestra "Paradise"Victor 22904US Billboard 1932 #2, US #1 for 6 weeks, 17 total weeks
4Leo Reisman and His Orchestra"The Night Was Made for Love"Victor 22869US Billboard 1932 #4, US #10 for 1 week, 4 total weeks, 17,010 sales
5Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians"We Just Couldn't Say Goodbye"Brunswick 6350US Billboard 1932 #5, US #1 for 5 weeks, 8 total weeks
6Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra "All of Me"Victor 22879US Billboard 1932 #6, US #1 for 3 weeks, 10 total weeks, 12,161 sales
7Louis Armstrong and His Orchestra"All of Me"Okeh 41552US Billboard 1932 #7, US #1 for 2 weeks, 18 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 2005
8Peter Van Steeden and His Orchestra"Home"Victor 22868US Billboard 1932 #8, US #2 for 3 weeks, 8 total weeks, 12,960 sales
9Jimmie Rodgers"Roll Along, Kentucky Moon"Victor 23651US Billboard 1932 #9, US #18 for 1 week, US Hillbilly 1932 #4, 12,448 sales
10Ted Black and His Orchestra"In a Shanty in Old Shanty Town"Victor 24050US Billboard 1932 #10, US #2 for 2 weeks, 7 total weeks, 12,396 sales
11Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians"Paradise"Brunswick 6290US Billboard 1932 #11, US #1 for 3 weeks, 10 total weeks
12Bing Crosby"Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?"Brunswick 6414US Billboard 1932 #12, US #1 for 2 weeks, 10 total weeks, National Recording Registry 2013, Grammy Hall of Fame 2005
13Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra "Let's Put Out the Lights (and Go to Sleep)"Victor 24140US Billboard 1932 #13, US #2 for 1 week, 6 total weeks, 11,942 sales
14Bing Crosby and The Mills Brothers"Dinah"Brunswick 6240US Billboard 1932 #14, US #1 for 2 weeks, 10 total weeks
15Bing Crosby with Isham Jones Orchestra"Sweet Georgia Brown"Brunswick 6320US Billboard 1932 #15, US #2 for 3 weeks, 10 total weeks
16Kate Smith with Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians"River Stay 'Way from My Door"Columbia 2578US Billboard 1932 #16, US #1 for 2 weeks, 10 total weeks
17George Olsen and His Music"Lullaby of the Leaves"Victor 22998US Billboard 1932 #17, US #1 for 2 weeks, 10 total weeks, 11,101 sales
18Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians"Too Many Tears"Brunswick 6261US Billboard 1932 #18, US #1 for 2 weeks, 9 total weeks
19George Olsen and His Music"Say it Isn't So"Victor 24124US Billboard 1932 #19, US #1 for 2 weeks, 9 total weeks, 10,870 sales
20Rudy Vallee and His Connecticut Yankees"Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?"Columbia 2725-DUS Billboard 1932 #20, US #1 for 2 weeks, 8 total weeks, National Recording Registry 2013
21Jimmie Grier and the Cocoanut Grove Orchestra "One Hour with You"Victor 22971US Billboard 1932 #21, US #2 for 3 weeks, 11 total weeks, 10,342 sales
22Rudy Vallee and His Connecticut YankeesI Guess I'll Have to Change My PlanColumbia 2700-DUS Billboard 1932 #22, US #2 for 3 weeks, 10 total weeks

Top [blues] recordings

Classical music

Opera

Film

[Musical theater]

After Dinner London revue opened at the Gaiety Theatre on October 21L'Auberge Du Cheval Blanc Paris productionBall im Savoy. Berlin productionBallyhoo London revue opened at the Comedy Theatre on December 22Casanova London productionThe Cat and the Fiddle London production opened at the Palace Theatre on March 4 and ran for 329 performancesThe Dubarry

[Musical film]s

Carmen, starring Marguerite NamaraGirl Crazy, starring Dorothy Lee, Robert Quillan, Mitzi Green and Kitty KellyGoodnight, Vienna, starring Jack Buchanan and Anna NeagleGräfin Mariza, starring Dorothea Wieck, Hubert Marischka and Charlotte AnderGrün ist die Heide, starring Camilla Spira, Peter Voß and Theodor LoosKiki, starring Anny Ondra and Hermann Thimig and directed by Carl Lamac, with music by Rolf Marbot and lyrics by Bert ReisfeldLooking on the Bright Side, starring Gracie FieldsLove Me Tonight, starring Maurice Chevalier and Jeanette MacDonaldThe Maid of the Mountains, starring Nancy Brown and Harry WelchmanThe Midshipmaid, starring Jessie MatthewsMonte Carlo Madness, starring Sari Maritza and Hans Albers and featuring the Comedian HarmonistsOne Hour with You, starring Jeanette MacDonald, Maurice Chevalier, Genevieve Tobin and Charles RugglesPergolesi, starring Elio Steiner, Dria Paola and Tina Lattanzi, directed by Guido Brignone, with music by Giovanni Battista PergolesiThe Phantom President, starring George M. Cohan, Claudette Colbert and Jimmy Durante. Directed by Norman TaurogSehnsucht 202, starring Luise RainerUnshudat al-Fu'ad, starring Nadra

Births

Deaths