1933 in music


This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1933.

Specific locations

1933 USA pop songs

Specific genres

Events

Published popular music

Top popular recordings 1933

There were many talented writers, producers and performers in the music industry during 1933, but record sales were very low, although higher than 1932, and work was hard to find. Most of the records released came from Radio Corporation of America (Victor) and American Record Corporation, through its premium, with a trickle from Columbia. Four of the top five records paired one of the label's top vocalists with a headline band, Lombardo and Ray Noble. Victor also featured Howard Arlen, composer of "Stormy Weather" as vocalist with house band Reisman. This tactic was extremely successful in stimulating sales in the depressed economic conditions.
The top popular records of 1933 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 1933, the numbers are only used for a frame of reference.
RankArtistTitleLabelRecordedReleasedChart positions
1Leo Reisman and His Orchestra, vocal refrain by Fred Astaire"Night and Day"Victor 24193US Billboard 1933 #1, US #1 for 10 weeks, 18 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 2004, Jazz Standards 1932, 22,811 sales reported by Victor was top-selling record for 1933.
2George Olsen and His Music "The Last Roundup"Columbia 2791-DUS Billboard 1933 #2, US #1 for 9 weeks, 24 total weeks
3Leo Reisman and His Orchestra, vocal refrain by Harold Arlen"Stormy Weather"Victor 24262US Billboard 1933 #3, US #1 for 8 weeks, 19 total weeks
4Ray Noble and his New Mayfair Orchestra, vocal refrain by Al Bowlly"Love Is the Sweetest Thing"Victor 24333US Billboard 1933 #4, US #1 for 5 weeks, 16 total weeks
5Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians with Bing Crosby"You're Getting to Be a Habit with Me"Brunswick 6472US Billboard 1933 #5, US #1 for 4 weeks, 14 total week
6Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra, vocal refrain by Irene Taylor"Willow Weep for Me"Victor 24187US Billboard 1933 #6, US #2 for 2 weeks, 7 total weeks, Jazz Standards 1932, 8,292 sales.
7Ethel Waters"Stormy Weather"Brunswick 6564US Billboard 1933 #7, US #1 for 3 weeks, 11 total weeks, Added to National Recording Registry 2004, Grammy Hall of Fame 2003
8Ray Noble and His New Mayfair Dance Orchestra, vocal refrain by Al Bowlly"The Old Spinning Wheel"Victor 24357US Billboard 1933 #8, US #1 for 3 weeks, 22 total weeks
9Ted Lewis and His Band"Lazybones"Columbia 2786-DUS Billboard 1933 #9, US #1 for 4 weeks, 11 total weeks
10Bing Crosby"Shadow Waltz"Brunswick 6599US Billboard 1933 #10, US #1 for 2 weeks, 8 total weeks
11Don Bestor and His Orchestra"Forty-Second Street"Victor 24253US Billboard 1933 #11, US #1 for 3 weeks, 12 total weeks
12Eddy Duchin and His Orchestra"Did You Ever See a Dream Walking"Victor 24477US Billboard 1933 #12, US #1 for 3 weeks, 6 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 1998
13Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians"The Last Round-up"Brunswick 6662US Billboard 1933 #13, US #1 for 3 weeks, 8 total weeks
14Duke Ellington And His Famous Orchestra"Sophisticated Lady"Brunswick 6600US Billboard 1933 #14, US #1 for 5 weeks, 15 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 2007
15Bing Crosby"Thanks"Brunswick 6643US Billboard 1933 #15, US #2 for 2 weeks, 7 total weeks
16Bing Crosby with Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians"Young and Healthy"Brunswick 6472US Billboard 1933 #16, US #2 for 2 weeks, 7 total weeks
17Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians"Stormy Weather "Brunswick 6550US Billboard 1933 #17, US #2 for 4 weeks, 10 total weeks
18Eddy Duchin and His Orchestra"Night And Day"Brunswick 6445US Billboard 1933 #18, US #2 for 3 weeks, 8 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 1998
19Bing Crosby"Just an Echo in the Valley"Brunswick 6454US Billboard 1933 #19, US #2 for 2 weeks, 11 total weeks
20Duke Ellington And His Famous Orchestra"Stormy Weather "Brunswick 6600US Billboard 1933 #20, US #1 for 5 weeks, 15 total weeks, Grammy Hall of Fame 2007
21Don Bestor and His Orchestra"The Last Round-Up"Victor 24391US Billboard 1933 #21, US #2 for 2 weeks, 10 total weeks
22Don Bestor and His Orchestra"Who's Afraid Of The Big Bad Wolf?"Victor 24410US Billboard 1933 #22, US #2 for 2 weeks, 8 total weeks
23Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians"Annie Doesn't Live Here Anymore"Brunswick 6662US Billboard 1933 #23, US #2 for 2 weeks, 8 total weeks
24Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians"Did You Ever See a Dream Walking"Brunswick 6713US Billboard 1933 #20, US #2 for 2 weeks, 7 total weeks

Classical music

Compositions

Opera

Film

[Musical theatre]

As Thousands Cheer. Broadway revue opened at the Music Box Theatre on September 30 and ran for 400 performancesBall At The Savoy. London production opened at the Drury Lane Theatre on September 8 and ran for 96 performances.Bezauberndes Fräulein. Musical comedy opened at the Volkstheater, Vienna on May 24.Command Performance London production opened at the Saville Theatre on October 17 and ran for 31 performancesGay Divorce. London production opened at the Palace Theatre on November 2 and ran for 180 performancesGive Me a Ring London production opened at the Hippodrome on June 22 and ran for 239 performances.He Wanted Adventure London production opened at the Saville Theatre on March 28 and ran for 152 performances

[Musical film]s

42nd Street, starring Warner Baxter, Bebe Daniels, George Brent, Ruby Keeler, Una Merkel, Ginger Rogers and Dick PowellAdorable, starring Janet Gaynor, Henry Garat and C. Aubrey Smith. Directed by William Dieterle.Adventures on the Lido, starring Alfred Piccaver, S. Z. Sakall and Nora Gregor, directed by Richard Oswald, with music by Bronislau KaperAunt Sally, starring Cicely Courtneidge and Sam Hardy and featuring Debroy Somers and his Band. Directed by Tim Whelan.A Bedtime Story, starring Maurice Chevalier, Helen Twelvetrees, Edward Everett Horton and Baby LeRoy.A Song Goes Round the World, starring Joseph SchmidtBitter Sweet, starring Anna Neagle, Fernand Gravey and Ivy St HelierBorn Lucky, starring Talbot O'Farrell and René RayBroadway Thru a Keyhole starring Constance Cummings, Russ Columbo, Paul Kelly, Eddie Foy Jr., Blossom Seeley, Gregory Ratoff and Texas Guinan and featuring Frances Williams with Abe Lyman & his Orchestra. Directed by Lowell Sherman.College Humor released July 5, starring Bing Crosby, Jack Oakie, Mary Carlisle, George Burns, Gracie Allen and Mary Kornman.Dancing Lady starring Joan Crawford, Clark Gable, Franchot Tone and Robert Benchley and featuring Fred Astaire, Art Jarrett and Nelson Eddy.

Births

Deaths