This is a list of notable events in music that took place in 1931.
There were many talented writers, producers and performers in the music industry during 1931, but record sales were very low. After $75 million in sales during 1929, the stock market crash in October nearly destroyed the industry, after forty years of consistent operation. Sales fell to $18 million in 1930 and then $5.5 million in 1931, where they remained for the next four years. 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. Guy Lombardo's recording schedule was unaffected because his releases always sold well, but there were few new acts. Most of the records released in 1931 came from Radio Corporation of America (Victor), Columbia/Okeh, Brunswick (now owned by Warner Brothers Studios) and American Record Corporation (ARC), which featured discounted "dime store" labels.
The top popular records of 1931 listed below were compiled from Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890–1954,[11] 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 1931, the numbers are only used for a frame of reference.
| Rank | Artist | Title | Label | Recorded | Released | Chart Positions | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wayne King and His Orchestra (vocal Ernie Birchill) | "Good-night Sweetheart"[12] | Victor 22825 | US Billboard 1931 #1, US #1 for 7 weeks, 15 total weeks | |||
| 2 | "Mood Indigo"[13] | Victor 22587 | US Billboard 1931 #2, US #3 for 10 total weeks, 48,191 sales,[14] Grammy Hall of Fame in 1975 | ||||
| 3 | Gus Arnheim Coconut Grove Orchestra (vocal Donald Novis) | "Sweet And Lovely"[15] | Victor 22770 | US Billboard 1931 #3, US #1 for 6 weeks, 14 total weeks, 20,527 sales[16] | |||
| 4 | "Tiger Rag"[17] | Brunswick 6197 | US Billboard 1931 #4, US #1 for 4 weeks, 13 total weeks | ||||
| 5 | Wayne King and His Orchestra | "Dream a Little Dream of Me"[18] | Victor 22643 | US Billboard 1931 #5, US #1 for 4 weeks, 12 total weeks, 30,755 sales,[19] ASCAP song of 1930 | |||
| 6 | "Just One More Chance"[20] | Brunswick 6120 | US Billboard 1931 #6, US #1 for 2 weeks, 19 total weeks | ||||
| 7 | "By the River St. Marie"[21] | Columbia 2401-D | US Billboard 1931 #7, US #1 for 3 weeks, 11 total weeks | ||||
| 8 | Bing Crosby | "At Your Command"[22] | Brunswick 6145 | US Billboard 1931 #8, US #1 for 3 weeks, 9 total weeks | |||
| 9 | "When the Moon Comes Over the Mountain"[23] | Columbia 2516-D | US Billboard 1931 #9, US #1 for 2 weeks, 14 total weeks | ||||
| 10 | Gus Arnheim Coconut Grove Orchestra (vocal Bing Crosby) | "I Surrender Dear"[24] | Victor 22618 | US Billboard 1931 #10, US #3 for 3 weeks, 10 total weeks | |||
| 11 | Leo Reisman and His Orchestra (vocal Ben W. Gordon) | "Just a Gigolo"[25] | Victor 22606 | US Billboard 1931 #11, US #15 for 1 weeks, 2 total weeks, 39,618 sales[26] | |||
| 12 | "When Your Hair Has Turned To Silver"[27] | Victor 22588 | US Billboard 1931 #12, US #4 for 1 week, 12 total weeks, US Hillbilly 1931 #3, 38,805 sales[28] | ||||
| 13 | Wayne King and His Orchestra | "The Waltz You Saved for Me"[29] | Victor 22575 | US Billboard 1931 #13, US #4 for 1 week, 15 total weeks, 38,450 sales[30] | |||
| 14 | Bing Crosby | "Out of Nowhere"[31] | Brunswick 6090 | US Billboard 1931 #14, US #1 for 3 weeks, 8 total weeks | |||
| 15 | Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians | "(There Ought to Be a) Moonlight Saving Time"[32] | Columbia 2457-D | US Billboard 1931 #15, US #1 for 3 weeks, 8 total weeks | |||
| 16 | "Minnie the Moocher"[33] | Brunswick 6074 | US Billboard 1931 #16, US #1 for 1 week, 17 total weeks | ||||
| 17 | "Love For Sale"[34] | Victor 22598 | US Billboard 1931 #17, US #14 for 1 week, 2 total weeks, 34,465 sales[35] | ||||
| 18 | Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians | "I Found a Million Dollar Baby (in a Five and Ten Cent Store)"[36] | Victor 22707 | US Billboard 1931 #18, US #1 for 3 weeks, 6 total weeks, 20,769 sales[37] | |||
| 19 | Bing Crosby | "I Found a Million Dollar Baby (in a Five and Ten Cent Store)"[38] | Brunswick 6140 | US Billboard 1931 #19, US #1 for 3 weeks, 6 total weeks | |||
| 20 | Gus Arnheim Coconut Grove Orchestra (vocals Rhythm Boys) | "The Little Things In Life"[39] | Victor 22580 | US Billboard 1931 #20, US #4 for 1 week, 5 total weeks, 29,066 sales[40] | |||
| 21 | "Would You Like to Take a Walk?"[41] | Victor 22611 | US Billboard 1931 #21, US #4 for 1 week, 7 total weeks, 32,716 sales[42] | ||||
| 22 | Wayne King and His Orchestra | "Goofus"[43] | Victor 22600 | US Billboard 1931 #22, US #4 for 1 week, 15 total weeks, 38,450 sales[44] | |||
| 23 | Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians | "Good Night, Sweetheart"[45] | Columbia 2547-D | US Billboard 1931 #23, US #1 for 2 weeks, 11 total weeks | |||
| 24 | Rudy Vallee and His Connecticut Yankees | "When Yuba Plays the Rhumba on the Tuba"[46] | Victor 22742 | US Billboard 1931 #24, US #2 for 1 week, 7 total weeks, 27,402 sales[47] | |||
| 25 | Fred Waring's Pennsylvanians | "Dancing in the Dark"[48] | Victor 22708 | US Billboard 1931 #25, US #3 for 1 week, 11 total weeks, 26,928 sales[49] | |||
| 26 | "Just a Gigolo"[50] | Columbia 2378-D | US Billboard 1931 #26, US #1 for 2 weeks, 8 total weeks |
Autumn Crocus (incidental music)
Songs (Two), op. 49
Songs (Four), op. 53
Lisbon (Dublin Bay) (second setting)
Tribute to Foster
See main article: 1931 in jazz.
. Michael Kennedy (music critic). Notes to The Nursery Suite and other short pieces. London. EMI. 1989. 36262885.