Culture writer Martin Chilton defines the term "Great American Songbook" as follows: "Tunes of Broadway musical theatre, Hollywood movie musicals and Tin Pan Alley (the hub of songwriting that was the music publishers' row on New York's West 28th Street)". Chilton adds that these songs "became the core repertoire of jazz musicians" during the period that "stretched roughly from 1920 to 1960".[2]
Notes1933 | "42nd Street" | | | |
1935 | "About a Quarter to Nine" | | | |
1944 | "Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive" | | | |
1957 | "" | | | |
1929 | "Ain't Misbehavin'" | | | |
1927 | "Ain't She Sweet" | | | |
1960 | "Ain't That a Kick in the Head" | | | |
1921 | "Ain't We Got Fun" | | | |
1924 | "Alabamy Bound" | | | [11] [12] |
1911 | "Alexander's Ragtime Band" | | | |
1921 | "All by Myself" | | | |
1934 | "All I Do Is Dream of You" | | | [13] |
1954 | "All of You" | | | |
1939 | "All or Nothing at All" | | | |
1939 | "All the Things You Are" | | | |
1957 | "All the Way" | | | |
1934 | "All Through the Night" | | | |
1947 | "Almost Like Being in Love" | | | |
1932 | "Alone Together" | | | |
1925 | "Always" | | | |
1934 | "Anything Goes" | | | |
1946 | "Anything You Can Do (I Can Do Better)" | | | |
1932 | "April In Paris" | | | |
1957 | "April Love" | | | |
1956 | "Around the World" | | | |
1931 | "As Time Goes By" | | | |
1941 | "At Last" | | | |
1946 | "Autumn Leaves" | | | |
1934 | "Autumn In New York" | | | |
1949 | "Baby, It's Cold Outside" | | | [14] [15] |
1949 | "Bali Ha'i" | | | |
1929 | "Basin Street Blues" | | | |
1942 | "Be Careful! It's My Heart" | | | |
1935 | "Begin the Beguine" | | | |
1959 | | | | |
1927 | | | | |
1940 | "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered" | | | |
1930 | "Beyond the Blue Horizon" | | | |
1930 | "Bidin' My Time" | | | |
1924 | "Big Bad Bill (Is Sweet William Now)" | | | |
1962 | "Big Spender" | | | |
1926 | | | | |
1948 | "Black Coffee" | | | |
1934 | "Blame It on My Youth" | | | |
1953 | "Blue Gardenia" | | | |
1934 | "Blue Moon" | | | |
1926 | "Blue Room" | | | |
1926 | "Blue Skies" | | | |
1941 | "Blues in the Night" | | | |
1930 | "Body and Soul" | | | |
1941 | "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" | | | |
1933 | "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" | | | |
1944 | | | | |
1926 | "Breezin' Along with the Breeze" | | | |
1932 | "Brother, Can You Spare a Dime?" | | | |
1947 | "But Beautiful" | | | |
1930 | "But Not for Me" | | | |
1928 | "Button Up Your Overcoat" | | | |
1948 | "Buttons and Bows" | | | |
1967 | "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" | | | |
1926 | "Bye Bye Blackbird" | | | |
1962 | "Call Me Irresponsible" | | | |
1962 | "Can't Get Used to Losing You" | | | |
1929 | "Can't We Be Friends?" | | | |
1933 | "(The) Carioca" | | | |
1922 | "Carolina in the Morning" | | | |
1938 | "Change Partners" | | | |
1941 | "Chattanooga Choo Choo" | | | |
1935 | "Cheek to Cheek" | | | |
1945 | "The Christmas Song" | | | |
1959 | "Climb Every Mountain" | | | |
1958 | "Come Fly with Me" | | | |
1946 | "Come Rain or Come Shine" | | | |
1954 | "Count Your Blessings (Instead of Sheep)" | | | |
1928 | "Crazy Rhythm" | | | |
1931 | "Dancing in the Dark" | | | |
1930 | "Dancing on the Ceiling" | | | |
1939 | "Darn That Dream" | | | |
1945 | "Day by Day" | | | |
1939 | "Day In, Day Out" | | | |
1963 | "Days of Wine and Roses" | | | |
1942 | "Dearly Beloved" | | | |
1933 | "Deep Purple" | | | |
1949 | "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend" | | | |
1959 | "Do-Re-Mi" | | | |
1932 | "Don't Blame Me" | | | [16] |
1934 | "Don't Fence Me in" | | | |
1940 | "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" | | | |
1962 | "Don't Make Me Over" | | | |
1964 | "Don't Rain on My Parade" | | | |
1942 | "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree" | | | |
1944 | "Dream" | | | |
1931 | "Dream a Little Dream of Me" | | | |
1933 | "Easter Parade" | | | |
1937 | "Easy Living" | | | |
1959 | "Edelweiss" | | | |
1928 | "Embraceable You" | | | |
1959 | "Everything's Coming Up Roses" | | | |
1944 | "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye" | | | |
1930 | "Exactly Like You" | | | |
1938 | "Falling in Love With Love" | | | |
1924 | "Fascinating Rhythm" | | | |
1936 | | | | |
1954 | | | | |
1937 | | | | [17] |
1937 | | | | |
1940 | "Fools Rush In" | | | |
1931 | "For All We Know" | | | |
1945 | "(I Love You) For Sentimental Reasons" | | | |
1950 | "From This Moment On" | | | |
1930 | "Georgia on My Mind" | | | [18] |
1930 | "Get Happy" | | | |
1951 | "Getting to Know You" | | | |
1929 | "Glad Rag Doll" | | | |
1936 | "Glad to Be Unhappy" | | | |
1936 | "The Glory of Love" | | | |
1938 | "God Bless America" | | | |
1933 | "The Gold Diggers' Song (We're in the Money)" | | | |
1937 | "Gone with the Wind" | | | |
1939 | "Good Morning" | | | |
1931 | "Guilty" | | | |
1937 | | | | |
1951 | "Half as Much" | | | |
1943 | "Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe" | | | |
1930 | "Happy Days Are Here Again" | | | |
1949 | "Happy Talk" | | | |
1924 | "Hard Hearted Hannah (The Vamp of Savannah)" | | | |
1937 | "Have You Met Miss Jones?" | | | |
1944 | "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" | | | |
1938 | "Heart and Soul" | | | [19] |
1933 | "Heat Wave" | | | |
1937 | "Heigh-Ho" | | | |
1964 | "Hello, Dolly!" | | | |
1951 | "Hello, Young Lovers" | | | |
1953 | "Here's That Rainy Day" | | | |
1960 | "Hey, Look Me Over" | | | |
1929 | "Honey" | | | |
1929 | "Honeysuckle Rose" | | | |
1937 | "Hooray for Hollywood" | | | |
1941 | "How About You?" | | | |
1946 | "How Are Things in Glocca Morra?" | | | |
1932 | "How Deep is the Ocean?" | | | |
1940 | "How High the Moon" | | | |
1927 | "How Long Has This Been Going On?" | | | |
1936 | "I Can't Escape from You" | | | |
1936 | "I Can't Get Started" | | | |
1928 | "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" | | | |
1939 | "I Concentrate on You" | | | |
1956 | "I Could Have Danced All Night" | | | |
1940 | "I Could Write a Book" | | | |
1933 | "I Cover the Waterfront" | | | |
1939 | "I Didn't Know What Time It Was" | | | |
1931 | "I Don't Know Why (I Just Do)" | | | |
1932 | "I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance with You" | | | |
1958 | "I Enjoy Being a Girl" | | | |
1944 | "I Fall in Love Too Easily" | | | |
1931 | "I Found a Million Dollar Baby" | | | |
1934 | "I Get a Kick Out of You" | | | |
1934 | "I Got Plenty o' Nuttin'" | | | |
1930 | "I Got Rhythm" | | | |
1932 | "I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues" | | | |
1944 | "I Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out to Dry" | | | |
1929 | "I Guess I'll Have to Change My Plan" | | | |
1942 | "I Had the Craziest Dream" | | | |
1951 | "I Have Dreamed" | | | |
1941 | "I Know Why (And So Do You)" | | | |
1962 | "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" | | | |
1933 | "I Like the Likes of You" | | | |
1934 | "I Only Have Eyes for You" | | | |
1941 | "I Remember You" | | | |
1937 | "I See Your Face Before Me" | | | |
1951 | "I Talk to the Trees" | | | |
1939 | "I Thought About You" | | | |
1959 | "I Wanna Be Around" | | | |
1928 | "I Wanna Be Loved by You" | | | |
1925 | "I Want to Be Happy" | | | |
1960 | "If Ever I Would Leave You" | | | |
1945 | "If I Loved You" | | | |
1939 | "If I Only Had a Brain" | | | |
1950 | "If I Were a Bell" | | | |
1966 | "If My Friends Could See Me Now" | | | |
1943 | "I'll Be Home for Christmas" | | | |
1938 | "I'll Be Seeing You" | | | |
1924 | "I'll See You in My Dreams" | | | [20] [21] |
1934 | "I'll String Along with You" | | | |
1944 | "I'm Beginning to See the Light" | | | |
1935 | "I'm in the Mood for Love" | | | |
1945 | "I'm Just a Lucky So-and-So" | | | |
1921 | "I'm Just Wild About Harry" | | | |
1925 | "I'm Sitting on Top of the World" | | | |
1940 | "Imagination" | | | |
1926 | "In a Little Spanish Town" | | | |
1935 | "In a Sentimental Mood" | | | |
1951 | "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening" | | | |
1937 | "In the Still of the Night" | | | |
1955 | "Innamorata" | | | |
1932 | "Isn't It Romantic?" | | | |
1935 | "It Ain't Necessarily So" | | | |
1926 | "It All Depends on You" | | | |
1944 | "It Could Happen to You" | | | |
1931 | "It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" | | | |
1924 | "It Had to Be You" | | | |
1941 | "It Happened in Sun Valley" | | | |
1945 | "It Might as Well Be Spring" | | | |
1940 | "It Never Entered My Mind" | | | |
1948 | "It's a Most Unusual Day" | | | |
1953 | "It's All Right with Me" | | | |
1936 | "It's De-Lovely" | | | |
1935 | "It's Easy To Remember" | | | |
1933 | "It's Only a Paper Moon" | | | |
1930 | "I've Got a Crush on You" | | | |
1937 | "I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm" | | | |
1932 | "I've Got the World on a String" | | | |
1936 | "I've Got You Under My Skin" | | | |
1962 | "I've Got Your Number" | | | |
1956 | "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face" | | | |
1920 | | | | |
1938 | "Jeepers Creepers" | | | |
1938 | "Jumpin' at the Woodside" | | | |
1956 | "Just in Time" | | | |
1935 | "Just One of Those Things" | | | |
1933 | "Keep Young and Beautiful" | | | |
1942 | "" | | | |
1935 | | | | |
1937 | | | | |
1940 | "The Last Time I Saw Paris" | | | [22] |
1945 | "Laura" | | | |
1930 | "Lazy River" | | | |
1945 | "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" | | | |
1937 | "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off" | | | |
1928 | "Let's Do It, Let's Fall in Love" | | | |
1936 | "Let's Face the Music and Dance" | | | |
1933 | "Let's Fall in Love" | | | |
1932 | "Let's Put Out the Lights (and Go to Sleep)" | | | |
1944 | "Like Someone in Love" | | | |
1935 | "Little Girl Blue" | | | |
1930 | "Little White Lies" | | | |
1944 | "Long Ago (and Far Away)" | | | |
1919 | "Look for the Silver Lining" | | | |
1923 | "Louisville Lou (That Vampin' Lady)" | | | [23] |
1930 | "Love for Sale" | | | |
1955 | "Love is a Many-Splendored Thing" | | | |
1938 | "Love Is Here to Stay" | | | |
1931 | "Love Is Sweeping the Country" | | | |
1932 | "Love Is the Sweetest Thing" | | | |
1945 | "Love Letters" | | | |
1931 | "Love Letters in the Sand" | | | |
1928 | "Love Me or Leave Me" | | | |
1937 | "Love Walked In" | | | |
1932 | "Lover" | | | |
1941 | "Lover Man" | | | |
1928 | "Lover, Come Back to Me" | | | |
1950 | "Luck Be a Lady" | | | |
1952 | "Lullaby of Birdland" | | | |
1935 | "Lullaby of Broadway" | | | |
1935 | "Lulu's Back In Town" | | | |
1939 | "Lydia the Tattooed Lady" | | | |
1932 | "Mad About the Boy" | | | |
1928 | "Makin' Whoopee" | | | |
1953 | | | | |
1925 | "Manhattan" | | | |
1924 | | | | |
1927 | "Me and My Shadow" | | | |
1955 | "Memories Are Made of This" | | | |
1930 | "Memories of You" | | | |
1954 | "Midnight Sun" | | | |
1932 | "Mimi" | | | |
1931 | "Minnie the Moocher" | | | |
1935 | "Miss Brown to You" | | | |
1934 | "Miss Otis Regrets" | | | |
1954 | "Misty" | | | |
1950 | "Mona Lisa" | | | |
1930 | "Mood Indigo" | | | |
1961 | "Moon River" | | | |
1934 | "Moonglow" | | | |
1942 | "Moonlight Becomes You" | | | |
1944 | "Moonlight in Vermont" | | | |
1939 | "Moonlight Serenade" | | | |
1929 | "More Than You Know" | | | |
1945 | | | | |
1935 | | | | |
1925 | "Mountain Greenery" | | | |
1930 | "My Baby Just Cares for Me" | | | |
1927 | "My Blue Heaven" | | | |
1949 | "My Dream Is Yours" | | | |
1959 | "My Favorite Things" | | | |
1949 | "My Foolish Heart" | | | |
1937 | "My Funny Valentine" | | | |
1938 | "My Heart Belongs to Daddy" | | | |
1927 | "My Heart Stood Still" | | | |
1918 | "My Mammy" | | | |
1953 | "My One and Only Love" | | | |
1935 | "My Romance" | | | |
1925 | "My Yiddishe Momme" | | | |
1928 | "Nagasaki" | | | |
1938 | | | | |
1967 | "Never My Love" | | | |
1931 | "Nevertheless" | | | |
1944 | "New York, New York" | | | |
1937 | "Nice Work if You Can Get it" | | | |
1932 | "Night and Day" | | | |
1931 | "Of Thee I Sing" | | | |
1918 | "Oh! How I Hate to Get Up in the Morning" | | | |
1943 | "Oh What a Beautiful Mornin'" | | | |
1911 | "Oh, You Beautiful Doll" | | | |
1927 | "Ol' Man River" | | | |
1946 | "The Old Lamp-Lighter" | | | |
1946 | "Ole Buttermilk Sky" | | | |
1965 | "On a Clear Day (You Can See Forever)" | | | |
1947 | "On Green Dolphin Street" | | | |
1945 | "On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe" | | | |
1934 | "On the Good Ship Lollipop" | | | |
1956 | "On the Street Where You Live" | | | |
1930 | "On the Sunny Side of the Street" | | | |
1943 | "One for My Baby" | | | |
1962 | "Our Day Will Come" | | | |
1944 | "Out of This World" | | | |
1939 | "Over the Rainbow" | | | |
1929 | "Pagan Love Song" | | | |
1931 | "Paradise" | | | |
1956 | | | | |
1936 | "Pennies From Heaven" | | | |
1964 | "People" | | | |
1943 | "People Will Say We're in Love" | | | |
1936 | "Pick Yourself Up" | | | |
1940 | "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" | | | |
1942 | "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition" | | | |
1919 | | | | |
1930 | "Puttin' on the Ritz" | | | |
1953 | "Rags to Riches" | | | |
1962 | "Ramblin' Rose" | | | |
1929 | "Rockin' Chair" | | | |
1944 | "'Round Midnight" | | | |
1944 | "Rum and Coca-Cola" | | | |
1927 | "'S Wonderful" | | | |
1934 | "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" | | | |
1953 | "Satin Doll" | | | |
1944 | "Saturday Night (Is the Loneliest Night of the Week)" | | | |
1932 | "Say It Isn't So" | | | |
1922 | "Second Hand Rose" | | | |
1944 | "Sentimental Journey" | | | |
1935 | "September in the Rain" | | | |
1938 | "September Song" | | | |
1942 | "Serenade in Blue" | | | |
1965 | | | | |
1951 | "Shall We Dance?" | | | |
1935 | "She's a Latin from Manhattan" | | | |
1929 | "She's (He's) Funny That Way" | | | |
1929 | | | | |
1929 | "Singin' in the Rain" | | | |
1941 | "Skylark" | | | |
1937 | "Slap That Bass" | | | |
1948 | "" | | | |
1933 | "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" | | | |
1948 | "So in Love" | | | |
1949 | "Some Enchanted Evening" | | | |
1924 | "Somebody Loves Me" | | | |
1937 | "Someday My Prince Will Come" | | | |
1926 | "Someone to Watch Over Me" | | | |
1951 | "Something Wonderful" | | | |
1954 | "Something's Gotta Give" | | | |
1927 | "Sometimes I'm Happy" | | | |
1932 | | | | |
1928 | "Sonny Boy" | | | |
1932 | "Sophisticated Lady" | | | |
1959 | | | | |
1939 | "South American Way" | | | |
1930 | "Spring Is Here" | | | |
1925 | "Squeeze Me" | | | |
1922 | "Stairway to Paradise" | | | |
1939 | "Stairway to the Stars" | | | |
1956 | "Standing on the Corner" | | | |
1927 | "Stardust" | | | |
1934 | "Stars Fell on Alabama" | | | |
1944 | "Stella by Starlight" | | | |
1948 | "Steppin' Out with My Baby" | | | |
1933 | "Stormy Weather" | | | |
1944 | "Straighten Up and Fly Right" | | | |
1927 | "Strike Up the Band" | | | |
1941 | "A String of Pearls" | | | |
1934 | "Summertime" | | | |
1943 | | | | |
1925 | "Sweet Georgia Brown" | | | |
1937 | "Sweet Leilani" | | | |
1928 | "Sweet Lorraine" | | | |
1944 | "Swinging on a Star" | | | |
1939 | "Take the 'A' Train" | | | |
1940 | "Taking a Chance on Love" | | | |
1941 | "Tangerine" | | | |
1924 | "Tea for Two" | | | |
1933 | "Temptation" | | | |
1962 | "Tender is the Night" | | | |
1955 | "" | | | |
1957 | "Thank Heaven for Little Girls" | | | |
1938 | "Thanks for the Memory" | | | |
1925 | "That Certain Feeling" | | | |
1942 | "That Old Black Magic" | | | |
1937 | "That Old Feeling" | | | |
1953 | "That's Amore" | | | |
1952 | "That's Entertainment!" | | | |
1942 | "There Will Never Be Another You" | | | |
1936 | "There's a Small Hotel" | | | |
1946 | "There's No Business Like Show Business" | | | |
1936 | "These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)" | | | |
1951 | "They Call the Wind Maria" | | | |
1937 | "They Can't Take That Away from Me" | | | |
1946 | | | | |
1927 | "Thinking of You" | | | |
1938 | "This Can't Be Love" | | | |
1968 | "This Guy's in Love with You" | | | |
1946 | "This Heart of Mine" | | | |
1941 | "This Time the Dream's on Me" | | | |
1927 | "Thou Swell" | | | |
1930 | "Three Little Words" | | | |
1931 | | | | |
1918 | "Till We Meet Again" | | | |
1947 | "Time After Time" | | | |
1930 | "Time on My Hands" | | | |
1929 | "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" | | | |
1948 | "Too Darn Hot" | | | |
1937 | "Too Marvelous for Words" | | | |
1935 | "Top Hat, White Tie and Tails" | | | |
1913 | | | | |
1944 | | | | |
1939 | "Tuxedo Junction" | | | |
1938 | "Two Sleepy People" | | | |
1925 | "Ukulele Lady" | | | |
1955 | "Unchained Melody" | | | |
1932 | "Underneath the Arches" | | | |
1951 | "Unforgettable" | | | |
1936 | "Until the Real Thing Comes Along" | | | |
1934 | | | | |
1963 | "Walk On By" | | | |
1936 | | | | |
1934 | "What a Diff'rence a Day Makes" | | | |
1926 | "What Can I Say After I Say I'm Sorry?" | | | |
1929 | "What Is This Thing Called Love?" | | | |
1923 | "What'll I Do" | | | |
1952 | "When I Fall in Love" | | | |
1912 | "When I Lost You" | | | |
1940 | "When You Wish Upon a Star" | | | |
1937 | "Where Are You?" | | |
1937 | "Where or When" | | | |
1937 | "Whistle While You Work" | | | |
1942 | "White Christmas" | | | |
1923 | "Who's Sorry Now?" | | | |
1968 | "Wichita Lineman" | | | |
1934 | "Winter Wonderland" | | | |
1957 | "Witchcraft" | | | |
1930 | "With a Song in My Heart" | | | |
1937 | "With Plenty of Money and You" | | | |
1929 | "Without a Song" | | | |
1949 | | | | |
1930 | "Would You Like to Take a Walk?" | | | |
1925 | "Yes Sir, That's My Baby" | | | |
1933 | "Yesterdays" | | | |
1934 | "You and the Night and the Music" | | | |
1935 | "You Are My Lucky Star" | | | |
1932 | "You Are Too Beautiful" | | | |
1929 | "You Do Something to Me" | | | |
1938 | "You Go to My Head" | | | [24] |
1946 | "You Make Me Feel So Young" | | | |
1938 | "You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby" | | | |
1934 | "You Oughta Be in Pictures" | | | |
1940 | "You Stepped Out of a Dream" | | | |
1928 | "You Took Advantage of Me" | | | |
1929 | "You Were Meant for Me" | | | |
1934 | "You'd Be So Easy to Love" | | | |
1942 | "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To" | | | |
1943 | "You'll Never Know" | | | |
1945 | "You'll Never Walk Alone" | | | |
1933 | "Young and Healthy" | | | |
1953 | "Young at Heart" | | | |
1949 | "Younger Than Springtime" | | | |
1930 | "You're Driving Me Crazy" | | | |
1933 | "You're Getting to Be a Habit with Me" | | | |
1931 | "You're My Everything" | | | |
1928 | "You're the Cream in My Coffee" | | | |
1934 | "You're the Top" | | | |
1946 | "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah" | | | | |
Other pop singers who established themselves in the 1960s or later followed with albums reviving songs from the Great American Songbook, beginning with Harry Nilsson's A Little Touch of Schmilsson in the Night in 1973[28] and continuing into the 21st century. Linda Ronstadt (1983 though 1986), Rod Stewart (2002 through 2005), Bob Dylan (2015 through 2017) and Lady Gaga (2014 and 2021) made several such albums. Of Ronstadt's 1983 album, What's New, her first in a trilogy of standards albums recorded with arranger/conductor Nelson Riddle, Stephen Holden of The New York Times wrote: