Here is a double album that represents the apogee of the decade known as “The Roaring Twenties”. It contains no fewer than the 48 biggest hits of the final two years before the world plunged into the Great Depression: music of happy hedonism can be enjoyed with each track performed by the original artists. 20 discs topped the best-sellers – the biggest being Al Jolson’s Sonny Boy in 1928 and Nick Lucas’s Tiptoe Through The Tulips in 1929 – while 16 songs were at No.1 in the sheet-music charts, headed by Ramona (Gene Austin) in ’28 and The Wedding Of The Painted Doll (Leo Reisman) in ’29. Dance band records by such as Paul Whiteman, Fred Waring and Nat Shilkret still commanded huge sales, but they were being equalled by such popular solo singers as Ruth Etting, Gene Austin, Helen Kane, Rudy Vallée and Cliff Edwards – all music that truly brings that fabulous era alive once more.

Contents:

CD 1
1. Among My Souvenirs
– Paul Whiteman
2. Diane
– Nat Shilkret
3. The Man I Love
– Marion Harris
4. Back In Your Own Back Yard
– Ruth Etting
5. Ol’ Man River
– Paul Whiteman with Bing Crosby
6. Laugh, Clown, Laugh!
– Fred Waring
7. Let A Smile Be Your Umbrella
– Roger Wolfe Kahn
8. Ramona
– Gene Austin
9. Sweet Sue, Just You
– Ben Pollack
10. Together
– Paul Whiteman
11. Ah, Sweet Mystery Of Life!
– Fred Waring
12. Girl Of My Dreams
– Gene Austin
13. That’s My Weakness Now
– Helen Kane
14. My Angel
– Paul Whiteman
15. The Sidewalks Of New York
– Nat Shilkret
16. Just Like A Melody Out Of The Sky
– Gene Austin
17. Sonny Boy
– Al Jolson
18. Get Out And Get Under The Moon
– Helen Kane
19. I Can’t Give You Anything But Love
– Cliff Edwards
20. Jeannine, I Dream Of Lilac Time
– Gene Austin
21. There’s A Rainbow ’Round My Shoulder
– Al Jolson
22. I Wanna Be Loved By You
– Helen Kane
23. The Song Is Ended, But The Melody Lingers On
– Ruth Etting

CD 2
1. Sweethearts On Parade
– Guy Lombardo
2. A Precious Little Thing Called Love
– George Olsen
3. Carolina Moon
– Gene Austin
4. You’re The Cream In My Coffee
– Ben Selvin
5. Love Me Or Leave Me
– Ruth Etting
6. Makin’ Whoopee!
– Eddie Cantor
7. Sleepy Valley
– James Melton
8. Button Up Your Overcoat
– Helen Kane
9. Marie
– Rudy Vallée
10. I’ll Get By
– Ruth Etting
11. You Were Meant For Me
– Nat Shilkret
12. I’ll Always Be In Love With You
– Fred Waring
13. Honey
– Rudy Vallée
14. The Wedding Of The Painted Doll
– Leo Reisman
15. Louise
– Maurice Chevalier
16. Tiptoe Through The Tulips
– Nick Lucas
17. Mean To Me
– Ruth Etting
18. Pagan Love Song
– Bob Haring
19. If I Had A Talking Picture Of You
– Paul Whiteman with Bing Crosby
20. Am I Blue?
– Ethel Waters
21. Singin’ In The Rain
– Cliff Edwards
22. Painting The Clouds With Sunshine
– Nick Lucas
23. Piccolo Pete
– Ted Weems
24. Ain’t Misbehavin’
– Louis Armstrong
25. Great Day!
– Paul Whiteman with Bing Crosby