Through the strength of the Internet, music discovery has become an easy, carefree experience. Freedom of choice has been combined with freedom from drudgery, as various services construct playlists for users who want new content for the moment, in the moment. I count myself among this crowd, ever hungry for the next best sound. Meanwhile, curiosity about what preceded present sounds has led to a re-discovery of the sounds of past decades. The 70s, 80s and 90s have each benefitted from those who either lived them, or wish fervently that they did. This is also a camp i’ve dwelt in since high school. Recently, however, I was suddenly drawn to open the bottle of sounds from the 1920s and 30s, a period that, but for the careful hand of preservation, might have been undiscovered by my ears.
One of the things I love about discovery is its expansive nature. It seems that when you start out upon a singular path, more avenues open up to you. For me, Googling where I could listen to examples of 20s and 30s music led me to come upon viable resources. Foremost of these has been Radio Dismuke, an Internet station that plays only 1920s and 30s music, of varying styles. Archive.org has also been a source of music, as has the National Jukebox, maintained by the Library of Congress. With the journey well underway, I wish to use this space to document what I feel are great examples of 20s and 30s music. I may also use this space to touch upon my exploration of sounds old and new on vinyl, though probably not as old as the 20s/30s. These journeys will explore tracks both instrumental and vocal, and I look forward to offering my perspective.
Music Through the Mists of Time 