Music Lists Are Us: Favorite '30s Songs by Year with brief comments

1939

Over the Rainbow by Judy Garland (big hit from The Wizard of Oz; Judy had a wonderful voice)

Body and Soul by Coleman Hawkins (the most legendary solo improvisation of all time)

Mbube by Solomon Linda (popular outside of Africa as "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" or "Wimoweh")

In The Mood by The Glenn Miller Band (one of the best-loved big band's biggest hits)

Strange Fruit by Billie Holiday (Time Magazine named it the best song of the century)

Moonlight Serenade by The Glenn Miller Band (a top 3 hit on the Billboard pop charts)

My Prayer by The Ink Spots (Glenn Miller also recorded it in '39; The Platters made it a hit in '56)

Tea for Two by Art Tatum (not a great song, per se, but Tatum turns it into a tour de force)

If I Didn't Care by The Ink Spots (it sold 19 million copies; Bill Kenny's tenor solo is that good)

Back in the Saddle Again by Gene Autry (originally written & sung by western actor, Ray Whitley)

1938

Bei Mir Bist du Schoen by The Andrews Sisters (1932 Yiddish song & The Andrews's 1st big hit) 

Two Sleepy People by Fats Waller (written by Hoagy Carmichael & Frank Loesser)

I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart by Duke Ellington (a #1 hit written and recorded by Duke & band)

Your Feet's Too Big by Fats Waller (the Ink Spots did it first; Waller made it his own when he did it)

A Tisket A Tasket by Ella Fitzgerald

This Train by Rosetta Tharpe (the criminally under-appreciated singer/electric guitar pioneer)

Jumpin' at the Woodside by Count Basie

1937

I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm by Billie Holiday

Nice Work If You Can Get It by Fred Astaire

Sing, Sing, Sing (With a Swing) by The Benny Goodman Band

One O'Clock Jump by The Count Basie Orchestra

They Can't Take That Away From Me by Fred Astaire

1936

Sweet Home Chicago by Robert Johnson

The Way You Look Tonight by Fred Astaire

Terraplane Blues by Robert Johnson

Summertime by Billie Holiday

Kind Hearted Woman Blues by Robert Johnson

Goodnight Irene by Huddie "Leadbelly" Ledbetter

Cross Road Blues by Robert Johnson

1935

Cheek to Cheek by Fred Astaire

In a Sentimental Mood by Duke Ellington

Can the Circle Be Unbroken by The Carter Family

I'm in the Mood for Love by Louis Armstrong

Top Hat, White Tie and Tails by Fred Astaire

1934

Tumbling Tumbleweeds by The Sons of the Pioneers

Honeysuckle Rose by Fats Waller

Smoke Gets in Your Eyes by Paul Whiteman

Stompin' at the Savoy by Chick Webb

1933

It's Only a Paper Moon by Cliff "Ukulele Ike" Edwards

Stormy Weather by Ethel Waters

Sophisticated Lady by Duke Ellington

I've Got the World On a String by Bing Crosby

1932

All of Me by Louis Armstrong (Mildred Bailey and Pops had #1 hits with this, just a few weeks apart )

Night and Day by Fred Astaire

It Don't Mean a Thing if It Ain't Got That Swing by Duke Ellington

A Ghost of a Chance With You by Bing Crosby

Brother, Can You Spare a Dime by Rudy Vallee

1931

Mood Indigo by Duke Ellington

Dream a Little Dream of Me by Ozzie Nelson (of Ozzie & Harriet fame; his was the first version)

Hard Time Killing Floor Blues by Skip James

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Se by Cab Calloway

1930

Up a Lazy River by Hoagy Carmichael

Body and Soul by Louis Armstrong

Blue Yodel No. 8 (Mule Skinner Blues) by Jimmie Rodgers

Veronika, der Lenz ist da by The Comedian Harmonists

Georgia On My Mind by Hoagy Carmichael

Anniversary Blue Yodel (Blue Yodel No. 7) by Jimmie Rodgers