theDIHEDRAL Playlist

Each month, I’m creating a new climbing playlist for each decade going all the way back to the 1920’s.  A hundred years of music!  Not necessarily the best songs from each decade, but songs that I can envision on road trips, at the crag, at the gym, on training days, and on the send train. 

January saw some smashes from the 1920’s, and February moves us into the 1930’s.  I can’t say I’m an expert on the1930’s, but my grandparents were huge fans of this golden age of music.  It was rare to visit them without some of their favorites playing in the background.  My grandpa used to talk about the depth of big band orchestras, and music composers from the 30’s and 40’s.  Him and my grandma were terrific dancers, and there wasn’t a single family wedding that didn’t find them decimating the dance floor with a sense of flow and grace while cutting it up to people like Glenn Miller or Artie Shaw (they probably wouldn’t have been overly impressed with modern classics such as Cardi B’s WAP).

I’m sure I could pick 50 songs from the 1930’s for a crag list, but…

I’m only picking ten songs from each decade.  So, if anyone has an extra song or two that belongs on the playlist, let me know and I’ll add it!!!

1930’s (In no particular order)

1. In the Mood – Glenn Miller
2. One O’Clock Jump – Count Basie
3. Begin The Beguine – Artie Shaw
4. Roll ‘Em Pete – Pete Johnson & Joe Turner
5. Boogie Woogie – Tommy Dorsey
6. It Don’t Mean A Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) – Duke Ellington (Ivie Anderson) / Mills Brothers
7. The Way You Look Tonight – Fred Astaire / Guy Lombardo / Teddy Wilson featuring Billie Holiday
8.  It’s A Sin To Tell A Lie – Fats Waller
9. (Hep-Hep!) The Jumpin’ Jive – Cab Calloway
10. Just A Gigolo – Ted Lewis / Ben Bernie / Bing Crosby

As noted, and as will continue to be noted, this project is impossible! I could have made an entire list of songs by Glenn Miller and another by Count Basie, and another by Tommy Dorsey. Music from the 30’s is so good.  I’m not trying to shit on mixing boards and autotune, but they were making MUSIC back then. If you haven’t listened to 1930’s big band before or haven’t listened in awhile, this playlist is a must! Apologies to songs like Minnie The Moocher – Cab Calloway, Inka Dinka Doo – Jimmy Durante, Moonlight Serenade – Glenn Miller and Sittin’ On Top Of The World – Mississippi Sheiks, but rules are rules!

You can find the 1930’s playlist HERE!