Music Referenced in "The Finest Hat in the Whole World"

A Long Note From the Author

I love music of all types. My collection consists of the very old to the current: Classical, big band, 1920's-1930's dance, jazz of every era, soul, rhythm and blues, country, rock & roll, traditional and modern Christian, World Music, and even modern dance club, and (gasp!) Broadway show tunes. If it's obscure, I have it in my collection. Once upon a time, I played the piano - BADLY. Once upon a time, I played the cornet - a little better than the piano, but still BADLY. I don't play either instrument much anymore. Life has sent me off in other pursuits, for better or worse. Regardless, music is still a big part of my life.

Music has always inspired me in my writing. Sometimes a short passage in an adagio or a lyric in a song will send my imagination into high gear all because of how it made me feel. Sometimes, I will listen to a piece in order to precisely set the scene I am trying to put into words in one of my novels. This is one of those weird things about creative people that only creative people can truly understand.

Aside from music helping to create the mood of a scene, music can be integral in setting the era of a story. "The Finest Hat in the Whole World" spans two decades - 1917 through 1937 during a period of transition in America. Music was a big part of people's lives then; there was no television or Internet. Many people had musical instruments, and many homes (especially of the wealthier types) had such a variety of instruments that their family could be an orchestra. For those who had no musical talent, the radio and records (called discs back then) filled the gap, as did the local town band (which almost every town had). If you had a radio AND a record player (sometimes called a "sound box") back then, you were the most popular lady or gent in your neighborhood. But... I digress (sorry).

The characters in "The Finest Hat in the Whole World" loved all kinds of music, but the most popular by the late 1920's was Jazz and a gentler form of Jazz music referred to as "Dance Music." The labels on the discs even stated what type of dance went best with the song. So, I thought it would be kind of fun to present the music referenced in "The Finest Hat in the Whole World" for your listening pleasure (or displeasure, depending on your taste). Most of the songs are in their original format by the original artists so you can hear them as people heard them back then. I have also included alternate versions of some that I feel are far superior to the earlier versions. So go ahead and dive in!