Term it the booming twenties or roaring twenties but the 1920s was considered as an era of flapper fashion, prosperity, powerful economy, art deco, prohibition which also faced repercussions of First World War followed by The Great Depression.
When the world witnessed the greatest of all inventions, the making of aeroplane, automobile and the radio during this period it was also observed as the lawless decade of the century. But the extravagant music of the 1920s remains to be the greatest attraction of this decade.
When the eyes of the music industry were focussed on maximising profits it led to the birth of inventions, innovations and advancement which deserves special mention in the 1920s music history.
The history of 1920s music is noted for its realization that record, sheet music and piano roll sales could all be tied together.
The 1920s welcomed a new member, the song plugger who was entrusted the responsibility of making sure that his company's music would reach out to the audience and fulfil its dream to be the greatest blockbuster.
The decade of 1920s is associated with the word of the twentieth century- JAZZ. The Jazz Age (1920s-1930s) embarked the beginning of jazz European music as there was the culmination of two styles, the swing style and the European style.
The 1920s were referred to as the era of prohibition as the members of the elite society believed jazz to be dirty music. Later on developments made in jazz music led to its reputation.
One who's been on listening to jazz music CD's would notice the 1920s songs fall under the category of subjects characterized as happy-go-lucky, catchy melodies and relatively simple harmonies.
It's hard to believe that the songs of the decade, Whispering, Wabash Blues, The Prisoner's song, Dreamy Melody, April Showers, My blue heaven etc, created million -seller records.
In 1923, the recording business in the music industry was severely threatened by the growing popularity of the newly invented radio. But in 1925 the early experiments conducted to introduce electrical recording turned out to be successful and Victor and Columbia in the US issued the first electrical recordings.
When the works of Chopin and Schubert were electrically recorded it prompted the other companied for commercial electrical recording. HMV released its first electrically recorded symphony in the 1920s.
Bartlett Jones of Chicago was granted a US patent for dummy head stereo in 1927. This year which falls under the decade of 1920s is accredited with the famous talking picture titled, The Jazz Singer.
It also embarked the commencement of a regular long running record programme aimed with the view to promote Gramophone. In the following year (1928), The RCA took over the Victor Talking Machine Company.
When the greatest crisis situation was faced by the world in the form of Great Depression of 1929, phonograph and sheet music sales faced sudden decline and the radio retained the centre stage in the music industry.
A number of record companies were affected due to the rapid change and went bankrupt. Radio became the most common and inexpensive medium of entertainment.
The attempt made by Motion Pictures in the late 20s by transforming into sound from silent left some hope for the sale of sheet music and phonograph records.
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