This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1932.
Specific locations 1932 in British music 1932 in Norwegian music
Specific genres 1932 in country music 1932 in jazz
Events 1932 marks the lowest trough the recording industry experiences during the Great Depression. In the United States, revenues have dropped from 104 million units in 1927 to 6 million in 1932. January 14 – Maurice Ravel's Piano Concerto in G is premièred in Paris. February 3–9 – Duke Ellington and his Orchestra record two medleys for Victor at rpm. Over half a century later it is discovered that two microphone-to-cutting table chains had been used, and that the session exists in "accidental stereo." March 15 – The BBC Dance Orchestra in the UK first broadcasts under the direction of Henry Hall. May 1 – The music to John Alden Carpenter's ballet Skyscrapers is recorded by the Victor Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Nathaniel Shilkret; in addition to be being issued as six sides on 78 rpm discs, the recording is made available as one of Victor's early rpm LP releases. July 1 – The very young Eddie Duchin and his Central Park Casino Orchestra, and the Three X Sisters (aka Hamilton Sisters & Fordyce), record "The Clouds Will Soon Roll By" for Columbia records. July 7 – Benny Carter's orchestra first records. Crown Records rejects all but one title, "Tell All You Daydreams to Me." August 15 – First successful electrical re-recording, directed by Nathaniel Shilkret, of an orchestral accompaniment of a Victor recording by Enrico Caruso. October 2 – Charles Seeger is divorced from his first wife, Constance de Clyver Edson. He subsequently marries composer Ruth Crawford.Ann M. Pescatello, Charles Seeger: A Life in American Music, p108 October 7 – The London Philharmonic Orchestra, recently founded by Thomas Beecham, gives its first public concert. October 13 – Isham Jones and the Three X Sisters record at New York Studio No.1. Several songs utilized for RCA Victor are labeled "experimental" as this blues era band-leader is fusing new arrangements, an idea that would later influence part of the Swing era. October 19 – Frankie Laine and Ruthie Smith set the all-time dance marathon record of 3,501 hours (145 days) at the Million Dollar Pier in Atlantic City, New Jersey. October 31 – Sergei Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 5 is premiered in Berlin. December 13 – Bennie Moten's Kansas City Orchestra make their last record date for Victor. It becomes a singular example of early swing music. Sydney Symphony established.
Published popular music "After You, Who?" words and music by Cole Porter "Alone Together" words by Howard Dietz music by Arthur Schwartz "And Love Was Born" words by Oscar Hammerstein II, music by Jerome Kern "And So To Bed" words by Mack Gordon, music by Harry Revel "April in Paris" words by E. Y. Harburg, music by Vernon Duke "As You Desire Me" words and music by Allie Wrubel "Auf Wiedersehen, My Dear" words and music by Al Hoffman, Ed G. Nelson, Al Goodhart and Milton Ager "Bésame Mucho" words and music by Consuelo Velázquez "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea" words by Ted Koehler, music by Harold Arlen "Dance Of The Cuckoos" words and music by T. Marvin Hatley and Harry Steinberg "Darkness On The Delta" words by Marty Symes and Al Neiburg, music by Jerry Livingston "Eadie Was A Lady" words by B. G. De Sylva, music by Richard Whiting and Nacio Herb Brown "Eres Tú" Miguel Sandoval "Fit As A Fiddle" words and music by Arthur Freed, Al Hoffman and Al Goodhart "The Flies Crawled Up The Window" words and music by Douglas Furber and Vivian Ellis "Give Her A Kiss" words by Lorenz Hart, music by Richard Rodgers "Goodnight My Love" words and music by Gus Arnheim, Harry Tobias and Jules Lemare "Goodnight Vienna" words and music by Holt Marvell and George Posford "Have You Ever Been Lonely?" words by Billy Hill (as George Brown) music by Peter De Rose "Here Lies Love" words by Leo Robin, music by Ralph Rainger "How Deep Is The Ocean?" words and music by Irving Berlin "I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance with You" words by Bing Crosby and Ned Washington, music by Victor Young "I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues" words by Ted Koehler, music by Harold Arlen "If It Ain't Love" words and music by Andy Razaf, Don Redman and Fats Waller "I'll Do My Best To Make You Happy" words and music by Ray Noble "I'll Never Be The Same" words by Gus Kahn, music by Matty Malneck and Frank Signorelli from the revue After Dinner "I'm Getting Sentimental Over You" words by Ned Washington, music by George Bassman "In A Shanty In Old Shanty Town" words by Joe Young, music by Ira Schuster and Jack Little "In Egern On The Tegern Sea" words by Oscar Hammerstein II, music by Jerome Kern. Introduced by Ivy Scott in the musical Music in the Air "Isn't It Romantic?" words by Lorenz Hart, music by Richard Rodgers "It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)" words by Irving Mills, music by Duke Ellington "It Was So Beautiful" words by Arthur Freed, music by Harry Barris "I've Got You On My Mind" words and music by Cole Porter "I've Told Every Little Star" words by Oscar Hammerstein II, music by Jerome Kern "Just An Echo In The Valley" words and music by Harry Woods, Jimmy Campbell and Reg Connelly "Keepin' Out of Mischief Now" words by Andy Razaf music by Fats Waller "Lawd, You Made The Night Too Long" words by Sam M. Lewis music by Isham Jones "Let's Call It A Day" words by Lew Brown, music by Ray Henderson "Let's Have Another Cup of Coffee" words and music by Irving Berlin "Let's Put Out The Lights And Go To Sleep" words and music by Herman Hupfeld "A Little Street Where Old Friends Meet" words by Gus Kahn, music by Harry Woods "Look What You've Done" words by Bert Kalmar and Irving Caesar, music by Harry Ruby and Harry Akst "Louisiana Hayride" words by Howard Dietz, music by Arthur Schwartz "Love Is The Sweetest Thing" words and music by Ray Noble "Love Me Tonight" words by Lorenz Hart, music by Richard Rodgers "Love Me Tonight" words and music by Bing Crosby, Ned Washington and Victor Young (not to be confused with the Rodgers and Hart song listed above) "Lover" words by Lorenz Hart, music by Richard Rodgers "Lullaby of the Leaves" words by Joe Young, music by Bernice Petkere "Mad About The Boy" words and music by Noël Coward "A Million Dreams" words by Gus Kahn, music by J. C. Lewis Jr "Mimi" words by Lorenz Hart, music by Richard Rodgers "Mine" words by Ira Gershwin, music by George Gershwin "Minnie The Moocher's Wedding Day" words by Ted Koehler, music by Harold Arlen "My Cousin in Milwaukee" words by Ira Gershwin, music by George Gershwin. Introduced by Lyda Roberti in the musical Pardon My English "Night And Day" words and music by Cole Porter introduced by Fred Astaire in Gay Divorce "Oh! That Mitzi" words by Leo Robin, music by Ralph Rainger. Introduced by Maurice Chevalier in the film One Hour with You. "Old Yazoo" words by Andy Razaf music by Fats Waller "One Hour With You" words by Leo Robin, music by Richard A. Whiting. From the film of the same name "Papirosn" words and music by Herman Yablokoff (written 1922) "The Party's Over Now" words and music by Noël Coward "Please" words by Leo Robin, music by Ralph Rainger "The Poor Apache" words by Lorenz Hart, music by Richard Rodgers "Precious Lord Take My Hand" by Thomas A. Dorsey, first major gospel music hit "Say It Isn't So" words and music by Irving Berlin "Sleep, Come On And Take Me" words and music by Joe Young and Boyd Bunch "Smoke Rings" words by Ned Washington music by Gene Gifford "Snuggled On Your Shoulder" words by Joe Young, music by Carmen Lombardo "So Do I" words by B. G. De Sylva, music by Vincent Youmans "Soft Lights And Sweet Music" words and music by Irving Berlin "Somebody Loves You" words by Charlie Tobias, music by Peter DeRose "The Song is You" words by Oscar Hammerstein II, music by Jerome Kern "Street of Dreams" words by Sam M. Lewis music by Victor Young "The Sun Has Got His Hat On" words and music by Ralph Butler and Noel Gay "Three's a Crowd" words by Al Dubin and Irving Kahal music by Harry Warren "Too Many Tears" words by Al Dubin, music by Harry Warren "Try a Little Tenderness" words and music by Harry Woods, Jimmy Campbell and Reg Connelly "Waltzing in a Dream" words by Ned Washington, Bing Crosby, music by Victor Young "What More Can I Ask?" words by A. E. Wilkins music by Ray Noble "What Would You Do?" words by Leo Robin, music by Richard A. Whiting. Introduced by Maurice Chevalier in the film One Hour with You "Willow Weep for Me" words and music by Ann Ronell "Wintergreen For President" words by Ira Gershwin, music by George Gershwin "You Are Too Beautiful" words by Lorenz Hart, music by Richard Rodgers "The Younger Generation" words and music by Noël Coward "You're An Old Smoothie" words and music by B. G. De Sylva, Richard A. Whiting and Nacio Herb Brown "You're Getting To Be A Habit With Me" words by Al Dubin, music by Harry Warren "You've Got What Gets Me" words by Ira Gershwin, music by George Gershwin
Top popular recordings 1932 1932 marked the lowest trough the recording industry would experience during the Great Depression, as the record industry struggled for its existence. Only Victor, ARC (which added Brunswick) and Columbia released records, and Columbia would be in bankruptcy by 1934. In the United States, revenues went from 104 million units in 1927 to 6 million in 1932, and did not start to rebound until 1937. The top selling records of 1929 ranged from $500,000 and up, fell under $100,000 in 1930, $60k in 1931 and $20k in 1932, where they stayed for several years. Keep this in mind when reviewing sales figures. You may also notice less artists and records. Record companies were afraid of taking more losses, such as gambling on new artists and new styles. Three of the six top selling 10" 78s were recorded by Jimmie Rodgers, who would die of Tuberculosis in May 1933. They can be found on the 1932 Country (Hillbilly) page.
The top popular records of 1932 listed below were compiled from Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890–1954, record sales reported on the "Discography of American Historical Recordings" website, and other sources as specified. Numerical rankings are approximate, there were no Billboard charts in 1932, the numbers are only used for a frame of reference.