Music From the 1920s: History's Best Sellers

Extra! Extra! Step right up to inspect the definitive collection of first-rate music releases from 1920s. Discover the genuine articles of American ingenuity that captured the public's fancy and won nationwide acclaim during this historic era.

1. Rhapsody in Blue

   Released in 1924 by George Gershwin, Victor Talking Machine Company

   On February 12, 1924, an audience in New York's Aeolian Hall witnessed the birth of a new American sound. The world premiere of George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" at Paul Whiteman's "An Experiment in Modern Music" concert was not just a performance; it was a cultural explosion. This single event, on this specific date, unleashed a composition that would defy genre, captivate a nation, and become one of the best-selling musical works of the 20th century, proving that jazz belonged in the concert hall.