Best Movie Songs of the 1940s
In many ways, the 1940s were almost a continuation of the 1930s. Of course, America’s entrance into World War II in 1941 had a major impact on Hollywood. Casablanca, with its subtle wartime propaganda, might never have been made had it not been for the war.
But the 40s were not all about the past and war. The decade did bring us some new talents. Most important musically would be the pairing of Oscar Hammerstein II and Richard Rogers. Together the pair would some great American classic songs for Oklahoma! (their first collaboration), Carousel, South Pacific, The King and I and The Sound of Music. In all, among the many accolades their films garnered fifteen Academy Awards and two Grammys.
We’ve put together a list of the best songs from these movies and others, all in the 1940′s. Note, not every song is available for preview in the playlist box.
“A Couple of Swells” by Judy Garland & Fred Astaire from Easter Parade (1948)
“A Woman Without a Man” by Ethel Waters from Cairo (1942)
“As Time Goes By” by Dooley Wilson from Cassablanca (1942)
“Baby, It’s Cold Outside” by Esther Williams & Ricardo Montalban from Neptune’s Daughter(1949)
“Baby Doll” by Gene Kelly from Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1949)
“Be A Clown” by Judy Garland & Gene Kelly from The Pirate (1948)
“Bouncin’ the Blues” by Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers from The Barkleys of Broadway (1949)
“Buds Won’t Bud” by Judy Garland from Andy Hardy Meets Debutante (1940)
“But Not For Me” by Judy Garland from Girl Crazy (1943)
“Chattanooga Choo Choo” by Tex Benekefrom Martin Block’s Musical Merry Go Round (1948)
“Don’t Fence Me In” by The Andrew Sisters from Hollywood Canteen (1944)
“Easter Parade “ by Judy Garland & Fred Astaire from Easter Parade (1948)
“For Me and My Gal” by Judy Garland & Gene Kelly from For Me and My Gal (1942)
“Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas” by Judy Garland from Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
“Honeysuckle Rose” by Lena Horne from Thousands Cheer (1943)
“I Begged Her” by Frank Sinatra & Gene Kelly from Anchors Aweigh (1945)
“I Fall in Love Too Easily” by Frank Sinatra from Anchor’s Aweigh (1945)
“I Got Rhythm” by Judy Garland from Girl Crazy (1943)
“I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues” by Cab Calloway & His Orchestra from Hi-De-Ho (1947)
“I Wish I Were in Love Again” by Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney from Words and Music (1948)
“Inka Dinka Doo” by Jimmy Durante from Two Girls & a Sailor (1944)
“I’ve Told Ev’ry Little Star/The Song is You” by Kathryn Grayson & Johnny Johnston from ‘Till the Clouds Roll By (1946)
“It’s A Most Unusual Day” by Jane Powell from A Date With Judy (1948)
“Lover Come Back to Me” by Jeanette MacDonald & Nelson Eddy from New Moon (1940)
“Manhattan” by Mickey Rooney and Bill Lee (for Tom Drake) from Words and Music (1948)
“March of the Doagies” by Judy Garland, Joe Karnes, Frank Laine, Don Ellis, Eugene Dorian, Ralph Blane & Don Williams from The Harvey Girls (1946)
“New York, New York” performed by Frank Sinatra from On the Town (1949)
“Ol’ Man River” by Frank Sinatra from ‘Till the Clouds Roll By (1946)
“On the Atchison, Topeka, and the Santa Fe” by Judy Garland, Cyd Charisse from The Harvey Girls (1946)
“One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)” by Fred Astaire from The Sky’s The Limit(1943)
“Opus One” by Tommy Dorsey & his Orchesra from Broadway Rhythm (1944)
“Paper Doll” by Lena Horne from Two Girls and a Sailor (1944)
“Shakin’ the Blues Away” by Ann Miller With the Mel-Tones and the Lyttle Sisters from Easter Parade (1948)
“Star Eyes” by Bob Eberly, Helen O’Connell with Jimmy Dorsey from I Dood It (1943)
“Steppin Out With My Baby” by Fred Astaire With the Mel-Tones from Easter Parade (1948)
“Swing Trot” by Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers from The Barkleys of Broadway (1949)
“Take Me Out to the Ball Game” by Frank Sinatra & Gene Kelly from Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1949)
“Taking A Chance On Love” by Ethel Waters from Cabin in the Sky (1943)
“The Lady is A Tramp” by Lena Horne from Words and Music (1948)
“The Last Time I Saw Paris” by Dinah Shore from Till the Clouds Roll By (1946)
“The Song’s Gotta Come From the Heart” by Frank Sinatra & Jimmy Durante from It Happened in Brooklyn (1947)
“The Trolley Song “ by Judy Garland from Meet Me In St. Louis (1944)
“The Varsity Drag” by June Allison, Peter Lawford, Jimmie Garland from Good News (1947)
“The Worry Song” by Gene Kelly and Jerry the Mouse from Anchors Aweigh (1945)
“They Can’t Take That Away From Me” by Fred Astaire from The Barkleys of Broadway (1949)
“They’re Either Too Young or Too Old “ by Bette Davis from Thank Your Lucky Stars (1943)
“This Heart of Mine” by Fred Astaire from Ziegfeld Follies (1946)
“Thou Swell” by June Allyson, Eugene Cox & Pete Roberts from Words and Music (1948)
“Walter Winchell Rhumba” by from Xavier Cugat Holiday In Mexico (1946)
“When You Wish upon a Star” from Pinocchio (1940)
“White Christmas” performed by Bing Crosby from Holiday Inn (1942)
“Who?” by Judy Garland from ‘Till the Clouds Roll By (1946)
“You Stepped Out of a Dream” by Tony Martin from Ziegfeld Girl (1941)
“You’re A Grand Old Flag” by James Cagney, Walter Huston, Rosemary DeCamp, Jeanne Cagney from Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942)