USA For Africa records "We Are The World" 1985

USA for Africa, a supergroup of America's top popular musicians, recorded We Are the World, for raise money for the famine in Ethiopia January 28, 1985.  It was the brain child of Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, who wrote the song, and Quincy Jones and Michael Omartian produced it. 

Recording began about 10:30pm that night after the American Music Awards ceremony held that night.  The final recording was made about 8am the following morning.

The song was released March 7 and became the eighth best-selling single of all time, with a sales in excess of 20 million copies. Among the performers that night were Billy Joel who had a short solo, and Anita, June, and Ruth Pointer were in the chorus.

Duke Ellington records "Take the 'A' Train" 1941

Take the 'A' Train written by Billy Strayhorn in 1939 became the signature tune for Duke Ellington and his orchestra.  Strayhorn wrote lyrics, but the Delta Rhythm Boys composed the first lyrics to be recorded. Joya Sherrill wrote the lyrics that would be used to Ellington. 

The most famous recording of it by Ellington and his orchestra took place on February 15, 1941.  Ellington performed it in the 1943 movie Reveille with Beverly with Betty Roche singing.  

National Public Radio included Take the 'A' Train in the NPR 100, a list of the one hundred most important American musical works of the 20th century.

Patsy Cline records "Crazy" 1961

Patsy Cline, one of the queens of country music, recorded Crazy, a ballad composed by Willie Nelson, August 21, 1961.  It has been covered by many other artists, but Patsy's performance has made the song hers.  It reached #2 in 1962. 

The Andrews Sisters record "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy" 1941

One of the most iconic vocal pieces of the 20th century, Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy, was recorded by the Andrews Sisters January 2, 1941, almost a year before the U.S. entered WWII.    The song was introduced in the Abbott and Costello movie Buck Privates, released later the same month.  It was nominated for an Oscar for Best Original Song but lost to The Last Time I Saw Paris from the movie Lady Be Good (Anybody remember that one?) 

Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy is ranked as No. 6 on Songs of the Century.  The Second World War may not have been a bright spot in our history, but the music from that era is incomparable.  It's patriotic, upbeat, positive and fun.  Probably why 5 of the top 11 Songs of the Century came from the same 4 year period 1939-1942.