I got it in my head to listen to all of music. That was too much, so instead I’m doing this: a few songs a day, each representing one year in the history of recorded music.

From the Top

1890s — Eight songs from the first decade of recorded music.

1900 — The disc begins to overtake the cylinder

1901 — Fifty-four songs, and a lost #1

1902 — Bill Bailey and Bert Williams

1903 — In the Good Old Summer Time, still

1904 — Caruso meets the World's Fair

1905 — Give my regards to Broadway

1906 — Bert Williams records his own 'Nobody'

1907 — Scott Joplin finally charts

1908 — Take Me Out to the Ball Game

1909 — Shine On, Harvest Moon

1910 — Casey Jones, and the decade closes

1911 — Alexander's Ragtime Band

1912 — A golden year, heard through a horn

1913 — When Irish Eyes Are Smiling

1914 — The fox trot, and the first war songs

1915 — A nation debates the war in song