Features 12 recordings. African American songwriters and performers made up a small, yet important part of the early recording industry. These are recordings of compositions by top African American composers and lyricists of the early 1900s, including Will Marion Cook, Paul Laurence Dunbar, James Rosamond Johnson, James Reese Europe, Noble Sissle, and Eubie Blake. The performances are by both black and white performers.

Features 12 recordings. This collection evokes the years 1861 through 1865 through themes heard during the War Between the States. Included are melodramatic ballads such as "The vacant chair," stirring anthems such as "Tramp, tramp, tramp," a recitation by Len Spencer of Lincoln's address at Gettysburg, and the two opposing anthems "Battle hymn of the Republic" and "Dixie."

Features 7 recordings. Between the late 1890s and 1970s New York City’s music publishing district was known as “Tin Pan Alley”—a reference to the continuous sound of pianos emanating from nearly every open window nearby, allegedly causing a remark that it sounded like the banging of tin pans. And it is easy to believe; the activity of composing and “plugging” songs was ceaseless. Here we find pioneering efforts by the tunesmiths and poets of New York’s fabled music publishing district. This list includes both free-standing and from musical shows.

Features 12 recordings. George M. Cohan wrote, composed, directed and acted in his own plays and was famous for his star-spangled patriotic tunes. But he also wrote in other styles—always simple, elegant and undeniably American. Many of his lesser-known works contained a wry cynicism and dry, semi-cantankerous manner. Cohan himself appeared only on a handful of records. The tenor Billy Murray gave voice to Cohan’s songs in recordings of “You’re a grand old rag” (later retitled to “You’re a grand old flag,”) “The Yankee doodle boy,” and “Harrigan.” Cohan’s music captured a strong sense of what was termed “American Spirit,” with optimism flowing through his lyrics, bursting from his jaunty melodies.

Features 12 recordings. Irving Berlin wrote songs from his own personal perspective, that of an Americanized European Jew. Slang, catch phrases and suggestiveness that borders on innocence pervades much of his work. Berlin’s music is full of boundless enthusiasm for ragtime bands, bagpipe bands, and new dance crazes. Like George M. Cohan, Berlin captured in his songs a strong and well-defined sense of what was termed “American Spirit.”

Features 9 recordings. With the ratification of the Eighteenth Amendment and impending national prohibition of alcohol, Tin Pan Alley writers produced a plethora of songs about life devoid of intoxicating beverages. Here is a selection of humorous songs and an appropriately titled instrumental selection. Also featured are two temperance songs robustly sung by baritone evangelist Homer Rodeheaver.