Chicago Lightning is a romantic suspense novel that begins with the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre in Chicago on February 14, 1929 and ends around midnight two days later in Five Points, New York City.
Release Date – February 10, 2021
21 Days of Chicago Lightning – January 25th through February 14th (and possibly a few days beyond). I will update each blog article with the next day’s topic.
Day 1 – Jan. 25th – Book video
Day 2 – Jan. 26th – Popular Songs of the 1920s
I was close to my maternal grandfather when I was growing up. He was born in 1898, and he loved music. He played several instruments and occasionally participated in our town’s marching band parades. I can’t read music, but he did teach me to play the harmonica. He also taught me what we now call the ‘Standards’—the songs from the early 19th century.
Here is a sampling of popular songs of the Roaring Twenties. I didn’t list performers (except in one instance), since these songs have been covered by so many artists. If you’re a fan of Rod Stewart, I highly recommend his four albums: “The Great American Songbook”. All four albums are in one collection HERE and they are available separately.
Popular 1920s songs:
- Ain’t Misbehavin’
- Ain’t We Got Fun
- Am I Blue
- Among My Souvenirs
- April Showers
- Baby Face
- Blue Skies
- Bye, Bye, Blackbird
- California, Here I Come!
- Charleston
- Charleston
- Corrine Corrina
- Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue (I hear Mitch Miller when I think of this song.)
- I’ll See You in My Dreams
- I’m Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover
- If You Knew Susie
- In the Jailhouse Now
- It Ain’t Gonna Rain No Mo’
- It Had to Be You –
- Let’s Do It (Let’s Fall in Love)
- Makin’ Whoopee – Eddie Cantor
- My Blue Heaven
- Ol’ Man River
- Rhapsody in Blue
- Side by Side
- Singing’ In the Rain
- Stardust
- Swanee
- Sweet Georgia Brown
- The Prisoner’s Song
- Toot Toot Tootsie (Goo’ Bye)
- Turkey in the Straw (Gil Tanner & his Skillet Lickers) <<haha
- When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob-Bob-Bobbin Along
- Wildwood Flower
- Yes! We Have No Bananas
- Yes, Sir, That’s My Baby
One song I didn’t include on this list was a Bessie Smith song called After You’ve Gone. I reference this song in Chicago Lightning when Ceara and Hagen’s relationship is facing the moment of no return. You might say this is ‘their song’.
If you are reading from your phone, you may not be able to see the video. This is the YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R12RdOXylqk
On a side note, here is a link to Bessie Smith’s bio. She was a fascinating woman, talented performer, and a mover and shaker in the world of music.
Until next time,
Kaye Spencer
Day 1 – Jan. 25th – Chicago Lightning – book video
Day 2 – Jan. 26th – Popular Songs of the 1920s
Day 3 – Jan. 27th – Notable Events of the 1920s – 1920 through 1924
Day 4 – Jan. 28th – Notable Events of the 1920s – 1925 through 1929
Day 5 – Jan. 29th – Chapter 1 Micro Excerpt
Day 6 – Jan. 30th – Slang – 1920s era
Day 7 – Jan. 31st – Pre-order
Day 8 – Feb. 1st – 1920s Kitchen
Day 9 – Feb. 2nd – ‘Roaring 20s’
Day 10 – Feb. 3rd – Chapter 2 – Micro Excerpt #2
Day 11 – Feb. 4th – 4 Roaring Twenties Movies
Day 12 – Feb. 5th – 1928 Phantom 1 Rolls-Royce
Day 13 – Feb. 6th – Speakeasy
Day 14 – Feb. 7th – Chapter 2 – Micro Excerpt #3
Day 15 – Feb. 8th – Pre-FBI – brief history
Day 16 – Feb. 9th – 1920s radio
Day 17 – Feb. 10th – Release Day, Micro Excerpt #4, and bullet resistant clothing
Day 18 – Feb. 11th – “The Hedge”
Day 19 – Feb. 12th – What did it cost? 1925-1929
Day 20 – Feb. 13th – Hello? Who’s calling?
Day 21 – Feb. 14th – 1920s reference books and book video
Look for Kaye here