On January 1, 2019, the 20-year stall of work entering the Public Domain caused by the extension passed by Congress in 1998 of the copyright term (from 75 years to 95 years) was finally over. For the last 20 years the cutoff was stuck at 1922, and now it will advance by one year as each New Year comes into being.
The Anderson Collection is a 6,000-plus-page collection of popular (and what turned out to be not-so-popular) lead-sheets in fakebook format (melody and chords) compiled by the late Charles Anderson over many years and collected from numerous contributors, each with a unique music-writing style and format. I have found it to be an invaluable source not only of lead-sheets themselves but also of information just from the master index which includes the composer(s) and lyricist(s), composition date and original key(s).
Charles had a system that for every transcription submitted, he would send the contributor 10 pages or selections from the collection. The result was that at his death, there were over 9,000 tunes in the collection — a “master” fakebook if there ever was one!
Here is a spreadsheet of 1923 musical compositions from the Anderson Collection master index that are now Public Domain. While probably nowhere near a complete listing of all tunes from 1923 that are now Public Domain, it is very useful. Note: if there are duplicates listed it is because the tune appears both in the original 6,000 plus tune collection as well as an additional 1,000 tune volume that added verses if they were missing in the original. The list of tune names from the spreadsheet is as follows:
| AFTER HOURS |
| AIN’T YOU ASHAMED? |
| ALABAMY BLACK SHEEP |
| ALABAMY BLACK SHEEP |
| ALL NIGHT BLUES |
| ALL NIGHT BLUES |
| ALL WRONG |
| ALLIGATOR HOP (ALLIGATOR FLOP) |
| ANDY GUMP |
| ANY PLACE WHERE I MAKE MONEY (IS HOME SWEET HOME TO ME) |
| ANY WOMAN’S BLUES |
| ARKANSAS MULE, THE (THE ARKANSAW MULE) |
| ATLANTA BLUES (MAKE ME ONE PALLET ON YOUR FLOOR) |
| AWFUL MOANIN’ BLUES |
| BABY BUNTIN’ |
| BABY BUNTIN’ |
| BACK O’TOWN BLUES |
| BAD NEWS BLUES |
| BANANA BLUES |
| BAREFOOT BLUES |
| BARNEY GOOGLE |
| BARREL HOUSE BLUES |
| BEALE STREET MAMA |
| BEALE STREET MAMA |
| BEBE |
| BESIDE A BABBLING BROOK |
| BIG FOOT HAM (BIG FAT HAM or HAM AND EGGS) |
| BIT BY BIT, YOU’RE BREAKING MY HEART |
| BLACK MAN, BE ON YOUR WAY |
| BLACK SHEEP BLUES, THE |
| BLEEDING HEARTED BLUES |
| BLUE GRASS BLUES |
| BLUE HOOSIER BLUES |
| BLUE ISLAND BLUES |
| BLUE LITTLE YOU |
| BLUE LITTLE YOU |
| BLUE ROSE |
| BRING IT WITH YOU WHEN YOU COME |
| BROWN, BLACK AND YELLOW BLUES |
| BUDDY’S HABIT |
| BUGLE CALL RAG (vocal version) |
| CAKE EATER’S BALL, THE |
| CAKE EATER’S BALL, THE |
| CALIFORNIA BLUES |
| CAMP MEETING BLUES |
| CANAL STREET BLUES |
| CAT’S WHISKERS, THE |
| CEMETERY BLUES |
| CHANGING THE KEY |
| CHARLESTON |
| CHARLESTON |
| CHARLESTON CRAZY |
| CHATTANOOGA STOMP |
| CHICAGO BLUES |
| CHICAGO BOUND BLUES |
| CHILI BOM BOM |
| CHIMES BLUES |
| CHINAMAN BLUES |
| CHIRPIN’ THE BLUES |
| CINDY |
| COAL CART BLUES |
| COME ON RED |
| COME ON SPARK PLUG! |
| COO-COU-COULAY BLUES, THE |
| COTTON BELT BLUES (MAMA’S SORROW SONG) |
| COTTON PICKER’S BALL |
| CROSS EYED PAPA |
| CUDDLE-UDDLE UP |
| CUT YOURSELF A PIECE OF CAKE |
| CUT-OUT, THE |
| DADDY WON’T YOU PLEASE COME HOME |
| DANCIN’ DAN |
| DARKTOWN REVEILLE |
| DEEZE, DOZE AND DEM |
| DICTY BLUES, THE |
| DIPPER MOUTH BLUES |
| DIRTY HANDS, DIRTY FACE |
| DO DOODLE OOM |
| DOGGONE WHIPPOORWILL |
| DON’T FORGET TO COME BACK HOME |
| DOWN BY THE RIVER |
| DOWN HEARTED BLUES |
| DOWN SOUTH BLUES |
| DREAM BOAT |
| DREAM DADDY |
| DUCK’S QUACK, THE |
| E FLAT BLUES |
| EAST SIDE WEST SIDE BLUES |
| EASY MELODY |
| ECCENTRIC |
| ELLIS ISLAND BLUES |
| EVERY NIGHT I CRY MYSELF TO SLEEP OVER YOU |
| FADE AWAY BLUES |
| FAREWELL BLUES |
| FEELING THE WAY I DO |
| FIJI BLUES |
| FLIRT, THE |
| FOOLISH CHILD |
| FORGETFUL BLUES |
| FOUR O’CLOCK BLUES |
| GEORGIA BLUES |
| GEORGIA LULLABY |
| GERTIE OF THE MOVIES |
| GIRL OF THE OLDEN WEST |
| GOODBYE, AIN’T ALWAYS GONE |
| GOSH-AWFUL LOOSE IN HIS GALLOPIN’ GOOSE |
| GRANDPA’S SPELLS |
| GRAVEYARD DREAM BLUES |
| GULF COAST BLUES |
| HARLEM BLUES |
| HARMONY BLUES |
| HENPECKED BLUES |
| HI LEE, HI LO |
| HOLLYWOOD BOUND |
| HOME FOLKS BLUES |
| HOME IN PASADENA |
| HOME IN PASADENA |
| HOME IN PASADENA |
| HOME TOWN BLUES |
| HORSEY KEEP YOUR TAIL UP |
| HOT DAWG! (A RED HOT FOX-TROT) |
| HOTSY TOTSY TOWN |
| HOUSE OF DAVID BLUES |
| HUNGRY BLUES |
| HURDY-GURDY BLUES |
| I AIN’T GONNA TELL NOBODY |
| I AIN’T GOT NUTHIN’ |
| I AIN’T NEVER HAD NOBODY CRAZY OVER ME |
| I CRIED FOR YOU |
| I CRIED FOR YOU (NOW IT’S YOUR TURN TO CRY OVER ME) |
| I DON’T CARE WHOSE MAMA YOU WERE |
| I DON’T WANT YOU TO CRY OVER ME |
| I LOVE YOU |
| I LOVE YOU |
| I NEVER BROKE NOBODY’S HEART WHEN I SAID GOODBYE |
| I NEVER KNEW JUST WHAT A GAL COULD DO |
| I NEVER MISS THE SUNSHINE |
| I WANT A GOOD BABY BAD |
| I WANT EM WILD, WEAK, WARM AND WILLING |
| I WANT MY SWEET DADDY NOW |
| I WAS YOUR MAN |
| I WISH I HAD SOMEONE TO CRY OVER ME |
| IF ANYBODY HERE WANTS A REAL KIND MAMA |
| IF THE REST OF THE WORLD DON’T WANT YOU (GO BACK TO MOTHER AND DAD) |
| IF YOU DO WHAT YOU DO |
| IF YOU DON’T, I KNOW WHO WILL |
| IF YOU GO, YOU’LL COME BACK, BY AND BY |
| IF YOU WANT TO KEEP YOUR DADDY HOME |
| IF YOUR MAN IS LIKE MY MAN |
| I’M ALL BROKE OUT WITH THE BLUES |
| I’M GOIN’ SOUTH |
| I’M GONNA GET YOU |
| I’M SITTING PRETTY IN A PRETTY LITTLE CITY |
| I’M WORRIED OVER YOU |
| INDIANA MOON |
| IS ISABELLE IN? |
| IT AIN’T GONNA RAIN NO MO’ |
| IT’S A LOTTA BOLOGNY |
| IT’S A MAN EVERYTIME, IT’S A MAN |
| I’VE GOT A CROSS EYED PAPA |
| I’VE GOT A MAN OF MY OWN |
| I’VE GOT THE YES! WE HAVE NO BANANA BLUES |
| I’VE GOT THOSE EAST SIDE, WEST SIDE BLUES |
| I’VE MAD UP MY MIND TO FORGET YOU |
| JAZZ BABY BLUES |
| JUBILEE BLUES |
| JUNGLE NIGHTS |
| JUST A GIRL THAT MEN FORGET |
| JUST GONE |
| JUST HOT |
| JUST KEEP ON DANCING |
| KANSAS CITY MAN BLUES |
| KANSAS CITY STOMPS |
| KEEP YOURSELF TOGETHER, SWEET PAPA |
| KEEPS ON A-RAININ’ |
| KENTUCKY, SURE AS YOU’RE BORN |
| KIND LOVIN’ BLUES |
| KING TUT |
| KING TUT BLUES |
| KU KLUX STEPPIN’ BLUES |
| LA ROSITA |
| LAND OF COTTON BLUES |
| LAST NIGHT ON THE BACK PORCH, I LOVED HER BEST OF ALL |
| LAUGHIN’ CRYIN’ BLUES |
| LINGER AWHILE |
| LINGER AWHILE |
| LITTLE BOY |
| LITTLE BOY BLUES |
| LITTLE JESSIE JAMES |
| LOG CABIN BLUES |
| LONDON BLUES |
| LONG LOST MAMA |
| LONG LOST MAMA (DADDY MISSES YOU) |
| LOOSE FEET |
| LOST MY BABY, BLUES |
| LOUISVILLE LOU (THAT VAMPIN’ LADY) |
| LOU’SIANA (LOUISIANA) |
| LOVE DREAM BLUES |
| LOVE LIES |
| LOVEY COME BACK |
| LOW DOWN PAPA (SWEET MAMA’S BLUES) |
| M. T. POCKET BLUES |
| MABEL’S DREAM |
| MAGGIE! (YES MAM) |
| MAILMAN BLUES |
| MAMA GOES WHERE PAPA GOES OR PAPA DON’T GO OUT TONITE |
| MAMA LOVES PAPA, PAPA LOVES MAMA |
| MAMA WON’T YOU COME AND MA-MA ME |
| MAMA’S GOT THE BLUES |
| MANDY LEE BLUES |
| MAXIE JONES, KING OF THE SAXOPHONES |
| MEAN BLUES |
| MEAN PAPA, TURN IN YOUR KEY |
| MEAN, MEAN MAMA |
| MEDITERRANEAN BLUES |
| MEMPHIS MAYBE MAN, THE |
| MEMPHIS TENNESSEE |
| MEXICALI ROSE |
| MICHIGAN WATER BLUES |
| MIDNIGHT BLUES |
| MIDNIGHT ROSE |
| MISSISSIPPI CHOO CHOO |
| MISSISSIPPI VALLEY BLUES |
| MISTER JELLY LORD |
| MISTREATIN’ DADDY |
| MOBILE BLUES |
| MOBILE BLUES |
| MOCKING BIRD BLUES |
| MODULATIONS (STEPPING ON THE KEYS) |
| MY CRYIN’ DAYS ARE OVER |
| MY GIRL USES MINERALAVA |
| MY PILLOW AND ME |
| MY PILLOW AND ME |
| MY SWEETIE WENT AWAY (SHE DIDN’T SAY WHERE, WHEN OR WHY) |
| NASHVILLE NIGHTINGALE |
| NEW ORLEANS HOP SCOP BLUES |
| NEW ORLEANS STOMP |
| NEW ORLEANS WIGGLE |
| NICKEL IN THE SLOT |
| NICKEL IN THE SLOT (LYRIC VERSION) |
| NINE O’CLOCK SAL |
| NO, NO NORA |
| NOBODY ELSE CAN LOVE ME LIKE MY OLD TOMATO CAN |
| NOBODY ELSE CAN LOVE ME LIKE MY OLD TOMATO CAN |
| NOBODY IN TOWN CAN BAKE A SWEET JELLY ROLL LIKE MINE |
| NOBODY KNOWS YOU WHEN YOUR DOWN AND OUT |
| NOBODY KNOWS YOU WHEN YOU’RE DOWN AND OUT |
| NOODLIN’ |
| NURSIN’ THE BLUES |
| OH DADDY (BLUES) |
| OH SISTER AIN’T THAT HOT |
| OH, DESDEMONA |
| OKLAHOMA INDIAN JAZZ |
| OLD FASHIONED LOVE |
| ON THE ISLE OF WICKI WACKI WOO |
| OPEN YOUR HEART |
| ORIGINAL CHARLESTON STRUT |
| OUT-O’-TOWN GAL |
| OUTSIDE OF THAT (HE’S ALRIGHT WITH ME) |
| OZARK BLUES |
| PAPA BETTER WATCH YOUR STEP |
| PAPA BLUES |
| PEARLS, THE |
| PESTICATIN’ MAMA |
| PICKIN’ ON YOUR BABY, ARE THEY |
| PLAY IT A LONG TIME PAPA |
| POOR RELATION BLUES |
| POTOMAC RIVER BLUES |
| PTOLEMY PTOODLE, THE |
| RAILROAD MAN |
| RAMPART STREET BLUES |
| RED HOT |
| RED-HOT BLUES |
| REMEMB’RING |
| RIVERSIDE BLUES |
| ROAMIN’ TO WYOMIN’ |
| ROCK-A-BYE MY BABY BLUES |
| ROOM RENT BLUES |
| ROSETIME AND YOU |
| ROSITA |
| RUB OFF YOUR WRINKLES WITH A SMILE |
| SAD ‘N’ LONELY BLUES |
| SAD NEWS BLUES |
| SALT YOUR SUGAR |
| SAM JONES BLUES |
| SEVEN OR ELEVEN (MY DIXIE PAIR O’ DICE) |
| SHE WOULDN’T DO WHAT I ASKED HER TO |
| SHREVEPORT BLUES |
| SHUFFLIN’ MOSE |
| SITTIN’ IN A CORNER |
| SLEEP |
| SNAKE HIPS |
| SNAKE RAG |
| SNAKE’S HIPS (A JUNGLE JAZZ) |
| SO I TOOK THE FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS |
| SOBBIN’ BLUES |
| SOMEBODY ELSE TOOK YOU OUT OF MY ARMS |
| SONG OF SOLOMON’S WIVES, THE |
| SOUTHERN STOMPS |
| ST. LOUIS GAL |
| STAVIN’ CHANGE |
| STEALING TO VIRGINIA |
| STEAM BOAT DAYS |
| STEAMBOAT BLUES |
| STELLA |
| STOMP, THE (HOUSE RENT BLUES) |
| STRUT LONG, PAPA |
| STRUT YOUR MATERIAL |
| STRUTTIN’ BLUES |
| STRUTTIN’ JIM |
| SUGAR BLUES |
| SUGAR BLUES |
| SUNDOWN BLUES |
| SUNDOWN BLUES |
| SUN-OV-ER-GUN, OH YOU LITTLE |
| SUNSHINE OF MINE |
| SWEET AND TENDER |
| SWEET HENRY |
| SWEET LOVIN’ MAMA |
| SWEET LOVIN’ MAN |
| SWINGIN’ DOWN THE LANE |
| SWINGIN’ DOWN THE LANE |
| SWINGIN’ DOWN THE LANE |
| TAKE, OH TAKE THOSE LIPS AWAY |
| TANTALIZIN’ MAMA |
| TEARS |
| TELEGRAM TO ALABAM’ |
| TELL ME A STORY |
| TEMPTATION BLUES |
| THAT BIG BLOND MAMA |
| THAT BRAN’ NEW GAL O’ MINE |
| THAT FREE AND EASY PAPA O’ MINE |
| THAT OLD GANG OF MINE |
| THAT OLD GANG OF MINE |
| THAT RED HEAD GAL |
| THAT’S GOT ‘EM BLUES |
| THAT’S MY BABY |
| THEY PUT THE LAST CLEAN SHIRT ON BILL TODAY |
| TIN ROOF BLUES |
| TIN ROOF BLUES |
| TRIFLIN’ BLUES |
| TWO TIME DAN |
| UNCLE JOE (THE HOCKSHOP MAN) |
| VAMPING SAL |
| WAITIN’ FOR THE EVENING MAIL |
| WALK, JENNY, WALK |
| WANNA GO SOUTH AGAIN BLUES |
| WEARY WEAZEL |
| WEARY WEAZEL |
| WEATHERBIRD RAG |
| WEEPING BLUES |
| WEST INDIES BLUES |
| WET YO’ THUMB |
| WHAT COULD BE SWEETER? |
| WHEN IT’S NIGHT TIME IN ITALY, IT’S WEDNESDAY OVER HERE |
| WHEN LIGHTS ARE LOW |
| WHEN YOU WALKED OUT, SOMEONE ELSE WALKED RIGHT IN |
| WHEN YOUR TROUBLES ARE JUST LIKE MINE |
| WHOA, TILLIE, TAKE YOUR TIME |
| WHO’S KISSING YOU? |
| WHO’S SORRY NOW? |
| WHO’S SORRY NOW? |
| WHY ROBINSON CRUSOE GOT THE BLUES |
| WHY SHOULD I WEEP ABOUT ONE SWEETIE |
| WICKED DIRTY FIVES, THE |
| WILD CAT BLUES |
| WILD FLOWER |
| WILD PAPA |
| WOLVERINE BLUES |
| WONDER IF SHE’S LONELY TOO |
| WONDERLAND BLUES |
| WON’T YOU COME OVER TO MY HOUSE |
| WON’T YOU MARRY ME? |
| WORKING MAN BLUES |
| WORRIED (I’M WORRIED OVER YOU) |
| WORRIED AND LONESOME BLUES |
| YES SIR! THAT’S LAZY BONES |
| YES! WE HAVE NO BANANAS |
| YES! WE HAVE NO BANANAS |
| YODELING BLUES |
| YOU (GEE BUT YOUR’E WONDERFUL, YOU) |
| YOU ARE EASY TO REMEMBER |
| YOU BETTER KEEP BABYING BABY |
| YOU BETTER LEAVE MY MAN ALONE |
| YOU BETTER STOP MESSIN’ AROUND |
| YOU CAN TAKE ME AWAY FROM DIXIE |
| YOU CAN’T DO WHAT MY LAST MAN DID (BLUES) |
| YOU DIDN’T WANT ME WHEN I WANTED YOU |
| YOU DON’T KNOW MY MIND |
| YOU MAY BE FAST, BUT YOUR MAMA’S GONNA SLOW DOWN |
| YOU NEVER GAVE ME NOTHIN’ BUT THE BLUES |
| YOU SAID SOMETHING WHEN YOU SAID DIXIE |
| YOU SHALL REAP JUST WHAT YOU SOW! |
| YOU’LL NEVER HAVE NO LUCK BY QUITTIN’ ME |
| YOUR TIME NOW, ‘TWILL BE MINE AFTER A WHILE |
| YOU’RE ALWAYS MESSIN’ ‘ROUND WITH MY MAN |
| YOU’VE GOT TO SEE MAMA EV’RY NITE OR YOU CAN’T SEE MAMA AT ALL |
| ZANZIBAR |
| ZULU’S BALL |