Uncovering the Next Generation's Hall of Fame

| ⇦ 1939 | 1941 ⇨ |
The Best Music of 1940
Here is a selection of the best albums and songs from 1940. Hall of Famers are highlighted in orange.
For a list of the top artists who made their debut recording in 1940, check out this list.
| Albums (?) | Wikipedia | |
| Alfred Newman | The Mark of Zorro: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack | ☆ |
| Art Tatum | Decca Presents Art Tatum (In an Album of Piano Solos) | ☆ |
| Count Basie | Count Basie at the Piano | ☆ |
| Joshua White and His Carolinians | Chain Gang | ☆ |
| Marlene Dietrich | Marlene Dietrich | ☆ |
| Woody Guthrie | Dust Bowl Ballads | ☆ |
| Songs (?) | Wikipedia | |
| Bill Monroe | Mule Skinner Blues | ☆ |
| Billie Holiday | The Man I Love | ☆ |
| Bob Wills & His Texas Playboys | New San Antonio Rose | ☆ |
| Charlie Parker | Koko | ☆ |
| Cliff Edwards | When You Wish Upon A Star | ☆ |
| Django Reinhardt | Nuages | ☆ |
| Ella Fitzgerald | How High The Moon | ☆ |
| Glenn Miller and His Orchestra | Pennsylvania 6-5000 | ☆ |
| Jelly Roll Morton | The Crave | ☆ |
| Jimmie Davis | You Are My Sunshine | ☆ |
| Lead Belly | Cotton Fields | ☆ |
| Tampa Red | It Hurts Me Too | ☆ |
| The Ink Spots | Maybe | ☆ |
| Woody Guthrie | Do Re Mi | ☆ |
| Woody Guthrie | Pretty Boy Floyd | ☆ |
| ⇦ 1939 | 1941 ⇨ |