(3-CD set) If the 1920's started out with a bang, the 30's began with a whimper. The stock market crash brought about the loss of personal fortunes, bank failures, foreclosures on homes and farms and failure of businesses. The net result was widespread unemployment, homelessness and despair. Amidst this turbulence, the decade enjoyed a golden age of popular music. Record sales drastically declined during the Great Depression and many labels failed. However, the 50 titles included here comprise a virtual hit parade of songs that survived the decade. While life was not always wonderful at that time, the music and records left to posterity certainly were. Most artists in this set were recording in the 1920's, yet their style evolved with the sounds of the new decade.