75th anniversary of "In the Mood" 8-1-1939

[Eyeball]

Old habits die hard for me, so here is a birthday celebration posting for the Glenn Miller recording of the Swing Era's national anthem, "In the Mood".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pZtomQS8JkE - original recording
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=teJfuKdzbOo - from the first GM film
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HXiRvWiRouU - original 78 Bluebird release. and this was the only BB 78 of ITM that I could find on YT,

From last years post -

The King Sisters did a version on ITM around the fall of 1939. I don't recall if it was any good, though. If anyone would have a good vocal version it would be them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MqHXR4TShxs

"We had cut one record for Bluebird, which was 'In The Mood,' says Donna. We were the first to record a vocal version of the Glenn Miller hit, with words added. Shortly after that, we were booked into the Pasadena Civic Auditorium, which had these weekly dances that a lot of high school and college kids went to. We were shocked to see about 4000 kids show up! That's when we realized just how many people were listening to our KHJ broadcasts. The kids requested 'In The Mood' over and over again, so we sang that song again and again! We hadn't realized how popular we were becoming, because they didn't have anything like Neilsen ratings for radio shows at that time. We were absolutely floored at the response!"

[trev]

Okay, but credit where credit is due...

This started life as "Tar Paper Stomp" recoded by Wingy Manone back in 1930.
Then was used for a section of "Hot and Anxious" buy the Henderson Orchestra in 1931
Then Joe Garland recomposed it for Edgar Hayes in 1938. They did a great version.
Then Artie Shaw played it slowly and rightly decided it was boring.
Then Glenn Miller recorded it in 1939, it became a smash hit, and he paid off Wingy not to contest royalties.

I like the Teddy Wilson 1940 version.

Okay time to stop talking about this damn song.

[Eyeball]

Then Artie Shaw played it slowly and rightly decided it was boring.
Then Glenn Miller recorded it in 1939, it became a smash hit, and he paid off Wingy not to contest royalties..

I have always wondered about the pay off story b/c I never knew that you could copyright a short riff. Do you have more on that?

Yes, the history and evolution of the tune is fairly well known to people who care enough. Like us.

I really like the Artie Shaw version. You don't? It hits a good groove! It has passages that Glenn Miller either deleted or placed on top of each other. Brilliant move. Miller was playing the long version, too, like Shaw did. A day or two before the GM recording session, he edited the chart and the rest was history.

Thanks for posting!