in the mood

This article is about the big band-era song popularized by Glenn Miller. For other uses, see In the Mood (disambiguation).

"In the Mood", a song popularized by the American bandleader Glenn Miller, was one of the best-known arrangements of the big band era. Miller's rendition topped the charts in 1940 and was featured in the 1941 movie Sun Valley Serenade.

It opens with a now-famous sax section theme, and is joined by trumpets and trombones after 13 counts. It has two main solo sections; a 'tenor fight' solo, and a 16-bar trumpet solo. It is also famous for its ending.

Origins

The song, a twelve-bar blues, was composed by Eric DeWebber (Joseph C. Garland) and Andy Razaf, and arranged by Eddie Durham. The main theme previously appeared under the title of "Tar Paper Stomp", credited to jazz trumpeter/bandleader Wingy Manone, who recorded it several times in 1929 and 1930. A story says that after "In the Mood" became a hit, Manone was paid by Miller and his record company not to contest the copyright.

Renditions

Other notable big band artists who recorded the song include the Andrews Sisters, Xavier Cugat, Tommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Artie Shaw, and The Brian Setzer Orchestra.

Non-big band renditions were recorded by Jerry Lee Lewis, John Lee Hooker, Chet Atkins, Bill Haley & His Comets, and Ernie Fields Jr., Bad Manners. The song was charted at number 16 in 1953 with Johnny Maddox. Jonathan King scored a UK Top 50 hit with his version of the song in 1976. Bette Midler also recorded this song in 1973 (on the album Bette Midler).

A verson of the song was recorded by country/novelty artist Ray Stevens in 1977. Stevens' version consisted of him performing the song in chicken clucks, and was credited to the "Henhouse Five Plus Two".

Popular culture

During the coda of the Beatles' "All You Need Is Love," the saxophones in the background can be heard playing snippets of the song's introduction.

The song is mentioned in the Genesis song Broadway Melody of 1974 featured on the album The Lamb Lies Down on Broadway.

Upon request in his will, "In The Mood" was played at the funeral of Peter Sellers in 1980. It was an ironic joke on Sellers' part; the comedian hated the song, probably from his days as a drummer when it would have been frequently requested.

"In the Mood" is also in the third episode of season two of Scrubs. In "My Case Study", Dr. Bob Kelso is shown dancing in a short musical number in celebration after his anniversary.

The song was featured in the movies such as Rookie of the Year, The Parent Trap, Swing Girls and Derek Yee's 1993 tearjerker C'est la vie, mon chéri starring Anita Yuen.

Glenn Miller's version is known to many younger people through its use as the instrumental theme in the sampled medley "Swing the Mood", a number 1 hit in many countries in the late 1980s by Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers.

Many high school and college jazz ensembles continue to play the song today. However, the original score was lost over the years, so all current versions are very similar to, but have slight differences from, the original Glenn Miller recorded version.

Popular radio talk show hosts Opie and Anthony will play this song in the background while Anthony goes into a comedic bit about the 40's, often putting on a "40's radio voice".

In the thirteenth season episode of The Simpsons, The Old Man and the Key, Grandpa Simpson starts driving again while living with Homer and Marge. Homer gets mad at Grandpa for staying out all night and he takes away the car keys, prompting Grandpa to declare he hates living there. He storms upstairs, slams the door to his room, and begins to play In the Mood on a phonograph, very much like a teenager might do with a CD and a newer song.

In 2004, it was one of 50 recordings chosen that year by the Library of Congress to be added to the National Recording Registry.

In 2005, it was played in the Doctor Who episode "The Doctor Dances", in the final scene as the Doctor and Rose danced.

In 2007, the Minnesota Twins used it during their 7th inning tribute to late broadcaster Herb Carneal at all home games.

See also

• List of jazz standards

"Clarinet Get Away" by Jimmy O'Bryant on Paramount 12287 recorded in 1925 appears to state the basic theme of "In The Mood" prior to the references cited above.

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