MOONGLOW
ARTIE
SHAW (SWINGTIME BIG BAND)
SONGWRITERS:
EDDIE DELANGE, IRVING MILLS & WILL HUDSON
ONLY:
INSTRUMENTAL
COUNTRY:
U. S. A.
ALBUM:
ARTIE AND HIS ORCHESTRA MOONGLOW
LABEL:RCA
VICTOR
GENRE:JAZZ
YEAR:
1956
Artie Shaw (born Arthur
Jacob Arshawsky; May 23, 1910 – December 30, 2004) was an American clarinetist,
composer, bandleader, and actor. Also an author, Shaw wrote both fiction and non-fiction.
Widely regarded as
"one of jazz's finest clarinetists," Shaw led one of the United
States' most popular big bands in the late 1930s through the early 1940s.
Though he had numerous hit records, he was perhaps best known for his 1938
recording of Cole Porter's "Begin the Beguine." Prior to the release
of "Beguine," Shaw and his fledgling band had languished in relative
obscurity for over two years and, after its release, he became a major pop
artist within short order. The record eventually became one of the era's defining recordings. Musically
restless, Shaw was also an early proponent of what became known much later as Third
Stream music, which blended elements of classical and jazz forms and
traditions. His music influenced other musicians, such as John Barry in England,
with the vamp of the James Bond Theme, possibly influenced by
"Nightmare," which also has a similar vamp to Kurt Weill's "Lonely
House."
"Moonglow", also
known as "Moonglow and Love" is a 1933 popular song. The music was by
Will Hudson (1908–1981) and Irving Mills and the words were by Eddie DeLange.
"Moonglow" was
first recorded by Joe Venuti and his orchestra in 1933, with subsequent
recordings by Cab Calloway, Benny Goodman and his orchestra, Ethel Waters, and Art
Tatum in 1934 and has since become a jazz standard, performed and recorded
numerous times by a wide array of musical talents. The Benny Goodman Quartet
with Teddy Wilson, Gene Krupa and Lionel Hampton made a famous version of the
song in 1936, Artie Shaw recorded it in 1941, and Harry James recorded it in
1946 (released in 1950) on Columbia 38943.
Bing Crosby recorded the
song in 1956 for use on his radio show and it was subsequently included in the
box set The Bing Crosby CBS Radio Recordings (1954-56) issued by Mosaic
Records (catalog MD7-245) in 2009. Other prominent vocalists who have recorded
"Moonglow" include June Christy(1946), Billie Holiday(1952) and Sarah
Vaughan(1962). A recording by George Cates and his Orchestra reached number
four. The Coasters released a version on their 1960 album, One by One.