On this day in history,'In the Mood' tops US pop charts

[oldbrownhat]

Article here.

"...The bespectacled, tight-lipped bandleader seemed more like the leader of a choir than a swing band, but his keen arranging skills and ear for melody ensured that at least every other tune he recorded seemed like the anthem of the age," wrote AllAboutJazz.com in a review of Miller and "In the Mood..."
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Many years ago, when I was doing freelance audio recording, I was hired to do a CD of music by a .... wait for it..... ukelele ensemble made up of students of a band teacher at a local high school. And they were good!

The director - who had enough energy to make the Energizer Bunny look like a couch potato - also had a little jazz ensemble with three or four senior students, and I can still remember the vocal lead, a very talented girl who had graduated the year before, singing "In the Mood."

 

[Onomea]

My favorite version is Bonnie Raitt and John Lee Hooker. Sizzles.

 

[lihpster]

RIP Major Alton Glenn Miller US Army Air Corps MIA Dec. 15TH 1944.

I appreciate the music. I am eternally grateful for the service and sacrifice.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

I remember it well. The whole country cried. He was that popular.

 

[CH4]

Played his music in a dance band I was in. I learned about him at a very young age, from my band teacher, who was also an Army musician. Great talent and veteran

 

[Rustyt1953]

Every Fake Book that I have ever seen had that tune in it. That says a lot.

 

[DWalt]

There were many theories on what happened to Glenn Miller, but no one knows for sure. The most likely scenario is that while Miller’s plane was taking him from England to Paris for a performance there, the engine carburetors iced up and it crashed into the English Channel. Miller’s body was never found.

 

[Krogen]

Mom loved big band music, Glenn Miller being at the top of her list. I remember her grin when she heard "In the Mood." I am forever grateful that Mom gave me a life-long love of music, especially big band. These ticket stubs are from the time she took me to see another icon of days past. I was just a kid, but I have never forgotten that performance.

 

[rockquarry]

My wife and I took my mother (ninety-two at the time) to see the new Glenn Miller orchestra in Dallas three years ago. I have to say they were the equal of the original Glenn Miller group. Whether this had to do with technology, talent, or both, I don't know, but the current Glenn Miller Orchestra is so close to the real thing, its hard to see a difference.

 

[chief38]

I still listen to Glenn Miller and Big Band music on a weekly basis. I like many types of music ranging from big band, to classical, Sinatra, Dean Martin, to 1940's, 1950's 1960's, 1970's and sometimes even popular show tunes.

Most modern music, rap and heavy metal is not for me!

 

[soFlaNative]

I met Miz Native courtesy of that song. High School homecoming pep rally, mid 70's flashback fascination with the 50's had a bunch of us jitterbugging to this tune. During practice she took pity on my lurching, stumbling attempts and led me thru some moves to where I was featured dancing in the gym with the class president who happened to be the best built babe in the school.
We crossed paths a couple years later and I remembered the way she moved and the easy repartee we had and had to ask her out.
That song will always be special.

 

[Imissedagain]

It's in Book #1 not #2.
Got those and the C versions when I just became a teenager.

Asked my teacher if I could go to jail for having Fake Books.

 

[Imissedagain]

Played his music in a dance band I was in. I learned about him at a very young age, from my band teacher, who was also an Army musician. Great talent and veteran

If a Marching Band plays, In The Mood, are they now a
Dance Band?

 

[oldbrownhat]

I met Miz Native courtesy of that song....

"And the rest, as they say, is history."

 

[PALADIN85020]

Mom loved big band music, Glenn Miller being at the top of her list. I remember her grin when she heard "In the Mood." I am forever grateful that Mom gave me a life-long love of music, especially big band. These ticket stubs are from the time she took me to see another icon of days past. I was just a kid, but I have never forgotten that performance.

MY mom took me to see Spike Jones!

John

 

[DWalt]

Glenn Miller personally starred in two movies, Sun Valley Serenade (1941) and Orchestra Wives (1942). Between them, they contain most of the old Glenn Miller standard songs. My favorite is Orchestra Wives, as it has a fairly good plot, in addition to the music. Uncle Milty and Sonja Henie co-star in Sun Valley Serenade. Both show up on TCM regularly and are worth watching.

 

[Beemerguy53]

Mom loved big band music, Glenn Miller being at the top of her list. I remember her grin when she heard "In the Mood." I am forever grateful that Mom gave me a life-long love of music, especially big band. These ticket stubs are from the time she took me to see another icon of days past. I was just a kid, but I have never forgotten that performance.

Your Mom done good...

My parents loved the music of their generation, and played it regularly in our home. I didn't really appreciate it when I was young, but as I've aged, I've come to love it. It really is timeless...

 

[Beemerguy53]

There is a nice exhibit on Glenn Miller at the National Museum of the US Air Force in Ohio, including his trombone. I took these photos in the summer of '21...

 

[Beemerguy53]

Trailer for The Glenn Miller Story, starring James Stewart and June Allyson...

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wn04QWMvcAw[/ame]

 

[Old Arkansawyer]

In the 60's I listened to KRMG out of Tulsa, Ok. Week nights from 9 P.M.
to 1 A.M. there was a dj by the name of Johnny Martin. Big band music
was what he played and Glenn Miller was played several times/night.
Martin had a voice for radio, deep baritone. Friday night was always
called case night in the city. Also after midnight he always brought
on his favorite blond, Miss Peggy Lee.
I listened to that show late night on a little cheap radio in Pensacola, Fl
when I was stationed there.
Good memories.