| "Moonlight Becomes You" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Bing Crosby | ||||
| B-side | "Constantly" | |||
| Published | October 2, 1942 by Famous Music Corp., New York [1] | |||
| Released | November 19, 1942 | |||
| Recorded | June 12, 1942 [2] | |||
| Studio | Decca Recording Studio, Los Angeles, California [2] | |||
| Length | 3:09 [2] | |||
| Label | Decca 18513 | |||
| Composer(s) | Jimmy Van Heusen | |||
| Lyricist(s) | Johnny Burke | |||
| Bing Crosby singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Moonlight Becomes You" is a popular song composed by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Johnny Burke. [3] The song was written for the Paramount Pictures release Road to Morocco ( 1942) and published in 1942 in connection with the film. Vic Schoen (staff arranger for Paramount) wrote the arrangement.
The song has been recorded many times, becoming a standard, but the recording by Bing Crosby on June 12, 1942 [4] is the best known. This topped the Billboard charts in 1942 and spent a total of 17 weeks in the lists. [5]
Other recordings
- Chet Baker covered the tune in his album My Funny Valentine (1980).
- Dick Haymes - included in his 1956 album Moondreams. [6]
- Ella Fitzgerald - Verve release Get Happy! (1959), with Herb Ellis on guitar and Lou Levy on piano.
- Engelbert Humperdinck on his album The Very Thought of You (1995). [7]
- Frank Sinatra recorded the song for his Moonlight Sinatra album (1966).
- Nora Aunor - her winning song in 1967 Tawag ng Tanghalan Championship.
- Glenn Miller Orchestra - their 1942 recording reached No. 5 in the Billboard charts the same year. [8]
- Bobby Hackett - 1965 album of the same name. [9]
- Harry James and His Orchestra - their recording reached No. 15 in the Billboard charts in 1942. [10]
- The Hi-Lo's - included in the 1957 album Ring Around Rosie.
- Jack Jones - included in his 1961 album Lollipops and Roses. [11]
- Jerry Vale - included in his 1959 album The Same Old Moon. [12]
- Johnny Mathis - included in his 1959 album Heavenly.
- Mel Tormé - in his 1994 album A Tribute to Bing Crosby.
- Michael Holliday - included in the 1962 album To Bing - From Mike. [13]
- Val Doonican - included in the 1982 album Val Sings Bing. [14]
- Paul Williams recorded this song for his 1979 album A Little on the Windy Side.
- Seth MacFarlane - in his 2017 album In Full Swing.
Popular culture
- A clip of the song by Julie Morgan was also featured in Star Trek: First Contact, also a Paramount film.
- The Glenn Miller Orchestra version of the song. sung by Skip Nelson, is featured in a dance sequence in the New York City immersive theater production Sleep No More.
- Becker and an old lady sing it together at the end of the episode "Love! Lies! Bleeding!"
References
- ^ Library of Congress. Copyright Office. (1942). Catalog of Copyright Entries 1942 2 Music New Series Vol 37 Pt 3. United States Copyright Office. U.S. Govt. Print. Off.
- ^ a b c "Decca matrix DLA 3034. Moonlight becomes you / Bing Crosby - Discography of American Historical Recordings". adp.library.ucsb.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-30.
- ^ Gilliland, John (1994). Pop Chronicles the 40s: The Lively Story of Pop Music in the 40s (audiobook). ISBN 978-1-55935-147-8. OCLC 31611854. Tape 1, side A.
- ^ "A Bing Crosby Discography". BING magazine. International Club Crosby. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Pop Memories 1890-1954. Record Research Inc. p. 109. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
- ^ "Discogs". discogs.com. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
- ^ "Discogs". Discogs.com. 1995. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Pop Memories 1890-1954. Record Research Inc. p. 312. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
- ^ "Bobby Hackett with Strings – Moonlight Becomes You (Vinyl)". Discogs. 17 December 2017.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Pop Memories 1890-1954. Record Research Inc. p. 226. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
- ^ "Discogs". discogs.com. 1962. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
- ^ "Discogs". discogs.com. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
- ^ "Discogs". discogs.com. 1962. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
- ^ "Discogs". discogs.com. 1982. Retrieved February 14, 2016.
External links
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Categories:
- 1942 songs
- 1943 singles
- Bing Crosby songs
- Dorothy Lamour songs
- Pop standards
- Songs written for films
- Songs with music by Jimmy Van Heusen
- Songs with lyrics by Johnny Burke (lyricist)
- Mel Tormé songs
- Ella Fitzgerald songs
- Engelbert Humperdinck songs
- Frank Sinatra songs
- Glenn Miller songs
- Jack Jones (singer) songs
- Jerry Vale songs
- Johnny Mathis songs
- Songs about the Moon
- Decca Records singles
- Pop standard stubs