31/10/2025
THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
150-146.
150-Ian Dury-Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick.
149-Andrea True Connection-More More More.
148-Supremes-You Can't Hurry Love.
147-Charles Aznavour-She.
146-Glenn Miller-In the Mood.
THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
150-Ian Dury and the Blockheads-Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick.
1979-Number 1 single.
Best Bit-At 1.41. It's the music loving masochists favourite beat.
Ian Dury was born Ian Robins Dury on May 12th, 1942, in Harrow, Middlesex, England, he died of metastatic colorectal cancer on March 27th, 2000, at the age of 57. At the age of seven Dury contracted polio, most likely he believed, from a swimming pool at Southend-on-Sea during the 1949 polio epidemic, this illness resulted in the paralysis and withering of his left leg, shoulders and arm. In 1981 Dury wrote the song 'Spasticus Autistcus,' to show his disdain for that years 'International Year of Disabled Persons,' which he saw as patronising and counter productive. The song was banned by the BBC at the time for it's uncompromising lyrics, but in 2012 it was one of the songs chosen for the opening of the 'London Paralympics.' On his death Dury received many tributes including from Suggs the lead singer of Madness (see also best songs 801 and 69) who said 'Possibly the finest lyricist we've seen,' and in 2021 Robbie Williams (see also best songs 406) cited Dury as his biggest influence as a lyricist.
Ian Dury formed the band 'Kilburn and the High Roads' in 1970, releasing two studio Albums, and two singles, and opening for 'The Who' (see also best songs 926-306 and 265) in 1973, but despite this they never rose above cult status and split in 1975. In 1977 Dury set up a new band which included this songs co-writer Chas Jankel, which were named the 'Blockheads,' after an Ian Dury song of the same name. In total there have been 18 different members of the 'Blockheads' come and go over the years, and they remain active at the time of writing. The discography of Ian Dury, including as a solo artist, and with Kilburn and the High Roads, and also the Blockheads, includes 11 studio Albums released between 1975-2002, and 30 singles released between 1974-2001, there are also two extended plays, (EP's) four box sets, 14 official compilation Albums, and four live Albums available. In the UK, Ian Dury has had two top 40 charting Albums. 'New Boots and Panties!!' (1977-Number 5) and 'Do It Yourself,' (1979-Number 2) he has also had four UK top 40 hit singles, with 'Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick' peaking the highest at Number 1. Ian Dury has never charted on the top 40 on any American Billboard chart.
'Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick' was co-written by Ian Dury, (lyrics) and Chas Jankel, (music) but did not appear on their second studio Album from 1979 'Do It Yourself,' as the policy was not to have singles as part of the Blockheads Albums, 'Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick' was eventually added to the Albums 1996 re-issue. Although the song was riding high in the Xmas chart of 1978, it didn't make Number 1 until January 1979, selling approximately 970,000 copies. In 2004 with the advent of downloads the song finally surpassed the 1 million mark, and is currently around the 114th best selling song of all time in the UK. 'Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick' was produced by the veteran British music producer Laurie Latham (see also best songs 971) who had also produced Ian Dury & the Blockheads debut studio Album 'New Boots & Panties' in 1977, his other high profile productions include, 'No Parlez' for Paul Young, (1983) 'Cosi Fan Tutti Frutti' for Squeeze, (1985) and 'Echo & the Bunnymen' for Echo & the Bunnymen (1987.) Laurie Latham's biggest commercial success was producing the song 'Blinded by the Light' by Manfred Mann's Earth Band, which reached Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in America, and Number 6 in the UK in 1976.
Chas Jankel was born Charles Jeremy Jankel on April 16th, 1952, in Stanmore, Middlesex, England, at the time of writing he still tours with the Blockheads. Chas Jankel has released 10 solo studio Albums between 1980-2023, and 13 solo singles between 1974-2009. As well as co-writing the Blockheads other UK top 3 single 'Reasons to Be Cheerful, Part 3' in 1979, he also wrote and recorded the original version of 'Ai No Corrida,' which when covered by Quincy Jones (see also best songs 1022-889-812-511-249-191 and 137) in 1981 reached Number 14 in the UK, and Number 28 on Billboard in America. 'Ai No Corrida' was also covered by the British Dance Music act 'Laura More with Uniting Nations' in 2005, with their version peaking at No. 18 in the UK.
Ian Dury had written the lyrics for 'Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick' as early as 1976, although according to Dury's daughter Jemima it appears that the origins of the song can be traced as far back as 1974. Chas Jankel who wrote the songs music has said, 'He (Dury) showed me a lyric, very succinct, in half an hour the song was written.' 'Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick' is noted for a complex 16-notes-to-the-bar bass line played by Norman Watt-Roy, who first joined the Blockheads in 1976, and remained a member until 2022, and the saxophone solo in the instrumental break is performed by Davey Payne, who joined the group in 1977, and plays two saxophones on the track. It is rumoured that 'Hit Me with Your Rhythm Stick' was inspired by Ian Dury's disability, although he was not confined to a wheelchair, his body was still deformed by the disease he caught as a child, and he used a walking stick for the rest of his life. Ian Dury has said, 'I had Rhythm Stick for about three years on a bit of paper. I did a little demo with a drum machine and I gave it to Chaz. When the song was finished, Jankel phoned his mother and excitedly announced that he'd just written his first Number 1.'
'Hit me with your rhythm stick, hit me, hit me. Das ist gut! C'est fantastique! Hit me, hit me, hit me. Hit me with your rhythm stick, It's nice to be a lunatic, hit me, hit me, hit me.'
THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
149-Andrea True Connection-More, More, More.
1976-Number 5 single.
Best Bit-At 0.26. In 2002 Andrea True said, 'I want to be remembered as a person who gave people pleasure,'- then emphasised the words - 'with my music.'
Andrea True was born Andrea Marie Truden on July 26th, 1943, in Nashville, Tennessee, United States, she died on November 7th, 2011, of heart failure at the age of 68. As a child she studied classical piano, and by the age of 15 she was hosting her own television programme called 'Teen Beat' for the Nashville station 'WLAC.' Andrea was married at 19, and relocated to New York City in the early 1960's. By the mid 1960's Andrea began working in the adult film industry, initially in Scandinavia, but then moving back to America where she performed in more than 50 hardcore p**n films throughout the 1970's, and into the mid 1980's. It was in 1975 in her heyday that she was hired by a real estate business in Jamaica to appear in their commercials, but while she was there the Jamaican Government brought in a new law that any foreigner working in the country couldn't take their earnings back abroad with them, and the money must remain in Jamaica. Rather than leave the money in that country, Andrea decided to spend it on recording her own music. She had been thinking of going into the music industry for a while, and got in touch with the record producer Gregg Diamond, (1949-1999) and together they recorded a demo of 'More, More, More' which eventually would be sent to the legendary recording engineer Tom Moulton (see also best songs 604 and 184) for remixing. After recording her third and final Album the more 'Rock/New Wave' 'War Machine' in 1980, Andrea developed a medical problem on her vocal chords that required surgery, and eventually led to her having to give up singing professionally. At the onset of her singing career Andrea had said that she was burned out and tired of doing p**n, saying, 'I'd rather be a waitress, or a typist than make another adult film, and also, don't think of me as a p**n star any more, think of me as a recording star. I just want to record and perform.'
'More, More, More' was the first of two singles released from Andrea True Connection's debut studio Album of the same name from 1976, the writing and production of the track 'More, More, More' is credited to Gregg Diamond, but in later years Andrea True did receive recognition for her part in writing the lyrics. It has been suggested that the songs lyrics could have been written about Andrea's p**n career, 'Get the cameras rollin', get the action goin''. In total Andrea True released three studio Albums between 1976-1980, the first two as the 'Andrea True Connection' were in the 'Disco' genre,' and the third one just credited to 'Andrea True' is in the 'Rock' genre. Andrea True also released five singles between 1976-1981, with two of them reaching the Billboard Hot 100 top 40, 'More, More, More' (1976-Number 4) and 'N.Y., You Got Me Dancing,' (1977-Number 27) while in the UK 'More, More, More' peaked at Number 5, and 'What's Your Name, What's Your Number' made Number 34 in 1977.
'More, More, More' was written and produced by Gregg Diamond who was born Gregory Oliver Diamond on May 4th, 1949, in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, United States, he died on March 14th, 1999, of internal bleeding, at the age of 49. Gregg Diamond was a pianist, drummer, songwriter, and producer, who recorded in the Jazz and Disco music genres of the 1970's. Another notable song written by Diamond is the track 'Hot Butterfly,' which was recorded by his group 'Bionic Boogie,' with Luther Vandross (1951-2005) (see also best songs 474) on lead vocals, the song was later covered by Chaka Khan (see also best songs 703-228 and 85.) As 'Bionic Boogie' and also as a solo artist Gregg Diamond released five Albums between 1977-1979, and seven singles between 1978-1980.
Once the track 'More, More, More' was ready, it was sent to be remixed by the recording engineer Tom Moulton, (see also best songs 604 and 184) who was born Thomas Jerome Moulton on November 29th, 1940, in Schenectady, New York, United States. Tom Moulton work is considered groundbreaking, having experimented with the 'remix' in 'Disco' music, which led to its wide adoption as a standard practice in the music industry. He also invented the 'breakdown section,' (In music, a breakdown is a section of a song in which various instruments have solo parts (breaks). This may take the form of all instruments playing the verse together, and then several or all instruments individually repeating the verse as solo parts) and this led to the 12 inch single vinyl format being introduced. Tom Moulton was also responsible for the first continuous-mix Album side, on Gloria Gaynor's Disco Album 'Never Can Say Goodbye,' in 1975, earning him the title of 'Father of the disco mix.' In 2004 his innovative work was honoured at the 'Dance Music Hall of Fame' ceremony in New York City, when he was inducted for his achievements as a remixer.
In 1993 'More, More, More' was covered by the English Pop girl group 'Bananarama,' who took their version to Number 24 in the UK, but the highest charting version of the song came about in 2004 when ex 'S Club 7' singer Rachel Stevens took her remake to Number 3 in the UK. Also, in 1999 the Canadian Rock duo 'Len' sampled the song for their track 'Steal My Sunshine,' which reached Number 3 in Canada, Number 8 in the UK, and Number 9 in America.
'But if you want to know how I really feel, get the cameras rolling get the action going. Baby you know my love for you is real, take me where you want to, me and my heart you steal.'
THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
148-Supremes-You Can't Hurry Love.
1966-Number 3 single.
Best Bit-At 0.01. The group were originally known as 'The Primettes,' but Motown owner Berry Gordy refused to sign them unless they changed their name. He gave Florence Ballard (1943-1976) a choice between 'The Darleens,' The Sweet P's,' 'The Melodees,' 'The Royaltones,' 'The Jewelettes,' or 'The Supremes.' On Ballard choosing 'The Supremes' (see also best songs 1001-411 and 212) Diana Ross expressed her disappointment saying 'It felt too masculine.'
The core of the group who would become known as the Supremes were formed in Detroit, Michigan, United States, in 1959, they remained active until 1977 when the final founding member Mary Wilson (1944-2021) left to pursue a solo career, and Motown decided to disband the group as there were no original members left. The discography of the Supremes includes 29 studio Albums released between 1962-1976, and 66 singles issued between 1960-1979, there are also two soundtrack Albums, 32 official compilation Albums, and four live Albums available. In America on the Billboard 200 chart, their 1966 ninth studio Album 'The Supremes A' Go-Go' gave them their only Number 1 on that chart, it was the first Album by an all female group to reach number 1, while on the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart they achieved 33 top 40 singles, with 12 of those making Number 1, In the UK the Supremes have had 29 top 40 hit singles, with 'Baby Love' (1964) being their only chart topper.
'You Can't Hurry Love' was the second of two singles released from 'The Supremes A' Go-Go,' which was the ninth studio Album by the Supremes, from August 1966, the song was written by the legendary song writing team of 'Holland-Dozier-Holland,' (see also best songs 969-823-650-553-411 and 212) and produced by Brian Holland, and Lamont Dozier (1941-2022.) Diana Ross (see also best songs 900-519-183 and 28) sang lead vocals on 11 of the 12 tracks, including 'You Can't Hurry Love,' with Mary Wilson singing the lead on 'Come and Get These Memories.' All the instrumentation on the Album was played by 'The Funk Brothers,' (see also best songs 948-650-569-414-382-212 and 28) and 'The Andantes' (see also best songs 1001-823-650-411-114 and 28) provided background vocals on two tracks.
The song lyrics for 'You Can't Hurry Love' were written by Eddie Holland who was inspired by a 1950's Gospel song called ('You Can't Hurry God) He's Right on Time,' written by Dorothy Love Coates, (1928-2002) the lyrics include the lines 'You can't hurry God, you just have to wait. Trust and give him time, no matter how long it takes.' On the making of the song Lamont Dozier has said, 'We were trying to reconstruct 'Come See About Me,' and somehow it turned into 'You Can't Hurry Love.' It was basically a gospel feel we were after.' The song went on to give the Supremes their seventh Billboard Number 1 single.
Eddie Holland was born Edward James Holland Jr. on October 30th, 1939, in Detroit, Michigan, United States. He first started out at Motown as a solo recording artist, but due to stage fright he took to working behind the scenes. As a member of 'Holland-Dozier-Holland' Eddie Holland served as the trio's main lyricist. He has also released one solo studio Album called 'Eddie Holland,' in 1962, and 15 solo singles between 1958-1964, there are also three official compilation Albums available, his only solo Billboard Hot 100 top 40 hit single is 'Jamie,' which reached Number 30 in 1961. Brian Holland who is the younger brother of Eddie Holland was born on February 15th, 1941, in Detroit, Michigan, United States, he is a songwriter and music producer, who has written or co-written 145 hits in America, and 78 in the UK. In 1958 he released a solo single under the name of 'Briant Holland,' and between 1960-1962 he was a member of the Motown recording act 'The Satintones,' as well as being a member of the 'Rayber Voices,' a quartet that backed up several early Motown recording acts.
In 1982 'You Can't Hurry Love' was even more successful in the UK when a cover version by Phil Collins (see also best songs 741) reached Number 1, in America it made Number 10. Phil Collins had always been a big fan of Motown and wanted to replicate the Motown sound with 1980's studio technology. In the songs video there are three Phil Collins singing and dancing at the same time, this was done to replicate and honour the three Supremes. Phil Collins version was also the very first track on the very first 'Now That's What I Call Music' compilation CD first issued in 1983. Phil Collins has said, 'The idea of doing 'Can't Hurry Love' was to see if Hugh Padgham (see also best songs 741-727 and 603) and I could duplicate that Sixties sound. It's very difficult today because most recording facilities are so much more sophisticated than they were back then. It's therefore hard to make the drums sound as rough as they did on the original. That's what we were going after, a remake, not an interpretation, but a remake.' Collins has also said, 'We needed to get everything right on it, but we didn't really succeed. There were no naff strings on the original to start with. The Motown tracks were always an inspiration.' In 1988 Phil Collins teamed up with Lamont Dozier to co-write and co-produce the song 'Two Hearts' for the 1988 film 'Buster,' the song would go on to reach Number 6 in the UK, and Number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, giving Lamont Dozier has 14th Number 1 single on that chart.
'No, I can't bear to live my life alone, I grow impatient for a love to call my own, but when I feel that I, I can't go on, these precious words keeps me hanging on. I remember mama said.'
THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
147-Charles Aznavour-She.
1974-Number 1 single.
Best Bit-At 1.43. The most poignant lyrics ever written about natures greatest creation.
Charles Aznavour was born Shahnour Vaghinag Aznavourian on May 22nd, 1924, in Paris, French Third Republic, he died on October 1st, 2018 of cardio respiratory arrest complicated by an acute pulmonary edema, at the age of 94. In 2017 Charles Aznavour and his sister Aida were awarded the 'Raoul Wallenberg Award' for there rescue activities during World War II. The Aznavour's were closely linked to the 'Missak Manouchian Resistance Group', and in this context they offered shelter to Armenians, Jews, and others at their own Paris flat, risking their own lives. Both of Charles Aznavour's parents were Armenian immigrants, and although he was born in France, Armenia was always very close to his heart, with several media outlets describing him as the most famous Armenian of all time. He was dubbed 'France's Frank Sinatra' (1915-1998) (see also best songs 877-567-469-120 and 73) and sang for presidents, popes and royalty, as well as at humanitarian events. In response to the 1988 Armenian earthquake, he founded the charitable organisation 'Aznavour for Armenia,' along with his long time friend, impresario Lévon Sayan. In 2008, Charles Aznavour was granted Armenian citizenship, and was appointed ambassador of Armenia to Switzerland the following year, as well as Armenia's permanent delegate to the United Nations at Geneva. Aznavour received several awards, recognition's, and honours during his life time, including 'Commandeur of the French Legion of Honour,' in 2003, 'National Hero of Armenia' in 2004, and 'Japanese Order of the Rising Sun' in 2018. He has five statues and busts which stand in Paris, Armenia, the Artsakh Republic, (destroyed in 2023) and Bulgaria. He also has a 'Star' on the 'Hollywood Walk of Fame' for 'Live Performance,' located at 6225 Hollywood Boulevard, in Los Angeles, United States.
Charles Aznavour wrote or co-wrote over 1000 songs, and recorded more than 1,200 songs, and was one of the worlds best ever selling artists, with sales estimated between 180 to 200 million records sold. The discography of Charles Aznavour includes 92 studio Albums between 1953-2015, and 241 singles released between 1948-2014, there are also 73 extended plays, (EP's) 23 box sets, 23 live Albums, and 181 official compilation Albums available. One of the reasons for such a large discography is that he recorded many of his songs in French, English, Spanish, Italian, German, and other languages, and when performing live he would also sing in many different languages. In the UK, 'She' was Number 1 for four weeks on the top 40 singles chart, while his only other top 40 single in the UK was 'The Old Fashioned Way,' which reached Number 38 in 1973, he has never had a single chart on the Billboard Hot 100 in America. Charles Aznavour also had a long career as an actor appearing in 60 feature films between 1936-2009, and there are at least three documentary films made about him.
'She' was co-written by Charles Aznavour (music) and Herbert Kretzmer, (1925-2020) who provided the lyrics, for the UK 'ITV' television series 'Seven Faces of Women,' it is unclear who produced the song as it is credited to 'Barclay' the record label on which the song was issued. Herbert Kretzmer was born on October 5th, 1925, in Kroonstad, Union of South Africa, he suffered from Parkinson's disease in later life, and died on October 14th, 2020, at the age of 95. Kretzmer who is perhaps best remembered for being the lyricist for the English language adaption of 'Les Miserables,' (1980) and for also having a long time collaboration with Charles Aznavour has said, 'What they needed was a song to link the seven plays, and the producer thought I might write something for Marlene Dietrich (1901-1992) as she represented the ageless woman. I didn't like that idea much as if you're going to write about a woman's mystique, it would be better if it were not sung by a woman. If she sung about her own mystery the song would be too calculated and knowing. I said, 'It should be a song about a woman as seen by a man, and what better man than Charles Aznavour, who sings about love and romance? I brought him into the project and it turned out terribly well. Writing a theme song is no easy ride. The first verse could only run for 35 seconds. The time before the play began, and it had to run over the main titles and be complete in itself. Then it had to be stretched out to a record so that it did not sound like padding. At the time Aznavour was touring all over the place and it took some time to get a melody from him. The moment he played me that long, opening note, the word 'She' jumped into my mind and I knew we had the song.' Herbert Kretzmer was appointed an 'Officer of the Order of the British Empire' (OBE) in the 2011 'New Year Honours,' for services to music.
'She' spent four weeks at Number 1 in the UK in 1974, fulfilling a life time ambition of Charles Aznavour's to have an English sung Number 1 hit, he also recorded the song in several other languages. 'She' was revived in 1999 when Elvis Costello's (see also best songs 836) version was featured over the closing credits of the film 'Notting Hill,' except in America, where the Boyzone song 'No Matter What' was played instead. The Elvis Costello version reached Number 19 on the UK top 40, giving Costello his first top 20 hit in the UK in 16 years, and also his last at the time of writing. Other significant cover versions are by the Italian singer Laura Pausini who released an Italian language recording, with adapted lyrics by Pausini herself in 2006, and Dave Stewart (see also best songs 562) and Terry Hall's (1959-2022) (see also best songs 924 and 372) short lived project 'Vegas' had a minor UK hit with the song in 1992, peaking at Number 43 on the UK singles chart. Charles Aznavour starred in the music video, standing at a fountain while being secretly observed by Hall and Stewart.
'She may be the beauty or the beast, may be the famine or the feast, may turn each day into a heaven or a hell.'
THE 1000 BEST SONGS IN THE WORLD EVER.
146-Glenn Miller and His Orchestra-In the Mood.
1939-It has never charted in the UK. There was no UK chart until 1952.
Best Bit-At 3.07. The false ending would catch out (I won't call them DJ's since it was 1939) music presenters, as it was very rare if ever up until then that a song would conclude in such a manner.
Alton Glen Miller (see also best songs 808 and 321) was born on March 1st, 1904, in Clarinda, Iowa, United States, he died on December 15th, 1944, when the aircraft he was travelling on disappeared in bad weather over the English Channel. The actual cause of the crash has never been confirmed, but the general consensus is that the plane probably crashed as it's carburettor froze in the cold weather, Glenn Miller was 40 years old. Glenn Miller and his Orchestra were the best selling recording band between 1939-1942, and can boast more top 10 hits than Elvis Presley (1935-1977) (see also best songs 954-664-442 and 194) with 40 and the Beatles (see also best songs 599-319-238-218-141-80-51-10 and 5) with 35. The discography of Glenn Miller includes 266 singles which were issued on 10 inch shellac 78 rpm format, 37 extended plays, (EP's) two soundtracks, and six box sets. A total of 69 of his recordings reaching the top 10 on the music charts in America, and on the very first national Billboard chart on July 27th, 1940, Glenn Miller had three of the countdowns first ever top 10 singles. 16 of his singles issued between 1938-1948 reached Number 1 on Billboard in America, including 'In the Mood.' In the UK, Glenn Miller reached Number 12 in 1954 with 'Moonlight Serenade,' and then in 1976 'Moonlight Serenade' was re-issued, with 'Little Brown Jug,' and 'In the Mood' as it's two 'B' sides, and this time it made Number 13.
Glenn Miller was at his commercial peak in 1942 with an estimated income of $20,000 a week, (equivalent to $407,000 per week in 2025) but he decided to forsake that to join the armed forces and help the cause in World War II, at 38 years old, married, and needing corrective eyeglasses, Miller was classified 3-A for the draft and unlikely to be called to service. On August 12th, 1942, Glenn Miller sent a three page letter to General Charles Young of the Army Service Forces, outlining his interest in 'streamlining modern military music,' and to express his 'sincere desire to do a real job for the Army that is not actuated by any personal draft problem.' This was accepted, and on October 7th, 1942, Miller reported to the Seventh Service Command at Omaha as a captain in the Army Specialist Corps. Within weeks Glenn Miller had put together a group of musicians that would perform radio broadcasts to serving troops. Miller would successfully attempt to fuse Jazz, popular music and light classics, including strings, which was an evolutionary step beyond his civilian band. For his efforts in the War, Glenn Miller received many posthumous awards, decorations and honours, including the 'Bronze Star Medal.' The Citation reads, 'Major Alton Glenn Miller (Army Serial No. 0505273), Air Corps, United States Army, for meritorious service in connection with military operations as Commander of the Army Air Force Band (Special), from 9th July 1944 to 15th December 1944. Major Miller, through excellent judgement and professional skill, conspicuously blended the abilities of the outstanding musicians, comprising the group, into a harmonious orchestra whose noteworthy contribution to the morale of the armed forces has been little less than sensational. Major Miller constantly sought to increase the services rendered by his organization, and it was through him that the band was ordered to Paris to give this excellent entertainment to as many troops as possible. His superior accomplishments are highly commendable and reflect the highest credit upon himself and the armed forces of the United States.'
I suppose you could argue that 'In the Mood' is a very early example of 'sampling.' The song is 'based' on the composition 'Tar Paper Stomp' which was written and performed in 1930 by the American Jazz trumpeter Wingy Manone, (1900-1982) hence his name being added to 'In the Mood's' song writing credits. It was the American Jazz saxophonist Joe Garland (1903-1977) who is credited as the composer of 'In the Mood' which has many similarities to 'Tar Paper Stomp.' Under copyright laws at that time, a tune that had not been written down and registered with the copyright office could be appropriated by any musician with a good ear. The first recording of 'In the Mood' was made in 1938 by Edgar Hayes (1904-1979) and his Orchestra, and released as the 'B' side to his rendition of 'Stardust.' The song was then sold to Artie Shaw (1910-2004) (see also best songs 295) who after experimenting with it decided not to record it as his arrangement lasted six minutes, and when played live received a lacklustre response. Then in 1939 'In the Mood' was sold to Glenn Miller, who with others rearranged the song, and it would go on to become the most successful 'Swing' instrumental of all time. In 1941 Miller performed 'In the Mood' in the movie 'Sun Valley Serenade' (see also best songs 321.)
There are some versions of 'In the Mood' that include lyrics, with perhaps the best known recording being the 1952 one by The Andrew Sisters (see also best songs 934 and 252.) These lyrics were written by Andy Razaf (1893-1973) (see also best songs 412) who was born Andriamanantena Paul Razafinkarefo on December 16th, 1895, in Washington, D.C., United States, he died on February 3rd, 1973, from renal failure, at the age of 77. Andy Razaf co-wrote 215 published compositions including 'Honeysuckle Rose,' (1929) and 'Ain't Misbehavin'' (1929.) 'In the Mood' has been recorded numerous times by artists of many different genres, including Ernie Fields, (1904-1997) who took his recording to Number 4 on Billboard in 1959, Jonathan King (see also best songs 803 and 741) under the name 'Sound 9418' released his version in 1976, which reached Number 46 in the UK, and in 1977 Ray Stevens recorded a novelty version under the name of the 'Henhouse Five Plus Too,' employing the sounds of clucking chickens, which made Number 40 on the Billboard Hot 100 in America, and Number 31 in the UK, but perhaps the most famous cover is by the British novelty Pop act 'Jive Bunny and the Mastermixers,' who prominently featured 'In the Mood' as part of their hit medley 'Swing the Mood,' which reached Number 1 in the UK, and Number 11 on Billboard in 1989.
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