GLENN MILLER - In The Mood

When Billboard published it's first chart in July 1940, In The Mood by popular band leader Glenn Miller topped the charts for thirteen weeks straight. In The Mood is one of the most popular big band songs of all-time. It was written by Joe Garland and and Andy Razaf - a team of Tin Pan Alley composers. The song was originally sold to bandleader Artie Shaw - who ended up rejecting the song. At eight minutes long, the song arrangement was too long for recordings at the time. The song was then offered to Glen Miller, an arranger himself, who bought the song and shortened the arrangement to record it. The song is heavily based on the song Tar Paper Stomp, which was recorded by New Orleans bandleader Joeseph "Wingy" Manone in 1930. In The Mood uses Marone's melody, which Marone had failed to properly copyright protect. When In The Mood became a big hit, Miller and his record label paid Manone off to not contest their copyright. This clip from the 1954 film The Glenn Miller Story stars Jimmy Stewart as Glenn Miller.