Well on their way to becoming one of the most popular bands of the swing era, Glenn Miller and his Orchestra were in the RCA Victor studios on East 24th Street in New York City on August 1, 1939. One of the sides they would record that day went on to become one of the most popular songs of the swing era. It was Joe Garland’s arrangement of In The Mood.

The origin of the tune is somewhat in dispute, but most agree that In The Mood is based on a Wingy Manone tune called Tar Paper Stomp which he recorded in 1930. The first recording of Garland’s In The Mood arrangement was by Edgar Hayes and his Orchestra in 1938. Miller’s version was released as a V-Disc in 1944 and Glenn Miller’s Overseas band in 1945. No performance by the Glenn Miller Orchestra, which still tours to this day, would be complete without a rendition of In The Mood.

The song was also featured in the 1941 20th Century Fox movie “Sun Valley Serenade.” In that picture the Glenn Miller Orchestra appears as a band led by Phil Corey (played by Miller) with the exception of actor John Payne who plays the part of the band’s pianist. The movie also features Sonja Henie and Milton Berle and is played 24 hours per day on dedicated television channel in every room at the Sun Valley Lodge and Inn. The highlight of the film is the production number featuring Miller’s ensemble along with Dorothy Dandridge and the Nicholas Brothers performing Chatanooga Choo-Choo.

Here is a link to In The Mood as performed by Glenn Miller and his Orchestra in the movie “Sun Valley Serenade:”

"IN THE MOOD"