Blue Moon

Written By: Lorenz Hart and  Richard Rodgers

Information: This is the only song written by Hart and Rodgers (who wrote for Broadway Musicals) that was not intended for a musical or film. The original performance is by Glen Cray and the Casa Loma Band and reached the #1 position in the charts, the Marcels had a number 1 hit in 1961

From the Lorenz Hart website:

The remarkable saga of Blue Moon epitomizes what Rodgers & Hart went through when they were under contract to M.G.M.
In its first version the melody that became Blue Moon was intended for Jean Harlow to sing in Hollywood Party. It was called Prayer. Neither Miss Harlow nor Prayer appeared in Hollywood Party.

In its second life the "Prayer/Blue Moon" tune was given a new lyrics and became the title song of the 1934 M.G.M film Manhattan Melodrama, which starred Clark Gable , William Powell and Myrna Loy, and was the movie that John Dillinger had been watching when he was gunned down outside the Biograph Theatre In Chicago. The song was also know as "It's Just That Kind Of Play", but was cut from the film before it was ready for release.

Manhattan Melodrama Was also reasonable of the third setting of the "Prayer/ Blue Moon" tune. Under its new title "The Bad In Every Man" It was sung by Shirley Ross in the film.

The fourth lyric setting of the melody came about when Jack Robbins, Head of the M.G.M.'s publishing company, liked the tune and said he would promote it if Hart would write a more commercial lyrics. The result was Blue Moon

Recording Date: September 1958 at Rex Productions Inc. in Los Angeles, California     Producer: Bumps Blackwell

Arranger and Conductor: Rene Hall

Billboard Review: "Warmly tender reading of the great standard. Strong contender.".............88

MP3 at Amazon.com

Singles    Keen 2008 b/w Love You Most Of All (October 1958) (Encore 3)

Albums: 

• Tribute To The Lady
• Hit Kit
• The Very Best of Sam Cooke
• The Best Of (Black Cat)
• Cha Cha Cha
• The Hit Years
• Classic Album & Singles Collection (Golden Stars)
• The Keen Records Story
• Wonderful World, The Very Best of Sam Cooke 1957-1960

Lyrics:

Blue Moon
You saw me standing alone
Without a dream in my heart
without a love of my own
You heard me sing a prayer
for someone I really care for

then suddenly there appeared before me
the only one my arms could ever hold
Then I heard somebody whisper
"please adore me"
and when I looked
the moon had turned to gold

Blue moon, now I'm no longer alone
Without a dream in my heart
without a love of my own