Fats Waller - By the Light of the Silvery Moon, 1942

[420420KAT]

18 again!! 

[partofthesweetleaf]

Disliking this is similar to disliking fresh air, or the sun. Them's two odd people right there...

[akaast]

Anyone else hear this on the orignal The Producers? 

[oldepersonne]

@akaast yes -the original producers was fantastic- the last one stank

[peoplesrepub0fEmily]

can anyone give any info re the 1st photo??..think i might like to buy a framed print -thanks.

[dsbarclayeng1]

How about all the creative arrangements in one cut: piano solo, change key- one voice with backup vocal, then barbershop voice harmony, finally change key to a dixieland jazz improv instrumental version, back to harmony then jazz ending. Its a masterpiece.

[Phantanos]

A true American original!

[WAMEDJO]

I hear Tatumesque speed in there at the piano !

[everhard1000]

fats was the greatest !!!! TNX !!!

[Pentagonshark666]

i seriosly don't understand how someone can dislike it?really how?

this is a masterpiece of jazz.

[ScarlettOBeara]

@Pentagonshark666 There's always a  "jackass" in the barn!

[Phantanos]

@Pentagonshark666 Maybe they are ignorant web trolls!

[odog65]

@Pentagonshark666 idk? it's great music relaxing enjoyable the kinda stuff I'd fall asleep and relax too

[R1CKY1977]

@Pentagonshark666 2 death people i think lol

[Jamesmac30]

This is a graet version recorded 13th July 1942 with The Deep River Boys at RCA Victor Studios, New York

[aardvaark069]

lightness, grace and lyricsm with a swinging lilt. 

[aoxomoxoa88]

I was feeling a little cold until I heard this. Now I have a warm glow inside me!

[NatKingCole46]

I like the piano start at the beginning, simply perfectly smooth. R.I.P. Fats

[JLogic72]

Beautiful slice show!

Anyone know the painting (at 2:16) of the man crossing the city street at night? (Artist/Painting Name?)

[sarakkhan]

Fats waller was and will be the best singer and pianist of all times.

[annyfenton1]

Fatsy had musical notes flowing through his arteries and down through his fingers to the ivories - a musical genius. Lovya fatsy!

[Christopher8000]

Good old uncle Gus

[evannyny]

Hawley W. Ades was NOT the writer of this song. it was written by Ed Madden (lyrics) and my great uncle GUS EDWARDS

[alicePlagueDoctor]

hey cool! x

[chkjns]

added this to 1942 in my music playlists for each of the last 100 years.

You CAN go back, with the click of your mouse to all the music of any year . . .

[benny12397]

@evannyny Just saw this post. Hawley Ades was my uncle. Died in 2008 at age of 99. I asked him about this credit a few years ago and he drew a blank.. He was an arranger on the staff of Irving Berlin Corp. 1932-37 (and then for Fred Waring 1937-75). He did meet Fats Waller at Berlin's office once. He presumably arranged the vocal harmony on this, but had no memory of doing so. He certainly did not write the song, and I am sure he admired your great uncle's work. Tom Moreland

[Pentagonshark666]

@benny12397 Hi,what did he talked about Fats Waller?

[poeticjustice2000]

Although not the first, and hardly the last of the great American "June - Moon" pop tunes, this is certainly the one with the most memorable melody.

[evannyny]

The reason it is the one with the most memorable melody is because of is writer. He ALSO wrote SCHOOL DAYS and IN MY MERRY OLDSMOBILE. When you hear a song written by this man, you NEVER forget the tune. He is my great - uncle, GUS EDWARDS (1879-1945).

[jpstenino]

@evannyny Thanks for calling attention to GUS EDWARDS searched him on y tube

and really enjoyed what I found.

[evannyny]

@jpstenino On November 7, Gus was writing songs in heaven for 65 years, as he left us on 11/7/1945. There was a movie based loosely on his life/career from 1939, MGM's the Star Maker, starring Bing Crosby. Thanks for your interest.

Evannyny on 11/11/10

[DeadGears193]

Omg... I just got so sad... My grandpa use to listens to this stuff before he passed away ;( I miss him... Thank you for the memorial song :)

[BunchofMovieVideos]

Perfect. Thank you for these beautiful photos too. :)

[frankbar007]

GARDENIA, THAT´S A HOLLYWOOD SONG !!

[frankbar007]

I OFFER FOR MY DAUGHTER GARDENIA!!

[jaicket]

This is a great version of this song.

The singing and harmonies are the best part.

[goodchessactor]

Use to be called a barbershop quartet.

[jaicket]

Dude that's not a good sign.

Time for a career change? ;-)

[BrunoJazzmanLeicht]

Of course we all know the song from "It's a Wonderful Life", but this is a totally different version and a totally different style. Superb, but then, did Fats Waller ever record a minor tune?

Feel free to drop by my little jazz blog, if you like. For link see profile.

Cheers & See you 'round,

Brew "Lighthouse" Leicht

[tombradley]

Waller also did a version of this very near the end with lyrics indicating just because we were poised to beat Germany, let's not forget to knock out Tojo. Like everything he did, it's wonderful.

[tombradley]

I just thought of another "didja?" Hemingway used to walk around his Key West House listening to Fats and loved to sing "your feets too big."

[BrunoJazzmanLeicht]

That man certainly needed some joyful lyrics in his life. Thanks for the touching story.

[swangonce]

Where does this song turn up in IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE?

Sure you're not confusing it with I LOVE YOU TRULY?

[weikko79]

That's what I'd like to know, too. I knew this song from the Fats Waller cartoon, "Tin Pan Alley Cats".

[swangonce]

Or maybe he is thinking of "Buffalo Gals Won't You Come Out Tonight" - and dance by the light of the moon.

Whatever.

[weikko79]

Probably.

[fatsfan70]

Fats couldn't resist playing the clown at the end! So sad to think he was to die from pneumonia the following year. What a genius we lost.

[TheDelge]

Agreed, but at least his impact on jazz lived on.

[SleepingForPeace]

@fatsfan70 yeah what a loss FIFTY EIGHT YEARS AGO

[partikc]

@SleepingForPeace lol

[alobka]

yes yes yes !! super music.. great piano!!!

[GaryPansey]

This is excellent:

1) Great Piano

2) Interesting Vocal Arrangement

3) Good Groove at a relaxed tempo

[AllaBest]

I would give an arm to be able to play piano as well as Fats Waller! He was a master! Totally charismatic!

[BigIronOnHipMan]

You'd be one helluva Piano Man to pull that coup off! ... I'd sooner give my ~ left leg!

[Pentagonshark666]

sorry guys but i really don't stand Cab Calloway.sorry :D.he is so so lame.

[loungepianoman]

to say Cab Calloway was an idiot it a bit extreme.....Fats was great and had a style all his own and Calloway had a lot of talent. Like him or not he was no idiot

[geeblosgrunt]

love fats waller like, he,s amazing!! cab calloways a machine aswell

[Pentagonshark666]

how can you cab calloway with fats waller.calloway was a idiot,but waller was a genius.

[lafindboy]

my old man was born in ireland in 1909. fats waller was one of his favourite musicians...i can understand why. very cool stuff.

[01almighty]

man, I love this song!

[foamy2345]

such a beautifull song

[procedederumania]

qué maravillosa canción de Fats.

[Pentagonshark666]

this is even more beautiful than glenn miller's "Moonlight Serenade"

[Pentagonshark666]

super style.

[UkeeDreamer]

Great style and rhythm,a classic voice and back singers with a clasic band doing a classic song....and with some classic photos. It don't get better than this!

[maxtracah]

BLOODY FANTASTIC!!!keep dancing..G`Day from OZ!!!

[dorisig]

The best version of this song ------- He was great man -- Fats Waller

[MOONSONGCHANNEL]

Such wonderful lyrics and melody. Let's dance...

[gunnarschroder]

Fats Waller was the best of the best and a fantastic player and composer. Love to hear him

[Specialdark22]

So Lovely.

[mmeibos]

i just love this kind of songs. they make me feel really comfortable. i guess im born in the wrong age, because i don't like the music u hear these days.

[kspm01]

Brilliant.