Glen Gray & The Casa Loma Orchestra - Blue moon (1935)

[PhillySouth]

This might be the first commercial recording of this. I give the edge for a better (straight) version to Al Bowlly crooning with Ray Noble Orchestra in January of 1935, though.

[ErnieHollerhagen]

Organized a band known as Spike's jazz band when he was 13? That would mean he would be one of the first to use the expression "jazz". Can you verify this?

[ranemson1]

Bought yesterday an old LP - Glen Gray & The Casa Loma Orchestra on Masters of Swing Vol. 1.(Capitol). Recordings from 1958 to 1962. Wonderful.

[CarrieBradshawofMA]

@Suzannegrits: That's so cool! My great-grandfather was Billy Rauch, another band member!

[bingcro]

my favourtie song of my youth tks for postings got many many versions of this lovely song

[davedirk]

This Kat was tight, in his day...and still rocks!!

[TheLastOffender]

Absolutely beautiful

[mvnkct]

beautiful song and, yes, I agree with others. I like the way they played this song in 1935 or 1934. I believe the song was published in 1934. Seems the newer generations try to improve on the old songs, but you just can't beat the orchestras in the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s.

[davedirk]

One of the best renditions i have ever heard of "Blue Moon"..I love Glen Gray!

[suzannegrits]

@davedirk ..i was young when he died and my family didnt talk about him much..or maybe because i was a child...anyway most of the info i have found has been on the internet! ive learned alot about him...my son is 12 and he is awesome on the clarinet..it must be in the genes..

[chkjns]

@suzannegrits - Your grandfather is singing one of the earliest versions of this then brand-new song! This was the 4th set of lyrics written by Lorenz Hart, this song almost never came to be!

I've got 10,000 songs on over 500 playlists, some up to 4 hours long. 111 lists cover each year since 1900 so you can hear songs in the context of their times. It's a musical journey through a century of pop music from around the world & 300 artists, like Casa Loma Orch, each have their own playlists

[fortotilia]

i love it! my father played all the last days that music on his rockolla!

[tarzan73875]

more of this please

[Rollich]

One of the earliest renditions and one of the best.

[thechinadesk]

Was Glen Gray the vocalist as well?

[bbcisrubbish]

One of the best renditions of BLUE MOON I have ever heard,and I have heard many.

[dancingwithfrogs]

@bbcisrubbish Do you know Frankie Trumbauer´s version of 1934 with Bunny Berigan on trumpet? I don´t think so :-)



[phredl]

@dancingwithfrogs I have the Trumbauer But I prefer this The trumbauer version loses the beauty of the song. Some songs should be played as they're written and this is one of them. As always my opinion.

[suzannegrits]

kenny sargent was my grandfather..what a beauiful voice

[davedirk]

@suzannegrits Hi, Wow! Kenny Sargent was your grandfather!!! I also remember listening to him on the old KLIF Radio Station in Dallas, TX in the late 60's or early 70's as an announcer..Am I correct with the years and call letters? Thank you..He did have a beautiful voice......

[phredl]

"Casa Loma" one of the most "complete" orchestras of all time and one of my favorites right from the beginning in 1929.

[pax41]

Mine too Fred!