Today, we’ve got a fantastic jazz tune that’s been recorded countless times by incredible artists from all over the world. “How High the Moon” was written by Nancy Hamilton and Morgan Lewis for the 1940 Broadway revue Two for the Show.
While Benny Goodman recorded one of the first hit versions in 1940 featuring Helen Forrest, one of the most iconic renditions came from Les Paul and Mary Ford in 1951. You can give it a listen here.
Yes, Les Paul was a real person— not just the name on a certain guitar headstock. He was not only an incredible guitarist but also a groundbreaking inventor. He developed his own guitar, famously named the Les Paul, and was a pioneer in multi-track recording. This innovation is evident in his version of “How High the Moon” with Mary Ford.
In a 1953 television interview, Les and Mary discussed their innovations, demonstrating how he used an altered tape recorder to layer sounds. Les claimed to have used 12 guitar tracks and 12 vocal tracks on one particular tune, showcasing his ingenuity and the possibilities of recording technology.
Fun Fact: Les Paul and Mary Ford recorded their version at night, taking precautions to avoid disturbing the neighbors. To muffle the sound, they placed a blanket over Mary’s head while she recorded her harmony parts. Despite their efforts, the neighbors still complained about the noise.
The recording I’ve been listening to is an homage to the Mary Ford and Les Paul version. It’s by the legendary singer-songwriter Emmylou Harris, from her 1981 album Evangeline. This rendition features a bluegrassy style with an incredible lineup of musicians. Be sure to listen closely to those solos—they’re absolutely flying!
- Acoustic Guitar: Tony Rice
- Mandolin: Ricky Skaggs
- Percussion: John Ware
- Bass: Emory Gordy
- Dobro: Jerry Douglas (my favorite!)
- Electric Guitar: Albert Lee
- Electric Piano: Bill Payne
- Arch-top Guitar: Brian Ahern
- Harmonies: Cheryl Warren & Sharon White
A special thank-you to my wonderful friend who gifted me this album on vinyl many years ago—it’s still one of my favorites!
Song: “How High The Moon”
Artist: Emmylou Harris
Album: Evangeline
Year: 1981
Somewhere there’s music
How faint the tune
Somewhere there’s heaven
How high the moon
There is no moon above
When love is far away too
Until it comes true
That you love me as I love you
Somewhere there’s music
How near, how far
Somewhere there’s heaven
It’s where you are
The darkest night would shine
If you would come to me soon
Until you will, how still my heart
How high the moon
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My name is Michael Sanchez and I’m an avid record collector and obscure song searcher. My goal is to post (hopefully) one song a day that’s been on my stereo/turntable frequently. If you don’t like the song… too bad 🙂 You can just wait for the next one. All the info I find is from wikipedia/youtube/interviews/news articles/personal stories I’ve heard/random googling. Sorry if there are any mistakes.
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