Reaching for the Moon
Encyclopedia
"Reaching for the Moon" is a popular song written by Irving Berlin
for the 1930 musical film of the same name.
In 1930, United Artists prepared this original music film written by Irving Berlin with his music and lyrics. Director Edmund Goulding
and Berlin fought over Goulding's decision to cut most of the songs from the film (due to the temporary disfavor of movie musicals).
The film starred Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. and Bebe Daniels
. The title song is only used as background music.
Titles of the unused Irving Berlin songs are: "It's Yours"; "What a Lucky Break for Me"; "They're Going Down (Brokers' and Customers' Song) - which was rewritten as "Wedding and Crash"; "If You Believe" - a revised version was sung by Johnnie Ray in There's No Business Like Show Business (1954); "The Little Things in Life" - which provided hit records for Gus Arnheim and His Cocoanut Orchestra (vocal by Bing Crosby) on Victor, and Ted Wallace and His Campus Boys (vocal by Dick Dickson) on Columbia; "A Toast to Prohibition"; "You've Gotta Do Right by Me" and "(I Ask You) Is That Nice?"
Bing Crosby
sings "When The Folks High Up Do That Mean Lowdown", in his first solo film performance.
The title song was quite popular in 1930-31 with recordings made for every label at the time.
In 1917 Fairbanks produced a silent film
by this same name in which Fairbanks starred alongside Eileen Percy
and Richard Cummings
.
Irving Berlin
Irving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history.His first hit song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", became world famous...
for the 1930 musical film of the same name.
In 1930, United Artists prepared this original music film written by Irving Berlin with his music and lyrics. Director Edmund Goulding
Edmund Goulding
Edmund Goulding was a British film writer and director. As an actor early in his career he was one of the 'Ghosts' in the 1922 British made Paramount silent Three Live Ghosts alongside Norman Kerry and Cyril Chadwick. Also in the early 20s he wrote several screenplays for star Mae Murray and...
and Berlin fought over Goulding's decision to cut most of the songs from the film (due to the temporary disfavor of movie musicals).
The film starred Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. and Bebe Daniels
Bebe Daniels
Bebe Daniels was an American actress, singer, dancer, writer and producer. She began her career in Hollywood during the silent movie era as a child actress, became a star in musicals like 42nd Street, and later gained further fame on radio and television in Britain...
. The title song is only used as background music.
Titles of the unused Irving Berlin songs are: "It's Yours"; "What a Lucky Break for Me"; "They're Going Down (Brokers' and Customers' Song) - which was rewritten as "Wedding and Crash"; "If You Believe" - a revised version was sung by Johnnie Ray in There's No Business Like Show Business (1954); "The Little Things in Life" - which provided hit records for Gus Arnheim and His Cocoanut Orchestra (vocal by Bing Crosby) on Victor, and Ted Wallace and His Campus Boys (vocal by Dick Dickson) on Columbia; "A Toast to Prohibition"; "You've Gotta Do Right by Me" and "(I Ask You) Is That Nice?"
Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
sings "When The Folks High Up Do That Mean Lowdown", in his first solo film performance.
The title song was quite popular in 1930-31 with recordings made for every label at the time.
In 1917 Fairbanks produced a silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
by this same name in which Fairbanks starred alongside Eileen Percy
Eileen Percy
Eileen Percy was an Irish actress of the silent era. She appeared in 68 films between 1917 and 1933.She was born in Belfast and died in Los Angeles, California...
and Richard Cummings
Richard Henry Cummings
Richard Henry Cummings , was an American film actor of the silent era. He appeared in 82 films between 1913 and 1930...
.
Notable recordings
- Ella FitzgeraldElla FitzgeraldElla Jane Fitzgerald , also known as the "First Lady of Song" and "Lady Ella," was an American jazz and song vocalist...
- Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin SongbookElla Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin SongbookElla Fitzgerald Sings the Irving Berlin Songbook is a 1958 album by the American jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald, with a studio orchestra conducted and arranged by Paul Weston, focusing on the songs of Irving Berlin.-Grammy Awards:...
(1958) - Frank SinatraFrank SinatraFrancis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
- Moonlight SinatraMoonlight SinatraMoonlight Sinatra is an album by Frank Sinatra, released in 1966.All of the tracks on the album are centered around the Moon. The tracks were arranged and conducted by Nelson Riddle and his orchestra....
(1965) - Lizz WrightLizz WrightLizz Wright is an American jazz/R&B singer and composer.Wright was born in the small town of Hahira in the US state of Georgia; one of three children and the daughter of a minister and the musical director of their Church. She started singing gospel music and playing piano in church as a child,...
, Regina CarterRegina CarterRegina Carter is an American jazz violinist. She is the cousin of famous jazz saxophonist James Carter.-Early life:...
- We All Love Ella: Celebrating The First Lady Of SongWe All Love Ella: Celebrating the First Lady of SongWe All Love Ella: Celebrating The First Lady Of Song is a 2007 tribute album to Ella Fitzgerald, released to mark the 90th anniversary of her birth.-Track listing:#"A-Tisket, A-Tasket"...
(2007) - Holly ColeHolly ColeHolly Cole is a Canadian jazz singer, particularly popular in Canada and Japan for both her versatile and distinctive voice, along with her adventurous repertoire, which spans such divergent genres as show tunes, rock, and country music.-Holly Cole Trio:In 1983, Cole travelled to Toronto to seek a...
- Holly ColeHolly ColeHolly Cole is a Canadian jazz singer, particularly popular in Canada and Japan for both her versatile and distinctive voice, along with her adventurous repertoire, which spans such divergent genres as show tunes, rock, and country music.-Holly Cole Trio:In 1983, Cole travelled to Toronto to seek a...
(2007)