“I’m in the Mood for Love” | Stories of Standards – KUVO

 Jimmy McHugh composed “I’m in the Mood for Love” for the 1935 motion picture, Every Night at Eight.

The film follows a trio of working girls who form a singing group and enter a big band competition. Francis Langford’s shy character serenades the unknowing object of her affection with “I’m in the Mood for Love,” winning him over at the end of the film.

Dorothy Fields crafted the lyrics for “I’m in the Mood for Love,” as well as the five other McHughs songs that appear in Every Night at Eight. Apart from one final song the duo penned in 1935, the film marked the end of the successful collaboration between McHugh and Fields.

Fields’ lyrics in “I’m in the Mood for Love” reflect the sentiment of Langford’s character in Every Night at Eight, particularly in respect to the rhythm. The song commences with Langford singing the near-palindrome, “I’m in the mood for love/ Simply because you’re near me/ Funny, but when you’re near me/ I’m in the mood for love.”

“I’m in the mood for love/ Simply because you’re near me” is penned with triplets at the beginning of each measure, while, “Funny, but when you’re near me/ I’m in the mood for love” employs an eight note-quarter note-eight note construction. The resulting effect is an impression of fluid, forward progression on the first two lines, but a hesitant, reflective feel in the second two.

Charlie Parker, Louis Armstrong, and Billy Eckstine have all produced recordings of “I’m in the Mood for Love.” The tune was also performed by Marilyn Monroe in Some Like It Hot, and by Bob Dylan in 1988.

Tune in to First Take with Lando and Chavis – weekdays from 6-9 am MT – for Stories of Standards to hear our favorite versions of this song all week long!

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