I dug back into the archives of my music collection for my first post of the New Year. I’ve always loved this song, not only because of the fine vocal stylings of King Pleasure and Blossom Dearie, but also for the history behind the song itself. Moody’s Mood for Love is a swoon-worthy slow dance song, full of references to magic, stars, enduring love and all the stuff that romance is made of. If you want to get starry-eyed, this is one of the best songs to listen to.
That being said, here’s the story of the song.
The “original” song was “I’m in the Mood for Love” written by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields. It may be famliar to many because of the line “I’m in the mood for love/Simply because you’re near me…”. Here is Sarah Vaughn’s cover of the song.
While playing in Sweden, saxophonist James Moody improvised a solo while in concert in Sweden.
Eddie Jefferson penned words to Moody’s saxophone solo as well as , which then was made famous by King Pleasure and Blossom Dearie. And we have…
Amy WInehouse did a version of the song, and while I do love Amy, I don’t feel she captured the true contours of Moody’s sax solo. She simply put the words and melody over a reggae beat. Which is okay, I suppose, but she just made it another song, rather than a call back to the vocalese tradition.
Queen Latifah also does a version. It’s…okay, but again, is simply another interpretation of the words and melody.
EDDIE JEFFERSON MOODY´S MOOD FOR LOVE LYRICS
As sung by King Pleasure and Blossom Dearie
There I go, there I go, there I go, there I go
Pretty baby you are the soul, who snaps my control
Such a funny thing but every time you’re near me
I never can behave
You give me a smile and then I’m wrapped up in your magic
There’s music all around me
Crazy music, music that keeps calling me so
Very close to you, turns me your slave
Come on and do with me any little thing that you want to
Anything, baby just let me get next to you
Am I insane or do I really see heaven in your eyes?
Bright as stars that shine up above you
In the clear blue skies, how I worry ’bout you
Just can’t live my life without you
Baby come here, and don’t have no fear
Oh, is there wonder why
I’m really feeling in the mood for love
So tell me why, stop to think about this weather, my dear
This little dream might fade away
There I go talking out of my head again
come and put our two hearts together
That would make me strong and brave
Oooo, when we are one, I’m not afraid, I’m not afraid
If there’s a cloud up above us
Go on and let it rain
I’m sure our love together will endure a hurricane
Oh my baby won’t you please let me love you
and give me relief from this awful misery.What is all this talk about loving me, my sweet
I am not afraid, not anymore, not like before
Don’t you understand me, now baby please
Pull yourself together, do it soon
My soul’s on fire, come on and take me
I’ll be what you make me, my darling, my dearOh baby, you make me feel so good
Let me take you by the hand
Come let us visit out there
In that new promised landMaybe there we can find
A good place to use a lovin’ state of mind
I’m so tired of being without
And never knew what love’s about
James Moody you can come over man
you can blow now if you want to, we’re through