How High The Moon

Album: Ultimate Collection (1951)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Although it was written by lyricist Nancy Hamilton and composer Morgan Lewis for the 1940 musical Two For The Show, the definitive version of "How High The Moon" was recorded by the husband and wife team of Les Paul and Mary Ford. In 1953, the duo appeared on an American TV show where they used the song to showcase Paul's new technique of multi-tracking to stunning effect. They released their version two years earlier when it topped the Billboard Chart for 9 weeks. This recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1979.
  • "How High The Moon" has been recorded by numerous artists over the years as diverse as Ella Fitzgerald and Emmylou Harris. >>>
    Suggestion credit:
    Alexander Baron - London, England

Comments: 2

  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn January 15th 1974, the sitcom "Happy Days" debut on the ABC-TV network...
    The series ran from 1974 to 1984 with a grand total of 255 episodes...
    It won three Golden Globe Awards and one Emmy Award...
    "How High the Moon" by Les Paul and Mary Ford was featured on the first episode...
    Twenty-three years earlier on April 11th, 1951 the song peaked at #1 {for 9 weeks} on Billboard's Pop Singles Best Sellers chart...
    It reached #2 {for 3 weeks} on Billboard's R&B Best Sellers chart; and for the three weeks it was at #2, the #1 record for those three weeks was "Too Young" by Nat King Cole...
    Les Paul {1915 - 2009} and Mary Ford {born Colleen Summers, 1924 - 1977}.
  • Fatjopa from Cookeville, TnR.I.P Les Paul
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat World

Jim Adkins of Jimmy Eat WorldSongwriter Interviews

Jim talks about the impact of "The Middle" and uses a tree metaphor to describe his songwriting philosophy.

Song Titles That Inspired Movies

Song Titles That Inspired MoviesSong Writing

Famous songs that lent their titles - and in some cases storylines - to movies.

Jim McCarty of The Yardbirds

Jim McCarty of The YardbirdsSongwriter Interviews

The Yardbirds drummer explains how they created their sound and talks about working with their famous guitarists.

Ian Gillan of Deep Purple

Ian Gillan of Deep PurpleSongwriter Interviews

Deep Purple frontman Ian Gillan explains the "few red lights" in "Smoke On The Water" and talks about songs from their 2020 album Whoosh!

Superman in Song

Superman in SongSong Writing

Not everyone can be a superhero, but that hasn't stopped generations of musicians from trying to be Superman.

Rick Astley

Rick AstleySongwriter Interviews

Rick Astley on "Never Gonna Give You Up," "Cry For Help," and his remarkable resurgence that gave him another #1 UK album.