Gardner was born on the 23rd December 1910. His father sold artist's materials, while his mother was a dressmaker. Self-taught, he took up the saxophone at the age of fiteen, to help to alleviate asthma. After minimal coaching he formed the semi-professional New Colorado Band in 1928, and a year later, while working as an office clerk, entered the band in a contest at Chelsea Town Hall, and won. He was spotted by the founding editor of Melody Maker magazine, who was distributing the prizes, and a year later secured his first regular professional position. In 1933, now married, Gardner was taken under the wing of Ray Noble and recorded with the New Mayfair Orchestra.
He was a virtuoso not only on clarinet and alto saxophone, but also on the whole saxophone family. He played in the top London clubs when working with Sidney Lipton's Orchestra; later with Bert Firman's band, and with Canadian-born Billy Bissett, who spent three years in England from 1936, playing at the Mayfair Hotel, London. Gardner became a prolific record session player, doubling on all the reeds, although his main instrument was alto sax. When Duke Ellington came to London for the first time, Gardner played to Ellington's accompaniment at a club in Wardour Street, to the admiration of the Duke's regular saxophonist, Otto Hardiwcke.
Gardner led small groups in 1936/37, on the Interstate label, distributed by Interstate Music in East Sussex, England. Toward the end of 1937, he began to be billed as "Freddy Gardner and his Swing Orchestra' with which he made many recordings. The band included such musicians as George Chisholm and Ted Heath. These were regularly featured on radio broadcasts, and the band accompanied 'Buck and Bubbles' on their visit to Britain in the late 1930s. Many of the orchestra's arrangements were scored by Gardner himself. He also played with George Scott Wood and his Six Swingers, whose vocalist was Sam Costa, as well as with the Benny Carter Orchestra during Carter's sojourn in Europe.
During World War II, Gardner - always known as 'FG' - joined the Royal Naval Patrol Service (as a diesel engineer) under Eastern Command. An official dance band for the RNPS, called the Blue Mariners, was set up and led by George Crow. Their home was the Sparrow's Nest at Lowestoft, an entertainment centre-cum-theatre appropriated by the Royal Navy, which also attracted theatre and radio stars such as Eric Barker. Other musicians in the band were drawn from the orchestras of Henry Hall and Ambrose. Gardner was regularly given special leave to continue his recording and broadcasting, such was his high reputation. Other recordings at this time were made under the band name 'Freddie Gardner and his Mess Mates'.
After WWII service, he continued with extensive freelance work, notably as a star soloist with the Peter Yorke Concert Orchestra which usually comprised between 30 to 40 musicians.This band was formed for the BBC and featured in weekly radio programmes such as The Starlight Hour, and Sweet Serenade. Gardner's 78rpm recordings of classics such as "Stardust", "Smoke gets in your eyes", and especially "I only have eyes for you" continue to be much admired. The last of these was recorded at EMI's Abbey Road studios on 29 April 1948, just two years before his sudden death.
He was taken ill while mending one of his sons' bicycles in the garden of his flat near Marble Arch, and though rushed to hospital, he died of a stroke on the 26th July 1950 at only thirty-nine years old. Many in the profession attended his memorial service, and he is buried in Willesden Cemetery.
I'm in the Mood for Love
Freddy Gardner Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Simply because you're near me.
Funny, but when you're near me
I'm in the mood for love.
Heaven is in your eyes
Bright as the stars we're under
Oh! Is it any wonder
Why stop to think of whether
This little dream might fade?
We've put our hearts together
Now we are one, I'm not afraid!
If there's a cloud above
If it should rain we'll let it
But for tonight, forget it!
I'm in the mood for love
The lyrics of "I'm in the Mood for Love" by Freddy Gardner convey a sense of romantic longing and passion. The opening line - "I'm in the mood for love" - sets the tone for the entire song, emphasizing the singer's intense desire for their object of affection. The next line explains why the singer is in this particular mood, suggesting that it is the presence of the person they love that is causing this feeling.
As the song continues, the lyrics become more poetic and expressive, describing the intense connection between the singer and their lover. The line, "Heaven is in your eyes" suggests that the singer sees something divine and awe-inspiring in their lover's gaze. The use of star imagery adds to this sense of otherworldliness, emphasizing the depth and beauty of the singer's emotions.
In the final stanza, the lyrics take on a more optimistic tone. The singer expresses a willingness to put aside worries and concerns, declaring that they are "not afraid" to embrace their partner and their love. This sense of emotional openness and vulnerability makes the song all the more powerful, emphasizing the depth of feeling that the singer is experiencing.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm in the mood for love
I am currently feeling romantic and desirous of love.
Simply because you're near me.
My feelings of love are triggered by your presence in close proximity to me.
Funny, but when you're near me
It's amusing to me that my emotions change so drastically when you are close to me.
I'm in the mood for love.
Again, I feel very romantically inclined right now because of you being near me.
Heaven is in your eyes
Your eyes are so enchanting and beautiful, they make me feel like I'm in heaven.
Bright as the stars we're under
Your eyes shine like the stars in the sky, which we are currently under.
Oh! Is it any wonder
Is it really surprising that I feel so strongly for you? Your beauty is incomparable.
I'm in the mood for love?
Again, my emotions are leading me towards my desires for love and romance.
Why stop to think of whether
There's no point in worrying about whether this will work out or not.
This little dream might fade?
Should I be concerned that these feelings are only temporary and might not last?
We've put our hearts together
We have both committed to pursuing this romantic connection.
Now we are one, I'm not afraid!
We are united in our mission of love and I am not scared of what may come next.
If there's a cloud above
If there are difficulties or problems in our relationship.
If it should rain we'll let it
Even if there are problems, we will face them together and not let them tear us apart.
But for tonight, forget it!
But for now, let's put all our worries behind us and just focus on our love and happiness.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dorothy Fields, Jimmy Mchugh
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@paulviardot4400
Sublime version !
@dolmen6613
great song--great version