In the mid-1940s, Les and Larry started up their own ensemble, hiring Nelson Riddle, Bill Finegan, and Ralph Flanagan to arrange tunes for them. Their ensemble was not successful, and after a few years they scuttled the band and sold the arrangements they had commissioned to Tommy Dorsey. Both returned to sideman positions in various orchestras.
In 1953, Larry met Charles Albertine and recorded two of his experimental compositions, "Impressions of Outer Space" and "Music for Barefoot Ballerinas". Released on 10" vinyl, these recordings became collector's items for fans of avant-garde jazz, but they were not commercially successful at the time. Larry and Albertine put together a more traditional ensemble and began recording them using precise microphone placements, producing what came to be known as the "Elgart sound". This proved to be very commercially successful, and Larry enjoyed a run of successful albums and singles in the 1950s.
In 1954, the Elgarts left their permanent mark on music history in recording Albertine's "Bandstand Boogie," for the legendary television show originally hosted by Bob Horn, and two years later, Dick Clark. Clark took the show national, to ABC-TV, in 1956 and remained host for another 32 years. Variations to the original surfaced as the show's theme in later years. Les and Larry reunited in 1963, but it would not last long; soon after, Les retired from performing altogether, while Larry continued to perform and record regularly for decades.
Larry's biggest exposure came in 1982, with the smash success of a recording called "Hooked on Swing". The instrumental was a medley of swing jazz hits - "In the Mood", "Cherokee", "American Patrol", "Sing, Sing, Sing", "Don't Be That Way", "Little Brown Jug", "Opus #1", "Zing Went the Strings of My Heart", and "String of Pearls" - that became so popular it even cracked the US Billboard Pop Singles chart (at #31) and Adult Contemporary chart (#20). Billed as "Larry Elgart and His Manhattan Swing Orchestra", the LP from which the tune was taken hit #24 on the US charts. The follow-up, Hooked on Swing 2, debuted at #89 on the album charts, and soon after Larry was back to the jazz touring circuit. He continued to tour internationally and record into the 2000s.
No Moon At All
Les and Larry Elgart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Even lightnin' bugs have dimmed their lights
Stars have disappeared from sight
And there's no moon at all
Don't make a sound, it's so dark
Even Fido is afraid to bark
What a perfect chance to park
Should we want atmosphere for inspiration, dear
One kiss will make it clear
That tonight is right and bright moonlight might interfere
No moon at all way up above
This is nothin' like they told us of
Just to think we fell in love
And there's no moon at all
Should we want atmosphere for inspiration, dear
One kiss will make it clear
That tonight is right and bright moonlight might interfere
No moon at all up above
Aww, this is nothin' like they told us of
Just to think we fell in love
And there's no moon at all
Aww, there's no moon at all
There is no moon at all
No moon at all
The song "No Moon At All" evokes a sense of eerie darkness and the absence of the moon, stars, and other celestial bodies that usually bring light to the type of nights being described. The imagery in the lyrics suggests a sense of mystery and possibility, as the darkness creates an opportunity to do things that wouldn't be as enjoyable or feasible in the light. Despite the lack of visual stimulation, the song seems to suggest that there are other sensations that may make up for the absence of the moon, such as the intimacy and closeness shared between two people who are falling in love. The lyrics also suggest a certain level of playfulness through the idea of "atmosphere for inspiration," where the lack of light and distractions provides a perfect setting for two people to connect.
Line by Line Meaning
No moon at all, what a night
The sky is completely dark without any moonlight, making it a unique and unusual night.
Even lightnin' bugs have dimmed their lights
The fireflies are not shining as bright due to the lack of moonlight.
Stars have disappeared from sight
The stars are not visible in the pitch-black sky.
And there's no moon at all
The absence of the moon is the subject of this song, and it creates an unusual and romantic mood.
Don't make a sound, it's so dark
The darkness is so intense that making any noise might be unsettling.
Even Fido is afraid to bark
Even the dog is afraid to make noise on this dark and quiet night.
What a perfect chance to park
The darkness creates a perfect environment for couples to park and be intimate.
Should we want atmosphere for inspiration, dear
If they require an ideal backdrop to trigger romantic mood, this dark night is perfect.
One kiss will make it clear
A single kiss can create a passionate and romantic atmosphere that will make them forget the absence of the moon.
That tonight is right and bright moonlight might interfere
The absence of the moonlight creates an individual romantic atmosphere, and moonlight might not always be necessary to make couples fall in love.
No moon at all way up above
There is an absence of the moon, which is unusual and unique.
This is nothin' like they told us of
This night does not fit the traditional idea of a romantic night with a bright full moon.
Just to think we fell in love
Despite the absence of moonlight, they still manage to fall in love on this unique and romantic night.
And there's no moon at all
The absence of the moon sets the tone for this romantic night, and it remains absent throughout the song.
Aww, this is nothin' like they told us of
The darkness and absence of moonlight creates an unusual and different atmosphere from the idealized image of a bright, full moonlit night.
Aww, there's no moon at all
The song continues to emphasize the absence of the moon, creating a unique and romantic atmosphere.
There is no moon at all
The song ends on the same note by reiterating the absence of the moon, capturing the mood of the night.
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION, BMG Rights Management
Written by: Dave Mann, Redd Evans
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind