A sample of some obscure – and maybe not obscure – tunes from my strange and off-the-wall collection.

Today’s selection: Tune Over Time – “Blue Moon” 1934

Written in 1933 by Rodgers & Hart for a movie – Hollywood Party – with Jean Harlow as the singer, the movie was released without Harlow or the song. Tweaked a bit, it was cut from another movie in 1934. Tweaked yet again, it was finally recorded as the theme song for a 1934 radio program with Muzzy Marcellino on vocals. It was a number one song in 1935. It also ended up in seven movies between 1939 (Marx Bros) to 1964 (Elvis Presley)

Also recorded by Bunny Berigan (“Chicken and Waffles“) in 1934, that is the version presented here. A jazz trumpeter, he played with Tommy Dorsey, Rudy Vallee, and Benny Goodman. He died an alcoholic in 1942 at age 33.


Heavily covered, it was a major hit for the Marcels in 1961. Awarded a gold record, it is listed among the top rock & roll recordings.

The last version presented is by Chris Isaak, recorded in 1994 on the “It’s Now Or Never” Elvis Presley tribute album.