Moonlight Serenade – A Signature Sound and a Vanished Star
Release Date: 06/14/2025
Christmas Special 2025 - White Christmas - A Song of Home, Hope and Hidden Heartache
The A to Z of Wartime Song
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The A to Z of Wartime Song
In the final episode of Series 1 of The A to Z of Wartime Song, hosts Lili Redman and Tom Carradine end their alphabetical adventure with a swing - quite literally - as they explore Glenn Miller’s 1942 smash hit (I’ve Got a Gal in) Kalamazoo. Written by Harry Warren and Mac Gordon, the song became a wartime favourite thanks to Miller’s irresistible big band sound, Tex Beneke’s smooth vocals and an unforgettable film appearance in Orchestra Wives featuring the dazzling Nicholas Brothers. Lili and Tom unpack the song’s irresistible energy, the history of its writers, and why...
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The A to Z of Wartime Song
In this episode of The A to Z of Wartime Song, hosts Lili Redman and Tom Carradine turn their attention to Cole Porter’s romantic 1943 classic "You’d Be So Nice to Come Home To". Written for the film "Something to Shout About", the song quickly became a wartime favourite, speaking to the longing of couples separated by service and distance. Lili and Tom trace Porter’s glittering - and often scandalous - life, from Yale fight songs and Parisian parties to Broadway triumphs like Anything Goes and Kiss Me, Kate. They also explore the many unforgettable recordings of this tune, including...
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X Me Goodnight Sergeant Major - and Other Tipsy Tunes
The A to Z of Wartime Song
Finding a wartime song beginning with “X” was always going to be a challenge … so in true cheeky music-hall style, Lili Redman and Tom Carradine have bent the rules and chosen the comic classic Kiss Me Goodnight Sergeant Major. First recorded in 1939 by Ambrose and his Orchestra, this lighthearted tune quickly became a wartime favourite, poking fun at army life while giving troops and civilians alike something to laugh (and sing) about. In this episode, Lili and Tom explore the careers of bandleader Ambrose, vocalist and trombonist Les Carew, and the pseudonymous songwriters behind the...
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Wartime “When …” Songs - Songs of Hope and Homecomings
The A to Z of Wartime Song
In this episode of The A to Z of Wartime Song, hosts Lili Redman and Tom Carradine take a special detour into the many songs of the 1930s and ’40s that begin with the word “When”. From the poignant hope of When They Sound the Last All Clear and When the Lights Go On Again (All Over the World), to the transatlantic charm of When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano and the early nostalgia of When the Poppies Bloom Again, these songs capture the wartime longing for peace, reunion, and better days ahead. Along the way, Lili and Tom explore the songwriters behind these tunes - from Denmark...
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La Vie en Rose - Piaf, Passion and Occupied Paris
The A to Z of Wartime Song
In this episode of The A to Z of Wartime Song, hosts Lili Redman and Tom Carradine explore the romantic and iconic “La Vie en Rose”, the song that became Edith Piaf’s signature. They trace its creation in post-war Paris, from Piaf’s own lyrics to Louiguy’s melody and Marianne Michel’s crucial lyric tweak that transformed “Les Choses en Rose” into “La Vie en Rose”. The discussion delves into Piaf’s extraordinary and often tragic life - from her childhood in a Normandy brothel, to her discovery in the streets of Paris, to her wartime years performing under Occupation and...
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The U.S.A. by Day and the R.A.F. by Night - Satire in the Shadow of Hamburg
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In this episode of The A to Z of Wartime Song, hosts Lili Redman and Tom Carradine uncover the wild and witty “The USA by Day and the RAF by Night” - a 1944 novelty song that pokes fun at the Nazis while celebrating the Allied air campaign. Written by American comedy writer Hal Block and journalist-turned-lyricist Bob Musel, the song turns bombing raids into satire, complete with cheeky impressions of Hitler, Himmler and Goering. Lili and Tom trace its history from the Eighth Air Force shows in London to its only known recording by Al Trace and his Musicians. Along the way, they dive...
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The A to Z of Wartime Song
In this episode of The A to Z of Wartime Song, hosts Lili Redman and Tom Carradine explore the powerful patriotic anthem “There’ll Always Be an England”. Written by Ross Parker and Hughie Charles in the summer of 1939, the song captured the hopes of a nation on the brink of war and quickly became a staple of the home front, recorded by everyone from Billy Cotton to Gracie Fields. Lili and Tom trace its journey from the film Discoveries to stirring moments of defiance on land and sea - including the crew of HMS Barham, who sang it as their ship went down in 1941. Along the way, they...
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The A to Z of Wartime Song
In this episode of The A to Z of Wartime Song, hosts Lili Redman and Tom Carradine take to the skies with The Spitfire Song - a rare 1940s number penned by the remarkable Horace Maybray-King. They explore King’s fascinating life, from English teacher and wartime concert-party organiser to tireless fundraiser for the famous Spitfire Funds - public appeals that saw communities “buy” parts of the iconic fighter aircraft to help Britain prepare for the Battle of Britain. Along the way, they uncover the story behind the song’s only known recording by Joe Loss and His Orchestra with...
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Run, Rabbit, Run - Propaganda, Parody and Punchlines
The A to Z of Wartime Song
In this episode of The A to Z of Wartime Song, hosts Lili Redman and Tom Carradine hop into the world of one of WWII’s catchiest tunes: “Run, Rabbit, Run!”. Made famous by comedy duo Flanagan and Allen, the song took on a life of its own - boosting morale, teasing the Luftwaffe and even becoming a favourite of Winston Churchill. They explore the song’s theatrical roots in Noel Gay’s The Little Dog Laughed, its transformation into a patriotic earworm and its cheeky parody lyrics aimed at Hitler and co. Along the way, they dive into the extraordinary lives of Bud Flanagan and Chesney...
info_outlineIn this episode of The A to Z of Wartime Song, hosts Lili Redman and Tom Carradine explore one of the most iconic and romantic tunes of the wartime era - Glenn Miller’s “Moonlight Serenade.” They trace the song’s evolution from a jazzy instrumental to a timeless anthem of love and longing, and reflect on the life and legacy of bandleader Glenn Miller, from his early days milking cows to buy a trombone, to his meteoric rise with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, and his mysterious disappearance over the English Channel in 1944.
Along the way, they delve into the technical brilliance behind the “Miller Sound,” the influence of composer and teacher Joseph Schillinger, and the song’s haunting ability to evoke warm summer nights and faraway loves. Lili and Tom also discuss Miller’s wartime service, his ambitious efforts to modernise military music, and the immense morale-boosting power of his performances for Allied troops in Europe.
The episode is filled with musical gems - from lesser-known early recordings and rival versions by Count Basie, Gene Krupa and Dick Todd, to behind-the-scenes stories of collaborations with the likes of Al Bowlly, the Nicholas Brothers, and Dorothy Dandridge. As always, Lili and Tom share personal memories, historical trivia, and their infectious passion for the music that helped people laugh, cry, and carry on.
Don't miss this tender and toe-tapping tribute to a wartime classic and a bandleader whose music still serenades us under the moonlight.
REFERENCES
Royal Hospital Chelsea
https://chelsea-pensioners.co.uk/
Siren Tickets
https://www.edfringe.com/tickets/whats-on/lili-redman-siren
Moonlight Serenade (in Sun Valley Serenade 1941)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmvsUo4XnQM
Jumpin’ Jive - The Nicholas Brothers - Stormy Weather (1943)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8yGGtVKrD8
Sun Valley Serenade (1941)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnfyeup29B0
Chattanooga Choo Choo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDgwsMqF-6k
St Louis Blues (as a March)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gFR3HMWOQ4A
Twinwood Festival
https://twinwoodevents.com/
RAF Twinwood Farm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAF_Twinwood_Farm
Moonlight Serenade (Sheet Music)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LMNH8TKzo4
Lyceum Theatre / Ballroom
http://www.arthurlloyd.co.uk/LyceumTheatre.htm
CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
00:52 Catch Up
02:25 An Announcement
03:06 M = Moonlight Serenade
04:12 Glenn Miller
10:28 The Nicholas Brothers
13:09 Miller Releases "Moonlight Serenade"
16:47 Miller's Military Service
22:45 Miller's Work in England
27:39 The Tragic Fate of Glenn Miller
30:39 Discussing the Sheet Music
32:24 Discussing the Lyrics and Music
38:21 The Creation of the Miller Sound
42:26 Chart Success and Reception
44:33 Discussing Recordings
45:09 Dick Todd and the Three Reasons
46:00 Jan Savitt: the "The Stokowski of Swing"
46:24 Count Basie (with Helen Humes)
48:00 Gene Krupa
48:15 Our Favourite Recordings?
50:40 Mentioned in Dispatches
51:49 Teaser for Next Episode
52:14 Outro
SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS
You can follow the podcast on social media:
http://instagram.com/warsongspod
https://www.facebook.com/warsongspod
Find more information about Lili Redman here:
https://liliredman.com/
https://www.instagram.com/lili__redman/
https://www.facebook.com/ScalaLil
Or Tom Carradine here:
https://www.tomcarradine.com/
https://www.instagram.com/tomcarradine
https://www.facebook.com/mrtomcarradine
CONTACT THE PODCAST
If there's a wartime song that you think they should discuss, or if you have a personal or family story connected to one, drop them a line at warsongspod@gmail.com to be "Mentioned in Dispatches".
LISTENING LINKS
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7ktQ4nyudmPRLcCNyNxEfv?si=ac9e1babe6834f2b
Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-a-to-z-of-wartime-song/id1806037318
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