Moon River Vinyl Memories

The Moon River vinyl memories relate to the 1961 song written by Johnny Mercer and Henry Mancini, and was the background music adapted for the movie, "Breakfast at Tiffany's," starring Audrey Hepburn.

Mancini has remarked that he worked desperately trying to find a tune to suggest the inner quality of the heroine, the incomparable Holly Golightly, before the idea of Moon River suddenly came to him.  

Moon River is actually a real river in Savannah, Georgia where Mercer grew up. His home overlooked the river and he had fond memories of the area. It was originally known as The Back River, an inlet near Mercer's hometown, but was renamed Moon River in honor of him and this song.

The line, "My huckleberry friend" is often thought to be a reference to Huckleberry Finn, a character in Mark Twain's book Tom Sawyer.

However, in his autobiography, Johnny Mercer said it was in reference to a childhood friend of his. They picked huckleberries together down by a lazy river near his home in Georgia.

In the quiet ebb and flow of a river that seemed to stretch wider than a mile, Ann often found herself drifting into dreams.

This river, shimmering under the silver glow of the moon, whispered the promise of romance and adventure. Its waters sang a lullaby to her heart—soft, wondrous, and full of mysterious allure.

She dreamed of someday crossing it in style, not just as a mere encounter but as an eternal crossing towards love and possibility. Here, on the gentle banks, where the earth met the sky, the moon became both a witness and a companion to her solitary musings.

Ann wasn't alone in her thoughts, for Seth also had his dreams interwoven with the moonlit tapestry of the river. He saw the river as more than just a path; it was a confidant and a "dream maker." His dreams, stirred by the ripples and waves, were painted with hues of hope and yearning. Yet he knew the river's dual nature—its ability to be a heartbreaker, swelling and retreating, giving and taking.

Regardless of its fickle tendencies, he felt a magnetic pull toward it, toward where the dreams took shape and whispered sweet possibilities. Wherever the river was bound, he found comfort in the thought of going its way, letting the currents decide his fate.

One night, as the moon hung low and bright, Ann and Seth met by fate's will.

They walked along the river's edge, exchanging stories spun from stardust and moonbeams. Under the celestial canopy, they joked and laughed, their hearts beginning to beat in sync.

In each other, they recognized fellow travelers, kindred spirits meant for exploration. The river that separated dreams now became a bridge of sorts, connecting their souls. They knew in that moment that they were two drifters, poised to see the world, bound by a shared sense of wonder.

Together, they embarked on an endless journey, their hearts set on chasing dreams written in the night sky. The river was their path, a winding route toward the rainbow's end—a place where dreams are lived and love is the only currency. As they set sail into the future, hand in hand, they whispered promises to the river, to the stars, and to each other—the vows of two drifters committed to the pursuit of dreams, ever faithful to the possibility of finding the shimmering pot of gold at the end of their travels. Their story was one of adventure and unyielding faith in the magic of life's river, where they sought to capture the rainbows painted in the eyes of their beloved.

In 1961 the song won that year's Academy Award for Best Original Song and in 1962 was record of the year. That is the year I graduated from High School and Moon River was one of our Senior Prom songs.

How did one of the all time greatest movie songs become one of the most romantic songs ever written is a little confusing. Its lyrics never mentioned anything about love or romance.

And if you will look superficially at its lyrics and don't know the story behind the lyrics, it's almost nonsense.

But when you listen to that beautiful Mancini melody the words seem to take on a romantic meaning and what Mercer really wrote about is all but forgotten.

In 1962, Andy Williams was asked to perform the Best Song nominee "Moon River" at the Oscars, and it quickly became associated with him.

Although Williams never released the song as a single, his LP "Moon River and Other Great Movie Themes," released in the spring of 1962, was certified Gold in October 1963 for sales grossing over $1 million.

More than sixty years later the Moon River vinyl memories LP remains in my collection and is an original copy of the Andy Williams Moon River album.

He was an effortlessly smooth and natural crooner celebrated for his warm and friendly style. As an example his 1962 Album "Days of Wine and Roses" sat at #1 for four straight months.

Andy Williams, known as "The King of Christmas" for his annual holiday specials and albums, died at home in Branson, MO. on September 25, 2012.