Billy Moll

Billy (Wilbur) Moll (1904 – January 17, 1968) was an American songwriter and primarily lyricist, the co-writer of several popular songs such as "I Want a Little Girl", "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams" (1931), "Hang Out the Stars in Indiana" (1931), and the novelty song "Ice Cream (I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream)" (1927). His works were performed by artists such as Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Bessie Smith, Frankie Laine, Barbra Streisand, Eric Clapton, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Count Basie and Al Bowlly.

Life

Sheet music cover for "Ice Cream (I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream)" (1927).

Moll was born in Madison, Wisconsin in 1904, the son of Frank Moll and his wife. In the early 1940s the couple relocated back to Stoughton where Moll continued to write songs for the company. Moll was a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. and it is included in the soundtrack for the 1974 Barbra Streisand film The Way We Were: Original Soundtrack Recording.

The August 25, 1931 version of "Hang Out the Stars in Indiana", recorded in London with Al Bowlly as vocalist, accompanied by Ray Noble and his New Mayfair Dance Orchestra. was used by film director Bruce Robinson in his 1987 film, Withnail and I. It also features in the soundtrack of the 2020 film Six Minutes to Midnight. The 2008 film The Edge of Love, starring Keira Knightley, Sienna Miller, Cillian Murphy and Matthew Rhys, featured pop singer Suggs (credited as Graham McPherson) as crooner Al Bowlly. He sings "Hang Out the Stars in Indiana" in a scene filmed in a nightclub. Knightley also briefly sings the song in another scene.

Partial discography Information about Moll's songwriting credits is largely taken from the Discography of American Historical Recordings.

Song Contribution Other contributors First performer Recording company Date of first recording "The Memphis Maybe Man" Music and lyrics Doc Cook (music and lyrics), Haven Gillespie (music and lyrics) Cook's Dreamland Orchestra Gennett 1924-01-21 "Six Feet of Papa" Lyrics Arthur Sizemore (music) Virginia Childs Columbia 1926-08-20 "Gid-ap Garibaldi" Lyrics Harry Warren (music), Howard Johnson (lyrics) Pennsylvanians; Fred Waring Victor 1927-06-23 "Ice Cream (I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream)" Lyrics Robert A. King (music), Howard Johnson (lyrics) Pennsylvanians; Fred Waring / The Rollickers Victor / Edison 1927-11-30 "Loving You Like I Do" Lyrics Bernie Grossman (music), Arthur Sizemore (music) Jean Goldkette Orchestra Victor 1928-07-16 "So the Bluebirds and the Blackbirds Got Together" Lyrics Harry Barris (music) Paul Whiteman's Rhythm Boys Victor; Columbia 1929-01-25 "Sergeant Flagg and Sergeant Quirt (I'll Tell the Cock-eyed World)" Music and lyrics Lou Klein (lyrics) Billy Murray; Walter Scanlan Edison 1929-09-12 "I'm Keeping Company Now" Lyrics Eddie Cantor, Charles Tobias 7 Blue Babies; Jack Dalton Edison 1929-09-20 "Atta Boy (Old Pal! Old Sock! Old. Kid! Old Thing! Old Gold! Old Baby!)" Lyrics Tommy Christian (music) Tom Gerun Orchestra Brunswick 1930-02-03 "Me and the Girl Next Door" Music and lyrics Murray Mencher (music and lyrics) Eddie Walters Columbia 1930-02-27 "I'd Go Barefoot All Winter Long (If You'd Fall for Me in the Spring)" Lyrics Joe Keden (music) Helen Kane Victor 1930-03-18 "Ro-ro-rollin' Along" Lyrics Murray Mencher (music), Harry Richman (lyrics) Roy Evans Columbia 1930-04-10 "Baby, Have Pity on Me" Lyrics Clarence Williams (music and lyrics) Bessie Smith; Charlie Green; Clarence Williams Columbia 1930-04-12 "Moonlight on the Colorado" Lyrics Robert A. King (music) Bud Billings; Carson Robison Victor 1930-07-01 "I Want a Little Girl" Lyrics Murray Mencher (music) McKinney's Cotton Pickers; George Thomas Victor 1930-07-30 "Waiting by the Silv'ry Rio Grande" Lyrics Murray Mencher (music) The Cavaliers Columbia 1930-11-12 "Twenty Swedes Ran Through the Weeds (Chasing One Norwegian)" Music and lyrics Al Bryan (music and lyrics) The California Ramblers Columbia 1930-12-02 "Lil" Lyrics ? ? ? 1930 "I Haven't Heard a Single Word From Baby" Music and lyrics Eddie Cantor, Murray Mencher Val Rosing, Jack Payne and the BBC Dance Orchestra Columbia 1931-01-06 "Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams" Lyrics Harry Barris (music), Ted Koehler (lyrics) Bing Crosby Victor 1931-03-02 "Hang Out the Stars in Indiana" Lyrics Harry M. Woods (music) Roy Evans Columbia 1931-03-27 "I Love You in the Same Sweet Way" Lyrics Robert A. King (music) Ted Lewis and his Band Columbia 1931-07-01 "Honeymoon Lane" Lyrics James F. Hanley (music), Eddie Dowling (lyrics) New Mayfair Dance Orchestra directed by Ray Noble (with Vocal Refrain by Al Bowlly) His Master's Voice 1931-08-25 "Somewhere in the West" Lyrics ? Dick Robertson Victor 1932-01-15 "'Long about Sundown" (aka "Round about Sundown") Lyrics Joseph Meyer (music) Don Bestor Orchestra Victor 1932-09-29 "This is No Dream" Lyrics Joseph Meyer (music) Frank Munn; Victor Arden-Phil Ohman Orchestra Victor 1932-10-27 "At the Close of a Long, Long Day" Lyrics Johnny Marvin (music) Don Hall Trio; Dick Robertson Victor 1932-11-30 "In a Sleepy Little Village" Lyrics Red Norvo (music) Mildred Bailey ? 1932 "There's a House on a Hill" Lyrics Joseph Meyer (music) Freddie Rich and his Orchestra; Paul Small Columbia 1933-02-07 "Drifting Down the Shalimar" Lyrics James V. Monaco (music) Bob and Alf Pearson Imperial 1933 "My Cat Fell in the Well (Well, Well, Well)" Music and lyrics Dick Robertson (music and lyrics), Terry Shand (music and lyrics) Eddie DeLange Orchestra Victor 1939-09-21 "Seven Women in One" Lyrics Bob Miller (music) Panhandle Punchers; Texas Jim Robertson Victor 1946-09-18