One of the first things about this 1935 track that hits the listener is its upbeat character. From the word “go” the instrumental backing is cool and confident, yet not without a tender undertone. The lyrics reflect this mood-the singer is stating what will happen about a quarter to nine. No wishes, hopes or dreams here. This man’s got himself a timetable. The only hint of nervousness on the part of the lovesick vocalist comes in a later line where he says he’ll await his lover on “needles and pins”. Still, confidence wins the day, as the final lyric states that the “world is gonna be mine/this evening about a quarter to nine”. This shows the singer thinks the world of his sweetheart, and he wants the evening mood to be just right for the occasion.
The more popular music was a later addition in the career of Victor Young. As a teenager he was much more in the classical realm, touring Europe with the Warsaw Philharmonic. 1931 saw his first signing with American record label Brunswick. He later switched to Decca, the label that carried this rendition of “About a Quarter to Nine”. While that song was written by another team for an earlier film, Young’s later career would focus on providing film scores. Young would receive his sole Academy Award posthumously, in 1956.
Music Through the Mists of Time 