OVER THE RAINBOW

Created on 10/12/2001
Latest update on 25/03/2024

Artist: Larry Clinton Orch.
Author: Harold Arlen/Yip Harburg
Label: Victor
Year: 1938

Vocal: Bea Wain. Frank Baum's books about Oz don't mention any rainbow. The imagery works in the film as a transition from sepia coloured first part to technicolor finale.

Covers:

1939:

Harold Arlen & Judy Garland [radio preview of The Wizard Of Oz, later that year in the film; Oscar for best theme song; 'best song of the 20th century' according to the American Record Industry]

1939:

Glenn Miller [n°1 US]

1940:

Vera Lynn

1945:

Frank Sinatra

1949:

Erroll Garner

1952:

Dave Brubeck

1953:

Stan Getz

1954:

James Moody

1955:

Art Tatum

1957:

Dizzy Gillespie

1959:

Oscar Peterson

1960:

Demensions [top 20 US]

1964:

François Lubiana [as Il faut que tu reviennes]

1966:

Patti Labelle & The Blue Belles

1970:

Lou Donaldson

1980:

Jerry Lee Lewis

1981:

Leon Russell

1987:

Barbra Streisand

1992:

Eva Cassidy [revolutionary performance]

1993:

Israel 'IZ' Kamakawimo'ole [ukelele version; posthumous hit UK in '05, n°1 Ger & Fr in '10, millions of downloads US, hit in the lowlands too]

1994:

Marusha [German techno hit]

1996:

Placido Domingo

1999:

Me First & the Gimme Gimmes

2001:

Cliff Richard

2001:

Esmé Bos [in Duveltjeskermis]

2002:

Victoria Williams

2002:

Eric Clapton

2004:

Ray Charles [with Johnny Mathis]

2005:

Gerard Joling

2005:

Coolgirls

2006:

Rufus Wainwright

2007:

Il Divo

2008:

Clare & The Reasons [as Obama Over The Rainbow]

2010:

Jeff Beck

2012:

Susan Boyle

2019:

Renée Zellweger [in film Judy]

Harold Arlen (1905-1986), real name: Hyman Arluck, began as a singer in his father's synagogue before becoming ragtime pianist and arranger. The Wizard Of Oz was but one of the many revues he wrote. And evergreens: Stormy Weather, I've Got The World On A String, I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues, The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea, Come Rain Or Come Shine, It's Only A Paper Moon, Get Happy, Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive, Blues In The Night and One For My Baby (And One More For The Road). Edgar Yispel Harburg wrote lyrics to It's Only A Paper Moon, April In Paris and Brother, Can You Spare A Dime?

Contact


If you noticed blunt omissions, mis-interpretations or even out-and-out errors,
please let me know:

Arnold Rypens
Rozenlaan 65
B-2840 Reet (Rumst)

info@originals.be

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