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:
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]
Glenn Miller [n°1 US]
Demensions [top 20 US]
François Lubiana [as Il faut que tu reviennes]
Eva Cassidy [revolutionary performance]
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]
Marusha [German techno hit]
Esmé Bos [in Duveltjeskermis]
Ray Charles [with Johnny Mathis]
Clare & The Reasons [as Obama Over The Rainbow]
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?
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)