Let`s Honor Harold Arlen`s Classic Songs From The ‘Wizard Of Oz!’

The Wizard of Oz was just released on Blue-ray Disc on September 29th. This is the 70th anniversary of Oz`s initial release in 1939. Unfortunately, I missed the only theatrical showing on September 23rd, but am hoping to get my paws on this four disc “Ultimate Collectors Edition,” which has all kinds of extra goodies, like interviews with extant Munchkins (check out this feature on Judyth Piazza`s Staugnews). But silence all you extras! Let`s pause for a solemn moment to recognize the wonderful songs of Oz, composed by Harold Arlen (music) and E.Y. “Yip” Harburg (lyrics).

These songs have been with me ever since the late 1950s when Oz would be shown once a year on television. The melodies would not leave me alone, whether showering, walkin` to school, or playin` kickball on the playground. We were always “off to see the wizard.”  The tune Over the Rainbow won an Academy Award for Best Music Song in 1939. But I love all of the numbers equally, not just Judy Garland`s signature tune. I`ve probably sang Ding Dong the Witch Is Dead more than a million times in my life *(especially when school was out in May)!

One song that was cut from the movie, The Jitterbug, is a rare gem you need to check out. And do you remember The Lollipop Guild? If I Only Had the Nerve is my favorite. I heard recently that someone retrieved Bert Lahr`s Cowardly Lion costume from the dead (it was in the trash) and brought it back to life. Anyway, it`s a worthy endeavor to take a closer look at the career of Harold Arlen, who penned so many cinematic classics…

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