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Rainbow Magic: Judy Garland's Iconic First Recording OF OVER THE RAINBOW

  • Writer: All Things Music Plus+
    All Things Music Plus+
  • Oct 7
  • 2 min read
Screen shot of Judy Garland singing "Over The Rainbow"
Screen shot of Judy Garland singing "Over The Rainbow"

On October 7, 1938, Judy Garland teamed up with the MGM studio orchestra to capture the timeless "Over the Rainbow" on tape. Crafted specifically for the film by composer Harold Arlen and lyricist E.Y. Harburg, with orchestration from Murray Cutter, the session unfolded in the MGM scoring stage—its walls lined in plywood—as Judy delivered her vocals in real time alongside the full band, led by conductor Georgie Stoll. Over the course of the day, they nailed eight takes, ultimately piecing together the intro from take 5 with most of take 6 for the movie's iconic rendition, cementing its place in history.


The actual filming of the scene didn't occur until March 1939, and the released version in the movie was a seamless edit blending the opening verse from Take 5 with the majority of Take 6.


Listen to all of the surviving takes here:


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QUICK FACTS (JUDY GARLAND'S OVER THE RAINBOW):

  • On October 7, 1938, 16-year-old Judy Garland stepped into the MGM soundstage to record "Over the Rainbow" for The Wizard of Oz, capturing a performance that would define her career.


  • The song, composed by Harold Arlen with lyrics by Yip Harburg, was inspired by a little girl's dream of escaping the dull Kansas plains for a colorful world beyond the rainbow.


  • Arranged by Murray Cutter and backed by the MGM studio orchestra, the recording was performed in A-flat major, with a bridge section drawing from a simple child's piano exercise.


  • A rare Stradivarius violin added ethereal depth to the film's accompaniment of this legendary take, elevating the emotional pull of Dorothy's heartfelt plea.


  • This single recording propelled "Over the Rainbow" to win the 1939 Academy Award for Best Original Song and secure its spot as the #1 song of the 20th century, according to the RIAA and NEA.

Following is the final version in stereo with the introduction that was recorded on April 13, 1939


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Over the Rainbow Test Pressing
Over the Rainbow Test Pressing

NOTE: The above was curated and not possible without these two sources. https://judygarlandnews.com/


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