1957
OVER THE RAINBOW * THE ECHOES * SPECIALITY 601 * USA
Taken from the film The Wizard Of Oz this song, with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E.Y. Harburg, appeals to romantics and dreamers of all ages and, along with many other things from the film, like: 'Follow the yellow brick road', 'The wicked witch of the West', and 'We're not in Kansas anymore' has become embedded in the collective language / memory of millions.
The song has been through countless covers and interpretations, this rocking Doo-wop version by The Echoes, who it is said featured a young Darline Love, released in April 1957, seems to be the groups only release for the label, though they recorded for many others: Ace, Andex, Combo, Dimond Jim, Edco, Felsted, Gee, Impala, Le Mans, Rockin', Seg-Way, Spotlight, SRG, and Swan; but maybe they all weren't the same group. For fans of other Do Wop and Soul cuts of the song there's: The Checkers, for King in 1954; Titus Turner for OKeh, in 1954; The Moroccos version on United from 1955; Billy Ward and His Dominoes (with Milton Grayson lead) for King, in 1955; The Del Vikings cut for Luniverse from 1957; The Hi Liters & the Hamiltones, for Hico, in 1958; Bud Johnson and the Chanters, for De Luxe, 1958 (the flip of No No No), Aretha Franklin for Columbia, in 1961; The Vibrations, for Checker 1962 (see below); Patty La Belle And Her Belles, for Atlantic in 1966; The Royal Five, for P&L, 1966; and lastly, The Ohio Players, for Capitol, 1969,
OVER THE RAINBOW * THE VIBRATIONS * CHECKER 1002 * USA