2. DING DONG THE WITCH IS DEAD: GLENN MILLER AND HIS ORCHESTRA - This live aircheck, with a vocal by Marion Hutton, predates the release the movie by some months; both the band and the audience must have been wondering what the heck the song was all about!

THREE VARIATIONS ON "RAINBOW" BY JUDY GARLAND: As Garland fans all know, the great singer regarded her theme song as almost sacred and these three very rare selections represent virtually the only examples of her tinkering with "Over The Rainbow." The first two are parodies, done on behalf of President Roosevelt and the Democratic Party and the Armed Forces Radio Service, respectively. The third is the only known occasion in which Garland sang the verse to "Rainbow." (Apologies for the sound quality on this particular item.)
3. October 8th, 1944, Hollywood Democratic Committee dinner to honor Harold L. Ickes. Held at the Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles. With Johnny Green at the piano.
4. February 15th, 1945 : "Dick Tracy In B-Flat" With Bob Hope (This was the recording date; 2 broadcast dates have been given : April 19th and April 29th.)
5. Fall, 1948 : "The Louella Parsons Show" The only time she sang the verse?

FOUR "WIZARD" SONGS BY RALPH BLANE: Best known as a songwriter (Best Foot Forward, Meet Me In St. Louis) Blane also had a career as a vocalist. These four tracks, recorded by the Broadway-centric indie Liberty Music Shop lable, are particularly interesting for OZ buffs in that many feature verses and other additional lyrics NOT heard in the actual film.
6. OVER THE RAINBOW [L268 / MX WP 24974]
7. DING DONG THE WITCH IS DEAD [L269 / WP 24975]
8. IN THE MERRY OLD LAND OF OZ [L269 / wp 24976]
9. IF I ONLY HAD A BRAIN [268 / 24977]

THE WIZARD OF OZ 78 ALBUM FEATURING VICTOR YOUNG AND HIS ORCHESTRA AND THE KEN DARBY SINGERS: This could be described as a "semi-original cast album," since it did feature Judy Garland and the Ken Darby Singers, who were both in the film (the Darby singers supplied the voices of the Munchkins - on the soundtrack they were speeded up, here they're in their natural pitch), although none of the other principals appeared. The two tracks with Judy Garland ("Rainbow" and "Jitterbug") have been reissued many times and are NOT included here, however, the remaining six tracks have not been available in many decades. Again, they contain much lyric material NOT heard in the film soundtrack. [Decca 2673 / 2674 / 2675]
10. MUNCHKINLAND part one
11. MUNCHKINLAND part two
12. IF I ONLY HAD A BRAIN
13. IF I ONLY HAD A HEART (IF I ONLY HAD THE NERVE)
14. IN THE MERRY OLD LAND OF OZ
15. WE'RE OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD

DANCE BAND VARIATIONS:

16. Vincent Lopez's "Jitterbug" (1939, recorded and released well before the film was finished and this number was cut) spotlights Betty Hutton, who would replace Garland in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN ten years later.

17. Also Vincent Lopez And The Suave Swing Orchestra [10367] IF I ONLY HAD A BRAIN vocal by the legendary Sonny Skylar.

18. David Rose's lush "Over The Rainbow" (1942) was arranged and conducted by Rose at the time that he was married to Garland.

Now we leap forward into the stereo era:

SHORTY ROGERS's "WIZARD OF OZ" SUITE: A stunning achievement, this jazz treatment of six OZ songs combines modern jazz with big band swing and afro-cuban percussion, and, more remarkably, manages to retain the whimsical quality of the original score. February, 1959
19. We're Off To See The Wizard (into) Over The Rainbow
20. The Jitterbug
21. In The Merry Old Land Of Oz
22. If I Only Had A Brain
23. Ding Dong! The Witch is Dead

24. DING DONG THE WITCH IS DEAD: ELLA FITZGERALD with Billy May and his Orchestra featuring Benny Carter (1960) A hard swinging treatment that also employs the verse.

25. ABBEY LINCOLN: IF I ONLY HAD A BRAIN (1998) Proving that the OZ music is still inspiring creative musicians, this contemporary jazz interpretation uses the verse. Miss Lincoln filters the piece through her own sensibilities and at the same time retaining the original charm.

26. finale: WE'RE OFF TO SEE THE WIZARD: Jim Davison and the Australian Broadcasting Company Dance Orchestra: It's said that when Australian troops marched into Italy in 1943 they were singing this song! (1939)