Al Bowlly - Over the Rainbow

[rainbowkiss100]

this has to be the most beautiful version of this song... thanks for uploading!

[KnockelII]

Bowlly was a prince. And the pictures are fine, too. Thanx!

[Martindupingoei]

I like this version very much.

[Charlie20301]

I did not realise he had made a version of this song, is very nice!

[columbia5557]

Al Bowlly took this out of Judy Garland's hand put it in his pocket and elegantly walked away with it.

[Rena1934]

best version

[voxgirl]

like, like, like, like, like! :-D

[Kasperfoxx]

I love to take a break from rock, rap and pop...just for a moment... and relax to this type of ear play. : )-

[phaasch]

I just keep listening to this over and over. No- one, not Judy Garland nor Eva Cassidy could take you down the "rainbow highway" like Al does here. Its true- he really does put a different spin on the song. Three minutes of total escape from the winter and this bloody recession

[mangeldeth74]

This version is very beautiful, thanks for sharing.



[miltsar]

@pieman3007 I also discovered Al Bowley about a year ago and truly love his voice...the tenderness and expression he conveys so simply is magical...he matches Judy's original version for the wistfullness and hope he conveys but he makes the song his own....and it is wonderful hearing the intro which is so seldom performed

[danny21uk]

Judy Garland is good, Al Bowlly is better.

[Duja1014]

What an authentic and emotionally filled voice, and I'm a huge fan of string instruments coupled with piano. I'm going to listen to this song everyday now.

Anybody noticed that it was recorded on Dec 21 1939, that's 73 years before the "spiritual enlightenment" and new beginning. kinda find it funny because the song can be interpreted as finding enlightenment over the "rainbow".

[3investigators]

@Duja1014 This is definitely my favorite rendition of the song. Usually when it is sung - the message is "Oh, poor me. I'm so unhappy and stuck in a rut. I wish I could be like a blue bird and fly over the rainbow and be happy". But with Al Bowlly he makes it a song of triumph and joy.

[McGrenzer]

@3investigators I agree: sort of a grownup, more adult version--not as tear-jerking as the movie, but maybe more permanent and useful.

[mic33george]

Such a beautiful gem of a rendition of a well known tune.Many thanks LKayL.Cant undersatnd why i missed this for so long!

[scriptulike]

No one to touch Al. What a talent.

[iangordoncraig]

The best version. (Sorry judy).

[SwingBandHeaven]

This is such a great version of this song - never realised that Bowlly had recorded it. Although this song will forever be associated with Judy Garland, he really does make this his own. perfect :)

[LKayL1]

@SwingBandHeaven I totally agree! I think it's far better than the well-known versions by Judy Garland and Eva Cassidy.

[pieman3007]

What a great rendition...literally I have just "discovered" Al Bowlly today and can't get enough...what a voice!

[LKayL1]

@pieman3007 I was happy when I discovered him too! One could spend endless hours listening to his music!

[worthatronproduction]

@LKayL1 if everyone just listened to at-least one of his songs, his popularity would surley rise

[xxpiggystardustxx]

@worthatronproduction als one of my all time favourite singers :)

[TSM8088]

my heart...

[SJoynson]

First time I have ever heard this rendition - its brilliant!

[orson12]

Of course it's brilliant - it's sung by Al Bowlly! :)

He had such a wonderful, evocative voice.

[BigBandHeaven]

A great tune and a fantastic vocal (as always) by Al Bowlly. Until I saw this I never realised he had recorded this song at all. Thanks for posting this :)

[flatpacker]

Oh, that final "Somewhere..." at 2:40 !

I think I snapped a heartstring.

*sigh*

Rest in Peace, dear Al... and Malcolm Laycock too.

[peteressex]

Absolutely never heard this before.

Thanks

[danny21uk]

Interesting...your videos are either Al Bowlly....or...Michael Jackson...talk about differing taste! Both amazing though...both R.I.P.

[LKayL1]

My two favourite artists of all time! Unfortunately now I won't get to meet any of them...

[danny21uk]

You're a little young to know Al Bowlly....How did you come to be a fan of his?

[LKayL1]

I used to listen to David Jacobs and Malcolm Laycock on Radio 2 on Sunday nights when I was a teenager, and one of them played 'Summer's End'. I became a fan from then and started collecting LPs, CDs and 78s!

[xxpiggystardustxx]

i became a fan after watching dennis potters tv shows PENNIES FROM HEAVEN and THE SINGING DETECTIVE ,,al was the best :)

[hartnell114]

i must have heard this song by 1000 different people and i can safely say imo,noone sang it better than al bowlly

[LKayL1]

I agree!

[RETRONAUTA]

I'm touched!

[hawkmoon03111951]

A big surprise to hear Al Bowlly singing this. As always a sublime interpretation.

[Bigband78]

came back for another listen,pretty LKay1

[spannerworks1]

Hi

This one is new to me, Many thanks for the posting

Richard

[bricwood]

My Dad loved Al Bowlly, I remember but it makes me cry

[Bigband78]

I like this better than the Judy Garland version.Bobchai is right,after Al Bowlly came Snooky Lanson ,who just didn't have it.

[thechinadesk]

@Bigband78

After reading your post, I listened to some Snooky Lanson recordings.

You're right. Lanson is no Bowlly. Not even close.

When singers like Bowlly perform, they channel a mysterious je ne sais quois that evokes an otherworldly dimension. Listen for example, to his rendition of "Midnight, the Stars, and You."

Lanson by contrast, conveyed exactly nothing with his voice. Nada. Zip.

[Bigband78]

@thechinadesk ,your right about "Midnight" and when I see a Ray Noble with "Snooky" for sale,I don't bother.

[LadyJML]

Different to the version we're used to hearing, but fantastic!

[FLUIS69]

Just Beautiful!!!! Happy New Year :-)

[LKayL1]

I agree! Beautiful lyrics, melody and arrangement. Happy new year!

[chunkylumps]

Wonderful!...So many try to sing it,very few succeed as well as Judy,of course the song will always be hers,but Al Bowlly does a marvelous job...I've always considered him to have possesed a superior singing voice and always a pleasure to listen to.Thanks for posting this little gem.

[Bobchai]

I never heard this version before. In fact, all of the Al Bowwly material I have, and what I heard as a kid, was 1934 or earlier. This is wonderful. My Dad thought Ray Noble after he toured the US in 1936, was never the same. But Al Bowlly didn't go on this tour and remained a British phenom, which is why many Americans never heard of him. Ronnie Munroe is great. Enchanting! 5 pointy things!