Happiness Is Just A Thing Called Joe: In 1940, an original stage musical called Cabin In The Sky" opened on Broadawy. It starred the transcendent Ethel Water as Petunia in love with Little Joe, played by Dooley Wilson. Lena Horne played the temptress Georgia Brown seducing Little Joe.The Devil, played by Rex Ingram was behind these shenanigans all the while.
In 1943, a film with the same name was released again starring Waters, Horne and Rex Ingram in their original roles. Eddie( Rochester) Anderson played Little Joe. Director Vincente Minnelli wanted a song to show Petunia's love for the wayward Little Joe. Harold Arlen and E.Y Harburg collaborated on " Happiness is just a thing called Joe" with Ethel Waters demonstrating compassion, her wonderful singing voice and dramatic skill recreating her original role. Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington also appeared in the film.
The song has a lengthy verse that that sings of " Skies ain't gonna cloud no more, the crops ain't gonna fail no more" because " A certain man with eyes that shine, Voodood' up this heart of mine." Then the main refrain begins with the familiar line " It seems like Happiness is Jes' a thing called Joe--------Does he love me good, that's all I need to know.""
It is a song greatly favoured by female singers who seem to be able to relate the song to their relationships with their own man of the moment.
The initial version is an actual clip from the film with Ethel Waters trying to sooth a critically ill Little Joe by demonstrating her unchanging love for the wandering heart of Little Joe. It is a poignant and powerful dramatic moment.
The second performance is by Peggy Lee who does sing the touching verse and then the main chorus with an equally heartfelt and blues tinged version. Note the reference in the verse to catching " a Rainbow" by the tail " - by the lyricist who also wrote " Somewhere Over The Rainbow."
LINK- WATERS: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxA1ePIElgw
LINK-PEGGY LEE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuN7ycu5pwU
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