LET'S  TAKE TH LONG WAY HOME  In 1944, Arlen and Johnny Mercer wrote songs for a film " Here Come The Waves", a wartime story around Navy recruitment during WW11. Bing Crosby introduced the song  which also involved singer Betty Hutton,
Sung here by Diahann Carroll who also was a featured star in he Arlen/Capote show House of Flowers. 

 https://youtu.be/xUSNHzHjecQ

Let's Take A Walk Around the Block   This energetic song, with it's clever rhyming lyrics, was written by Arlen and E.Y. Harburg for Life begins at 8:40. The ebullient performance by Doris Day reminds me of what critic Will Friedwald said about her singing, " She has a voice like liquid sunshine." Perfect description of that vibrant personality.

https://youtu.be/TvW4aD3B-jo 

I Had A Love Once  This was Harold Arlen's last song for which he alos provided the lyrics. It was his tribute to the memory of his dearly departed wife Tanya Aranda. She was a beautiful showgirl who was never accepted by Harold's Jewish parents. Tanya also developed mental problems which had her institutionalized on a number of occasions. Arlen never really recovered from his loss and his later years were lonely and affected by the onset of Parkinson's disease.
Peggy Lee was a great admirer of Arlen and sings this song with the requisite sombre and sensitive performance.

 https://youtu.be/0J1ASztvIiw

The Eagle and Me   This song is in praise of the universal desire for personal freedom. It was used in the Arlen/Harburg musical Bloomer Girl. Sung by Lizz Wright whose passionate performance underscores the whole theme of the song.'

ANY PLACE I HANG MY HAT IS HOME and COME RAIN OR COME SHINE
Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer wrote a number of great songs for ST.Louis Woman set in ST Louis in its' vibrant African American community. Any Place I hang my hat is home describes the singers relaxed view of life while Come Rain  or Come Shine is a pledge of permanent devotion. Both pieces are sung by Vanessa Williams who also starred in a revisited St. Louis Woman in NYC. She has a great affinity for the decidedly American folk idiom created by Arlen and Mercer.
https://youtu.be/p6c6XQt2IxA

Harold Arlen - The American "Natural": I NEVER HAS SEEN SNOW

Harold Arlen - The American "Natural": I NEVER HAS SEEN SNOW: I Never Has Seen Snow is a marvellous extended ballad introduced by Diahan Carroll in Arlen's House of Flowers. The lyrics were attribut...

I NEVER HAS SEEN SNOW

I Never Has Seen Snow is a marvellous extended ballad introduced by Diahan Carroll in Arlen's House of Flowers. The lyrics were attributed to author Truman Capote although subsequent research has indicated that many of he lyrics were also by Arlen. He never publicly took credit for his contributions to the published lyrics.
Vanessa Williams, a fine singing actress incoporate Arlen's own singing style with a littel rising whoop at the end of a phrase.
The Boston Pops arrangement with an onstage cellist in duet with Williams is by Rob Mathes.

https://youtu.be/SYqfL6kygRc