Harold Arlen: Rhythm, Rainbows, and Blues [Hardcover]

Edward Jablonski (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 6, 1996

"The book is filled with arresting detail about Arlen's career. . . This one is required reading for anyone who cares about American popular music, or, it goes without saying, musical theatre." -- Show Music

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

When Truman Capote was approached in 1953 with the suggestion that he consider adapting his play House of Flowers into a musical with a score by Harold Arlen, it is said that Capote responded: "Who's Harold Arlen?" This proved to be a recurrent question during Arlen's career and one that Jablonski answers in his second biography of this composer known for his musical comedies. Expanding on the author's 1961 biography Harold Arlen: Happy with the Blues, this latest account of the Buffalo-born cantor's son, Hyman Arluck, provides a musical history of the artist's heyday. Unfortunately, these details at times tend to overshadow Arlen himself, such as in the informative chapter on the Cotton Club. Perhaps this is reflective of Arlen's professional experiences, as it was not until after the cult success of House of Flowers that Arlen emerged from the shadows of his contemporaries to be easily recognized for accomplishments such as having scored the films The Wizard of Oz (1939) and A Star Is Born (1954) and 30 musicals including Bloomer Girl and St. Louis Woman. Arlen also worked with lyricists Ted Koehler, E.Y. Harburg and Johnny Mercer to compose the popular songs "Get Happy," "Blues in the Night," "That Old Black Magic," "Stormy Weather" and Arlen's favorite, "Last Night When We Were Young," to name a few. This is a nostalgic guide for fans of Arlen and Tin Pan Alley, as well as musicologists. Photos not seen by PW.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

The creator of such hit tunes as "Stormy Weather" and "Over the Rainbow," Harold Arlen is one of the underrated composers of American popular song. Journalist Jablonski (Gershwin, Northeastern Univ. Pr., 1990) is no stranger to the subject and presents a well-documented biography of the late songwriter. His life is chronicled from his upbringing in Buffalo to his stint at the Cotton Club to his Broadway and movie outings. On the positive side, there is plenty of information?including a good discography?and some insight into the songwriting process. On the negative side, the book runs a bit long, and the treatment of the subject is oddly detached. Still, with few books on Arlen available, this fills a void. Recommended for specialized music collections in public and academic libraries.?Ronald S. Russ, Brooklyn P.L.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 444 pages
• Publisher: Northeastern (June 6, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555532632
• ISBN-13: 978-1555532635
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.4 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #420,885 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #84 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > Arts & Literature > Composers & Musicians > Country & Folk

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fine Biography, May 26, 2003

By 

Michael Garber "PhD, scholar of songs" (South Salem, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Harold Arlen: Rhythm, Rainbows, and Blues (Hardcover)

A very fine biography of the wonderful and unique popular song composer, Harold Arlen. Edward Jablonski surpasses own earlier biography of Arlen. Particularly interesting are the fresh insights into Arlen's home life and emotional life. I highly recommend this to those interested in American music.