Oh Happy Day (1952 Song) - Legacy and Influence

Legacy and Influence

In terms of legacy and influence, Oh Happy Day has been performed by numerous artists of various persuasions and interests. Folk versions (accompaniment by acoustic guitar only) were performed by Don Howard, Mickey Baker, Dolph Dixon and Elvis Presley. Don Howard's version has been released on a recent CD compilation entitled "Songs That Inspired The King" in reference to Elvis Presley. Elvis is known to have performed Oh Happy Day during the dress rehearsal for his 1968 Comeback Show and at an August 5, 1976 concert at the Sahara in Las Vegas. Elvis described the chord arrangement on Oh Happy Day as representative of early rock and roll, stating Oh Happy Day was similar to the songs Blue Moon and Young Love in this regard. See Elvis's voice over on the CD From Burbank to Vegas, recorded at the Burbank Studios, Hollywood, where the 1968 dress rehearsal for the 1968 Comeback Show took place. The arrangement of Lawrence Welk's Oh Happy Day has also been described as early rock and roll. A more traditional big band 1940s sound is heard in the rendition by Geraldo and His Orchestra (UK). Other versions demonstrate a jazz orientation or influence including those by Jimmy Giuffre, Dick Erickson and Ron Levin and Milt Levitt Orchestra. Other international versions were performed by the Johnston Brothers (#4 in the UK); Pilgrim With Rhythm Quartette (UK), Don Cameron (UK), Dave Carey (UK), Leo Heppe u.d. Continentals & Lutz Alberecht u.s. Orchester (Germany and sung in German); Mieke Telkamp (Germany) and Dick Todd (Canada). The Four Knights rendition has been described as early doo-wop rock and roll and several more explicitly doo-wop versions followed in the 1950s and 1960s by the Singing Belles, the Skylites, Dion, Rick Martell & the Angels, the Five Satins, and Stephanie & the Gothics. Dion's Oh Happy Day recorded in 1963 has been described as a stand out doo-wop recording on his "Bronx Blues: The Columbia Recordings” album. Other artists that have recorded Oh Happy Day include Tab Hunter, the Four Lads, Homer & Jethro, Kamahl, Bill Buchanan, the Honey Dreamers and Don McPherson and the Hy-powers. Homer & Jethro's "Unhappy Day", a parody of Oh Happy Day, stays faithful to the melody and brings forth a chuckle.

Not only did the teen set play a pervasive influence in making Oh Happy Day a national and international hit, the song was heavily performed by local artists throughout the US. In 1953 it was performed at minstrel shows, various high school assemblies, homecoming festivities, music programs in farming communities, and at talent shows.

The song was used in 2011 in a British advertisement for Cushelle.

While different covers of Oh Happy Day phrased the lyrics somewhat differently, the lyrics of the first verse typically started as follows:

The sun is shining, oh, happy day; No more troubles and no skies are gray; Ever since you said those words to me; Oo-Doo, doo-doo-doo-doo; You said you loved me, I know it's true; My life's complete, dear, for now I have you; Oh, happy day, oo-oh lucky me; Oo-Doo, doo-doo-doo-doo.