"Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh!" is a popular American song composed by Abe Olman (1887–1984), lyricized by Ed Rose (pseudonym for Edward Smackels, Jr.; 1875–1935), and published by Forster Music Publisher, Inc. The music was copyrighted 7 February 1917 and the copyright was renewed 29 December 1944. Under the Copyright Term Extension Act (1998), the sheet music is in the public domain, as is all music published in the U.S. prior to 1923.
According to an August 1945 United Press article, Ed Rose (lyricist) wrote the song when his friends, Mr. and Mrs. John Hansen of Akron, Ohio, began dating while attending college in Indiana. They were so conspicuously in love that Rose, also their classmate, wrote the song about them and presented them with the original manuscript.
Premier QuartetBlue Amberol Records, wax cylinder (1917) OCLC 39869865
The Andrews Sisters with the Vic Schoen Orchestra2840
Decca, 78 rpm; 10 inch (1939) OCLC 166342298Recorded November 9, 1939,
New York CitySide A matrix 66498Audio sample
Bonnie Baker with Orrin Tucker and His OrchestraColumbia, 78 rpm; 10 inch (1939)Recorded August 20, 1939, Los AngelesSide A — vocal version by Bonnie BakerSide B — instrumental version by Orin Tucker and His OrchestraAudio samplePop hit on the Billboard Charts for 14 weeks and sold 1.5 million records in 1940
Peggy Lee with orchestra conducted by Jack MarshallAlbum:
I Like Men!Capitol Records, 33 1/3 rpm, 12 inch (April 1959) OCLC 26592062 stereo OCLC 10894054 monoRecorded 1959Audio sample
Ella Fitzgerald and Her Famous OrchestraNBC broadcasts OCLC 811140658Recorded Late March 1940 (date unknown), Roseland, New York City
Kathy Linden released a version of the song as a single in 1958 entitled "Oh Johnny, Oh!".Oh, Johnny, How You Can Love (1940 film), directed by Charles Lamont, Universal PicturesSpotlight Scandals (1943 musical film), directed by William BeaudineThe Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005 film)Oh Johnny, Oh Johnny, Oh, OCLC 741366211Sheet music (public domain)
See sheet music collections:
Indiana University Bloomington — IN Harmony: Sheet Music from IndianaUniversity of Southern California — USC Music Library: Sheet Music Catalog