Thank you all for the good vibes for FINIAN'S RAINBOW. DR cillaliz, "Necessity" is one of my favorite numbers. It was originaly meant to be sung by the black gospel brothers but it never worked and was cut. Supposedly, Milton Rosenstock - I think he was the original MD - worked up the version in the show with the ladies of the chorus, presented it to Harburg and Lane, who loved it, and that's how you ended up with it.
I just saw "Mandy" in blackface in THIS IS THE ARMY, and Senator Rawlins looked nothing like that! He looked like a Metropolitan Opera baritone darkened up to sing Amonasro in AIDA. Oy to Camner!