The Umbrella Man (song)

"The Umbrella Man" (often popularly referred to as Any Umbrellas?) is a British song written by James Cavanaugh, Larry Stock and Vincent Rose. It was first published in 1924^{[citation needed]} and first performed live by the comedy double act Flanagan and Allen in 1939^[1] in the musical revue These Foolish Things.^[2] It became one of their standards along with “Hometown” and “Underneath the Arches”. It is used in Dennis Potter's The Singing Detective (1986) and the TV adaptation of John le Carré's A Perfect Spy (1987).

Popular recordings in the United States in 1939 were made by Kay Kyser & His Orchestra (vocals by Ginny Simms & Harry Babbitt) and by the Johnny Messner Music Box Band (vocal by The Three Jacks).^[3]

Chart information

Billboard magazine, issue dated January 28, 1939: Sheet-Music Leaders chart for week ending January 21, 1939: Umbrella Man charted at number 1.^[4]

Other recordings

• Sammy Kaye and His Orchestra (1938)
• Ambrose & His Orchestra (vocal by Denny Dennis) (1939).^[5]
• Connee Boswell – recorded January 10, 1939 for Decca Records (catalog No. 2258A).^[6]
• Gracie Fields & Tommy Fields – recorded February 17, 1938 for Regal Zonophone Records (catalog No. MR-2996).^[7]
• Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians (Decca 2221)^[8]