Cabin in the Sky was originally an African American Broadway musical from 1941 with a score by Vernon Duke, John Latouche, and Ted Fetter. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer bought the film rights to the show and asked Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg to write new songs. They named Arthur Freed the producer and hired Vincent Minelli to direct. Ethel Waters had sung in the original Broadway production and she starred in the film version, as well. The film also starred Eddie Anderson, Lena Horne, Louis Armstrong, and featured Duke Ellington and his orchestra. Some of the original Vernon Duke songs were retained, such as "Taking a Chance on Love", but many were scrapped. Arlen and Harburg supplied five new numbers, including the hit of the show "Life's Full of Consequences", and "Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe". The film was released in May 1943 and was a success. ~ Rita Laurance, All Music Guide
