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I think these days you would also have to deal with the Crosby estate. Album releases featuring contributions by major singers has become close to impossible...
It may be a bit unfair seeing La La Land's great new set of "The Great Race" on the other thread, but Warner's release policy has become a catastrophe in comparison to what it has been ten years ago - particularly concerning the MGM musicals. Not only have they stopped releasing soundtrack albums close to fifteen years ago, their policy of releasing the movies is no better. Several of my double layer DVDs from that period have become unplayable - and I can't purchase new copies because the disks are out of print or only available through the on-demand programme (devoid any extras). If you think of all the enthusiasm and love that went into the Rhino disks and the LD this is a really frustrating situation...
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Posted: |
Jul 11, 2017 - 4:43 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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Warner's release policy has become a catastrophe in comparison to what it has been ten years ago - particularly concerning the MGM musicals. Not only have they stopped releasing soundtrack albums close to fifteen years ago, their policy of releasing the movies is no better. Several of my double layer DVDs from that period have become unplayable - and I can't purchase new copies because the disks are out of print or only available through the on-demand programme (devoid any extras).
While Warners has admittedly jettisoned DVD reissues of their musicals, they’ve made a start in the Blu-ray department. Looking at the list of musicals whose soundtracks appeared in the Rhino series, the ones in bold below have been released on Blu-ray. I suspect as time goes on, we'll see more of them.
CLASSIC M-G-M MUSICALS
American In Paris, An
Annie Get Your Gun
Athena
Band Wagon, The
Belle of New York, The
Best Foot Forward
Born To Dance
Brigadoon
Broadway Melody of 1940
Cabin In The Sky
Deep In My Heart
Du Barry Was a Lady
Easter Parade
For Me and My Gal
Gigi
Girl Crazy
Good News
Harvey Girls, The
Hit the Deck
It's Always Fair Weather
Kismet
Kiss Me Kate
Lovely To Look At
Meet Me In St. Louis
Mickey & Judy: The Judy Garland & Mickey Rooney Collection (Babes In Arms, Babes On Broadway, Girl Crazy, Strike Up The Band)
Pirate, The
Royal Wedding
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Show Boat
Silk Stockings
Singin' In the Rain
Summer Holiday
Summer Stock / In The Good Old Summertime
Three Little Words (includes Yolanda and the Thief)
Wizard of Oz, The
Ziegfeld Follies
WARNER BROS. / LATER M-G-M / OTHER MUSICALS
Boyfriend, The
Fame
Finian's Rainbow
Gay Purr-ee
Gypsy
Head
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Mame
Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town / Frosty the Snowman
Unsinkable Molly Brown, The
Victor/Victoria
Yankee Doodle Dandy
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One of the problems (beside the admittedly higher costs) is that the extras became less and less from format to format: while many of the LDs had complete scoring sessions, only few of the DVD versions offered that important feature. The Blu-Rays lack even the most obvious additions like outtakes or making-ofs...
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Some of the songs are heard in the terrific, and highly recommended, "Sinatra in Hollywood" box from Rhino": "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" "You're Sensational," "Well, Did You Evah!" and "Mind If I Make Love To You?"
I'm guessing you already picked up this import reissue:
https://www.amazon.com/High-Society-Various-Artists/dp/B000NO1SRC
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Posted: |
Jul 12, 2017 - 12:44 PM
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By: |
Bob DiMucci
(Member)
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The irony here is that such a cd release would garner little if any sizable profit. So if there's not much money to be had, just allow the release and this would at least help with further exposure of the actors involved and with DVD sales, etc. and the music loving public can bathe in the beauty of everyone's work...
I also think that fear plays a part in the reluctance of estates to cooperate. While most of the estate trustees probably recognize that there is little money to be made from licensing their materials for such a project, there is still a fear that if they give their approval while receiving just a small recompense, the last hold-out will negotiate a deal for "big bucks," or, against all odds, the project will be a phenomenal success, and make them look like fools, and/or open them up to charges of mismanagement, for selling their clients short. Compared to that, doing nothing holds little risk for them.
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