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The first announcement is in Collectors' newest catalog. But of course, unfortunately, the disc is just as inadequate as it was when Rhino first released it. (See earlier thread.)
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Thanks, Manderly. GMP, when I deem this release inadequate it is in comparison to all the wonderful Rhino/Turner musical releases that preceded it. Are you familiar with any of them? FINIAN'S cried out for that deluxe restoration treatment, with so many vocal/orchestral/choral highlights -- Lane's classic melodies superbly arranged by Heindorf and Darby -- which never made the cut of that original LP. Sadly, it seems that Rhino and Turner's association was just running out of gas (and budget?) when FINIAN'S was finally coming down the pipeline. Either somebody stopped caring, or was denied the proper funds, or both. At least we have FINIAN'S in some form on CD. Certain other musical classics, including BELLE OF NEW YORK, BARKLEYS OF BROADWAY and INVITATION TO THE DANCE remain A.W.O.L. on the roster.
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Posted: |
Oct 14, 2006 - 12:08 AM
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By: |
joec
(Member)
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Thanks, Manderly. GMP, when I deem this release inadequate it is in comparison to all the wonderful Rhino/Turner musical releases that preceded it. Are you familiar with any of them? FINIAN'S cried out for that deluxe restoration treatment, with so many vocal/orchestral/choral highlights -- Lane's classic melodies superbly arranged by Heindorf and Darby -- which never made the cut of that original LP. Sadly, it seems that Rhino and Turner's association was just running out of gas (and budget?) when FINIAN'S was finally coming down the pipeline. Either somebody stopped caring, or was denied the proper funds, or both. At least we have FINIAN'S in some form on CD. Certain other musical classics, including BELLE OF NEW YORK, BARKLEYS OF BROADWAY and INVITATION TO THE DANCE remain A.W.O.L. on the roster. True, while the FINIAN'S LP was adaquate, the CD is a disappointment for the reasons listed above. The Rhino/Turner musical series does seem to be running out of steam. However I must make a correction, BELLE OF NEW YORK is available, complete though Rhino digital download and ITunes. Also available as a downloads are DEEP IN MY HEART (complete, with outtakes and in stereo)and Twiggy's THE BOYFRIEND (LP version). I do hope some label (perhaps Collector's Choice Music) releases these as "traditional" CDs in the future as I do not care for the downloads (no booklets, etc.). These 3 releases appear to have been "dumped" by Rhino as they made their debuts several months ago as downloads only. It would be wonderful if some specialty label along the lines of FSM or Intrata would pick up the reins and give this material the special care they deserve. I doubt Rhino would be now be interested in releasing a full stereo ROSE MARIE (54), JUPITER'S DARLING, or other "obscure" musical titles. INVITATION TO THE DANCE may be prime material for FSM as it is not a musical and one of the segments contains an original Previn score.
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Thanks for the head's up, Joec. I've never downloaded anything, and never would have known about BELLE without you. Now I guess I have to start learning how to download. *** Another reason for INVITATION as a prime candidate for FSM, of course, would be the Malcolm Arnold score they scrapped for the Previn music.
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Posted: |
Oct 16, 2006 - 9:08 PM
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By: |
joec
(Member)
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Thanks for the head's up, Joec. I've never downloaded anything, and never would have known about BELLE without you. Now I guess I have to start learning how to download. *** It is not difficult to download once you do it once or twice. Make sure you have a CDR available so you can "burn" a copy. This way you can play the CD on any player. Of course the DL will be available on your hard drive. I only dowloaded 4 albums before, 3 of them these Rhino releases. At $10 each, through Rhino (the ITunes arrangement may be different),I felt I was being taken advantage of, but it was the only way to obtain these releases. I would rather pay $16 or $17 and get a "real" CD with booklet and jewel case, than these downloads. Unfortunatly for me, this seems to be the future trend. Unlike the detailed booklets of prior release, there are no notes or detailed information available for these tracks on Rhino's site. Not even composer/conductor credits. Disappointing, but it's great to be able to hear the definitive BELLE (65 min) and HEART (79 min)albums at last. Hopefully these won't be the last.
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Posted: |
Oct 16, 2006 - 9:13 PM
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manderley
(Member)
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.....Another reason for INVITATION as a prime candidate for FSM, of course, would be the Malcolm Arnold score they scrapped for the Previn music..... Yes, indeed, Preston.....and I wonder if they got to pre-recordings of anything on the "Dance Me A Song" segment before it was abandoned. It seems to me I've seen several production stills on this, and they certainly would have needed pre-recordings to dance to. A complete INVITATION TO THE DANCE would be an interesting archival CD, and I'd love it, but, sadly, I wonder how many would buy it. I guess, for the present, I'll have to stick with my CD-R of the old Lp.
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Posted: |
Oct 16, 2006 - 9:51 PM
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By: |
manderley
(Member)
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There are quite a few MGM/WB musicals which MIGHT be releasable in complete form if Lukas felt there was a big enough audience. My best candidates for complete, expanded, and where possible, stereo editions (and Ron, joec, and others have already pointed some of these out) would be: BELLE OF NEW YORK.....originally on MGM Records DANGEROUS WHEN WET.....never released as an album I LOVE MELVIN.....originally on MGM Records JUPITER'S DARLING.....never released LES GIRLS.....originally on MGM Records (and Cole Porter, for gosh sakes) MERRY WIDOW.....perhaps on a double-bill, the 1952 on MGM Records, the 1934 never released MUSIC MAN.....originally on WB Records ROSE MARIE.....1954 originally on MGM Records, 1936 never released as a soundtrack SOMBRERO.....scheduled for MGM Records release but cancelled at the last minute TWO GIRLS AND A SAILOR.....never released I'd love to have a 2-disc set called MGM'S MILLION DOLLAR MERMAID, which would include the wonderful orchestral water ballets from many of the Esther Williams films as well as many of the hit songs. (I could put this together myself, but I get tired of the gurgling water and fizzy noisy fountains on the original mixed tracks! ) I'd also like to have a CD that might bring together the odd song/songs from various MGM romantic comedies/non-musicals which have otherwise gone unrecorded on CD, including the Carlos Ramirez tunes from LATIN LOVERS, the lovely June Allyson rendition of "Too Marvelous For Words" in REMAINS TO BE SEEN, the several songs from THE AFFAIRS OF DOBIE GILLIS, etc. I'm also insane enough to wish for a wonderful Jeanette MacDonald-Nelson Eddy collection in wonderful sound. It's my understanding that, sadly, the Warner Bros music sessions for many of their important musicals from the 50s backward, other than scattered acetates, just don't exist anymore. And the Doris Day tie to Columbia Records (like the Mario Lanza tie to RCA/BMG for the MGM tracks) is problematical, in any case. Still, I've always thought that there were enough Golden-Age musicals lovers on this board and beyond (like Castrec-l) who would buy copies. The secret, of course, is just not to press too many. (I also wish so much that a joint releasing/licensing deal could be done with Columbia Records for the complete JUMBO soundtrack. "Can't we all work together?" A complete JUMBO is an often-cited wish by many and JUMBO is probably the last old-line big MGM musical created---notwithstanding THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN. Another of the things in its historical favor is that this show has never had a complete recording, to my knowledge, on 78, LP, or CD, since its debut in the mid-30s.)
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Posted: |
Oct 16, 2006 - 10:33 PM
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By: |
joec
(Member)
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There are quite a few MGM/WB musicals which MIGHT be releasable in complete form if Lukas felt there was a big enough audience. My best candidates for complete, expanded, and where possible, stereo editions (and Ron, joec, and others have already pointed some of these out) would be: BELLE OF NEW YORK.....originally on MGM Records DANGEROUS WHEN WET.....never released as an album I LOVE MELVIN.....originally on MGM Records JUPITER'S DARLING.....never released LES GIRLS.....originally on MGM Records (and Cole Porter, for gosh sakes) MERRY WIDOW.....perhaps on a double-bill, the 1952 on MGM Records, the 1934 never released MUSIC MAN.....originally on WB Records ROSE MARIE.....1954 originally on MGM Records, 1936 never released as a soundtrack SOMBRERO.....scheduled for MGM Records release but cancelled at the last minute TWO GIRLS AND A SAILOR.....never released I'm also insane enough to wish for a wonderful Jeanette MacDonald-Nelson Eddy collection in wonderful sound. Still, I've always thought that there were enough Golden-Age musicals lovers on this board and beyond (like Castrec-l) who would buy copies. The secret, of course, is just not to press too many. (I also wish so much that a joint releasing/licensing deal could be done with Columbia Records for the complete JUMBO soundtrack. "Can't we all work together?" A complete JUMBO is an often-cited wish by many and JUMBO is probably the last old-line big MGM musical created---notwithstanding THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN. Another of the things in its historical favor is that this show has never had a complete recording, to my knowledge, on 78, LP, or CD, since its debut in the mid-30s.) Interesting list & points. As I noted above, BELLE OF NY is available for download. Also, early Rhino/Handmade PR indicated that LES GIRLS was to be double billed with THE PIRATE. However when THE PIRATE was finally released it was presented alone with many minutes of radio PR recordings. Manderley, do you know if original tracks exist for the 1934 MERRY WIDOW? Perhaps with expanded/deleted sequences. I believe if available, this would make a fasinating album. I always wondered why Rhino never issued a EDDY/MACDONALD set years ago. Probably afraid it would not sell. Stereo selections, if possible, from this pair would be great. I LOVE MELVIN from original tracks, probably not complete, was issued on one of those horrible early 90's Sony MGM releases. The tracks were poorly transfered. However, a remastered and complete version would also be wonderful. I am sure there is a limited demand for this material and it must be treated with special care in order to be succesful.
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Posted: |
Oct 16, 2006 - 10:48 PM
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manderley
(Member)
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.....I am sure there is a limited demand for this material and it must be treated with special care in order to be succesful..... If they release any of these, I will certainly treat mine with kid-gloves!!! As for the 1934 MERRY WIDOW, original MGM music sessions exist for things going back into 1933, so, if they were saved in time, and didn't otherwise deteriorate, they are probably there since much other stuff is. We've heard various takes of "Indian Love Call", from 1936, with MacDonald and Eddy, including flubs, so anything is possible if someone wants to search it out. It is also possible, however, that some of the songs in MERRY WIDOW were done "live on set" for spontaneity as many of the studios were wont to do at this time, so it might have to be made up of a little of this and a little of that. Who knows? LES GIRLS was, of course, in true stereo, and though there aren't all that many songs in the final film (about six, I think), the underscore of this film, as put together by Alexander Courage, is just beautiful.
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Posted: |
Oct 16, 2006 - 10:58 PM
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joec
(Member)
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[iAs for the 1934 MERRY WIDOW, original MGM music sessions exist for things going back into 1933, so, if they were saved in time, and didn't otherwise deteriorate, they are probably there since much other stuff is. We've heard various takes of "Indian Love Call", from 1936, with MacDonald and Eddy, including flubs, so anything is possible if someone wants to search it out. It is also possible, however, that some of the songs in MERRY WIDOW were done "live on set" for spontaneity as many of the studios were wont to do at this time, so it might have to be made up of a little of this and a little of that. Who knows? I am sure some WIDOW songs were done "live" as it was common during the early days of sound. But some of the complicated montage sequences looked as though pre-records may have been used. MGM pioneered the use of pre-records during the early 30s, so if this material is available it must be fasinating to listen to. I would certainly jump to purchase!
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