The Music Man [Original Soundtrack]

by MUSIC MAN / O.S.T.

Overview

Coming along in the summer of 1962, four and a half years after the Broadway opening, the film version of The Music Man appeared in an era when Hollywood was more likely to be faithful to stage musicals, rather than dramatically altering them, as had been the practice in the past. The Music Man found Robert Preston re-creating his starring role as conman Professor Harold Hill, intent on swindling the good people of River City, IA, by selling them on a fictitious boys' band, and some minor roles were also filled by the Broadway originals. More important, Meredith Willson's score was rendered intact, the only change being a revision of the song "My White Knight" into "Being in Love." The major casting change was the substitution of Shirley Jones, who had a box-office track record, for Barbara Cook, who did not, in the role of Marian the librarian. Cook may have been preferable, but Jones handled the part well, too. Musically, the big change had to do with scale; the Broadway pit orchestra and original cast were replaced by a vast Hollywood orchestra and chorus, and musical director Ray Heindorf made the most of the larger effects on songs like "Seventy Six Trombones." Still, the music fan who already owned a copy of the original Broadway cast recording didn't really need to plump for the original motion picture soundtrack, which didn't keep the album from racing up the charts and going gold as the film became one of the year's top grossers. But it remains true; unless you are a Shirley Jones fan or want to hear future Andy Griffith Show co-star and film director Ronnie Howard sing "Gary, Indiana" with a lisp, stick to the Broadway version. ~ William Ruhlmann

Product Details

Release Date:	10/25/1990
Label:	Warner Bros.
UPC:	0075992715829
Rank:	29576

Tracks

1. Main Title/Rock Island/Iowa Stubborn
2. Ya Got Trouble
3. Piano Lesson/If You Don't Mind My Saying So
4. Goodnight, My Someone
5. Ya Got Trouble/Seventy Six Trombones
6. Sincere
7. The Sadder but Wiser Girl
8. Pick-a-Little, Talk-a-Little
9. Marian the Librarian
10. Being in Love
11. Gary, Indiana
12. The Wells Fargo Wagon
13. Lida Rose/Will I Ever Tell You?
14. Gary, Indiana
15. Shipoopi
16. Till There Was You
17. Goodnight, My Someone
18. Seventy Six Trombones

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Buffalo Bills   Primary Artist,Guest Artist
Robert Preston   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Vocals
Biddys   Primary Artist
Pert Kelton   Primary Artist,Vocals
Ensemble   Primary Artist
Hermione Gingold   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Vocals
Ronnie Howard   Primary Artist
Traveling Salesmen   Primary Artist
Shirley Jones   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Vocals
Buddy Hackett   Primary Artist,Guest Artist,Vocals
Chorus   Primary Artist
Warner Bros. Orchestra   Ensemble,Orchestra
Ron Howard   Vocals
Mary Wickes   Vocals
Ray Heindorf   Conductor

Technical Credits

Ray Heindorf   Producer,Performer,Music Supervisor
The Buffalo Bills   Performer
Buddy Hackett   Performer
Hermione Gingold   Performer
Meredith Willson   Composer
Frank Comstock   Arranger
Lee Herschberg   Remixing
Traveling Salesmen   Performer
Pert Kelton   Performer
The Orchestra   Performer
Shirley Jones   Performer
Biddys   Performer
Robert Preston   Performer