Bye Bye Birdie [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]

by BYE BYE BIRDIE (REMASTERED) (BN

Overview

Like all Broadway musicals, Bye Bye Birdie underwent some changes on its way to the big screen. In the case of this show, a parody of the 1950s rock & roll fervor that took off from Elvis Presley's departure for the army, the main alteration had to do with the balance of emphasis among the characters. Although it was an ensemble piece, on-stage the starring role was that of Albert Peterson, manager and songwriter for teen heartthrob Conrad Birdie, who conceives a promotional stunt in which Birdie will kiss an ordinary teenager on The Ed Sullivan Show just before beginning his military service. Dick Van Dyke became a star playing Peterson and had gone on to his own TV series, The Dick Van Dyke Show, and since he was repeating his performance, one might have expected him to dominate the film. Instead, his role was reduced (of the five songs cut from the show for the movie, three were his), while the minor role of Kim McAfee, the teenager, was expanded, the better to employ the talents of 21-year-old Ann-Margret. Her significance was unmistakable; the film opened and closed with her onscreen alone, singing a newly written title song. Also reduced was the role of Peterson's fiancee, who had been played on-stage by Chita Rivera. In the film, Janet Leigh handled it, and she had much less to do. Paul Lynde repeated his performance as Mr. McAfee, singing "Kids," and Jesse Pearson replaced Dick Gautier as an adequate Birdie. Teen star Bobby Rydell was underutilized as Kim's unhappy boyfriend, Hugo Peabody. The beefed-up arrangements gave the score a Hollywood sheen and de-emphasized the attack on rock & roll. (Songwriters Lee Adams and Charles Strouse had written some deliberately bad songs for Birdie to sing, which didn't bother a Broadway audience in 1960, but by 1963 rock was better accepted, and the filmmakers didn't want to offend the broader film audience.) Ann-Margret was a big addition, but the original Broadway cast recording was still the one to own. The 2003 reissue added three minor tracks, the most notable of which was the exotic instrumental "The Sultans' Ballet," even if it sounded out of place. ~ William Ruhlmann

Product Details

Release Date:	09/09/2003
Label:	Rca
UPC:	0828765421720
Rank:	52013

Tracks

1. Bye, Bye Birdie, musical~Bye Bye Birdie
2. Bye, Bye Birdie, musical~Opening Credits
3. Bye, Bye Birdie, musical~The Telephone Hour
4. Bye, Bye Birdie, musical~How To Be A Lovely Woman
5. Bye, Bye Birdie, musical~We Love You Conrad (Film Version)
6. Bye, Bye Birdie, musical~Honestly Sincere
7. Bye, Bye Birdie, musical~Hymn For A Sunday Evening
8. Bye, Bye Birdie, musical~One Boy
9. Bye, Bye Birdie, musical~Put On A Happy Face
10. Bye, Bye Birdie, musical~Kids
11. Bye, Bye Birdie, musical~One Last Kiss (gym rehearsal outtake)
12. Bye, Bye Birdie, musical~A Lot Of Livin' To Do
13. Bye, Bye Birdie, musical~The Sultans' Ballet (film version)
14. Bye, Bye Birdie, musical~One Last Kiss
15. Bye, Bye Birdie, musical~Rosie
16. Bye, Bye Birdie, musical~Bye Bye Birdie

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Jesse Pearson   Primary Artist,Vocals
Janet Leigh   Primary Artist,Vocals
Mary La Roche   Primary Artist,Vocals
Bryan Russell   Primary Artist,Vocals
Paul Lynde   Primary Artist,Vocals
Johnny Green   Primary Artist,Conductor
Ann-Margret   Primary Artist,Vocals
Maureen Stapleton   Primary Artist,Vocals
Bobby Rydell   Primary Artist,Vocals
Dick Van Dyke   Primary Artist,Vocals
Columbia Pictures Studio Orchestra   Primary Artist,Orchestra
Emanuel Klein   Trumpet
William Kraft   Drums
Ann-Margret Pettersson   Vocals
Rubin Zarchy   Trumpet
Charles Butler   Woodwind
Hank Levine   Conductor
Billy Strange   Conductor
Bill Pitman   Guitar
Earl Palmer   Drums
Justin Gordon   Woodwind
Don Ralke   Conductor
Kenny Shroyer   Trombone
Paul Horn   Woodwind
Frank Beach   Trumpet
Ray Sherman   Piano
Al McKibbon   Bass
Al Caiola   Guitar
Tommy Tedesco   Guitar
Jules Jacob   Woodwind
James A. Decker   Horn
Harry Klee   Woodwind
Eddie Kusby   Trombone
Stanley Chaloupka   Harp
Morris Crawford   Woodwind

Technical Credits

Joe Lopes   Engineer
John Snyder   Producer
Jesse Pearson   Cast
Lee Adams   Lyricist,Composer
Janet Leigh   Cast
Jennifer Wyler   Remixing
Pete Ciccone   Design,Art Direction,Reissue Art Director
Ed Sullivan   Cast
Mary La Roche   Cast
Hank Levine   Arranger
Peter Wolf   Composer
Ann-Margret   Cast
Seth Justman   Composer
Billy Strange   Arranger
Don Ralke   Arranger
Charles Strouse   Composer
Paul Lynde   Cast
Bobby Rydell   Cast
Jeremy Holiday   Production Assistant
Gretchen Brennison   Production Assistant
John Norman   Engineer
Darcy Proper   Mastering,Reissue Producer,Mastering Engineer,Reissue Coordinator
Didier C. Deutsch   Liner Notes,Reissue Producer,Reissue Coordinator
John Hudson   Product Manager
Dick Van Dyke   Cast
Rob Santos   Production Assistant
Neely Plumb   Producer
Bryan Russell   Cast
Jen Wyler   Remixing
Maureen Stapleton   Cast