Show Boat [1951 Soundtrack] [Bonus Tracks]

Performer: Original Soundtrack/Various Artists
Engineer: Mike Sheady; Ted Hall
Distributor: WEA (Distributor)

Notes: Principle cast includes: Kathryn Grayson (Magnolia), Ava Gardner (Julie), Annette Warren (vocal double for Ava Gardner), Howard Keel (Gaylord Ravenal), William Warfield (Joe), Marge Champion (Ellie), Gower Champion (Frank), Joe E. Brown (Cap'n Andy), Robert Sterling, Agnes Moorehead (Parthy). Producers: Marilee Bradford, Bradley Flanagan. Recorded in Culver City, California between October 30, 1950 and March 12, 1951. Includes liner notes by Miles Kreuger and Marilee Bradford. All selections are stereo except "Main Title," "Ravenal Is Gone," "Packet Boat," "Natchez Dock" and "Reunion." All tracks have been digitally remastered. All songs written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II except "Bill" (Kern/P.G. Wodehouse) and "After The Ball" (Charles K. Harris). This reissue of SHOW BOAT includes extra versions of "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" and "Bill." The movie versions were sung by Annette Warren, a vocal double for actress Ava Gardner. Ava Gardner's own versions are provided as outtakes. Composers: Oscar Hammerstein II; Jerome Kern. Personnel: Robert Sterling, Agnes Moorehead, Gower Champion, Howard Keel, Joe E. Brown, Marge Champion, Kathryn Grayson, Ava Gardner, William Warfield (vocals); Roger Edens, Wayne Marshall (piano). Audio Remixer: John Kurlander. Liner Note Authors: Miles Kreuger; Marilee Bradford. Recording information: Culver City, CA (10/30/1950-03/12/1951). Director: John McGlinn. Editor: Peter Mew. Photographer: Russel Maynor. Translator: Daguerre de Hureaux. Unknown Contributor Roles: Ambrosian Chorus; London Sinfonietta. Arrangers: Conrad Salinger; Adolph Deutsch; Alexander Courage. The soundtrack album for the 1951 MGM production of Show Boat (the third film version of the 1927 musical) was released in the summer of that year and spent 19 weeks at the top of the Billboard album chart. The 10" LP (also released as a set of 45s) featured eight songs -- "Make Believe," "Bill," "Life Upon the Wicked Stage," "You Are Love," "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man," "I Might Fall Back on You," "Why Do I Love You," and "Ol' Man River" -- sung by Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel, Ava Gardner (whose voice was dubbed in the film, but not on the album), Marge and Gower Champion, and William Warfield. This 29-track CD, running nearly 73 minutes (the film itself only ran 107), is more of a reconstruction and restoration than merely an enhanced reissue of the soundtrack album. Going back to the original masters, the reissue producers have managed to construct a stereo version for the most part. Their musical additions include a large amount of scoring, additional reprises of the songs, and the version of "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man" sung by Annette Warren for Gardner, as heard in the film. (The original masters for Warren's version of "Bill" were destroyed, and an alternate take is substituted here.) Although it is treated with scholarly reverence, including a historical essay about Show Boat written by Miles Kreuger and notes about the 1951 film by reissue co-producer Marilee Bradford, the resulting album doesn't add much to listeners' understanding and enjoyment of Show Boat. Listeners get the chance to compare Gardner and Warren, which does not detract from the decision to use Warren in the film, even though Gardner's voice is adequate. But the heart of the soundtrack remains the excellent performances of Keel and, particularly, Warfield singing "Ol' Man River." ~ William Ruhlmann

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