Alan Jay Lerner - My Fair Lady (1964 Film Soundtrack)
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Free Music Notes for My Fair Lady (1964 Film Soundtrack)
Free Music Review: My Fair Lady, good.
Hit: 4 Stars
I am sorry but i am a Julie Andrews fan a big one and although Audrey did a good job of making Eliza her own its the singing thats bad. Marni Nixon is an American and so sings with an American twang in her voice and also is not an actress and so did not put enough emotion and depth in to the lyrics as she sang, i don't thing she understud them. Not like Julie. This record got four stars from me purley for Rex Harrison as his singing and emotion he puts into his songs make this CD worthy of the cost.
Listen to the broadway version with Julie though and see what i mean about Marni. Julie puts a good amount of energy in her songs especially the I Couid Have Dance All Night number.
Free Music Review: 4 stars? You have got to be kidding!
Hit: 5 Stars
Two reasons to buy this version of My Fair Lady: Marni Nixon and Rex Harrison. Marni Nixon sings the lead. Her voice was dubbed over Audrey Hepburn's image. Marni may be the most under-appreciated vocalist of the 20th century. (She also sang the role of Maria, over Natalie Wood's image, in the film version of West Side Story.) As much as I love Julie Andrews and as great as she was in the original Broadway production of My Fair Lady, I really think that (at least this recording of) Marni Nixon is the definitive Eliza Doolittle. And Rex Harrison, and ONLY Rex Harrison, knows how to sing the greatest love song ever written for a man: "I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face". OK, maybe "greatest" isn't the right word. "Singularly and uniquely suited to a man" is a better description of this song and Harrison does it the right way, expressing just the right combination of anger, frustration, self-discovery, longing and need, without any of the sentimentality found in nearly every other recording of the song. Every woman who wants to understand men needs to listen carefully to this recording of this particular song. And everyone who has any interest at all in American musical theatre needs to own this CD. The songs not only define the characters and highlight the most important moments in the play, they also document, and are often the context within which, the characters develop, grow and change. That is what the music in a musical, like the music in an opera, is supposed to do. That goal is achieved magnificently in this musical and you will not find a better performance anywhere else. (BTW: Marni Nixon ultimately got what she deserved, the starring role in a Broadway revival of My Fair Lady. This particular revival was never, to my knowledge, recorded. It hit the boards in the late '60's, around the time of the release of the film version of The Sound of Music. Ironically, Marni Nixon played the role of one of the nuns in that film. Everyone was a little worried about the first meeting between Marni and Julie Andrews, who was known to be bitter that she was not given the role of Eliza in the film version of My Fair Lady. However, Ms. Andrews, as always a class act, simply walked across the set, took Mani's hands, and told her how much she loved her work.)Free Music Review: A great soundtrack!
Hit: 5 Stars
I think this soundtrack of "My Fair Lady," is absolutely beautiful. If you love the m,ovie with Audrey Hepburn, then you will really love this as it has all the songs. It's worth ten stars, and has delightful tunes, that one can listen to again and again.Free Music Review: My Favorite Soundtrack
Hit: 5 Stars
I'll probably be a little partial in this review as Audrey Hepburn is one of my very favorite actresses and quite frankly, the movie captures the essence of the play brilliantly. But this review isn't about the movie, this is about the outstanding music from the movie. The soundtrack, first and foremost, is one of the most beautifully composed collections of music of all time. It's classical yet fresh. The songs are sung with passion and are true to the play, but life is breathed into them in most places with the spectacular and versatile range Marni Nixon was famous for.
As with most musicals, all the music tells the deepest wishes or fears of the characters. The lyrics are witty, fun, serious, intuitive and are written flawlessly to coincide with the film/play. The humourous "Get Me to the Church," "With A Little Bit of Luck," "Just You Wait," and even "You Did It" are sung spectacularly and manage to be gracious even while being funny. The honest and intricate "Wouldn't It Be Loverly," is possibly the most associated with the production and is given full justice on this soundtrack that is often lacking in the plays. There are then the poetic and introspective "I Could Have Danced All Night," "On the Street Where You Live," and "I've Grown Accustomed to Her Face" are breathtaking and easy to leave the listener humming for hours.
Some of the more powerful and independent tracks like "Show Me" and "Without You" deliver Eliza's realization of who she is and show the shift in the storyline.
The instrumentals are equally as brilliant as everything else, particularly The Embassy Waltz, though the closing music manages to be both simple and strong at the same time.
Even those of you who dislike the production have to admit that this is a beautiful soundtrack and score. Each song tells the story so clearly, you can understand the play without actually watching it.
For anyone who's ever had a wish, it's an inspirational soundtrack of life, what we once were and everything we ever can be. If you're a dreamer, the My Fair Lady Soundtrack will offer something to ponder.
Free Music Review: Wonderful conception and excellent sound quality
Hit: 4 Stars
The soundtrack of the 1964 film My Fair Lady is well-deservedly one of the most beloved and well-recognized soundtrack albums ever made. Although Julie Andrews is the first and undisputed choice for Eliza Dolittle, Audrey Hepburn made the part all her own and played it very nicely.First of all, if you have only heard the Original Broadway Cast (or the Original London Cast) album of My Fair Lady, then do not bother with this one because all you will be able to do is find faults with it. To enjoy this album to its fullest you must appreciate the film from which it comes. Although we are 'treated' to a small amount of extra dialogue and sound effects on this disc, the music contained here is wonderful.
Orchestrations are lush and glorious. Hepburn (sung by Marni Nixon) does extremely well with the role of Eliza. Rex Harrison reprises the role he played on Broadway (and later in London) and is no less spectacular here than he was in the previous two cast albums of My Fair Lady. He is perfect for Prof. Higgins. Stanley Holloway is back as well and gives a showstopping performance as Alfred P. Dolittle, common dustman.
Well worth the price and the listen. Highly recommended!