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Free Music Notes for Oklahoma! (1955 Film Soundtrack)Free Music Review: It was like sitting in the front row of the musical. Hit: 4 StarsThis soundtrack was just like the movie. If you enjoyed watching the production on film you will definitely enjoy this CD. There have been several other releases with different casts but this one was the one that most of us have probably seen and heard!
Free Music Review: A true classic! Hit: 5 StarsThis cd is an Oklahoma! lovers' dream... The soundtrack is packed full with beautiful rich orchestra music direct from the original Rodgers & Hammerstein film. I was pleased to find they included the overtures and "scene changes" as well. I was also pleased to find that it was the original cast singing. A must-have for all Oklahoma! fans and orchestra music-lovers alike!
Free Music Review: Okalahoma Hit: 5 StarsVery good quality reproduction, and enjoyable to listen to the full length movie soundtrack again.
Free Music Review: MacRae and Jones head a superb and O.K. adaptation Hit: 4 StarsThe film adaptation of Oklahoma heralded a technological breakthrough in widescreen cinema just as the original stage musical ushered in the integrated book musical. As such this film adaptation was treated as a special occasion, well-supervised by the creators themselves. The soundtrack, featured here, boasts sterling performances from MacRae and Jones making the most of their portrayals of Curly and Laurey, backed by a charismatic cast and superb orchestrations. And of course let's not forget the enveloping stereo sound that holds up well even today.
Despite being a Hollywood star, Gordon MacRae performs the part of Curly as if he was born to play it even on the stage. He shines vocally in his renditions of Oh, what a Beautiful Mornin' and Surrey with the Fringe on Top. He is well-partnered by Shirley Jones as a fresh and pert Laurey, lending her beautiful voice to the part. Although we don't hear much of her on this soundtrack, her partnering MacRae in People Will Say We're in Love exudes a masterful chemistry, as if they were setting sparks off at each other in their rendition of the song. Gene Nelson makes a dashing Will Parker and is equally well-matched by Gloria Grahame as Ado Annie. Grahame renders I Cain't Say No splendidly and partners Nelson in All er Nothin'. The supporting cast is filled out by Charlotte Greenwood's suitably caustic Aunt Eller and Rod Steiger's Jud. It's a pity that the film cut the song Lonely Room, otherwise Steiger would have better demonstrated the dark hues of the character of Jud. Yet it all adds up to a wonderful renditionh of this classic musical, enough to elicit a spontaneous YEOW! during this year of the Oklahoma centenary.
This EMI-Angel reissue offers one the advantage of the dance music and the main titles. This means that the listener gets the Kansas City and Farmer and the Cowman dance sequences, as well as the extended Dream Ballet. The only downside is the extraneous sound effects lifted from a DVD copy of the movie. Yes I share many of your sentiments that these sound effects tend to grate, and long for Didier Deutsch to have used the original untainted studio vault versions. However, let's at least be thankful that the CD producers have offered us a more comprehensive version of the Oklahoma soundtrack that we could only have dreamt of in the past.
In short, this is a wonderful and valuable addition to the R&H discography, and is an equally celebrated rendition of the score like the original Broadway cast recording. Warmly recommended to those who seek even their first version of Oklahoma.
Free Music Review: Broadway in a movie setting at it's very best! Hit: 5 StarsI have the original Broadway version, but prefer this movie selection.
The CD is flawless and, in my opinion, there's nothing better than a Rodgers
and Hammerstein musical for music, lyrics and pure joy! This is the best!
More Free Music Notes: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7
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