My Fair Lady (1964 Film Soundtrack) [SOUNDTRACK]

Frederick Loewe (Composer), Alan Jay Lerner (Artist)

Product Details

• Composer: Frederick Loewe
• Audio CD (October 18, 1994)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B000002AW2
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,034 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #2 in	Music > Soundtracks > By Decade > 1960s
  #11 in	Music > Broadway & Vocalists > Musicals > Classic Musicals
  #39 in	Music > Folk > Traditional Folk

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
My Fair Lady is--deservedly--one of the most famous musicals of all time. Its popular 1964 film version, directed by George Cukor, has ensured that for most people Audrey Hepburn is Eliza Doolittle, while Broadway-heads swear by Julie Andrews's stage performance, immortalized on the 1956 cast album. Of course, for the purposes of a CD review it's more accurate to compare the performances of Andrews and Marni Nixon, who sang the songs lip-synched by Hepburn in the movie. While Andrews usually comes out on top (especially on "I Could Have Danced All Night"), Nixon is no slouch (after all, she also dubbed Natalie Wood in West Side Story and Deborah Kerr in The King & I). Rex Harrison, of course, does his own vocals, but then he doesn't so much sing his songs as talk them. While Nixon and Harrison are tops, the truth is that Lerner and Loewe's songs are so good as to endure almost anybody's interpretation: "Wouldn't It Be Loverly," "With a Little Bit of Luck," "On the Street Where You Live," "Get Me to the Church on Time," and so on--not many shows can boast as many classics. The movie version's real bonus is Andre Previn's swellegant orchestration. --Elisabeth Vincentelli

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great scoring enlivens MY FAIR LADY movie soundtrack., July 22, 1999

By	Joe NY - See all my reviews

This expanded soundtrack is a great recording in its own right. However the original Broadway cast album (with Julie Andrews, et. al.)is more satisfying overall. The movie soundtrack features Andre Previn's rich Oscar winning(well deserved)musical scoring. Also included are several members of the stage version most particularly Rex Harrison. Since Harrision recorded his vocals "live" on the movie set, they often have a tinny, offsetting sound compared to eveyone elses, but its not too distracting. The downside is the Nixon/Hepburn vocal combination. Nixon's dubbing of Hepburn is not as successful(and much more obvious)as her other efforts(Kerr/Nixon in "King and I" was perfect, good results were also had in "West Side Story"). I believe Hepburn should have been allowed to use more of her vocals, which were recently located for the movie's restoration. Perhaps Nixon should have "kicked in" once Hepburn becomes a "lady" during the second hafe of the film. Of course, in the best of all possible worlds Julie Andrews should have been allowed to repeat her stage role, but this was not to be. Its good to have this expanded cd available. The original LP omitted a great deal of music because of time constants. This cd makes up for that. One complaint: the expanded version includes too much incidental dialog and sound effects. Obviously these selections were "lifted" from the final "mixed" tracks as heard in the film and have no place on a music only CD. The cd producers should have made an effort to located the "unmixed" musical tracks and properly edit them for the cd. My suggestion is get both the Broadway recording for its great performances and the movie soundtrack for its wonderful scoring and completness.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Oooh, how loverly !!!, April 13, 2008

By	Matthew G. Sherwin (last seen screaming at Amazon customer service) - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

This CD of the songs from the 1964 film My Fair Lady really does a great job of giving you the flavor of this spectacular musical. The sound quality is superb; and the artwork is well done.

The overture is as beautiful as it was the very first time I ever heard it while watching this film. The lush musical arrangement works very well to mark the beginning of this classic and timeless motion picture. The strings sound great. "Why can't The English?" is performed mainly by Rex Harrison; he can't really sing but the way he essentially speaks his lines to this tune really makes this number hum along well! Rex Harrison is able to use his voice to boom out the lyrics to anyone even remotely within earshot--and this impresses me very much.

"Wouldn't It Be Loverly" features the Marni Nixon singing in place of Audrey Hepburn (Hepburn's singing voice was dubbed). Marni sings this with great sensitively and she pegs down that accent like the pro she always was! "With A Little Bit Of Luck" has the great Stanley Holloway performing to perfection; and there's a great number in "The Rain In Spain" when Eliza Doolittle finally manages to get the "proper" accent down pat.

"I Could Have Danced All Night" features Marni Nixon at her very best; the operatic qualities of her voice really shine through on this number! Bill Shirley also does a great job on "On The Street Where You Live." Bill could really belt this out! "Show Me" also showcases Marni Nixon's great talents as a vocalist; her voice sounds clear as a bell and she never misses a note!

"A Hymn To Him" is a very funny number performed primarily by the great Rex Harrison; he delivers this with panache, heart and soul. Again, his essentially speaking his lines never seems to interfere with his exceptional ability to deliver a song flawlessly. It's amazing. "Without You" again has Marni Nixon dubbing the voice of Audrey Hepburn for this great number from the ending portion of this motion picture; and as usual Marni delivers this with all the heart and soul of a greatly talented chanteuse.

"I've Grown Accustomed To Her Face" is really the last musical number just before the ending credits; and Rex Harrison simply never sounded better! He aces this easily and it makes a fine ending musical song for this motion picture soundtrack album. Of course, we also get the music from the ending credits.

My Fair Lady is one of the best musicals ever made. This soundtrack album of songs and music from the motion picture is a must have for fans of the great musicals.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The movie lover only, August 5, 1999

By A Customer

When it comes to "My fair lady," I prefer the original Broadway cast recording to this soundtrack. Because Audrey didn't sing! Of course, in the movie she was very wonderful and lovely. But in the soundtrack, Marni Nixon sings Eliza's songs. I have four recordings of My Fair Lady, my best is the original Broadway Cast Recording. But the orchestration by Andre Previn is by far the best. I recommend it because of this wonderful orchestration.