Hollywood's Best: The Thirties - '30s - Motion Picture Soundtrack Anthology [Soundtrack]

Hollywood's Best (Series) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 28, 1997)
• Original Release Date: October 28, 1997
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Rhino
• ASIN: B00000344T
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #126,646 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Hooray for Hollywood

2. We're in the Money (The Gold Diggers Song)

3. Night and Day

4. The Donkey Serenade [#]

5. Jeepers Creepers

6. I Only Have Eyes for You

7. Begin the Beguine [#]

8. I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues [#]

9. You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby [#]

10. Temptation

11. Cheek to Cheek

12. Easy to Love [Alternate Version]

13. San Francisco [#]

14. Let's Face the Music and Dance

15. Over the Rainbow

16. Lullaby of Broadway

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars solid single CD compilation, although not truly complete, May 2, 2008

By 

Matthew G. Sherwin (last seen screaming at Amazon customer service) - See all my reviews
(TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Hollywood's Best: The Thirties - '30s - Motion Picture Soundtrack Anthology (Audio CD)

Hollywood's Best: The Thirties - '30s - Motion Picture Soundtrack Anthology isn't the most complete single CD compilation; and that's a disappointment. However, what is on this album is first rate material; and that redeems this CD quite a bit. The quality of the sound is excellent and the artwork is very well done.

The CD begins with an extended version of "Hooray For Hollywood;" this was always a song I liked and it makes a terrific beginning for this album. You practically hear half of Hollywood performing--there's Powell, Frances Langford, Johnny 'Scat' Davis, Gene Krupa--and even Benny Goodman And His Orchestra! "Hooray For Hollywood" is a stunning number. Listen also for a very young Ginger Rogers to sing an energetic version of "We're In The Money" with a fine chorus to bolster her performance. Ginger really throws herself into "We're In The Money" and it shows when you hear her sing this classic song.

Fred Astaire sings "Night And Day;" this Cole Porter tune sounds sweet when Fred sings it so well; and the music that accompanies him fits in perfectly. The strings are used to great advantage; and Fred never skips a beat! Terrific! Louis Armstrong himself also does a fantastic job on "Jeepers Creepers." "Jeepers Creepers" is a fun tune and when Louis Armstrong sings it this number takes off like a jet!

"I Only Have Eyes For You" gets the royal treatment and this ode to Ruby Keeler works well. The orchestration is grand and the few lines that the actors speak are all very well done. Similarly "Begin The Beguine" by Artie Shaw And His Orchestra sounds fresh and new when I hear it on this album; Artie Shaw and his peers should could swing! There's another great song sung by Fred Astaire as he sings "Cheek To Cheek." What a great song. In addition, listen for Jeanette MacDonald to sing a divine version of "San Francisco." Jeannette never sounded better; and her voice is as clear as a bell. AS you may suspect, "San Francisco" comes from the movie of the same name.

Fred Astaire returns yet again to do a flawless interpretation of "Let's Face The Music And Dance." "Let's Face The Music And Dance" has excellent orchestration and Fred sings this without a superfluous note. I'm very impressed. The CD also offers us a recording by a very young Judy Garland as she sings her signature song, "Over The Rainbow." Judy's voice sounds more beautiful than any other voice I've ever heard; and she certainly deserved the fame she enjoyed for so long.

Overall, Hollywood's Best: The Thirties - '30s - Motion Picture Soundtrack Anthology is a rather good single CD compilation--but it's not complete by any means. I give this four stars instead of three mainly because what's on this CD is excellent. I highly recommend this album for classic movie buffs.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, Fun Music!, January 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Hollywood's Best: The Thirties - '30s - Motion Picture Soundtrack Anthology (Audio CD)

They don't make 'em like this anymore! Every song on here is an instant classic. The music has an infectious sense of fun, which may be surprising considering the *depressing* times in which it was written. I especially liked "Cheek to Cheek," "We're In the Money," and "The Donkey Serenade." This one really reminds you why Hollywood used to be called the Dream Factory.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply the best '30 highlight I have ever heard, March 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Hollywood's Best: The Thirties - '30s - Motion Picture Soundtrack Anthology (Audio CD)

I am a great collectionist of 78 rpm, disks and cd about this period and i think that it' s one of the most fascinated collection of Artists and Actors of this period at this moment. Thanks Hollywood!!