Customer Reviews

Paint Your Wagon (1969 Film)

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Paint Your Wagon has never gotten the acclaim it deserves, and the soundtrack music is nearly as good as some of the legitimate titans in this genre, like Sound of Music or My Fair Lady. Every song on this record is exceptional (with the exception of the tunes warbled by Clint Eastwood).

I'm on My Way, They Call the Wind Maria and There's a Coach Comin' In hold their own against any song performed on a broadway musical stage or in any movie (yes, I'm serious). Harve Presnel's vocals are amazing. But the pinnacle of this album will forever remain Lee Marvin "singing" Wandrin' Star, the class act song of the entire production. Could Marvin sing? Of course not, but it doesn't matter, you can listen to this version a thousand times and never weary of it.

The soundtrack is leagues ahead of the movie itself, which is not particularly good. But these songs will live forever. The orchestration, back up singers and arrangements are all a class act. If you're a fan of this movie or of musical theatre in general, this is essential for your collection.

This review refers to the "Paint Your Wagon" soundtrack, CD(MCA)

What's not to like? This music from "Paint Your Wagon" is as much a joy as the film itself. The story of a gold mining town, full of burly men who haven't see a woman in like forever, was one of the most fun, bawdy and raucous musicals of it's time. The men hoping to strike it rich("I'm On My Way"), the joy of seeing a woman,the lonely life("They Call The Wind Maria"), the lack of scruples("the Gospel of No Name City"), the friendships, the romance("I Talk To the Tress"), the hijacking of a wagon load of prostitutes to fill the town needs("There's A Coach Comin' In"), the lust for the gold ("Gold Fever"), and moving on("Wanderin Star"), all tell the story on this fabulous album.

The music is sung by the original cast and chorus. This includes the vocal stylings of Clint Eastwood("I Still See Elisa") and Lee Marvin(""The First Thing You Know"), making this album a treasure right there. But top that off with the rich tones of Harve Presnell("Maria"), the fun sound of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band("Hand Me Down That Can O' Beans"), Music by Loewe, Lerner and Previn,the wonderful orchestrations, and I repeat..What's not to like???

I love it. I usually play it twice through each time I take it out for a listen.Right from the opening Main Title Theme("I'm On My Way"), sung in all the different languages of the miners, it made me smile as it brought back memories of the film. Now I am no expert, but someone mentioned that "Wanderin' Star" was not done by Lee Marvin on this album, as it was in the film. It sure sounded like Marvin's deep voice to me. I put the DVD on(of course I got sidetracked watching the entire film again),to check it out, and it sounded identical to the CD. The leaflet that is included with the CD has the singers by the film character's names, and then has the cast list as well. "Wanderin Star" shows sung by Ben Rumson, and Ben Rumson was of course, Lee Marvin.

The final song, the "Finale" is a wonderful medley of all the songs in the film, including Jean Seberg's turn at the beautiful "A Million Miles Behind The Door"(also included on the CD).

A fabulous CD from a fabulous film. The only down side is that it could have been longer. Even if just more of the score. This musical film is around 2 hours and 45 minutes. The CD is a mere 46 minutes(14 tracks, see buying info for complete list).. So 4 and 1/2 stars, but a must have for lovers of this film. Sound Quality was Great too!

"Gotta Dream Boy, Gotta Song, Paint Your Wagon, and Come Along...."...Laurie
film editions:Paint Your Wagon
Paint Your Wagon

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Yes, that was really Lee Marvin singing Wand'rin' Star. How many Lee Marvin movies have you seen where he sings with that wonderful, almost sober, deep bass voice of his. The producers were seriosly thinking of pinch hitting Marvin because he didn't sing very well. But a professional singer in Marvin's place would have seemed un-natural. Maybe you noticed, however, that the producers did indeed plug in a few professional singers to cover, shall we say, the more stressful notes. There was no pinch hitting, however, for Harve Presnell, "Rotten Luck Willie"; they Call The Wind Maria, hasn't been sung better since.

I fell in love with the music of Paint Your Wagon more than I fell in love with the movie. I have owned the 8-track, the album, and now the CD. I suppose I'll own the Paint Your Wagon LQ (liquid Crystal) whenever it is invented. The soundtrack of Paint Your Wagon is a classic keeper for all time.

I have a question: Which song on Paint Your Wagon do you like best? I've never been able to decide, have you? E-mail me and tell me your favorite, if you have a favorite.

I grew up on this version (the movie soundtrack) but haven't heard it since the needle for our turntable went out of production. When I first heard of a nationwide CD search service, I called up and ordered it. Only the Broadway version was available, so that's what I gave my dad for his birthday. He was excited at first, but after listening to it once, it was relegated to the CD graveyard (the large shoebox under the stereo). I've never heard anything so operatic called "western"--way too Broadway for the subject matter. I'm excited to get the "real" version again after all these years! Thank you, Amazon.

This record was produced by MCA in 1977 and is presented on CD as AAD-recording. But never mind - the sound quality definetely is excellent.

What do you get to hear? Well, it's the original soundtrack of an musical playing in the wild, wild west (?!!): PAINT YOUR WAGON ( in Germany called "Westwärts zieht der Wind").

And it really IS an soundtrack, not one of these pop-quicky-samplers as of recent movies. All songs are really to be heard in the movie. The music was composed by Frederick Loewe, the lyrics are by Alan Jay Lerner. Sounds familiar? Indeed, it's the same team that made famous "My Fair Lady", "Camelot" and other great musicals. And the tunes of this movie don't have to hide behind the "ordinary" musicals.

You'll get to hear wonderful tunes and songs you even can understand. And for the first time will hear some actors "sing". Well, kind of - regarding Lee Marvin, with his nevertheless smash hit "Wand'rin' Star" and - surprise - hardliner Clint Eastwood singing a warm romatic ballad "I still see Eliza". Amongst many very good chorus tracks ("There's a coach comin' in" / "Whoop-Ti-Ay!") you will also find one featuring the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band on "Hand me down that can o'beans".

But my play tip is - no, not Lee Marvin - but Harve Presnell as "Rotten Luck Willie" on the wonderful ballad "I call the wind Maria".

Over-all-ranking: 5 Stars *****

I am a Paint Your Wagon boy. Some of my first memories are of my dad listening to and singing along with great songs like "I'm on My Way", "There's a Coach Comin' In", and "Wandrin' Star". Even now I will sometimes pull out the old and scratchy LP and listen to those wonderful songs. I was very excited when I recenty discovered that that album had been transferred to compact disk. I immediately ordered a copy for me and a copy for my father as a christmas present. I can't wait to hear all of those songs from my childhood in the clarity and richness that a CD can provide. But nostalgia is not the only reason I love this soundtrack. Allow me to explain. Paint Your Wagon is a soundtrack from a musical era gone by. Unlike many modern soundtracks, this one can be enjoyed by the whole family. It features the late Lee Marvin (Ben Rumson) and a young Clint Eastwood (Partner) backed up by an exeptional men's chorus singing about the trials of being prospectors in the gold rush of the 19th century. The songs are fun to listen to and fun to sing along with. I would reccomend it to anyone!

I actually purchased the CD for one song They Call the Wind Maria. It is such a stirring number and the singer is superb. Having enjoyed the movie, there were other tracks I enjoyed too like Lee Marvin singing Wanderin'Star.

The quality of the CD was excellent and it arrived in good time.

I had ordered the other Paint your wagon CD, and I was sorely dissapointed. It wasn't nearly as good as I had hoped. This CD, however, is amazingly better. It has all of the good songs from the movie like, Gold Fever. I highly reccommend this CD.

The music is a lot of fun and there are also beautiful songs. My favorite is Mariah. The songs make you feel as if you are there during the "Gold Rush". I knew I liked the music when I was 20 years younger but I like it better now.

I have an obsession for soundtracks, and Paint Your Wagon is one of the best. Perhaps not a "musical" in the same sense as "Singing in the Rain" or "Sound of Music," the soundtrack and film are definitely in a different class. Imagine scores of men seeking a better life out west, just as the gold strike fever of the late 1840s is peaking--farmers, gold miners, merchants, immigrants, gamblers--all kinds of men and manners, trying to find a better way. Imagine this kind of mass migration without many members of the fairer sex, and you have the makings for a lot of carousing, hooting and hollering behavior!

Paint Your Wagon, the film, showed a more outrageous side of the film musical, with "ordinary" men like Ben Rumson (Lee Marvin) and "Partner" (Clint Eastwood) humming and singing songs that moved their hearts or added to the drinking spirit! The film and soundtrack are high on testosterone, and a wee bit low on estrogen, but let's face it--the film and soundtrack are not meant to be for folks listening to Frank Sinatra, Gene Kelly or even Fred Astaire! These are the rough and ready days of the move across the U.S.A.--not something for the meek or mild!

The soundtrack weaves between some delicate ballads, such as "I Still See Elisa," "A Million Miles Away Behind the Door" and "Wand'ring Star," to potent tunes like "They Call the Wind Mariah" and go to the opposite extreme with rip-roaring fun, like "Hand Me Down that Can of Beans" and "There's a Coach Coming In." Very few songs on the soundtrack fail to contribute to the overall sense of ribaldry and camaraderie.

The soundtrack is eminently enjoyable on its own, but I would suggest that people also make an attempt to see the film in one fashion or another, just to see the images that inspired the soundtrack, and the soundtrack that inspired the film and play presentations.