State Fair (1945 And 1962 Films) [Soundtrack, Extra tracks]

Pat Boone, Jeanne Crain, Dana Andrews, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Ann-Margret | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 2, 1999)
• Original Release Date: November 2, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack, Extra tracks
• Label: Varese Sarabande
• ASIN: B00002MYY3
• Also Available in: Audio CD
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #113,431 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Main Title (Our State Fair)

2. It Might as Well Be Spring

3. It Might as Well Be Spring (Reprise)

4. That's for Me

5. It's a Grand Night for Singing

6. That's for Me (Reprise)

7. It's a Grand Night for Singing (Reprise)

8. Isn't It Kinda Fun?

9. All I Owe Ioway

10. Isn't It Kinda Fun? (Reprise)

11. Finale

12. Main Title (Our State Fair)

13. It Might as Well Be Spring

14. That's for Me

15. More Than Just a Friend

16. Fair Dance

17. Isn't It Kinda Fun?

18. Never Say No to a Man

19. Willing and Eager

20. Romance Medley

See all 26 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Buyer Be Aware!, February 7, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: State Fair (1945 And 1962 Films) (Audio CD)

Two different film soundtracks of Rodgers and Hammerstein's "State Fair" on one CD? Too good to be true? Well, yes and no. If your preference is for the 1945 film with vocals by Dick Haymes and Vivian Blaine, you shouldn't be too disappointed. Although the pre-high-fidelity sound leaves something to be desired, at least all the tracks are represented (including an outtake of Dick Haymes soloing "Isn't It Kinda Fun?"). As for the 1962 film soundtrack, be aware of the following: due to the physical deterioration and eventual disintegration of several tracks, one number ("State Fair") is reproduced with its orchestral/choral track intact, but the vocal solos of several of the film's stars are missing. The opposite is also true: Pat Boone and Ann-Margret sing a strangely a cappella duet of "It's a Grand Night for Singing" since the orchestral/choral tracks no longer exist. On a more positive note, however, this CD comes packaged with some richly detailed and highly informative liner notes -- a great treat for anyone interested in the history of the American film musical.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great recording for collectors, January 23, 2003

By 

Byron Kolln (the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood) - See all my reviews
(HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 100 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: State Fair (1945 And 1962 Films) (Audio CD)

This lovely - and long-overdue - reissue packages together the soundtracks to the 1945 and 1962 versions of STATE FAIR, the made-for-movies musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein.

Both soundtracks have never appeared on CD before, and the original sound masters for the 1962 set have never been found, so this is indeed a fantastic recording for R&H enthusiasts and collectors alike.

The 1945 set memorably stars Dick Haymes and Vivian Blaine (the original Miss Adelaide in GUYS AND DOLLS), Jeanne Crain (with a voice dubbed by Louanne Hogan) and Dana Andrews. Given the lack of singing experience from Crain and Andrews, the bulk of songs were handed to Haymes and Blaine. Blaine sings a confident and knowing "That's For Me" while Haymes sings a lovely "Isn't it Kinda Fun?". Louanne Hogan sings a lovely "It Might as Well Be Spring".

The rarely-seen (or heard) 1962 version starred Pat Boone, Ann-Margret, Pamela Tiffin (with a singing voice dubbed by Anita Gordon) and Bobby Darin, with support from Alice Faye and Tom Ewell. Anita Gordon's "It Might as Well Be Spring" is quite the same as Hogan's, while the souped-up "Isn't it Kinda Fun?" is belted by Ann-Margret for all its worth. Alice Faye sings a new number "Never Say No to a Man" while Bobby Darin croons a new ballad "This isn't Heaven".

Highly-recommended.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Satisfying overall, but a mixed bag in some parts, December 31, 2001

By 

Pope (United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: State Fair (1945 And 1962 Films) (Audio CD)

This disc is a compliation of soundtracks from both the 1945 and 1962 R&H musical versions of STATE FAIR (the glorious and rarely-seen original 1933 version was not a musical). Sonically the disc is very good, and the 1945 tracks sound remarkable for their age. I do not know if these cuts were taken from audio masters or lifted from a print of the film itself. It makes little difference, since they sound great.

Now, about the 1962 tracks: Most of the music heard in the film is included here. Some people have said that different takes were used for some of the songs in making this CD. I have not done a close comparison between this disc and the film to be able to comment on that. Due to deterioration, some sound elements are missing: The actors' vocal solos in the Main Title are missing, though the choral tracks are present. For "It's a Grand Night for Singing", the orchestra tracks are missing, but the vocals survive and have been included as a bonus at the end. Additionally, the end cast/exit music is completely missing. Dot Records released a soundtrack LP in 1962. Surely the album masters still exist (hopefully), and one would think that the successor company to the Dot library could have been approached for inclusion of at least these tracks on the CD. Sonically, the rest of the 1962 tracks are good, and if you can get by the fact that one of the film's best songs is incomplete, this disc will be satisfying overall and is worth purchasing. A suggestion would be to go for this disc, but also pick up a copy of the 1962 LP if you should come across it. Then you will have all of the State Fair tracks you need!

Recommended!