Customer Reviews

Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967 Film Soundtrack)

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE was producer Ross Hunter's attempt to re-create THE BOY FRIEND, in which Julie Andrews had starred on Broadway. MGM held the movie rights to BOY FRIEND and would not sell them to Universal. Eventually MGM would turn THE BOY FRIEND into a rather-misguided film starring Christopher Gable and Twiggy.

The story of THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE concerns one Millie Dillmount (Julie Andrews), a simple girl from the country who comes to the Big Smoke looking for love, excitement and most importantly, Mr Right. Along the way Millie meets up with demure Miss Dorothy (Mary Tyler Moore), hooks up with a lively paperclip salesman Jimmy (James Fox) and fights off white-slaver Mrs Meers (Beatrice Lillie). Joining in the fun are carefree society dame Muzzy van Hossmere (Carol Channing) and Millie's dashing boss Mr Trevor Graydon (John Gavin).

The songs are a perfect blend of 20's standards as well as brand-new numbers. Julie is at her best singing "Jimmy", "Poor Butterfly" (which includes the scene dialogue that accompanies it in the film), and the catchy Title Song.

Carol Channing adds her brassy vocals to the showstopping "Jazz Baby" and "Do It Again". James Fox is wonderful during the "Tapioca" number.

With THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE currently gracing Broadway in an all-new production, now is the perfect time to fall in love with the fantastic film score.

Highly-recommended.

"Thoroughly Modern Millie" was probably the most superficially enjoyable movie that Julie Andrews ever made--no depth at all, but loads of fun. The soundtrack album is also fun to listen to, but probably won't mean as much to people who've never seen the film.

The only reason I gave this CD 3 stars is its poor sound quality. I've still got the record album and believe me, the CD sounds EXACTLY like the record except for the absence of surface noise: thin, tinny, and with little bass response. The CD mastering gives no added clarity or frequency response. In short, the engineers obviously used the same master that the record was made from, a master than was equalized and compressed within an inch of its life. If they had bothered to go back to the original session tapes, this album would have sounded much better. You can hear the proof on the compilation CD that Rhino put out several years ago called "Thoroughly Modern Julie." The only song that's from the movie is the title track, but you will be amazed at the difference in sound quality: this version has much better clarity, presence, and frequency response. Let's hope that someday "Thoroughly Modern Millie" will be given the audio restoration it deserves.

Thoroughly Modern Millie was one of my absolute favorite movies when it came out. I used to go to my college listening library and request they play the soundtrack while I was studying. When it showed on campus, I was always there to see it once again on the big screen. The music is absolutely wonderful. Julie Andrews, Mary Tyler Moore AND Carol Channing all in one great musical. If this ever comes out on DVD, I'll be first in line to buy it! Any hopes, or has it been totally forgotten? I hope not!

One thing about many soundtracks from the mid-1960s (particularly "The Sound of Music") was the habit of rearranging the songs in any haphazard order and not in the order they appeared in the movie. "Thoroughly Modern Millie" was one of those soundtracks.

So here, for the convenience of all, is the order the songs were played in the movie. (You can program your CD player or rearrange them in an iTunes playlist to correct this bad habit of studios!)

1. Prelude / Thoroughly Modern Millie
2. Overture
3. The Tapioca
4. Baby Face
5. Jewish Wedding Song (Trinkt Le Chaim)
6. Jazz Baby
7. Jimmy
8. Intermission Medley
9. Do It Again!
10. Poor Butterfly
11. Rose of Washington Square (uncredited vocal by Ann Dee)
12. End Credits - Thoroughly Modern Millie
13. Exit Music

"Thoroughly Modern Millie", a corny dated movie filled with bloated egos, but finally due credit is given* to the magnificent velvet toned singer of "Rose Of Washington Square". A tremendous and soulful singer, Miss Ann Dee (Angela DeSpirito 1919-2005) sold her legendary San Francisco "Ann Dee's 440 Club", famed night club where she lovingly developed and showcased numerous big name talent such as Lenny Bruce, Ernestine Anderson, Johnny Mathis, Fran Jeffries and many others, came to Hollywood to embark on a solo singing career yet by this time Ann Dee was in her forties (really late start especially in the sixties) yet this amazing spirited talent attracted enough attention to fill "Ye Little Club" months then years on end and record a major label Lp for Capitol Records, quite a stunning feat for the mesmerizing Italian Diva now well into her forties in the rocking musical sixties! "Free Again" is a timeless vocal masterpiece filled with thrilling performances including a definitive "If He Walked Into My Life" from "Mame" plus a brilliant hauntingly gorgeous medley "Carnival/This Dream" now on youtube for everyone to savor and enjoy...mesmerizing high vocal art at it's very finest! "Free Again" produced by avant-garde David Axelrod & beautifully arranged by legendary Ernie Freeman featuring Frank Sinatra full studio orchestra, filled with majestic performances that define what great singing is all about & opening with an exhilirating "Stairway To Paradise" featuring a through the roof magnificent vocal second to none. Ann Dee always incredible in concert performing these wondrous classics with such passion and tremendous vocal beauty, received numerous standing ovations every night over the years to packed-out clubs (wildly successful "house singer" at famed Beverly Hills "Ye Little Club") where one could find a wide array of the famous nightly such as Judy Garland, Timi Yuro, Edith Piaf, Toti Fields, Carmen McRae, Johnny Ray, Margaret Whiting, Dorothy Collins, Yvonne De Carlo, Gordon MacRae, Alexis Smith, Joanie Sommers, Regis Philbin to name just a few in her adoring audience...hopefully lost vocal masterpiece will one day be released on Compact Disc if Capitol Records ever wakes up and realizes what a glorious vocal treasure they have in their vault deserving to be remastered and released! Ann Dee next cast in this lame superficial Hollywood Musical yarn, thrilled yet soon found she would be pushed into the background by greedy "stars" clearly threatened by her magnificent talent (especially vocal!) and didn't want to share spotlight or residuals according to Ms. Dee. How sad not to receive billing for her glorious performance, clearly the finest vocal in this otherwise tired soundtrack filled with cartoon like baffonish performances. Ann was deeply hurt not receiving billing on original soundtrack Lp for her sublime performance "Rose Of Washington Square" listed only as "vocal blues singer"! For shame but now this has been finally corrected just recently!* Ann Dee RIP...great talent & loyal friend, this amazing lady is loved and missed by many & sweetheart those 5-Stars are all for you Angel, you earned and deserve every one!

As a twelve year old broadway lover, when I first saw the play I immediatly fell in love with it. The music (all included on the CD) is so wonderful, everyone deserves to know about it!!!!
The Thouroughly Modern Millie music is appropriate, and funny. There is not a large amount of bad language and is very clean. The music has a fast tempo and a jumpy sound. It makes you want to jump up and dance! I would buy this CD for sure- with no doubt! From what I've told you, wouldn't you agree?

This recording overflows with warm, happy, effervescent tunes, that make you want to tap your feet and hum along! Julie Andrews is perfect as the ingenue, and everyone else on the cast makes listening to this soundtrack a must! The theme song is snappy and witty, definitely deserving of the Oscar nomination it garnered. A must-hear!

What an amazing soundtrack for an amazing movie starring Mary Tyler Moore and Julie Andrews. Each song is so different, yet very entertaining and funny. If you love the roaring 20s and love Julie Andrews and Carol Channing, you'll love this soundtrack

WHO, might the uninitiated ask IS Ross Hunter?
Only one of the most brilliant if not the most brilliant producer during Universal's Golden Era - thank HIM for this masterful work of utter JOY!

JULIE ANDREWS has never been better - excellent vocals, possibly the most perfect diction ever recorded - and the range! You gotta hear this one!!!

The "others" - WELL, Miss Carol Channing is certainbly not left in the dark - superlative - "Jazz Baby" and "Do it Again".

THANK YOU MCA for this superb recording - excellent - over a 10 tecnically!

A 'must have' companion piece to the current musical [also GREAT!!!] And this recording provides 'just enough' to keep the toes tapping!

BUT, again - Thank you Mr. Hunter for this concept!

This album is a must for everyone's soundtrack collection. Every song is cleverly written to create a perfectly whimsical masterpiece. The soundtrack displays some of Julie Andrews and Carol Channings finest work! You can't see the movie without buying it!