Customer Reviews

I'll Cry Tomorrow [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]

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This CD is a rare treat for Susan Hayward fans - a chance to hear her do her own singing in the film "I'll Cry Tomorrow" based on the story of Lillian Roth, who battled alcoholism in her life. The sound quality is EXCELLENT and the CD includes extensive notes, and even includes unused tracks, such as the vocal efforts of studio vocalist Sandy Ellis, who was originally going to dub for Hayward. Many people are not aware that the real Lillian Roth was disapointed that her own voice tracks were not used for the film. But, Hayward surprised everyone with her surprisingly goodvocal range. The background music is exceptionally fineas well, and is all included here. This CD is a must-have for Susan Hayward fans - and lovers of fine film score music as well.

The score is a revelation even to me & I've viewed this movie at least once a year for the past 20 years as well as having the songs only in LP & CD form or bootleg rather for many years.
The entire score in state of the art fidelity is a revelation. Gave me cause to put the movie on yet again after listening to the new disc a dozen times in a few days.

Hayward's numbers benefit greatly from the digital conversion. I've seen the movie in revival houses and always felt the bootleg releases of her recordings did her an injustice.
Here they are heard with all of the intricacies of the MGM Studio Orchestra backing but curiously, Included in the package is a great background booklet on the film that explains two cuts recorded back to back with Susan Hayward on the stage simultaneously by the singer that had been chosen as a back up in the event Susan's singing didn't live up to musical director, Johnny Green's best hopes. The unused tracks were done by an MGM staff singer by the name of Sandy Ellis who has one of the most powerful full throated voices that is enthralling whether or not she is changing her natural tone to approximate something closer to Hayward's speaking voice. She followed Hayward at the microphone imitating perfectly with such precision that when Hayward lip synched to her own recordings on the soundstage either singer's versions could be applied to the finished film with little or no looping or post dubbing needed to more closely synch any passages.
This Ellis who I can find nothing about anywhere but who was clearly a lost treasure who should have had a singing career out front is unbelievable and would have been a might fine, believable match for Susan but listening to the tracks back to back again and again. I myself can't say that I'm in anyway sorry they didn't go with Hayward's own singing. She has a fine sense of delivery and is far more clear and accurate than her complete lack of training would ever have one believe. She was known to be a major Garland fan so maybe that and her years playing singers most notably Jane Froman with Froman's pre-recorded tracks in With A Song In My Heart besides earlier roles as singers. Hayward looks, moves and breathes naturally like a singer and it obviously helped.
The only thing I can nitpick about is that it seems as the book vaguely indicates that Susan sang each of two numbers first than Ellis took to the mike on the soundstage immediately following her and on her take of When The Red Red Robin Comes Bob-Bob Bobbin Along, the orchestra balance is better with more detail in the background instruments more prominent making for a more interestingly layered backing.

All in all what has always been one of my favorite films finally has a worthy soundtrack with all of the score in tact much like the complete score of A Star Is Born a few years back.

Now if they would only do the same for With A Song In My Heart and Love Me Or Leave Me. I could die happy.

The four Greatest Musical Dramas (Three BIOS) with full scores. That's a dream come true for me.

This album will not disappoint any film musical buff.

Also included are rehearsal tracks of one Medley sung by Hayward with piano only that was cut from final rundown of the film and an extended unabridged version of the final medley sung at the end of the film with longer pieces of the songs and one more tune at that if I'm not mistaken.
Two bonus songs included were recorded post filming with Hayward & Green with quartet for use as a promotional single. One side being the title theme with Lyrics not in film and the B side of Hayward singing Just One Of Those Things.

**NOW WHO AND WHERE IS SANDY ELLIS?**

This Pressing limited of 3000 copies and the dramatic Score was composed by Alex North and has a total Disc Time of of 75 minutes 56 seconds.

The Disc Case contains a 20-page-Booklet about the movie/score.

Buy it and you'll enjoying it. Myself I loved the soundtrack.