Customer Reviews

The Wizard Of Oz: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

5 star:		(20)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

There are probably few people in the world who love this classic motion picture more than I do and hearing this beautifully recorded soundtrack brought back so many wonderful memories and tears to my eyes as I sang along and listened to them again. I have waited years for someone to record an album with JUST the songs and not with the accompanying dialogue and this is it! I admit I was leary of the title "Selections" from the "Wizard of OZ," figuring that it might have some of the better known songs: "Over the Rainbow," "Off to see the Wizard," If I only had a brain, ...heart, ...courage, so imagine my surprise when EVERY song I remember was on the disk, even extended versions of songs and songs never heard or seen because they were cut from the movie before its release in 1939. I first saw the movie in 1955 at a drive-in movie (does that date me or what?) and immediately fell in love with it and Judy too. (Who wouldn't fall in love with her?). It has been my favorite ever since! I know the dialogue and songs by heart so It's so great that the music is from the original score too and not redone my someone else or a shortened version of them. Anyone who loves the "Wizard of Oz" has got to buy this CD!! Gratefully, Alex Thompson.

My daughter has just discovered the Wizard of Oz and is enthralled. I was hesitant to purchase the soundtrack, given how the other reviews said the sound quality was poor. I don't know if they re-mixed the songs or what, but the sound quality on our CD is just fine -- it's equivalent in quality to the soundtrack on the DVD. The CD has all of the favorite songs from the movie, of course. I highly recommend it.

This version of The Wizard of Oz proves three things: 1) MGM may well have been the Tiffany's of movie studios back in the 30's, but their sound department was pretty primitive; 2) Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg were a stupendous team and Herbert Stothart (MGM's music director) was a darned good arranger; 3) Judy Garland was a miracle.

Hiss, scratches, pops and limited sonic range notwithstanding, you can't beat this recording to provide the essence of the movie. Judy and her fellow cast members (especially Ray Bolger, Bert Lahr and Jack Haley) are just wonderful.

The album notes don't point it out, but there's an interesting "extra" performer on many tracks: Buddy Ebsen. Ebsen was cast as the Tin Man (without a heart), and worked for about a week on the film before becoming desperately ill as a result of the toxic aluminum powder that was ground into his makeup. When it was clear that Ebsen wasn't going to recover quickly, he was replaced by Haley. (The makeup formula was replaced, too!) But Ebsen's voice, which had been pre-recorded for performance playback, appears on a number of tracks on this recording.

I really liked this CD (5 stars) because of a number of things. #1- It's a condensed version of the boxed set, and perfect for a CD when you're in a time pinch. #2-It has a cheaper price than that of the Boxed set (although you should still get the box set), and you have the core songs of the 1939 movie.

I don't get why other reviews bash the sound quality. I think it's just fine, myself. But oh well.

I previously owned this soundtrack on cassette tape in a few incarnations, most recently this version, which was my favorite. But sadly, I've lost them all. But now I finally own it on CD, and I couldn't be happier. Extended versions, outtakes, and the classics we all know and love. Just like the purple sticker on the packaging says, it is "the most beloved movie of all time."

However, I do have some beef with this soundtrack, which is why it is rated only four stars instead of five. All 26 tracks clock in at a total of a measly 39 minutes. Considering most CDs hold at least 74 minutes, and there was so much music, including extended versions and outtakes, they could have crammed a bit more onto this disc, including more outtakes, such as the score from a deleted scene where the Wicked Witch of the West actually turned the Tin Man into a beehive as she'd threatened earlier in the film. Let's hope one day there's a single-disc Special Edition with more music or a reissue of the double-disc deluxe edition with all the music. But I guess they wanted people to buy the deluxe edition, and putting too much on the single-disc version could have talked people out of buying it.

All in all, while I would have liked for there to be more music, but for the reasonable price you pay, you get all the songs, digitally-remastered, with extended versions and outtakes. A must-have for your CD collection if you don't want to shell out money for the double-disc edition on eBay or Amazon or spend time searching in stores for it, but want the soundtrack.

Without a doubt, this movie has to be the most recognized in the world with nothing else even coming close. It's a winner and is definately my favorite. The soundtrack recording is equally as wonderful. The only downfall is that this recording has not been remixed from MGM's original 6 track stereo recordings. The 6 track recordings done by MGM were true stereo, as they placed mics around different areas of the recording stage and then from these separate channels created wonderfully balanced mono tracks.
On the "Story and Songs" soundtrack, they have been remixed for stereo, and that version sounds wonderfully clear - clearer than this version. The major triumph here are the outtakes. The Jitterbug has survived in soundtrack form in especially good condition (the actual footage is either missing or no longer exists) and it makes you wonder why L.B. Mayer wanted to cut it in the first place.

Gets a 12 out of 10!

This is a great soundtrack to one of the best movies of all time. I mainly got it for "Over the Rainbow," but of course you get all the rest of the great songs that made this movie what it was. You even get outtakes such as "The Jitterbug" which wasn't featured in the final cut. So why 4 stars? The sound quality is terrible. I'm sure there is some way out there to remaster these recordings. I have to turn by CD player all the way up to fully appreciate this CD. It's a shame. This is some of the best music to be featured in 20th century cinema.

I have never listened to another CD that has brought back such fond memories and evoked such emotion as "The Wizard of Oz." I don't think any adult (or child) of any era over the last 70 years doesn't have wonderful memories of the greatest movie ever made. What I enjoyed the most about this CD is how complete it is and how well put together it is. It includes every single song from the movie, full and complete and remastered, sounding better than ever. It even includes several extended versions and songs that were not on the final cut of the movie. For example the rare "Jitterbug" song is included as well as the extended version of "If I Only Had a Brain." No collection of Oz would be complete without Judy Garland's signature anthem, "Over the Rainbow" and this track really ties this entire diverse collection together. The CD includes a lovely picture on it and there is even a booklet which includes lots of pictures, stories and facts about the movie and the music. If you love Dorothy, Auntie Em and Toto, too (and really, who doesn't?) then you must get this CD and celebrate all of the memories all over again.

Bought this CD Soundtrack of the Wizard of Oz for my grandchildren after we saw the play at a theatre. It is everything we hoped for.

We did a Wizard of Oz theme for our car for "trunk or treat" where we decorate vehicles in the parking lot of the school and the kids walk from vehicle to vehicle for candy. We played the soundtrack from the car and it worked out great. Even now when we are driving from here to there, my 9 year old puts the cd in and we sing like fools along with the soundtrack.