The Music Man (1962 Film Soundtrack) [SOUNDTRACK]

The Music Man (Related Recordings), Meredith Willson, Shirley Jones, Robert Preston

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: June 19, 1962
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Warner Bros / Wea
• ASIN: B000002K9Y
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,085 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  #1 in	Music > Soundtracks > By Decade > 1960s
  #5 in	Music > Broadway & Vocalists > Musicals > Classic Musicals
  #13 in	Music > Miscellaneous > Comedy

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
In light of all the hit Broadway musicals that have stumbled in their translation to the big screen, The Music Man stands out as an exception; it is one of the best-loved movie musicals of all time. A great deal of the credit goes to composer Meredith Willson, who resisted studio pressure to hire a big name for the title role (Frank Sinatra or Cary Grant) in favor of the Tony-winning stage star, Robert Preston, who turns in one of Hollywood's most magical performances as the spellbinder who hoodwinks a small town in Iowa. Shirley Jones did not perform the show on Broadway, but she had cut her teeth as a musical ingenue in the films of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma! and Carousel and gives Marian the librarian a lovely voice and charming personality. Most importantly, Willson's score combines marching bands and barbershop quartets to capture perfectly the spirit of America's heartland at the turn of the century. A classic. --David Horiuchi

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

27 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Robert Preston takes Harold Hill to Hollywood, March 17, 2001

By	Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

"The Music Man" is the most American of all the great American musicals, with a performance by Robert Preston as Professor Harold Hill that arguably ranks as the best of all time. Compare it to the few that come close and decide for yourself: Rex Harrison in "My Fair Lady," Richard Kiley in "The Man of La Mancha," Michael Crawford in "The Phantom of the Opera." THEN think of how rare it is for the Broadway star to actually make it to the Hollywood film version. Preston only got to do the movie because when they offered the part to Cary Grant he told the studio if they did not use Preston not only would Grant not be in the movie, he would not SEE it.

Preston turns in an absolutely perfect performance, made all the more amazing by the fact he was a movie actor who played villains who really could not sing or dance. Although he had some assistance with the story from Franklin Lacey, the credit for "The Music Man" goes to Meredith Wilson who did the book, music and lyrics. This is a score that features not only the last great marching band song of the century in "Seventy-Six Trombones," but what is arguably the first "rap" song in the rhythmic "Rock Island" that opens the show. For his songs Wilson makes use of piano scales ("Piano Lesson" and "Goodnight My Someone") and barbershop quartets ("Sincere" and "Lida Rose"), but the most memorable numbers are those he gives his fast-talking salesman ("Ya Got Trouble" and "Seventy-Six Trombones." This original cast album features Barbara Cook as Marion the Librarian, a singer who certainly should have done a lot more on Broadway than just this one staring role. Just listen to her sing "My White Knight," "Will I Ever Tell You?" and especially "Till There Was You" (the only Broadway song ever recorded by the Beatles). I prefer the Movie Soundtrack to the Original Broadway Cast album, not only because I like Shirley Jones' voice over Barbara Cook's (that is quibbling between an A+ and an A), but because the tempo is slightly up on several numbers. Besides, I think Preston's performance is just that much better on this one as well. But of course, there is not real reason not to have both albums in your collection.

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, but could be better., April 13, 1999

By A Customer

This is a great soundtrack, but it is unfortunate that Warner's did not give us more on the CD than the standard LP 44 minutes. For instance, there is extensive dance music in the "76 Trombones", "Marian the Librarian", and the "Shipoopi" numbers that could have been included on the CD, and wasn't. And although I do admire Shirley Jones, and she was a beautiful Marian, Barbara Cook was more believeable in the look of a small-town spinster librarian, and her voice is one of the greatest that the musical world has ever heard. Shirley Jones' singing is pleasant, Barbara Cook's singing is thrilling. But, Barbara Cook had as much a chance of recreating her Broadway role as Julie Andrews, Angela Lansbury and Ethel Merman did in "My Fair Lady", "Mame" and "Gypsy". Hollywood has never appreciated true musical talent. But, this is a fun album. Buddy Hackett is a bit hard to take, but Hermione Gingold is a treasure.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of the two or three greatest musicals ever..., January 2, 2003

By	William E. Adams (Hobbs, NM USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Just like several of the other reviewers, I like the Broadway version of this show just a hair better than the movie soundtrack. However, when I decided to get a "Music Man" CD last month to replace my vinyl Broadway one, I lucked into a great price for the film rendition. Since I do love the movie anyway, the purchase was a no-brainer. Both have Robert Preston, and he is the true essential. I miss "My White Knight" and I love Barbara Cook, and Buddy Hackett can't sing...all true complaints of some other reviewers here. But those are really minor flaws. Buy whatever version YOU can afford, and let Robert Preston and composer Meredith Willson each make you proud to be an American and a music lover.