************************************************************** EDITOR’s SPECIAL CHOICE December 2002 **************************************************************
Deluxe 50th Anniversary Edition
Singin' in the Rain
Music by Nacio Herb Brown; lyrics by Arthur Freed
Ask most movie fans and they will probably tell you that Singin' in the Rain is up there with The Bandwagon and An American in Paris as the greatest of all Hollywood musicals. 'Amazing to think that this wonderful film is now 50 years old. In celebration, Rhino have released this splendid 2 CD deluxe anniversary edition.
To begin with the compilation covers the whole of the score that included those memorable songs: 'All I Do is Dream of You'; 'Beautiful Girl'; 'You Are My Lucky Star' 'You Were Meant For Me'; 'Good Morning'; 'Would You'; 'Make 'Em Laugh'; 'Moses'; and, of course, 'Singin' in the Rain' plus 'Broadway Melody' and additional orchestral tracks (separated out on CD2 so that listening pleasure is enhanced). Then there are outtakes and alternative material not used in the film – it is interesting to note, for instance, that Debbie Reynolds's singing voice was dubbed for 'Would You'.
CD2 comprises many of the songs as featured in earlier M-G-M musicals of the late 1920s and '30s. For instance we hear Frances Langford singing 'Broadway Rhythm', and June Knight and Robert Taylor singing 'I've Got a Feelin' You're Foolin'' both songs from Broadway Melody of 1935 with the M-G-M chorus and orchestra conducted by Alfred Newman. Jeanette MacDonald sings 'Would You'; and Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney give their rendition of 'Good Morning'. And Arthur Freed, himself, in a radio broadcast also sings 'Singin' in the Rain'. Eleven of the 46 tracks have never been issue before.
A sumptuous memento of one of Hollywood's greatest classic musicals.
Ian Lace
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