Search - Frank Loesser, Jay Blackton, Hot Box Girls :: Guys and Dolls [Original Music from the Movie Soundtrack]

GUYS & DOLLS unauthorized movie CD from dubious source mater

Joe NY | 01/02/2008

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Beware, this "soundtrack" CD originated in Spain and apparently used a video master for source material as all the selections contain extraneous sound effects and dialog. Almost like playing a DVD and skipping to the musical sequences. Additional selections are taken from the Decca original cast album and Decca's 45 rpm of Brando's and Simmon's soundtrack selections. All the Decca selections are available on the OFFICIAL MCA Broadway cast album. The glossy, but poorly written, color booklet contains many typos: for example TAKE BACK YOUR MINK is listed as TAKE BACK YOUR MIND! When will a legitimate CD be issued for this soundtrack with the original music masters utilized? The selections are generally well edited and there is a nice stereo spread to some of the selections. However, this CD is no more than a second rate knock-off which would be difficult for me to recommended. A big disappointment, but to be expected considering the lack of an official sound track release in 1955. From an owner.



"

Finally Available for the First Time

M. Thom | 03/20/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For the first time since its debut in 1955, the full soundtrack to the movie version of Frank Loesser's "Guys & Dolls" is finally available to own (a previous LP had been released but contained less than half of the music). This disc contains all of the vocal songs and most of the background music included in the film, and is thankfully taken directly from the digitally remastered source materials used for the DVD releases of the movie. Included are the movie-only songs "A Woman in Love," replacing the stage songs "My Time of Day" and "I've Never Been in Love Before"; "Pet me, Poppa," replacing the original song "A Bushel and a Peck" (done at Goldwyn's personal request, according to the commentary tracks on the DVD); and Frank Sinatra's ballad "Adelaide." All of these songs which were replaced, however, are also included on this disc as "bonus tracks" following the "Finale" track for the film. Following in the tradition of Decca's release of the original Broadway Cast recording, certain tracks run slightly longer than the song itself to include dialogue immediately before or after which is relavent to that portion of the story. The audio comes through very clean with virtually no "noise" on the tracks.



The packaging is slightly less appealing, but still not bad. Done in a digipak style, the glossy cardboard sleeve features the famous image of the two couples from the show walking arm in arm on the front, and has the complete track listings with four small pictures and two quotes on the back. When opened up, the inside of the front cover has a collage of images, including two of the movie posters (one American, one Spanish), and the covers of two 45rpm singles which were released for the film. These same images are on the back of the booklet. Due to the digipak style, the booklet is actually inside the front cover. It contains several stills taken from the film, and one picture of Loesser himself (which, unfortunately, does not say where it originated). The uncredited author of the liner notes seems fairly biased against the movie in favor of the stage production, but still offers some intersting and accurate information about the history of "Guys and Dolls" - both the stage production and the movie - as well as a brief biography of Loesser. As long as you can read past the repeated abuse directed toward Brando, Sinatra, and Simmons (not to mention the typo in the title of the song "Take Back Your Mink"), the notes printed in between the lyrics to the songs offer some information about what is transpiring at the point in the movie when the song occurs.



For any fan of the film or the play, I would definitely recommend picking up a copy of this CD. It does have its flaws, which is why I gave it four stars instead of five, but overall is a very nice addition to a collection."

A Wonderful Surprise!

Sandy Shaller | New York | 04/11/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Guys and Dolls" is one of my favorite musicals and boasts an amazing number of songs that are considered 'standards' of the American Musical Theater.



Although the motion picture was not as dazzlingly exciting as many people hoped it would be, considering what a giant hit the stage musical was, it still contains some unique pleasures. It is the only musical that Marlon Brando ever sang in and while he isn't a professional singer, his personality and strong acting highlights all of his numbers. Jean Simmons, who turned out to be a terrific singer, is the other wonderful surprise of the movie. Oddly, Frank Sinatra, surely one of the greatest male popular singers of all time, does not come off as particularly memorable in the role of Sky Masterson. Vivian Blaine, the originator of the role of Miss Adelaide recreates her part in the movie.



Soundtrack albums often suffer in comparison to original cast broadway recordings, because the tracks aren't isolated in the same way as a studio production. All that being said, this is still a wonderful prize for anyone who loves "Guys and Dolls" and remembers the movie fondly.



I've waited a long time for the complete soundtrack to be released and this is a very good recording. The stereo is exceptionally good and I, for one, like the dialogue that accompanies the songs. There is some extraneous background sound in some of the numbers, but for me it just recaptures memories of the movie.



The packaging is very attractive and there is a lush booklet with loads of pictures and all the lyrics of the songs. My next hope is that someone will produce a soundtrack recording of Irving Berlin's "White Christmas." The existing recordings, which often claim to be the soundtrack, are actually compilations of separate recordings made by the various artists who appeared (and some who didn't appear) in the movie.



Thank you for "Guys and Dolls.""