Barbra Streisand Michael Crawford - Hello Dolly Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (13 tracks) +Album Reviews

One of the Greatest Movies of the Late 60's

Pope | Wisconsin, United States | 01/10/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Hello Dolly is one of my favorite films. It's one of those movies that I have seen time and time again and never tire of watching. The score is beautifully sung by all involved (yes, even Michael Crawford with his nasal, but pleasant, singing voice). Streisand steals the show as Dolly, of course. And no, she does not seem too young for the role ... The film would be at a loss without her beautiful, flawless singing voice. I also have the Carol Channing 1964 original cast album. Sorry to say it, die-hard-Carol-Channing-fans, but I have a hard time visualizing her as Dolly in the film (although she is great on the album). Her voice is unique and charming, but the score is really better done by someone who can sing!I have to hold back from giving 5 stars, though, due to the sound quality of the disc and incompleteness of this recording. The sound quality on several parts of the disc has much to be desired. The sound is somewhat distorted and tinny during the louder sequences. The disc is also incomplete. While the music contained herein would have been quite sufficient for the limited playing time of vinyl records, an effort should be made to expand the CD to include additional material. Missing from the disc are the "Call on Dolly" chants which open the film, the wonderful OVERTURE, additional material in DANCING and BEFORE THE PARADE PASSES BY, the entire Waiters' Dance in the Harmonia Garden sequence, as well as the chase music which closes that sequence. Wasn't there Exit Music too? There is also a lot of underscoring that accompanies the Harmonia sequence that we would like to see released. Perhaps 20th Century-Fox will put out a RESTORED and EXPANDED soundtrack album when this film comes out on DVD (whenever that happens; hopefully soon!).Even with its FEW flaws, I highly recommend this soundtrack. And see the movie if you get a chance, too. The VHS is out of print and not yet released on DVD. It airs on the Fox Movie Channel from time to time. Oh to see this spectacle in the movie house, in W I D E S C R E E N and 6 track STEREO! When it comes out on DVD I'll be the first in line to get a copy!"

Great Songs, Great Singing, OK Sound

Pope | 05/16/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I was so glad when this was released on CD. It's such a great musical and such a treat to hear Streisand singing the part of Dolly. I was disappointed in the sound quality and the missing songs from the score. Where's the wonderful overture and the clever arrangements for "Call on Dolly?" This soundtrack deserves a re-release!"

Yadayadayada! Barbra, Barbra, Barbra!

James W. Mccully | Wake Forest, NC United States | 10/03/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Yadayadayada, yes Barbra was too young for the part, but!!!!she has a great voice. Listen to Before the Parade Passes By and listen to that long note that she holds forever at the end. Yes, Carol Channing was a better Dolly as a character and old enough for the part and she probably should have played Dolly in the movie. I have seen Carol Channing in the play and she was fantastic!!!! However, she is not a singer. She is however, noted for her voice. People including myself do imitations of her all the time. Maybe they could have had Barbra's singing voice and Carol in the role. Maybe not. Anyway, the world would be at a loss with Barbra's great singing voice. Love the song It Only Takes a Moment and yes part of the verses are missing and Michael Crawford then wasn't much of a singer, but the song itself makes me cry. The words and music are beautiful. And we'll recall when time runs out...that it only took a moment to be loved a whole life long. Crawford was a character actor and his voice wasn't trained then!!!!That's a big then, but he was right for the part.Ribbons Down My Back is also a tearjerker... The words making me recall how lovely love can be... and so I will proudly wear...ribbons down my back.Dancing and Put on Your Sunday Clothes, We've Got Elegance wonderful tunes. This is one of Jerry Herman's best scores. Yes the play/movie is silly. Someone said that. It's supposed to be. It's light musical comedy for heaven's sake. So if you want to hear great music sung well by Barbra, buy this cd. I sure wouldn't buy Carol Channing's version for listening pleasure. I would buy a video of Carol if that ever came available and I'm sure there must be a video somewhere.As far as listening to something over and over, get this one!"

Hello Gorgeous! and age has nothing to do with it

Robert Brazelll | Seattle, WA area | 07/17/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What is all the hull-a-baloo about Barbara being to young for Mrs. Dolly Levi. In the hebrew culture a yenta starting training at a very early age. Not only was she perfect for the part, being jewish herself, her very charisma and knowledge of how a Jewish "Matchmaker" operates made her not only believeable, but perfect. While I did enjoy Carol Channing in the part, you can only take the slurring of words so long and the nasal vocal ability of Ms. Channing just couldn't carry the show. The sound track is great if only to bring back the visual memories of the movie and to return you to a time when big hotels and grand parades were what made memories, a far cry from drive by shootings and the burning of the flag today. I would love to see her re-make this movie today as Mrs. Dolly Levi, and then wait to see what kind of excuses the critics could come up with 30 years later!"

Barbra miscast...but still fabulous!

Byron Kolln | the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood | 11/27/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Although the film version of HELLO DOLLY proved to be a creative misstep, the soundtrack album features Miss Barbra Streisand in top vocal form. While she now readily admits to being hopelessly-miscast as the matchmaking Dolly Gallagher Levi, her performance still carries the film (and it's soundtrack). It's great to have Barbra "back where she belongs", singing these classic numbers.

HELLO DOLLY opened on Broadway in 1964 starring Carol Channing (ironically in the same season, Barbra opened in "Funny Girl"). Reviews were ecstatic, and DOLLY went on to run for several years, including a special all-black cast headed by Pearl Bailey and Cab Calloway. In 1969, the film version was released, and given the huge success of the stage production, Twentieth Century-Fox expected the same sort of response from movie audiences. With Barbra Streisand, the most popular, talked-about musical star of the period; and the rousing melodies of Jerry Herman, how did it fail? The miscasting of Streisand was the main problem (people just could not buy her as a middle-aged widow), but the zero chemistry between Streisand and Walter Matthau, playing Dolly's curmudgeonly love interest Horace Vandergelder, was also a key factor (and clearly there was no love lost between the pair). The sad truth was that movie musicals were beginning to fall out of fashion with moviegoers.

Happily, the soundtrack album glitters with Jerry Herman's rousing score, filled to the brim with his trademark brand of showtune magic. Barbra gets things off to a rattling start in "Just Leave Everything to Me" (a brand-new song that replaces "I Put My Hand In" from the stage score), and later belts the showstopper "Put on Your Sunday Clothes". She also gets another brand-new song, "Love is Only Love" (a delicate, bittersweet ballad about romance the second time around, originally intended for the stage score of "Mame"). Dolly's tunestack also features the hilarious 11 o'clocker "So Long Dearie" and the reaffirming "Before the Parade Passes By"; not to mention the iconic Title Song, which Streisand shares with a cameo appearance from Louis Armstrong.

A very young Michael Crawford plays the nervous counter clerk Cornelius Hackl; ably-partnered by the glowing (albeit dubbed) Mrs Molloy of Marianne McAndrew. Their duet of "It Only Takes a Moment" is sheer bliss. Danny Lockin (reprising his Broadway role of Barnaby Tucker) and E.J. Peaker as the flirty Minnie Faye provide the comical younger romantic couple.

The original master tapes have a lush and warm tone to them; and the remastering is excellent. For fans of Barbra, this soundtrack album captures her at the very apex of her superstardom, performing a role that she may not have been entirely-suitable for, but nevertheless offering a capable and fun-loving performance.

[Philips/Polygram 810 368-2]"

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