The original Rodgers/Hammerstein score was composed at the height of their powers and still holds up after 60-plus years. The 1962 remake retains the best tunes and adds several new ones by Rodgers, all first class Additionally it reintroduces the inimitable voice of Alice Faye.
May 15, 2007While it's nice to have both soundtracks on one CD the 1945 version doesn't have all the music included on a bonus cassette packaged with the 1994 VHS version. That tape included underscoring and a deleted song by Dick Haymes & Vivian Blaine "We Will Be Together." The 1962 version is missing the movie version of "It's A Grand Night for Singing" due to deterioration of the original soundtrack recording. Why they didn't just license the missing tracks from Dot Records (they put the original LP out) is a mystery. "It's A Grand Night for Singing" from the movie is available but it's on the pricey Ann-Margret Bear Family Records boxset.
June 17, 2005really good to listen to. good soundtrack to a good movie (at least the 1945 version)
July 1, 2004I concur with most of the reviews that combining these two classic musicals is a great idea. But how can you issue a soundtrack without the main song written by Rodgers & Hammerstein for any *STATE FAIR* -- "It's a Grand Night for Singing"? This is in reference to the 1962 movie soundtrack. On my original soundtrack album, this number was sung by Pat Boone, Bobby Darin, Anita Gordon and Chorus. It is not on this "remastered" CD. How could anyone purposely delete it? Is it because it was included in the 1945 soundtrack and someone did not want to repeat it twice? The "BONUS" vocal/rehearsal tracks of this song certainly do not make up for this major goof. I feel cheated and truly wanted to get rid of my 1962 vinyl but now find I can't. All because someone saw fit to delete the one song that epitomizes this show!
February 4, 2004 |  | great recording for collectors |  |
This lovely - and long-overdue - reissue packages together the soundtracks to the 1945 and 1962 versions of STATE FAIR, the made-for-movies musical by Rodgers and Hammerstein.
Both soundtracks have never appeared on CD before, and the original sound masters for the 1962 set have never been found, so this is indeed a fantastic recording for R&H enthusiasts and collectors alike.
The 1945 set memorably stars Dick Haymes and Vivian Blaine (the original Miss Adelaide in GUYS AND DOLLS), Jeanne Crain (with a voice dubbed by Louanne Hogan) and Dana Andrews. Given the lack of singing experience from Crain and Andrews, the bulk of songs were handed to Haymes and Blaine. Blaine sings a confident and knowing "That's For Me" while Haymes sings a lovely "Isn't it Kinda Fun?". Louanne Hogan sings a lovely "It Might as Well Be Spring".
The rarely-seen (or heard) 1962 version starred Pat Boone, Ann-Margret, Pamela Tiffin (with a singing voice dubbed by Anita Gordon) and Bobby Darin, with support from Alice Faye and Tom Ewell. Anita Gordon's "It Might as Well Be Spring" is quite the same as Hogan's, while the souped-up "Isn't it Kinda Fun?" is belted by Ann-Margret for all its worth. Alice Faye sings a new number "Never Say No to a Man" while Bobby Darin croons a new ballad "This isn't Heaven".
Highly-recommended. January 23, 2003
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