Search - Danny Kaye :: The Maladjusted Jester: On Screen and Radio

SOMETIMES THE FILM SOUNDTRACK IS NOT ENOUGH

Barry McCanna | Normandy, France | 12/14/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"One of the problems with film soundtrack material is that the closer it's married to the screen action the harder it is to divorce one from the other. That is apparent in the earliest tracks on this 2-CD set from Jasmine featuring his screen and radio songs. His verbal pyrotechnics were allied to his facial contortions, and their absence somewhat diminishes the impact. Thereafter, his straight acting and singing ability came more to the fore, particularly in the Frank Loesser score for "Hans Christian Andersen", which is delightful. Ten tracks have been drawn from his radio show, of which nine are accompanied by Harry James, and a further two date from March 1947 when he guested on Bing Crosby's Philco programme. As might be expected, given the sources involved, sound quality is variable, but the set is rounded out by Geoff Milne's liner note and at a tad under £8 this is good value for money."