Search - Glenn Miller & Orchestra :: On Film

The film versions of some of Miller's most famous music

pestcomics | Long Island, New York USA | 08/06/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"So you have seen "Sun Valley Serenade" or "Orchestra Wives" on TV and you want to enjoy the music of the Glenn Miller Orchestra as it was performed in those two films. You go and purchase a collection of Miller's that includes the songs from the movies only to discover that they aren't the exact same versions you had heard in the films. So now what do you do? You get Jasmine's CD "Glenn Miller on Film."



This CD has the actual musical recordings for both 20th Century Fox films. Rather than hearing Ray Eberle do a solo on "At Last" (the popular 1940s single release used on most Miller CDs) from "Orchestra Wives," we hear the much more exciting duet with Pat Friday (who ghost voiced for actress Lynn Bari). For "Serenade in Blue" we again hear the Pat Friday version from the film and not the Ray Eberle solo recording. Incidentally, the version of "Serenade in Blue" here is longer than what we actually hear in the film. Fox only used part of it for the scene in the movie.



Acquiring the Pat Friday versions of the two above mentioned songs was my principal reason for purchasing this CD but there are other interesting gems on the disc. You will get the extended version (7:54) of the Miller band's famous hit "Chattanooga Choo Choo" as it was presented in "Sun Valley Serenade." That same film featured a great version of "I Know Why" performed by Lorraine Elliot (though some suspect Friday also dubbed this one) ghosting for Lynn Bari. "I've Got A Gal in Kalamazoo" was a follow-up to "Chattanooga Choo Choo" but most CDs don't feature the 8 minute extended version included on this CD. Also, Marion Hutton performs the song "That's Sabotage" and cast members from the films, such as John Payne, Sonja Henie, Milton Berle and the Nicholas Brothers, perform on various selections.



Many of the best and most popular songs on the disc were written by 20th Century Fox staff song writers Harry Warren and Mack Gordon specifically for these films. The Glenn Miller Orchestra versions of these songs were big hits in their time but aren't nearly as enjoyable as the versions they recorded for use in the films which are contained here on this disc.



If you have seen the films "Sun Valley Serenade" and "Orchestra Wives" and enjoyed the musical numbers as they were performed on screen then this CD will please you for sure. The sound quality of these 60+ year-old recordings is outstanding. I was quite impressed by how sharp and clear they sounded. Highly recommended."

SunValley Serenade & Orchestra Wives Glenn Miller & his Orc

Clifton E. Belliii | 08/13/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As a child growing up in Georgia, I was esposed to the wonderful sounds of swing music. My dad was a ardent fan of Glenn Miller and his Orchestra, He always told me about the two movies that Glenn and his band appeared in. Sun Valley Serenade (1941) & Orchestra Wives (1942) Because of audio technology in the '40s phonograph recordings and radio airchecks were not that great, However whem Miller and his band went to Hollywood the recordings they made at 20th Century Fox studios were superb for that time because the studio had discovered how to record in FM and early stages of stereo. This album I bought this past Sunday and received it Wednesday. The sound is great.The album is unique becaise you hear,Miller, Sonya Henie,Milton Berle and John Payne singing. The two best tracks are the long versions of Chattanooga Choo Choo with Dorothy Dandridge singing & The Nicholas Brothers tap dancing.and Kalamazoo also with the Nicholas Brothers. The best part about this music is the films have been released on video and Orchestra Wives will soom be on DVD. Hopefully Sun Valley Serenade will be released on DVD too. In both movies you can see the band in action. I highly recommend these two movies and this album. Clifton Bell"

Good to Have But Somewhat Dissapointed

R. Sanford | USA | 04/17/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I have the original record and I was expecting the CD to sound superior . Not even close, the record has a truer sound. Some years back at a Flea Market I was thumbing through records and to my astonishment saw one there. Pulled the record from the sleeve, examined it and didn't see a mark on it, looked brand new. I'm going to hook my stuff up and play it. If it's clean as I suspect it is I'll rip a lossless MP3 and upload it."