Search - Heinz Roemheld, Ray Heindorf :: Yankee Doodle Dandy

FINALLY! A TERRIFIC SOUNDTRACK CD OF THE BELOVED WB CLASSIC.

06/20/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"For years I have been delighted by the incredible series of wonderfully produced soundtracks from Turner Classic Movies and the people at Rhino Records. Their releases just seem to get better and better. From the start, I hoped that they would focus their talents on an album of YANKEE DOODLE DANDY, by gum, they've finally done it.The immortal James Cagney and his portrayal of George M. Cohan are lovingly presented here, in a complete soundtrack that even includes an outtake and some rehearsal tracks! According to the liner notes (which are very well written, by the way), this CD has been assembled from a combination of the best surviving original materials, and the sound is remarkable for recordings that are 60 years old.If you are one of the many who have the old bootleg CD on "Hollywood Soundstage" records, you can happily toss that piece of garbage in the trash can where it belongs. This release is truly glorious, and comes at a time when we cannot have too much patriotism.This album is terrific from start to finish, and highly recommended!"

What a find!!

datadame | TN United States | 06/15/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I haven't been able to see this movie on TV since Turner bought it (don't get TCM), but if you've seen the movie several tims, as I have, listening to this CD is very nearly as good as watching it all the way through. (I'm so delighted with it that I'm even willing to forgive TCM for putting a paper ad inside with the disc.)Monumental effort must have gone into this soundtrack, given the age of the original recordings. The tracks here are crisp, clear, and bright, with no evidence of how long ago they were first put down. The editors were also generous in their inclusion of dialogue that ties some of the tracks together (for example, we hear the man tell Johny Jones to watch for the skyrocket, then we hear the skyrocket as it leads into "Give My Regards to Broadway"). There are a couple of places where the endings are slightly abrupt but this is because, in the movie, the music fades into extended dialogue. The only bit of dialogue I expected to hear in a song, but didn't, is in "Over There" near the very end of the film, when Cagney/Cohan has fallen in step with the soldiers going off to WWII, as they're singing "Over There", when the soldier nearest him says something like, "What's wrong, old timer, don't know the words?" and Cagney says, "Seems to me I do" and starts singing along. That's minor and pales next to how wonderful the rest of this soundtrack is.One of the biggest treats on this CD is that we get to hear some of Cagney's tapping, notably in "Give My Regards to Broadway", "You're a Grand Old Flag", and - one of my favorite moments in movie history - when he dances down the White House stairs to "Yankee Doodle" near the end).The outtake is not a humorous one, simply a track they decided not to use. It and the rehearsal tracks are all just the performers voices with piano accompaniment. I especially enjoyed hearing Cagney rehearsing "You're a Grand Old Flag".If you like Cagney, if you like Cohan's music, if you like movies "the way they used to make them", or if you're not ashamed to get a little choked up with patriotism once in a while, you will not be disappointed in this CD!"

A Soundtrack Every American Should Own

Peter Prainito | 09/23/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Finally! If you own that Hollywood Soundstage abomination of the "Yankee Doodle Dandy" soundtrack you can finally pitch it. Here is the real article. Rhino (Turner Classic Movies Music) lovingly restored the music from the beloved "Yankee Doodle Dandy" motion picture starring James Cagney. This soundtrack sounds astonishing considering it's 60 years old. It's very obvious some loving care was taken in it's production for which we all should be greatful. The liner notes also are great with informative text and wonderful photos from the movie. The marvelous George M. Cohan songs gives one goosebumps and bring tears to the eyes. We all need this type of patriotic pep rally, especially in these tough times. As I've said, this soundtrack belongs in every American's home just as much as that "Grand Old Flag"! I believe there are plans to release the movie on DVD, hopefully soon."