The Original Film Soundtrack of 'Call Me Madam'

[sondheimgeek]

Posted: 6/22/08 at 12:24am

I was recently watching the film, which finally gave Ethel her chance to preserve her difinitive performance, but I realised the film soundtrack hasn't had a complete and full restoration to CD yet. I know it was released on the Halmark label a long time ago, but from what people have told me the sound quality is awful. And the LP is long out of print.

I for one would love to be able to hear this version again. Are there any plans to remaster it in the future?

If anyone has a copy, please PM me.

Updated On: 6/22/08 at 12:24 AM

[monestere]

Posted: 6/22/08 at 4:26am

The soundtrack from "Call Me Madam" showcases Ethel Merman's definitive performances of the Irving Berlin songs and Alfred Newman & Ken Darby outdid themselves with the fantastic orchestrations which are superior to the ones in the stage version. The movie also features wonderful vocals by Donald O'Connor & George Sanders (an excellent singer and actor). The soundtrack master is owned by Decca/MCA Records which is now a division of Universal Music Group, which has released Ethel Merman's inferior studio recordings of songs from Call Me Madam on CD but the soundtrack has been out of print in all formats for 25 years, except for the public domain Hallmark CD which uses a terrible sound source. I am lucky to have a CD which I mastered myself from a pristine reel to reel tape of the original soundtrack recording sessions which is more complete and sounds better than the Decca album, which was originally a 10 inch LP. Universal Music should remaster this soundtrack and release it on CD as it is the best recording ever of Call Me Madam.

Updated On: 6/23/08 at 04:26 AM

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 6/22/08 at 12:07pm

There's much consolation to be had in that Call Me Madam is now on DVD. I used to have the LP of the soundtrack, which actually had more Merman than the finished product -- she does the International Rag in its entirety, whereas in the film, there's only a snippet. The soundtrack of the film was vastly superior to the Decca LP, which had Merman and not much else to offer (granted, having Merman is gift from musical theatre heaven). But, yes, I would LOVE to have the soundtrack released as a CD. I can think of no better way to drive to work listening to Ethel Merman in one of her signature roles (but then, what wasn't?).

[sondheimgeek]

Posted: 6/22/08 at 5:01pm

I was thinking how great it would be to be able to listen to her performance anytime! If anyone has a copy I'd love a PM and maybe we could set something up.

In the meantime, I have heard of the CD from Naxos, but it unfortunantly only includes a few songs from the film. It's more or less a complete recording of the show, but it uses a few different recordings to make it complete.

Monostere, you don't accept PM's.

[TulitaPepsi]

Posted: 6/22/08 at 5:14pm

I'm dumbfounded why a CD has never been released of the numbers, musical tracks and underscorings of CALL ME MADAM. As monestere notes, the Newman/Darby arrangements (fabulously Fox brassy that fits Merman to a 'T') are far superior to those on the OBC. If Turner owned the Fox library (they already own MGM/Warners/RKO), you can bet a CALL ME MADAM soundtrack CD would have been out ages ago.

Equally absurd is the fact that there is no SOUTH PACIFIC complete soundtrack. Robert Russell Bennett never had it so good as when he was augmented by Alfred Newman & Ken Darby. I have a CD of a few of the underscoring tracks, including a 'Bali Haii" that is unsurpassed in sheer aural luciousness.

[sondheimgeek]

Posted: 6/22/08 at 5:16pm

Tulita, do you have the recording of 'Call Me Madam'?

It's a shame it hasn't been released. It really deserves to be.

[TulitaPepsi]

Posted: 6/22/08 at 5:19pm

Nope. Wish I did!

[sondheimgeek]

Posted: 6/22/08 at 5:32pm

Aw.

I'm wondering if the original Decca LP was often printed?

[nmartin]

Posted: 6/22/08 at 5:36pm

I teasured the orinignal soundtrack I had to this. A damn fire got it and ALL my LPs. Hell, it took everything.

[sondheimgeek]

Posted: 6/22/08 at 5:55pm

Oh wow. I'm really sorry. My friend had a house fire and lost everything too, including his most prized possession: a picture of his mother.

[Rusty532]

Posted: 8/19/21 at 7:12am

For years I've been wondering why 20th Century Fox did not do the same for Irving Berlin's CALL ME MADAM soundtrack that it did for another of their Irving Berlin Ethel Merman soundtracks: THERE'S NO BUSINESS LIKE SHOW BUSINESS.  It's incredible that you had access to the original soundtrack recordings.  Will they ever be released to the public?