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 Songs to Remember Feb 20, 2009
It was so nice to find this ensamble of beautiful songs a vivid document to remember.
5 of 7 found the following review helpful:
At last - a release worthy of a classic "Kate" Jul 17, 2005
The wizards at Rhino have put us once again in their debt for this re-release of the soundtrack to MGM's Kiss Me Kate. For anyone who loves the Broadway musical and its Hollywood incarnation, this recording is an essential part of any collection.
Musical lovers have historically been very poorly served by the "original cast" and "soundtrack" recordings. What should have been glorious mementos of the theatrical (or cinematic) experience have often turned out to be savagely butchered and indifferently reproduced shadows of what could have been. With the extended playing time of CDs and the efforts of enthusiasts who (at last) recognise the treasures lying in the studio vaults, many musicals are being re-released in greatly improved sound and including previously unreleased orchestral underscoring and extended performances.
Kiss Me Kate receives a rip-roaring outing here (listen to Wunderbar, Tom Dick or Harry or Where is the Life That Late I Led. A somewhat mangled score (if you're a Broadway purist)...but what performances! It is a dream team with everyone at their finest - Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel, the MGM Orchestra not missing a beat under André Previn. And those orchestrations! Conrad Salinger and his colleagues were surely the unsung geniuses of the MGM musical sound.
This is a joy to listen to and we must be grateful to the efforts of everyone who made it possible, assembled as it has been from fast-deteriorating scraps of recordings criminally neglected in the MGM archives. Listen to this and then feast your ears on other recordings in the series. I recommend Gigi, Show Boat, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers, Meet Me in St Louis, Hit The Deck and Kismet for starters.
The sound is, of course, variable and not up to the technical standards of today. But, bearing in mind the vintage, it is always good, often miraculous, and far, far better than it has ever sounded before. In fact, it is just right...just how an MGM musical should sound. It is also as complete as it is ever going to get.
Now come on Rhino - what about working the same miracles with High Society, Bells Are Ringing and Goodbye Mr Chips?
Why only a 4 out of 5 star rating? Simple; because we've had to wait so long!
5 of 5 found the following review helpful:
DEFINITELY THE BEST Jun 05, 2004
I wholeheartedly agree with every comment already posted. This recording is astonishing in its completeness. The audio quality is as superb as already mentioned. I agree that Howard Keel gives a definitive performance, and that Kathryn Grayson is heard to best advantage. Ann Miller is beyond compare in her bravura performance. The spirit of the MGM studio orchestra is also heard at the top of its game. I was lucky to see a 3D screening of this movie around 1979 or 1980. It was well worth it then, and this recording captures everything about the film that anyone could ever want.
22 of 22 found the following review helpful:
Fabulous STEREO recording of classic Cole Porter score Jan 07, 2003
The MGM film version of Cole Porter's KISS ME KATE was released in 1953. It was filmed in 3D but was not widely released in that format as it required special projection equipment and required the audience to wear eye-straining glasses. It was successful both in the 3D version, as well as the conventional "flat" version that was more widely released. It was also one of the very first films released in stereo. The cast included some of the greatest musical talents in Hollywood at the time: Howard Keel, Kathryn Grayson, and Ann Miller. All are in top vocal form. This soundtrack unquestionably surpasses any other recordings of the score, although the two original cast recordings come close. All tracks are taken directly from the original recording session masters and have been remixed for stereo (the original soundtrack album of 1953 contained only a handful of songs - compared to this - and was heard only in monaural). Not only are all cuts from the original vinyl release included here (you wouldn't expect the CD to not include them, would you?), but a HUGE amount of instrumental underscoring and additional material is here as well. The sound quality (in glorious STEREO) is fabulous. The BEST recording of the score, hands down. I also recommend, though, the 1959 stereo recording with the original cast. Fabulous. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
10 of 11 found the following review helpful:
A tour de force Feb 25, 2001
Although I tend to prefer Broadway to film scores, this is a notable exception. Howard Keel is a one man tour de force, dashing off number after number with machismo, panache, and wit, Ann Miller is splendid, and even Kathryn Grayson is much better than her usual cloying self. Porter's lyrics are the stuff of genius (how many people in the history of the world could have written Brush Up Your Shakespeare?), the melodies are uplifting and catchy, the plot is hysterical, but above all this is Howard Keel's show, perhaps his greatest performance along with Showboat.
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