The Sound of Music

by

Various Artists and Julie Andrews

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I was impressed with the sound and soundtrack order of the previous 30th Anniversary edition, which so improved the original CD issue. This new double 35th Anniversary edition puts most of the icing on the cake. It does make a lot of corrections, but does not completely fill a few minor voids. There are millions of people who have seen this movie soooooo many times on the screen, TV, wore out a couple of vinyl copies, etc. We know this soundtrack backwards, forwards, in our sleep, and even the macho-est of men I've heard humming My Favorite Things. This CD adds the missing original issues that were heard with the on-screen film, and only previously available via Laser Disc, or on Fox Cassette if you bought that version of the re-release on video. I have this tape, and have compared Disc 2 to it. Disc 1 is still the soundtrack that was issued for the 30th. Disc 2 uses most of the tracks from the tape and laser version. Per my tape, this new disc has omitted the DO-RE-MI REPRISE during the Folk Festival (what I affectionately call the "TEA WITH JAM & BREAD MIX"), plus some instrumental music. It is nice to have what they added. However, what is also missing is the Grand Finale to Act 1 of the film and just prior when the Baroness is looking for the Captain after she has left Maria in her room. When she is searching for the Captain before going into the Grand Ballroom and meets up with Max, the background music is playing a waltzy version of the omitted HOW CAN LOVE SURVIVE, that was in the stage show. After her conversation, she finds the Captain and the Edelweiss waltz plays while Maria sneaks away to that grand orchestral finish of Act 1. I would assume that in the future, probably on the 50th Anniversary, there will be a complete soundtrack issued including all these other missing gems. I could have probably lived without the Richard Rodgers interview added, but this could have been added as a bonus disc for initial release, then removed later leaving all the music to tell the story. Regardless of these detailed flaws, this is still a very priceless collection of 97% of all the soundtrack. From the first time I heard it in the theatre in 1967, Irwin Kostal's conducting and the final result has stayed with me all these years. It is truly magical, can put you in a good mood and will always remain a stand-out part of our film history. I highly recommend this issue.

Irwin Kostal's Academy Award winning orchestrations here are vivid and lush, but lack the intimate quality of the 1959 Broadway score. The film also omits two songs, "How Can Love Survive?" and "No Way To Stop It," which gave the Broadway Show a much more biting, political edge. And this RCA 30th Anniversary Soundtrack is still much too brief with 16 tracks. The Gold CD, which came with a laser-disc edition of the movie, has 29 tracks and runs about 75 minutes. Still, there's absolutely no denying the endearing (and enduring) appeal of Julie Andrews as Maria Von Trapp. Her performances of the title song and "I Have Confidence" are superb. It is the effortless efforvesence of Julie Andrews that makes this Soundtrack a Cherished Classic for All Time!