Summary
MacDonald in Song (sometimes referred to as Jeanette MacDonald in Song) is a 1939 album by American actress Jeanette MacDonald, released by RCA Victor.
| MacDonald in Song | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1939 | |||
| Recorded | September 11–16, 1939 | |||
| Studio | Hollywood Recording Studio, Los Angeles | |||
| Genre | Popular music | |||
| Label | RCA Victor | |||
| Producer | Giuseppe Bamboschek (conductor) | |||
| Jeanette MacDonald chronology | ||||
| ||||
Background edit
Jeanette MacDonald had appeared in Hollywood musical movies throughout the 1930s and was one of the most popular American artists in the world. She had toured France and England in 1931 and 1933,[1] and would tour the United States in 1939, starting from March.[2] The album was recorded later that year between September 11 and 16 at the Hollywood Recording Studio in Los Angeles with an orchestra, conducted by Giuseppe Bamboschek.[3] Bamboschek performed the piano on four tracks, as well as MacDonald's husband Gene Raymond (whose two tracks were not released).[3]
The album was released with four 10-inch discs.[4]
Track listing edit
Ten songs feature on the track, despite 17 songs being recorded[a] (some were additional takes) during the session.[3]
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "When I Have Sung My Songs" | Ernest Charles | Ernest Charles | 02:13 |
| 2. | "Do Not Go, My Love" | Richard Hageman | Richard Hageman | 03:02 |
| 3. | "Annie Laurie" | Alicia Scott, William Douglas | Alicia Scott | |
| 4. | "Comin' Thro' the Rye (Old Scotch Air)" | Robert Burns | Robert Burns | |
| 5. | "From The Land Of The Sky-Blue Water" | Nelle Richmond Eberhart | Charles Wakefield Cadman | |
| 6. | "Let Me Always Sing" | Gene Raymond | Gene Raymond | |
| 7. | "Ave Maria" | Charles Gounod | Bach | |
| 8. | "Les Filles De Cadiz" | Alfred de Musset | Léo Delibes | |
| 9. | "Il Était Un Roi De Thulé" | Charles Gounod | Charles Gounod | 03:43 |
| 10. | "Air De Bijoux" | Jules Barbier and Michel Carré | Charles Gounod | 04:04 |
Reception edit
MacDonald in Song received mixed reviews: Baltimore's The Evening Sun noted the "[s]loppy diction, a shallow, edgy voice quality and a banal lack of contrast in songs of varying mood[,]" and that "The red-haired soprano's film following will probably find these records pleasantly entertaining, but the regular concert record purchaser will not."[4] D. S. Steinfirst ended his review with "Surprisingly enough, the Faust arias are above the average" after writing "Most of the singing is undistinguished."[5] However, The Evening Sun dubbed "Ave Maria" the best track,[4] which J. D. Callaghan agreed with, adding "although Miss MacDonald also is effective in two arias from the opera Faust."[6]
Notes edit
- ^ Two ("One Kiss" and "Lover, Come Back to Me") were recorded in time for MacDonald's appearance in New Moon.
Citations edit
- ^ Hollywood Diva (1998), p. 350.
- ^ Hollywood Diva (1998), p. 351.
- ^ a b c Hollywood Diva (1998), p. 377.
- ^ a b c "Music On Records". The Evening Sun. Baltimore. March 16, 1940.
- ^ Steinfirst, D. S. (March 6, 1940). "The New Records". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
- ^ Callaghan, J. D. (March 17, 1940). "The Week's Recordings By J. D. Callaghan". Detroit Free Press. p. 10.
Bibliography edit
- Turk, Edward Baron (1998). Hollywood Diva: A Biography of Jeanette MacDonald. Los Angeles: University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-22253-3.
External links edit
- MacDonald in Song by Discogs