Track Listing

1. Hooray for Hollywood - Johnny Scat Davis, Benny Goodman & His Orchestra, Gene Krupa, Frances Langford, Dick Powell
2. We're in the Money (The Gold Diggers Song) - Ginger Rogers, Warner Bros. Orchestra
3. Night and Day - Fred Astaire, RKO Radio Studio Orchestra
4. Donkey Serenade [#] - Allan Jones, MGM Studio Orchestra
5. Jeepers Creepers - Louis Armstrong, Warner Bros. Orchestra
6. I Only Have Eyes for You - Ruby Keeler, Dick Powell, Warner Bros. Orchestra
7. Begin the Beguine [#] - Cab Calloway & His Orchestra
8. I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues [#] - Cab Calloway & His Orchestra
9. You Must Have Been a Beautiful Baby [#] - Dick Powell, Warner Bros. Orchestra
10. Temptation - Bing Crosby, MGM Studio Orchestra
11. Cheek to Cheek - Fred Astaire, RKO Radio Studio Orchestra
12. Easy to Love [Alternate Version] - Marjorie Lane, MGM Studio Orchestra, James Stewart, James Stewart
13. San Francisco [#] - MGM Studio Orchestra, Jeanette MacDonald
14. Let's Face the Music and Dance - Fred Astaire, RKO Radio Studio Orchestra
15. Over the Rainbow - Judy Garland, MGM Studio Orchestra
16. Lullaby of Broadway - Dick Powell, Winifred Shaw, Warner Bros. Orchestra

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #99106 in Music
• Released on: 1997-10-28
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Dimensions: .22 pounds

Customer Reviews

solid single CD compilation, although not truly complete
Hollywood's Best: The Thirties - '30s - Motion Picture Soundtrack Anthology isn't the most complete single CD compilation; and that's a disappointment. However, what is on this album is first rate material; and that redeems this CD quite a bit. The quality of the sound is excellent and the artwork is very well done.

The CD begins with an extended version of "Hooray For Hollywood;" this was always a song I liked and it makes a terrific beginning for this album. You practically hear half of Hollywood performing--there's Powell, Frances Langford, Johnny 'Scat' Davis, Gene Krupa--and even Benny Goodman And His Orchestra! "Hooray For Hollywood" is a stunning number. Listen also for a very young Ginger Rogers to sing an energetic version of "We're In The Money" with a fine chorus to bolster her performance. Ginger really throws herself into "We're In The Money" and it shows when you hear her sing this classic song.

Fred Astaire sings "Night And Day;" this Cole Porter tune sounds sweet when Fred sings it so well; and the music that accompanies him fits in perfectly. The strings are used to great advantage; and Fred never skips a beat! Terrific! Louis Armstrong himself also does a fantastic job on "Jeepers Creepers." "Jeepers Creepers" is a fun tune and when Louis Armstrong sings it this number takes off like a jet!

"I Only Have Eyes For You" gets the royal treatment and this ode to Ruby Keeler works well. The orchestration is grand and the few lines that the actors speak are all very well done. Similarly "Begin The Beguine" by Artie Shaw And His Orchestra sounds fresh and new when I hear it on this album; Artie Shaw and his peers should could swing! There's another great song sung by Fred Astaire as he sings "Cheek To Cheek." What a great song. In addition, listen for Jeanette MacDonald to sing a divine version of "San Francisco." Jeannette never sounded better; and her voice is as clear as a bell. AS you may suspect, "San Francisco" comes from the movie of the same name.

Fred Astaire returns yet again to do a flawless interpretation of "Let's Face The Music And Dance." "Let's Face The Music And Dance" has excellent orchestration and Fred sings this without a superfluous note. I'm very impressed. The CD also offers us a recording by a very young Judy Garland as she sings her signature song, "Over The Rainbow." Judy's voice sounds more beautiful than any other voice I've ever heard; and she certainly deserved the fame she enjoyed for so long.

Overall, Hollywood's Best: The Thirties - '30s - Motion Picture Soundtrack Anthology is a rather good single CD compilation--but it's not complete by any means. I give this four stars instead of three mainly because what's on this CD is excellent. I highly recommend this album for classic movie buffs.

Excellent, Fun Music!
They don't make 'em like this anymore! Every song on here is an instant classic. The music has an infectious sense of fun, which may be surprising considering the *depressing* times in which it was written. I especially liked "Cheek to Cheek," "We're In the Money," and "The Donkey Serenade." This one really reminds you why Hollywood used to be called the Dream Factory.

Simply the best '30 highlight I have ever heard
I am a great collectionist of 78 rpm, disks and cd about this period and i think that it' s one of the most fascinated collection of Artists and Actors of this period at this moment. Thanks Hollywood!!