Track Listing

1. Bel, Book And Candle (Main Title)
2. Pyewacket / Queenie / Gil
3. Send Me Nicky
4. Way Out Calypso
5. Stormy Weather
6. Spell (Shep Hooked)
7. Herb Shop
8. I Wish I Could
9. Shep Shook
10. Where's Pyewacket?
11. Pyewacket Returns
12. L'assassin Ennuye (Vocals By Philippe Clay)
13. Zodiac Serenade
14. Zodiac Blues
15. Only Human (End Title)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #30318 in Music
• Released on: 2006-11-27
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Import, Soundtrack

Album Description
Probably one of the great Hollywood romantic comedies, which starred Kim Novak and Jimmy Stewart. Set in a stylized New York at Christmas time in 1958 George Duning's magical score perfectly matches the action on the screen. Duning was a prolific composer who also contributed scores for TV's Star Trek. Here for the first time, digitally remastered in an extended version, we present Duning's truly sensational soundtrack. Includes superb liner notes and stills from the movie. Harkit. 2004.

Customer Reviews

About Darn Time!
If you love Fifties film and its music, you already know all about the soundtrack album for 1958's "Bell, Book and Candle". It's exactly the "lovely aural feast" described here by another reviewer- but there has long been a catch. Until this Harkit re-release of 2005, this marvelous George Duning score has been available only on used LP records, the most recent releases of which dated back to the 1970s. Used copies were going for a fortune, too. Harkit has cleared all that nonsense up with this sparkling CD release, which possesses the dual virtues of being sonically cleaned up and non-precious; if you damage one copy, you can buy another without going into debt for it.

I cannot say enough good things about this jazz-flavoured score or the way it is performed. While Duning generally composed in a light, popular style ("Moonglow" from 1955's "Picnic" is his work) he obviously had a real love for jazz. Pete and Conte Candoli are heard on this soundtrack, giving it all they had, which was considerable. One criticism of this score that I've heard and read is that it's not "real" jazz. Well, no, it's not- it's more a 1958 moviegoer's IDEA of jazz, and a gentle, knowledgeable, affectionate spoof of it, too. That doesn't make what you hear any less delightful, trust me.

There are a couple of small things that I wish were different on this release, though. For starters, the cover image is of Kim Novak, but it doesn't appear to be an image from "Bell, Book and Candle". It looks to be from another Novak movie, perhaps "Jeanne Eagels"; it's anyone's guess why the original 1959 Colpix Records cover art for the LP release of this material couldn't be reproduced. And the liner notes are positively disrespectful of Ms. Novak, terming her a "somnambulistic" actress of "somewhat limited" range. Ms. Novak's relaxed, engaging performance in "Bell, Book and Candle" is one of the prime reasons that there is still a demand for the film- and Harkit's CD release- forty-nine years after the movie's premiere.

Even with those reservations, I'm giving this one a five, because it has been a long time coming, and its appearance in the marketplace plugs one of the worst holes in Fifties movie music on CD.

A Great Dissapointment
I loved the movie and the music. I read the previous reviews and purchased at great expense this CD.

With apologies to the previous reviewers, I can't belive that we listened to the same CD. Keeping in mind that I am a huge fan, the sound quality on this CD is a great dissapointment. If had bought the CD in a sale bin for $5.00, it would be OK. I expect poor recordings and sound quality. Every now and then you can get lucky. The sound quality of this CD is so bad that my wife walked into the room while I was playing the soundtrack (first time ever) and asked "what is that horrible shrill."

The previous reviewer did however lead me to the Candoli Brothers, which is the reason I like the music in Bell, Book, and Candle to begin with. So, for that reason, I am truely greatful. I have bought the Candoli Brothers' CD "Jazz Horizons". It is a beautiful gem. Buy that CD instead. I did not have $39.00 (plus shipping) to waste.

Thanks for reading.

Poor sound quality
If you love this movie and the music, you have no choice but to buy this disc. The sound quality, however, is dreadful. The strings break up horriby in the upper register and you will actually feel compelled to cover your ears. The sound is glorious on my DVD of the movie and I'm at a loss to understand why the CD transfer is such a disaster. I always look forward to hearing Duning's soaring love theme and I'm always disappointed by this recording. But, buy it anyway because they're not making 'em like this anymore!