The Music Man (1962 Film Soundtrack)

Preston turns in an absolutely perfect performance, made all the more amazing by the fact he was a movie actor who played villains who really could not sing or dance. Although he had some assistance with the story from Franklin Lacey, the credit for "The Music Man" goes to Meredith Wilson who did the book, music and lyrics. This is a score that features not only the last great marching band song of the century in "Seventy-Six Trombones," but what is arguably the first "rap" song in the rhythmic "Rock Island" that opens the show. For his songs Wilson makes use of piano scales ("Piano Lesson" and "Goodnight My Someone") and barbershop quartets ("Sincere" and "Lida Rose"), but the most memorable numbers are those he gives his fast-talking salesman ("Ya Got Trouble" and "Seventy-Six Trombones." This original cast album features Barbara Cook as Marion the Librarian, a singer who certainly should have done a lot more on Broadway than just this one staring role. Just listen to her sing "My White Knight," "Will I Ever Tell You?" and especially "Till There Was You" (the only Broadway song ever recorded by the Beatles). I prefer the Movie Soundtrack to the Original Broadway Cast album, not only because I like Shirley Jones' voice over Barbara Cook's (that is quibbling between an A+ and an A), but because the tempo is slightly up on several numbers. Besides, I think Preston's performance is just that much better on this one as well. But of course, there is not real reason not to have both albums in your collection.