Reviews

That this album is great. I have a copy of this Disney album, I kinda got this album for a Christmas present before. I love this album. One of my favorite songs in this album are the Wonderful Things About Tiggers, because I love Tigger, he's a cat with good sense of humor. I also like Pink Elephants On Parade, that the pink elephants are hilarious and they're from Dumbo, after all I love the disney film Dumbo. This album is great, I kinda like all the songs in this album except for Part of Your World and Best of Friends.

My students love singing to the music during the last couple of weeks of school. They didn't realize they knew some many of the disney songs.

What can you say about Disney? We listen to all 3 volumes (I know there are tons of Disney compilations out there, but these are the orignals) in the car and my daughter changes her favorite every week. The ones from the rides are especially fun, and some of them are quite old, but still great!

My family loves listening to this CD. We have numerous Disney music CD's and we listen to them constantly in the car. I would defintely recommend this to any Disney fan.

The songs on this cd are a bit more "adult" than on the others. I really enjoy, but the kids don't really ask for this one.

Reviews

"When Monica Mancini set out to record this retrospective of songs from films, she clearly had her passions in order. Monica comes by her affinity for the medium honestly, having grown up in a house permeated with some of the best film music in history, from the pen of her incredibly prolific father, Henry. So it is no surprise that this collection has all the artistry, pathos, and musicality that it so deserves." ~ Dave Grusin, Liner Notes - 2002 ~ Dave Grusin, an expert arranger, conductor, pianist, film scorer himself has described this album so perfectly. The choice of material in this CD is impeccable with Monica Mancini's graceful interpretations and not to mention the flawlessly beautiful arrangements by Torrie Zito, John Calandrelli, Michael Lang, Patrick Williams, George Doering, Ray Ellis, Harvey Cohen and John Frizzell. There are twelve theme songs from various remarkable films in this recording and most of the tracks were backed up by an orchestra with the exception of a few. The theme song from the movie "Summer of '42" penned by the creative husband-and-wife-team of Alan & Marilyn Bergman and composer Michel Legrand "The Summer Knows" is one of my top choices from this collection. Splendidly arranged by Michael Lang and Harvey Cohen on string section, she renders this timeless song so true to its essence and making it the most beautiful version, bar none! Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "Alfie" (from the movie of the same title), is a moving song accompanied only by the sublime piano playing of Michael Lang. She has an exquisitely beautiful voice, the kind that still shines without the trimmings and backing up of an orchestra, (the kind that still glows even on A Cappella singing). Another affecting song and a favorite of mine is "Too Late Now," a Burton Lane and Alan Jay Lerner treasure and theme from the movie "Royal Wedding." The orchestral arrangement was done by Torrie Zito, a fine pianist/arranger/conductor who worked briefly with the legendary musical icon, Frank Sinatra. I loved the way he injected a classical touch on his arrangement, almost sounding like one of Claude Debussy's masterpieces. I would say that this is one of the best tracks. Ditto with another Torrie Zito arrangement, Johnny Mandel and Paul Webster's "The Shadow of Your Smile" from the movie "The Sandpiper." Ms. Mancini gave these classics the retire-the-trophy-treatments and made them her very own. The lovely opener, Ennio Morricone and Gregg Field's "Cinema Paradiso," arranged by Jorge Calandrelli, is also one of the standouts. Another beauty is "I'll Never Say Goodbye" from the movie "The Promise" with piano accompaniment by Michael Lang. The finale "Over The Rainbow" from "The Wizard of Oz" is simply divine with orchestral arrangement by Ray Ellis. This recording produced by Ms. Mancini's musician husband, Gregg Field, truly showed off not only the singer's vocal artistry, but her classy and elegant style of singing. Thank you Ms. Mancini for your wonderful gift of music. Music to enjoy forever!

My favorite song of all time is "The Shadow of Your Smile" from the movie "The Sandpiper". Until now, the 2 best versions of it were by Barbra Streisand and Tony Bennett. By FAR, this is THE best version of that song. Pure, without "vocal gymnastics", screaming, yelping or other artificial "stylings".. here it is sung as it was written, perfectly performed with beautiful orchestration. The rest of the album is no less miraculous. It is stunning. "A Day in the Life of a Fool", "Cinema Paradiso" and the haunting and tender "Theme from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" are just as lavish and well-crafted. Okay Monica, now could you release one album a year instead of one album every 3 years? Pleeeeassee??

Seeing Monica Mancini on stage singing the theme from Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, hearing Gregg Field's drums, seeing the multi-media film clip behind her... is like having chocolate and creme! Monica does not belt you to death, she does not yell at you, she does not punch notes into your being... she soothes you to her, lures you, with a voice that has been hidden for years.Her voice is perfect in pitch, tone, and her ability to hit every single note as if she were born to sing. Clearly having inherited talent from her mom Ginny and her dad Henry.On this cd I love the way she embraces other composers songs..."Baby Mine" just one of them. I about melted when she sang that song. She has a great sense of humor on stage, is spontaneous, and is herself.She has a great secure personality and stage persona and she has the family roots to give you a chill in your bones when she shares them with you in stories and song.Hearing her sing live is like being home!

I sample A LOT of jazz vocalists (for some reason most contemporary jazz vocalists seem to be female) but initially dismissed Monica Mancici because she's the child of a famous father. Henry was very classy and as accomplished as musicians get, and such qualities rarely get passed down the line. What a mistake. I only heard her Mercer album because it was -- thankfully -- being played in a store I was visiting. I bought it, loved it, and was primed for this collection. A solid Five Stars. There's new stuff here (for me) and old songs done splendidly. Over The Rainbow, aside from its original iconic take by "Judy," has been covered hundreds of times. And Monica's take? Quite simply as good as any. With this release I've recognized what I love about Monica's voice: Aside from being simply perfect technically, her voice glows like a crackling fireplace! I mourned the recent passing of Rosemary Clooney, and now feel that there's a relatively new vocalist who I can follow for many years. Live or recorded, I'll be there ...

Sorry, but I don't worry about the nuts and bolts of every particular detail of an album. I play what I enjoy and Monica's albums bring me that enjoyment. Cinema Paradiso has rarely left my CD Player. I'm only sorry she appears not to have a web page. Where someone like Michael Jackson or Dixie Chicks are all over the Internet, virtually no information is available concerning Monica Mancini. It's impossible to find a concert schedule. I hope she produces another album soon, I've worn out her others.

Reviews

This is a Disney original soundtrack restoration from the 1941 movie original sources by Disney soundtrack restoration producer Randy Thornton. He has taken music recorded in the 1940's, reconstructed it,and de-noised it. Back in 1941 Oliver Wallace was a very talented in-house studio musician and composer with Disney Studios for many years and he wrote the underscore (background music) for Dumbo. In fact there is a demo of a song included on this CD that was not used afterall in the movie, but has been been included here as a bonus and Ollie Wallace himself is the performing musician on the track. Two other 1941 Disney Studio music department staff composers, Frank Churchill and Ned Washington, wrote most of the lyrical songs for the movie. Churchill and Wallace earned an Academy Award for Best Scoring of a Musical Picture, and the song "Baby Mine" was nominated for Best Song. This is the wonderful ballad that is played while mother animals throughout the circus bed down for the nights and cuddle their babies, while poor Dumbo and his mom have to make contact through iron bars. There is a great 15 page booklet included with song lyrics, great liner notes, and terrific artwork from the movie. All total the CD lists 17 tracks and 40 minutes of music. Overall a gem of Disney history, high quality, and very enjoyable to listen to. These restoration Cd's from Disney are a great deal being very affordable. I strongly reccommend.

Oliver Wallace defined the sound of Disney animated features. He began by orchestrating "Snow White" and "Pinocchio," then going on to shine on his own writing the scores of "Bambi," "Dumbo," "Cinderella," "Alice in Wonderland," and "Peter Pan," not to mention countless shorts, featurettes, and live action Disney projects. His ability to create individual character themes and their many variations and combinations, in my opinion, approaches qualities of Beethoven. Not enough is known about Oliver Wallace (even the liner notes tend to slight him). His work on "Dumbo" is truly magnificent.

No other Disney soundtrack comes close to the style and swing of Dumbo. The songs on this album are more memorable and colorful than the songs on other Disney film albums, especially more contemporary ones. Maybe it's the 1940's era the music conveys that strikes home. (More contemporary Disney themes all seem to blend into each other and combine into a sort of beige hum) There's a subtle jazz influence on Dumbo, as if the writers and composers were challenging the more mainstream movie tracks of the time--no billowy orchestral or stark private eye sounds on this one. The bounce and playfulness of the tunes "Look out for Mister Stork" and "Casey Junior" are offset by the genuine (not saccharine) sadness of "Baby Mine" and "Dumbo's Sadness." Then there are the hallucinations of "Pink Elephants on Parade," a medly which falls in its own category of sophisticated weirdness--part march, part snake-charming tune. This is a Disney Soundtrack with an actual EDGE.

Reviews

Sometimes it is hard to find the family classics - these guys ROCK!! Dumbo arrived at the earliest date and in great condition - the Tradition continues!!

I gave this to my wife as a gift, due to having a new baby. Its a great gift and great for kids. Oh yea pink Elephants can make you crazy, if your not sober.

thank you for sending it so quickly. it got here just in time for Christmas.

A wonderful time capsule of imagination and fantasy for young and older viewers alike. My granddaughter loves it. I wish the DVD had the case with the art work, because it only came in a clear case. Pink elephants on parade and the crows with Dumbo and the "magic feather" are priceless.

The Bottom Line: A very short (~60 minutes) animated film by Disney that lacks the scope and ambition of the studio's more accomplished efforts, Dumbo isn't bad per se but it's a rather unimpressive story that will appeal more to children than their more-discerning parents. 2.5/4

Reviews

Sometimes it is hard to find the family classics - these guys ROCK!! Dumbo arrived at the earliest date and in great condition - the Tradition continues!!

I gave this to my wife as a gift, due to having a new baby. Its a great gift and great for kids. Oh yea pink Elephants can make you crazy, if your not sober.

thank you for sending it so quickly. it got here just in time for Christmas.

A wonderful time capsule of imagination and fantasy for young and older viewers alike. My granddaughter loves it. I wish the DVD had the case with the art work, because it only came in a clear case. Pink elephants on parade and the crows with Dumbo and the "magic feather" are priceless.

The Bottom Line: A very short (~60 minutes) animated film by Disney that lacks the scope and ambition of the studio's more accomplished efforts, Dumbo isn't bad per se but it's a rather unimpressive story that will appeal more to children than their more-discerning parents. 2.5/4

Reviews

Everytime I watch this video it reminds me of when I stood watching all the excitement of the parade...just a marvelous show!!!

I have seen the parade in person and have the music, but what I wanted was a video version to pull out and use to re-live fond memories. Unfortunately, I have never received my purchase. I don't know what kind of review to write. Have a nice day.