Intrada Soundtrack Forum

One of my favorite early 70s movie musicals, the soundtrack for the film only ever made it to vinyl.

The film was cut significantly prior to its initial theatrical release in 1972, and the original vinyl album reflects these cuts. The major cuts made were the removal of "Lees of Old Virginia (Reprise)", the whole middle section of "Piddle Twiddle", and the entire number of "Cool, Cool Considerate Men". The album also did not include "Compliments" which remained in the actual film. However, since its initial release, this almost thought to be "lost" footage was rediscovered and placed back into the film, restoring the piece to its (almost) original length. I'd love to see all of these recordings remastered, including the additional underscoring that was written for the film (as well as the overture and intermission music from the Laserdisc), and put out on a new "complete" CD release of this album.


I should also note there is a Broadway cast recording from 1969 which did receive a CD release in the 90s, and which does feature primarily the same cast as the Columbia Pictures film. However, a significant factor of the two different recordings is that Howard Da Silva (who plays the role of Ben Franklin in the film, as well as also having originated the role on Broadway) is not heard on the original Broadway album but is instead covered by Rex Everhart due to Da Silva being ill at the time of the recording of the album. The film also follows the original score fairly closely, with the exception of some additional underscoring written to support extended periods of dialogue inserted into songs. This helps to provide a nearly complete recording of the score with the original cast members, which otherwise might be lost from all of the cuts in the music that are present on the original cast album (all of the reprises, and "Compliments" are not featured on the OBCR).