Although no soundtrack album was issued at the time of the movie (1936), several 78 RPM singles were issued by the stars who sang the songs in the film. The most successful of the three singles released was Frances Langford’s Easy to Love/Swinin’ the Jinx Away (Decca 940). Both sides were recorded with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra.
Easy to Love entered the Billboard chart on November 14, 1936. It was on the chart just one week at #20.
Her other single with the Dorsey band was I’ve Got You Under My Skin/Rap Tap on Wood (Decca 939), also released in 1936. This one failed to chart and has, thus far, eluded our collection.
This photo of Miss Langford appeared in the February, 1936, edition of Radio Mirror magazine:
The third single was another version of I’ve Got You Under My Skin, this time by Virginia Bruce (Brunswick 7765). This version also failed to chart.
In the 1970’s and 80’s, two different companies issued albums of the soundtrack music from the film. The music for the 1936 film, whose working title had been Great Guns, was written by Cole Porter, arranged and orchestrated by Edward Powell (except for Easy to Love, which was arranged by Powell and Leo Arnold). The M-G-M Studio Orchestra is conducted by Alfred Newman.
The track listing is as follows:
Opening Titles
Rolling Home – James Stewart, Buddy Ebsen, Sid Silvers, Foursome Quartet and a male chorus
Rap-Tap on Wood – Eleanor Powell and the Foursome Quartet
Hey, Babe, Hey – James Stewart, Eleanor Powell, Una Merkel, Frances Langford, Sid Silvers, Buddy Ebsen
Love Me, Love My Pekinese – Virginia Bruce and chorus
Easy to Love – Raymond Walburn, Jimmy Stewart, Eleanor Powell
I’ve Got You Under My Skin – Virginia Bruce
Easy to Love – Frances Langford, Buddy Ebsen
Audition Dance – Eleanor Powell
Swingin’ the Jinx Away – Frances Langford, Eleanor Powell and ensemble
Easy to Love: Finale – James Stewart, Buddy Ebsen, The Foursome Quartet
The second album release came in 1984 from the Sandy Hook label (S.H. 2088):
The track listing is somewhat different than the C.I. F. release:
Overture/Rolling Home – James Stewart, Buddy Ebsen, Sid Silvers, The Foursome Quartet
Rap-Tap On Wood – Eleanor Powell, The Foursome Quartet
Hey Babe, Hey – James Stewart, Eleanor Powell, Una Merkel, Frances Langford, Sid Silvers, Buddy Ebsen/Entrance of Lucy James – Male Chorus
Love Me, Love My Pekinese – Virginia Bruce
Easy to Love – Raymond Walburn, James Stewart, Eleanor Powell
I’ve Got You Under My Skin – Orchestra Conducted by Alfred Newman
I’ve Got You Under My Skin (Reprise) – Virginia Bruce
Easy to Love – Frances Langford, Bubby Ebsen
Love Me, Love My Pekinese – Eleanor Powell (tap-dance)
Swingin’ the Jinx Away – Frances Langford, Buddy Ebsen
Swingin’ the Jinx Away (Reprise) – Eleanor Powell/Easy to Love (Reprise) – James Stewart, Buddy Ebsen, The Foursome Quartet
In 2003, the sound track was first issued on CD (Rhino Handmade RHM2). This was the first “official” release of the soundtrack and was issued in cooperation with Turner Classic Movies Music.
The CD credits are:
Produced for release by George Feltenstein
Project Supervisor: Patrick Milligan
Mastering and Engineering by Doug Schwartz, Mulholland Music
Archival transfer of 35mm optical masters: Chace Productions
Art direction by Bryan Lasley & Lori Carfora
Design by Rachel Gutek
Liner notes by George Feltenstein
Photographs courtesy of Turner Entertainment Co. and George Feltenstein
Project Assistance: Steven Woolard & Steven Chean
Special thanks to Woolsey Ackerman, Rebecca Bodmer, Nick Corsello, Bob Heiber, Sherry LeGare, Roger Mayer, Andrew Starbin, Richard Steele
All songs arranged and orchestrated by Edward Powell (except Easy to Love which was arranged and orchestrated by Edward Powell and Leo Arnaud)
The tracks are:
Main Title (Swingin’ the Jinx Away/Easy to Love) – M-G-M Studio Orchestra (Recorded October 23, 1936)
Rolling Home – James Stewart, Sid Silvers, Buddy Ebsen & Co. (Recorded July 10, 1936)
Easy To Love – M-G-M Studio Orchestra (Recorded October 23, 1936)
Rap Tap On Wood (Extended Version) – Marjorie Lane (for Eleanor Powell), Eleanor Powell (taps) & the M-G-M Studio Chorus (Recorded June 25, 1936)(Stereo)
Medley: Easy to Love/Hey, Babe, Hey! – M-G-M Studio Orchestra (Recorded October 23, 1936)
Hey, Babe, Hey! – James Stewart, Sid Silvers, Buddy Ebsen, Frances Langford, Marjorie Lane (for Eleanor Powell), Una Merkel & Co. (Recorded July 5, 1936)
Entrance of Lucy James – Guy Kibbee, Virginia Bruce & the M-G-M Studio Chorus (Recorded July 15, 1936)
Love Me, Love My Pekinese – Virgina Bruce & the M-G-M Studio Chorus (Recorded July 15, 1936)
Love Me, Love My Pekinese/Easy to Love – M-G-M Studio Orchestra (Recorded November 11, 1936)
Easy to Love – James Stewart & Marjorie Lane (for Eleanor Powell) (Recorded September 15 & 17, 1936) (Stereo)
I’ve Got You Under My Skin – M-G-M Studio Orchestra (Recorded November 11, 1936)
I’ve Got You Under My Skin – Virginia Bruce (Recorded August 2, 1936)
Easy to Love (Reprise) – Frances Langford (Recorded July 27, 1936)
Swingin’ the Jinx Away – Frances Langford, Buddy Ebsen & the M-G-M Chorus (Recorded September 1, 3 & 4, 1936) (Stereo)
Easy to Love (Finale) – James Stewart & Marjorie Lane (for Eleanor Powell) (Recorded September 15, 1936)
I’ve Got You Under My Skin (Unused Version) – Frances Langford (Recorded August 2, 1936)
I’ve Got You Under My Skin (Unused Version) – Frances Langford (Recorded June 12, 1936)
Easy to Love (Unused “Censored” Version) – James Stewart & Marjorie Lane (for Eleanor Powell) (Recorded June 12, 1936)
You’ll notice that, for the first time, it is said that Eleanor Powell did not sing in the film. Instead her vocals were by Marjorie Lane, who received no credit at the time.
The liner notes for the CD mention that except for Swingin’ the Jinx Away and Easy to Love (the stereo version by Stewart and Marjorie Lane), all tracks are previously unreleased. This would seem to verify that the Classic International Film and Sandy Hook releases, in fact, unauthorized releases.
