The soundtrack album for the film, How the West Was Won, was issued at the same time as the movie in 1963 on the MGM label (1SE5 [stereo]/1E5 [mono]).
The original U.S. soundtrack album was issued in a special, fold-out cover. Unless otherwise noted, all songs are by the MGM Studio Orchestra.
Side 1:
1. Overture (a) I’m Bound for the Promised Land; b) Shenandoah – Ken Darby Singers; c) Endless Prairie (Alfred Newman-Ken Darby) – Ken Darby Singers; d) The Ox Driver (Dave Guard-Cyrus Faryar-Judy Henske-David Wheat) – Dave Guard & the Whiskeyhill Singers; e) I’m Bound for the Promised Land
2. Main Title “How the West Was Won” (Alfred Newman-Ken Darby)
3. Bereavement and Fulfillment (Alfred Newman-Ken Darby)
4. The River Pirates (Alfred Newman)
5. Home in the Meadow (Sammy Cahn, adapted by Robert E. Dolan; conducted by Robert Armbruster) – Debbie Reynolds
6. Cleve and the Mule (Alfred Newman)
7. Raise a Ruckus (Adapted by Johnny Mercer-Robert Dolan; conducted by Robert Dolan) – Debbie Reynolds & the Ken Darby Singers
8. Come Share My Life (Ken Darby)
9. The Marriage Proposal (Greensleeves)(Adapted by Alfred Newman)
Side 2:
10. Entr’acte (a) Home in the Meadow (Sammy Cahn, Adapted by Robert E. Dolan) – The Ken Darby Singers; b) 900 Miles – Dave Guard & the Whiskeyhill Singers and the Ken Darby Singers; c) On the Banks of the Sacramento – The Ken Darby Singers; d) When Johnny Comes Marching Home & I’m Bound for the Promised Land – Ken Darby Singers; e) Battle Hymn of the Republic – The Ken Darby Singers)
11. Cheyennes (Alfred Newman)
12. He’s Linus’ Boy (Alfred Newman) – The Ken Darby Singers
13. Climb a Higher Hill – (Alfred Newman)
14. What Was Your Name In the States? (Adapted by Johnny Mercer and Robert E. Dolan; Conducted by Robert Dolan) – Debbie Reynolds
15. No Goodbye (Alfred Newman)
16. Finale – How the West Was Won (Alfred Newman-Ken Darby) – The Ken Darby Singers
The February 23, 1963, edition of Billboard made the album a “Pop Spotlight.”
The album entered the Billboard chart on April 20, 1963. It was on the chart for 84 weeks, peaking at #4.
The main title theme from the album was awarded the Western Heritage Award as 1963’s top musical composition in the western idiom (Billboard, December 28, 1963). The Western Heritage Awards are presented each year by the National Cowboy Hall of Fame.
From the original album, here’s The River Pirates.
A reel-to-reel tape of the soundtrack (MGM ST 4201) was also released.
This also charted, entering the Billboard Best Selling Pre-Recorded Tape chart on February 8, 1964, and spent four nonconsecutive weeks on the chart. It peaked at #6 on February 29, 1964.
So well-liked and successful was the film and soundtrack that several other albums were issued at the same time to capitalize on that popularity.
United Artists UAL 3283 (mono)/UAS 6283 (stereo)(1963) – Music from the Motion Picture How the West Was Won
All music is performed by the Hollywood Sound Stage Orchestra. A short note on the back of the album says “Cover photograph through the courtesy of JAMES STEWART.” Included on the album are:
How the West Was Won
A Home in the Meadow
When Johnny Comes Marching Home
Come Share My Life
Cleve and the Mule
Wait for the Wagon
No Goodbye
I’m Bound for the Promised Land
Battle Hymn of the Republic Glory, Glory Hallelujah
Endless Prairie
Here’s Wait for the Wagon from this album.
Colpix CP-452 (mono)/SCP-452 (stereo)(1963) – Burgess Meredith Sings the Songs from How the West Was Won
If you’re looking for something different in the way of things to listen to from this film, this album should certainly fit the bill. Meredith sings:
How the West Was Won
A Home in the Meadow
What Is Your Name in the States?
Shenandoah
Song of the Mouth Organ
Wait for the Wagon
Endless Prairie
Lure of the Little Voices
No Goodbye
Nine Hundred Miles from Home
Come Share My Life
Raise a Ruckus Tonight
Here’s Meredith doing Nine Hundred Miles from Home.
Epic LN-24058 (mono)/BN-26058 (stereo)(1963) – How the West Was Won and Other Songs of Early America by The Voices Eleven
The songs included on this album are:
A Home in the Meadow
No Goodbye
The Erie Canal
Shenandoah
Come Share My Life
Raise a Ruckus Tonight
What Was Your Name in the States
Endless Prairie
Civil War Medley: When Johnny Comes Marching Home/Tenting on the Old Camp Ground
Lorena
A Thousand Miles
How the West Was Won
From the album, here’s Endless Prairie.
