When Strategic Air Command, starring Jimmy Stewart and June Allyson, was released in 1955, there was no accompanying Victor Young soundtrack issued. There were, however, several versions of The World is Mine (Love Theme from Strategic Air Command) released, including one by the Victor Young. Although snippets of this song are heard throughout the film, the entire version does not appear.
Young’s version was reviewed in Billboard magazine on May 21, 1955:
Unlike the Young version, the other two featured vocals, with the lyrics being added by Stanley Adams.
The first of these versions to be reviewed in Billboard was by Percy Faith and his Orchestra featuring Val Valente. It was reviewed in the April 23, 1955, issue:
The second vocal version was by Leroy Holmes and his Orchestra featuring the voice of Mary Mayo.
It was reviewed in the May 7, 1955, issue of Billboard:
Sheet music for this song was also available and it featured Stewart and Allyson on its cover:
Another song, The Air Force Takes Command, with lyrics added to Young’s music by Ned Washington and Major C.E. Thompson, Jr., appears to have been popular also, but no recorded release has been located. The full song appears in the soundtrack of the film as the Prelude and the shorter portion of it as End Title. Sheet music for this title was issued.
In the Billboard magazine of April 30, 1955, this song was listed in a section titled “Tunes with Greatest Radio-TV Audiences.” Billboard’s own explanation of this special chart was, “Tunes, listed alphabetically, have the greatest audiences on network station programs in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles. Lists are based on John G. Peatman’s copyrighted Audience Coverage Index.” The Air Force Takes Command appears in the television section of this chart.
Finally in 2012, a proper soundtrack was issued on CD by Kritzerland (KR 20022-7).
The tracks included were:
Prelude (Lyrics: Ned Washington/C.E. Thompson, Jr.)
Sally’s Surprise
S.A.C. Security
Air Force Luxury
The First Flight (Parts 1 & 2)
The First Flight (Part 4)
Who’s On Third
Ill Fated Flight (Parts 1 & 2)/An Arctic Rescue
Babies and B-47’s
Radar Bombing Run (Parts 1 & 2)
Signs of Trouble
Dutch’s Decision/Marital Rift
Destination Japan/In Flight Refueling
A Paralyzed Pilot (Part 1)
A Paralyzed Pilot (Part 2)
End Title
There also were several bonus tracks, including:
Prelude (without vocal)
Housewarming Piano
Air Force March
Sky Symphony
End Title (without vocal)
According to the liner notes, several songs from the soundtrack were too damaged to be included on the CD. These would include The First Flight (Part 3) and Transplanting an Airfield.
To read more about this release and listen to clips of the music, visit the Kritzerland website:
