No soundtrack album has been officially released for this 1940 film, but selections can be heard on releases. The first release was on the 1974 album, Sunset Boulevard – The Classic Film Scores of Franz Waxman.
There also was a 4-page booklet inserted into each album jacket. This booklet included a photo from The Philadelphia Story and comments about Waxman’s score:
There were at least four separate releases of the album that year – RCA Red Seal ARL 1-0708, RCA Gold Seal AGL 1-3783 and, as quadraphonic sound was then popular, it was also issued in that format as RCA Red Seal ARD1-0708.
If you’ve really got to have everything for your collection, it was also issued on 8-track tape (RCA Red Seal ARS1-0708).
It was also eventually issued on CD with the same basic cover as the LP (RCA 6708-2).
Finally, in 2011, a digital version of the album, along with a new CD in different packaging, became available (RCA 781265).
All of these releases feature the same track – The Philadelphia Story (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Fanfare; Main Title; The True Love). The track was played by the National Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Charles Gerhardt.
In 1997, a recording made for the film on September 30, 1940, was issued on the CD Composed By: Classic Film Themes from Hollywood’s Masters (Rhino Movie Music R272847).
The CD booklet has a photo of Stewart with actress Ruth Hussey and director George Cukor:
When you removed the CD from its hub, a collage was exposed. This collage included a poster for The Philadelphia Story.
The track included was The Philadelphia Story (Florian/Opening Scene):
As a bonus for Stewart fans, the CD also included How the West was Won, Main Title.
In 2000, the 2-CD set, Lion’s Roar: Classic M-G-M Film Scores 1935-1965, was released (Rhino Movie Music R2 75701).
This CD is much more readily identified by the cover of its booklet, which is usually shown in place of the actual CD cover.
One photo of Stewart, with his co-star Katharine Hepburn, appears in the booklet.
The track included is The Philadelphia Story – Main Title/Tracy in Love:
Like the previous CD, this one also includes the Main Theme from How the West was Won.
