MGM Records was a record label founded by the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio in 1946 for the purpose of releasing soundtrack recordings of their musical films. It transitioned into a pop music label that continued into the 1970s. The company also released soundtrack albums of the music for some of their non-musical films as well, and on rare occasions, cast albums of off-Broadway musicals such as The Fantasticks and the 1954 revival of The Threepenny Opera. In one instance, MGM Records released the highly successful soundtrack album of a film made by another studio, Columbia Pictures's Born Free (1966).
"Over the Rainbow", also known as "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", is a ballad by Harold Arlen with lyrics by Yip Harburg. It was written for the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, in which it was sung by actress Judy Garland in her starring role as Dorothy Gale.
That's Entertainment! is a 1974 American compilation film released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to celebrate the studio's 50th anniversary. The success of the retrospective prompted a 1976 sequel, the related 1985 film That's Dancing!, and a third installment in 1994.
Xanadu is the soundtrack to the 1980 musical film of the same name, featuring the Australian singer Olivia Newton-John and the British group Electric Light Orchestra (ELO). It was released in June 1980 on MCA Records in the United States and July 1980 by Jet Records in the United Kingdom. The original LP release featured on side one the songs of Newton-John, and on side two the songs of ELO. In 2008 the soundtrack album was digitally remastered as a bonus CD as part of the film's DVD release titled Xanadu: Magical Musical Edition.
Summer Stock is a 1950 American Technicolor musical film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed by Charles Walters, stars Judy Garland and Gene Kelly, and features Eddie Bracken, Gloria DeHaven, Marjorie Main, and Phil Silvers. Musical numbers were staged by Nick Castle and Kelly.
A Star Is Born is a 1954 American musical tragedy film directed by George Cukor, written by Moss Hart, and starring Judy Garland and James Mason. Hart's screenplay is an adaptation of the original 1937 film, based on the original screenplay by Robert Carson, Dorothy Parker and Alan Campbell, and from the same story by William A. Wellman and Carson, with uncredited input from six additional writers—David O. Selznick, Ben Hecht, Ring Lardner Jr., John Lee Mahin, Budd Schulberg and Adela Rogers St. Johns.
Till the Clouds Roll By is a 1946 American Technicolor musical film produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and a fictionalized biopic of composer Jerome Kern, portrayed by Robert Walker. Kern was involved with the production, but died before its completion. It was the first in a series of MGM biopics about Broadway composers.
"They Say It's Wonderful" is a popular song written by Irving Berlin for the musical Annie Get Your Gun (1946), where it was introduced by Ethel Merman and Ray Middleton. A film version in 1950 again featured the song when it was performed by Howard Keel and Betty Hutton.
The songs from the 1939 musical fantasy film The Wizard of Oz have taken their place among the most famous and instantly recognizable American songs of all time, and the film's principal song, "Over the Rainbow", is perhaps the most famous song ever written for a film. Music and lyrics were by Harold Arlen and E.Y. "Yip" Harburg, who won an Academy Award for Best Song for "Over the Rainbow."
Judy Garland signed her first recording contract at age 13 with Decca Records in late 1935. Garland began recording albums for Capitol Records in the 1950s. Her greatest success, Judy at Carnegie Hall (1961), was listed for 73 weeks on the Billboard 200 chart, was certified Gold, and took home five Grammy Awards.
Lucille Norman was an American mezzo-soprano, radio personality, and stage and film actress active in the 1940s and 1950s.
The original soundtrack to the film Easter Parade was released by MGM Records as a set of four 10-inch 78-rpm shellac records and as a 10-inch 33-rpm long-play. The soundrack featured songs performed by Judy Garland, Fred Astaire, Peter Lawford, Ann Miller and played by the Johnny Green Orchestra.
The original soundtrack to the 1954 film A Star Is Born was released by Columbia Records in late 1954 in four formats: as a set of five 10-inch 78-rpm shellac records, a set of three EPs, as a 10-inch 33-rpm long-play, and as a 12-inch long-play. The latter was Columbia's first "de luxe" LP priced at 6.95 dollars. The soundtrack featured songs performed by Judy Garland.
The original soundtrack to the 1947 film Till the Clouds Roll By was released by MGM Records in the same year as a set of four 10-inch 78-rpm shellac records.
The original soundtrack to the 1948 film The Pirate was released by MGM Records earlier in the same year as a set of three 10-inch 78-rpm shellac records The album contained songs performed by Judy Garland and Gene Kelly.
The original soundtrack to the 1948 film Words and Music was released by MGM Records earlier in the same year in three formats: as a set of four 10-inch 78-rpm shellac records, as a set of four 7-inch 45-rpm EPs and as a 10-inch long-play. The album contained songs performed by Mickey Rooney, June Allyson, Lena Horne, Judy Garland, Betty Garrett, and Ann Sothern.
The original soundtrack to the 1952 film Singin' in the Rain was released by MGM Records in the same year in three formats: as a set of four 10-inch 78-rpm shellac records, as a set of four 7-inch EPs, and as a 10-inch long-play record. It contained songs performed by Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds.
The original soundtrack to the 1951 film An American in Paris was released by MGM Records in three formats: as a set of four 10-inch 78-rpm shellac records, as a set of four 7-inch EPs, and as a 10-inch long-play record. It contained songs sung by Gene Kelly and Georges Guétary and "An American in Paris" ballet music performed by Johnny Green and the MGM Studio Orchestra.
The original soundtrack to the 1951 film Royal Wedding was released by MGM Records in the same year in three formats: as a set of four 10-inch 78-rpm shellac records, a set of fouir 45-rpm EPs, and as a 10-inch 33-rpm LP record.
The original soundtrack to the 1952 film The Belle of New York was released by MGM Records in the same year in several formats including a 10-inch 33-rpm LP record, a set of four 45-rpm EPs, and a set of several 10-inch 78-rpm shellac records.
(10-inch LP) [2]