The Sound of Music (soundtrack)

Last updated
The Sound of Music
The-Sound-of-Music-CD.jpg
Soundtrack album by
ReleasedMarch 2, 1965
Genre Show tunes
Length44:28
Label RCA Victor
Producer Neely Plumb

The soundtrack of the film The Sound of Music , music and lyrics by Rodgers and Hammerstein, was released in 1965 by RCA Victor and is one of the most successful soundtrack albums in history, having sold more than 20 million copies worldwide. [1] [2] The soundtrack has been issued in German, Italian, Spanish and French. [3]

Contents

The soundtrack spent two weeks in the number one position on the Billboard 200 in 1965 and remained in the top ten for 109 weeks, from May 1, 1965 to July 16, 1967, the most of any soundtrack in the chart's history. [3] It remained on the Billboard 200 for a total of 238 weeks. [4] In 2015, Billboard named the original soundtrack album the second-best charting album of all time. [5] [6] It was the best-selling album in the United Kingdom in 1965, 1966 and 1968 and the second-best-selling of the decade, spending a total of 70 weeks at number one on the UK Albums Chart. [7] The album also stayed for 73 weeks on the Norwegian charts, and as of December 2017 it is the tenth-best-charting album of all time in that country. [8]

RCA first reissued the soundtrack album on compact disc in 1985; the album has been reissued several times subsequently, including anniversary editions in 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015, and in 2023 as a 5-disc Super Deluxe Edition. [3] These CD editions incorporate musical material from the film that would not fit on the original LP, with the 2023 release presenting the score in its entirety and including 40 unreleased tracks, such as alternate takes and other material removed from the final film version. [3] [9]

Three songs from the original Broadway production, "An Ordinary Couple", "How Can Love Survive?", and "No Way to Stop It" were replaced, in the film, with two new songs, "I Have Confidence" and "Something Good". For the original Broadway show, the music was written by Richard Rodgers with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II; both the lyrics and music for the new songs were written by Rodgers, as Hammerstein died in 1960. [10] All songs were arranged and conducted for the soundtrack by Irwin Kostal. [10]

In 2018, the soundtrack was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant". [11]

Reception

The Sound of Music soundtrack sold 500,000 copies in its first two weeks in the United States. Elsewhere, the album achieved large sales in the UK, Japan, Canada and Australia, becoming one of the best selling records of the 1960s. [12] It became the first album to sell over 10,000 units in Finland. [13] The record peaked at number one in Australia, the UK and the US.[ citation needed ]

Track list

External audio
The-Sound-of-Music-CD.jpg
Nuvola apps arts.svg Listen on Archive.org

All music written by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and arranged and conducted by Irwin Kostal. Track lengths are per the liner notes to the original US release.

Side one
No.TitlePerformer(s)Length
1."Prelude" / "The Sound of Music" Julie Andrews 2:33
2."Overture and Preludium"Orchestra and Nuns Chorus3:12
3."Morning Hymn and Alleluia"Nuns Chorus2:00
4."Maria"Nuns Chorus3:15
5."I Have Confidence"Andrews3:21
6."Sixteen Going on Seventeen" Daniel Truhitte and Charmian Carr 3:13
7."My Favorite Things"Andrews2:16
8."Climb Ev'ry Mountain" Peggy Wood 2:13
Total length:22:03
Side two
No.TitlePerformer(s)Length
1."The Lonely Goatherd"Andrews and the Children3:08
2."The Sound of Music (Reprise)"The Children and Bill Lee 2:09
3."Do-Re-Mi"Andrews and the Children5:30
4."Something Good"Andrews and Lee3:15
5."Processional and Maria (Reprise)"Organ, Orchestra and Nuns Chorus2:25
6."Edelweiss"Lee, Andrews, the Children and Chorus1:48
7."So Long, Farewell"The Children2:52
8."Climb Ev'ry Mountain (Reprise)"Chorus and Orchestra1:18
Total length:22:25

Charts

Certifications and sales

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Argentina40,000 [28]
Australia (ARIA) [29] Gold 
Canada (Music Canada) [30] 5× Platinum1,000,000 [31]
Finland11,000 [32]
Israel45,000 [33]
Netherlands50,000 [34]
New Zealand100,000 [35]
Norway (IFPI Norway) [36] Gold50,000 [36]
South Africa (RISA) [37] Gold200,000 [38]
United Kingdom (BPI) [39] 8× Platinum2,438,695 [40]
United States (RIAA) [41] Gold6,887,311 [42] [43]
Summaries
Worldwide20,000,000 [1]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California Dreamin'</span> Single by the Mamas & the Paperwork

"California Dreamin'" is a song written by John Phillips and Michelle Phillips in 1963 and first recorded by Barry McGuire. The best-known version is by the Mamas & the Papas, who sang backup on the original version and released it as a single in December 1965. The lyrics express the narrator's longing for the warmth of Los Angeles during a cold winter in New York City. It is recorded in the key of C-sharp minor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bob Dylan discography</span> Catalogue of published recordings by Bob Dylan

American singer-songwriter Bob Dylan has released 40 studio albums, 102 singles, 24 notable extended plays, 61 music videos, 16 live albums, 17 volumes comprising The Bootleg Series, 31 compilation albums, 25 box sets, seven soundtracks as main contributor, seventeen music home videos and two non-music home videos. Dylan has been the subject of eleven documentaries, starred in three theatrical films, appeared in an additional thirty-six films, documentaries and home videos, and is the subject of the semi-biographical tribute film I'm Not There. He has written and published lyrics, artwork and memoirs in 11 books and three of his songs have been made into children's books. He has done numerous collaborations, appearances and tribute albums. The albums Planet Waves and Before the Flood were initially released on Asylum Records; reissues of those two and all others were on Columbia Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Can't Hurry Love</span> 1966 single by the Supremes

"You Can't Hurry Love" is a 1966 song originally recorded by the Supremes on the Motown label. It was released on July 25, 1966 as the second single from their studio album The Supremes A' Go-Go (1966).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">You Keep Me Hangin' On</span> 1966 single by the Supremes

"You Keep Me Hangin' On" is a song written and composed by Holland–Dozier–Holland. It was first recorded in 1966 by American Motown group the Supremes, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100. American rock band Vanilla Fudge released a cover version in June the following year, which reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100. Wilson Pickett recorded it in 1969. English singer Kim Wilde covered "You Keep Me Hangin' On" in 1986, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in June 1987. In the first 32 years of the Billboard Hot 100 rock era, "You Keep Me Hangin' On" became one of the six songs to reach number one by two different musical acts. In 1996, American country singer Reba McEntire's version reached number two on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. The BBC ranked the Supremes' original song at number 78 on The Top 100 Digital Motown Chart, which ranks Motown releases by their all-time UK downloads and streams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I'm a Believer</span> Neil Diamond song made famous by the Monkees

"I'm a Believer" is a song written by Neil Diamond and recorded by American band the Monkees in 1966 with the lead vocals by Micky Dolenz. The single, produced by Jeff Barry, hit the number-one spot on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart for the week ending December 31, 1966, and remained there for seven weeks becoming the last number-one hit of 1966 and the biggest-selling single for all of 1967. Billboard ranked the record as the number-five song for 1967. While originally published by Screen Gems-Columbia Music (BMI), it is now published by Stonebridge Music/EMI Foray Music (SESAC), with administration passed to Sony Music Publishing and Universal Music Publishing Group.

"No Other Love" is a show tune from the 1953 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Me and Juliet.

<i>Romeos Daughter</i> (album) 1988 studio album by Romeos Daughter

Romeo's Daughter is the eponymous debut album from the UK hard rock band Romeo's Daughter. It was released in 1988 by Jive Records, and was produced by Robert John "Mutt" Lange and John Parr.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Why (Carly Simon song)</span> 1982 single by Carly Simon

"Why" is a song written by Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards and performed by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon. Recorded for the film Soup for One in 1982, the film was a commercial flop but the soundtrack album was a success. One of many film-inspired singles by Simon, the song became a top 10 hit in the UK, and was successful throughout Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Upside Down (Diana Ross song)</span> 1980 single by Diana Ross

"Upside Down" is a song written and produced by Chic members Nile Rodgers and Bernard Edwards. It was recorded by American singer Diana Ross and issued on June 18, 1980 from Motown as the lead single from her eleventh studio album, Diana (1980). The song hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on September 6, 1980 and stayed there for four weeks. It also hit number one on the Billboard Disco and Soul charts. The single was released a full four weeks after the album was released.

<i>Bless Its Pointed Little Head</i> 1969 live album by Jefferson Airplane

Bless Its Pointed Little Head is a live album by Jefferson Airplane recorded at both the Fillmore East and West in the fall of 1968 and released in 1969 as RCA Victor LSP-4133.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Beach Boys discography</span> Cataloging of published recordings by The Beach Boys

The Beach Boys are an American rock band formed in Hawthorne, California, in 1961. Their discography from 1961 to 1984 was originally released on the vinyl format, with the 1985 album The Beach Boys being the group's first CD release. The Beach Boys' catalogue has been released on reel-to-reel, 8-track, cassette, CD, MiniDisc, digital downloads, and various streaming services.

<i>People</i> (Barbra Streisand album) 1964 studio album by Barbra Streisand

People is Barbra Streisand's fourth solo studio album, released in September 1964. The title track was a newly recorded version of the hit song from the Broadway musical Funny Girl in which Streisand starred.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shame (Evelyn "Champagne" King song)</span> 1977 single by Evelyn "Champagne" King

"Shame" is a 1977 single recorded by American singer Evelyn "Champagne" King, written by John H. Fitch Jr. and Reuben Cross, and released by RCA Records. It was released by RCA Records as part of King's debut album, Smooth Talk. The extended remix was produced for the twelve-inch vinyl single and would later replace the album version of the song in late-1970s reprints of the album. "Shame" was successful on Billboard music charts and would become one of King's signature songs, though it varied on international music charts. The song was covered by Zhané for the 1994 film A Low Down Dirty Shame and Kim Wilde in 1996.

<i>South Pacific</i> (1958 film) 1958 film by Joshua Logan

South Pacific is a 1958 American romantic musical film based on the 1949 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical South Pacific, which in turn is loosely based on James A. Michener's 1947 short-story collection Tales of the South Pacific. The film, directed by Joshua Logan, stars Rossano Brazzi, Mitzi Gaynor, John Kerr and Ray Walston in the leading roles with Juanita Hall as Bloody Mary, the part that she had played in the original stage production. The film was nominated for three Academy Awards, winning the Academy Award for Best Sound for Fred Hynes. It is set in 1943, during World War II, on an island in the South Pacific.

"My Favorite Things" is a song from the 1959 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The Sound of Music.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elvis Presley albums discography</span>

The albums discography of Elvis Presley began in 1956 with the release of his debut album, Elvis Presley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elvis Presley singles discography</span>

The singles discography of Elvis Presley began in 1954 with the release of his first commercial single, "That's All Right". Following his regional success with Sun Records, Presley was signed to RCA Victor on November 20, 1955. Presley's first single with RCA, "Heartbreak Hotel", was a worldwide hit, reaching the No. 1 position in four countries and the top 10 in many other countries. Other hit singles from the 1950s include "Don't Be Cruel", "Hound Dog", "Love Me Tender", "Too Much", "All Shook Up", "(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear", "Jailhouse Rock", "Don't", "Hard Headed Woman" and "A Big Hunk o' Love". On March 24, 1958, Presley entered the United States Army at Memphis, Tennessee, and was stationed in Germany. He left active duty on March 5, 1960.

<i>South Pacific</i> (soundtrack) 1958 soundtrack album by Various artists

The Original Soundtrack to the film South Pacific was released by RCA Victor in 1958. The film was based on the 1949 musical South Pacific by Rodgers and Hammerstein. The composers had much say in this recording, with many of the songs performed by accomplished singers rather than the actors in the film. Mitzi Gaynor and Ray Walston were the only two leading performers who did their own singing in the film. The roles of Emile DeBecque, Bloody Mary and Joe Cable were sung by Giorgio Tozzi, Muriel Smith and Bill Lee, respectively.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?</span> 1966 single by the Lovin Spoonful

"Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind?" is a song written by John Sebastian and first released by his band the Lovin' Spoonful on their 1965 debut album Do You Believe in Magic. It was the second single released from the album and the most successful, reaching number 2 on the American Billboard charts for the week of June 11, 1966. It also reached number 2 in Canada. In New Zealand, the song charted at number 5.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It Keeps You Runnin'</span> 1976 song by the Doobie Brothers

"It Keeps You Runnin'" is a song by the American rock band The Doobie Brothers. The song was written by band member Michael McDonald, and served as the third single from their sixth studio album Takin' It to the Streets (1976). It was also covered by Carly Simon the same year and released as the lead single from her sixth studio album Another Passenger.

References

  1. 1 2 Eyman, Scott. "The Hills Are Alive With the Sound of Money", The Wall Street Journal , February 27, 2015, accessed December 30, 2017
  2. Hischak, p. 44
  3. 1 2 3 4 Caulfield, Keith. "The Sound of Music Soundtrack Due for Deluxe Expanded Reissue", Billboard, September 27, 2023
  4. "Soundtrack". Billboard .
  5. Caulfield, Keith (November 12, 2015). "200 Albums & Artists of All Time: Adele's '21' & The Beatles Are Tops". Billboard. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  6. Serjeant, Jill (November 13, 2015). "Adele's '21' deemed Billboard's greatest album of all time". Reuters . Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  7. Atkinson, Emma (September 19, 2016). "Why fans are still singing along to the Sound of Music". BBC News . Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  8. "VG-lista – Best of All Time: Albums". Hung Medien. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  9. "The Sound of Music Original Motion Picture Soundtrack: Releases", Allmusic.com, accessed December 6, 2023
  10. 1 2 The Sound of Music (40th Anniversary Edition) (CD booklet). RCA Victor/Legacy. 2005. 82876746342.
  11. "National Recording Registry Reaches 500". Library of Congress. March 21, 2018. Retrieved March 21, 2018.
  12. Moore-Gilbert, Bart (2003). Cultural Revolution?. Taylor & Francis. p. 191. ISBN   9781134898985 . Retrieved August 9, 2023.
  13. "From the Music Capitals of the World". Billboard. September 8, 1973. p. 50. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  14. Kent, David (2005). Australian Chart Book (1940–1969) . Turramurra, NSW: Australian Chart Book. ISBN   0-646-44439-5.
  15. "Top Albums/CDs – Volume 6, No. 21" (PHP). RPM . January 21, 1967. Retrieved December 29, 2017.
  16. "Dutchcharts.nl – Soundtrack / Julie Andrews – The Sound of Music" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  17. "Norwegiancharts.com – Soundtrack / Julie Andrews – The Sound of Music". Hung Medien.
  18. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company.
  19. "Soundtrack Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  20. Mawer, Sharon. "Album Chart History: 1965". Official UK Charts Company. Archived from the original on 17 December 2007.
  21. "Year End Charts - Year-end Albums - The Billboard 200: 1965". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Archived from the original on December 11, 2007. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
  22. Mawer, Sharon. "Album Chart History: 1966". Official UK Charts Company. Archived from the original on 17 December 2007.
  23. "Year End Charts - Year-end Albums - The Billboard 200: 1966". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Archived from the original on December 11, 2007. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
  24. Mawer, Sharon. "Album Chart History: 1967". Official UK Charts Company. Archived from the original on 17 December 2007.
  25. "Year End Charts - Year-end Albums - The Billboard 200: 1967". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. Archived from the original on December 11, 2007. Retrieved May 13, 2011.
  26. Mawer, Sharon. "Album Chart History: 1968". Official UK Charts Company. Archived from the original on 17 December 2007.
  27. 1 2 Mawer, Sharon. "Album Chart History: 1969". Official UK Charts Company. Archived from the original on 17 December 2007.
  28. "Cash box - Argentina" (PDF). Cash Box . July 9, 1966. p. 63. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  29. "The Sound Of Music" (PDF). Billboard. 26 November 1966. p. 43. Retrieved 16 March 2020 via American Radio History.
  30. "Canadian album certifications – Various Artists – The Sound of Music". Music Canada.
  31. Farrell, David (April 22, 1978). "Million Unit Goal Approached By 3" (PDF). Billboard . p. 79. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  32. "From the Music Capitals of the World - Helsinki" (PDF). Billboard . December 13, 1969. p. 74. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  33. Freedland, Nat (December 13, 1969). "Veteran Israeli Record Man Bids For International Mart" (PDF). Billboard . p. 4. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  34. "From the Music Capitals of the World - Amsterdam". Billboard . November 26, 1966. p. 34. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  35. "Gold All Over" (PDF). Cash Box . September 17, 1966. p. 67. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  36. 1 2 "From The Music Capitols of the World - Oslo" (PDF). Billboard. September 30, 1967. p. 62. Retrieved March 16, 2020 via American Radio History.
  37. "Another "Sound" Triumph" (PDF). Cash Box. October 22, 1966. p. 115 via American Radio History.
  38. Goldstuck, Arthur (July 2, 1966). "So. Africa - The Past Twelve Months" (PDF). Cash Box . p. 348. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  39. "British album certifications – Original Soundtrack – The Sound of Music". British Phonographic Industry.
  40. Harris, Bill (November 17, 2006). "Queen rules – in album sales". Jam! . Archived from the original on June 29, 2012. Retrieved July 19, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  41. "American album certifications – Soundtrack – The Sound of Music". Recording Industry Association of America.
  42. "RCA Freshens Up 'Sound Of Music' For Pic Revival" (PDF). Cash Box . March 24, 1973. p. 9. Retrieved March 16, 2020. Based on having sold more than six million copies of the album in this country alone...
  43. "Soundscan data week 01 2013". Docstoc. January 3, 2013. Archived from the original on May 29, 2014. Retrieved May 28, 2014.

Sources