Film Albums: Pete's Dragon (1977)

This month's Film Album is the soundtrack from the classic Walt Disney film Pete's Dragon, released in 1977. This family musical was notable for combining an animated Elliott the Dragon into a live-action film and the result was truly lovely and memorable. It was, and still is, a childhood favorite for many. 

Walt Disney's resident songwriting team of Robert and Richard Sherman had long since left the Disney Studios so this picture's songs were composed by Al Kasha and Joel Hirschhorn. This duo is probably best remembered today for penning the songs to two popular Irwin Allen disaster pictures, "The Morning After" from The Poseidon Adventure (1973) and "We May Never Love Like This Again" from The Towering Inferno (1975), both of which earned them Academy Awards for Best Original Song. "Candle on the Water" was the standout song from Pete's Dragon, and this tune earned the team another Best Original Song nomination (Helen Reddy also had a hit with this song as a single recording). 

There's lot of things to like about this album, the best of which is the Irwin Kostal arrangements. This talented man did many many records for Walt Disney and he put his stamp of excellence on every recording he made. You can hear his signature composing style in the "Main Title" overture. 

Ready to listen to Pete's Dragon? Click here to listen to the full album on Youtube. 

Track Listings

Main Title

The Happiest Home in These Hills

Boo Bop Bopbop Bop

I Saw a Dragon!

It's Not Easy

Passamashloddy

Candle on the Water

There's Room for Everyone

Every Little Piece

Brazzle Dazzle Day

Bill of Sale

Candle on the Water (Reprise)

Top Picks: Main Title, It's Not Easy, Passamashloddy, There's Room for Everyone, Brazzle Dazzle Day

Film Albums: Half a Sixpence (1967)

Every October, around Columbus Day, I get the urge to watch two films: Doctor Dolittle and Half a Sixpence, both of which were released in 1967. Some people consider the 1960s a musical revival decade and others consider it the worst decade in musical history.... personally, I think the 1960s had some good productions and this is definitely one of them. You can read our full review of the film here, for this post we will just be sharing what stands out with this score. 

For one thing, you cannot go wrong with any production conducted by Irwin Kostal. This brilliant arranger/conductor is most famous for his work on Mary Poppins (1964) but he also did a splendid job adapting the Sherman Brothers music in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), Bedknobs and Broomsticks (1971) and Charlotte's Web (1971). 

For Half a Sixpence, Kostal had some fantastic music by David Heneker to work with and Tommy Steele, with his unmistakable Cockney accent, performed all of the numbers with his usual lovable zeal. The tunes are all befitting an English turn-of-the-century setting and definitely lean towards the music hall sound. 

Highlights of this album include the titular "Half a Sixpence" with its beautiful instrumental interlude, "She's Too Far Above Me," the lilting "If the Rain's Gotta Fall" performed by Steele (as Artie) and the chorus, and "This is My World." Artie's gal Ann was played by Julia Foster but her singing voice was dubbed by Marti Webb who had played the role in the original 1963 London production. Marti's lovely soprano voice can be heard best in the reprise of "Half a Sixpence" at the end of the album. 

Click here to listen to the full album on Youtube. 

Track Listing


Side One:

"Overture"

"All in the Cause of Economy"

"Half a Sixpence"

"Money to Burn"

"I Don't Believe a Word"

"I'm Not Talking to You"

"A Proper Gentleman"

Side Two:

"If the Rain's Gotta Fall"

"Lady Botting's Boating Regatta Cup Racing Song (The Race)"

"Roses of Success"

"Entr'Acte, Flash, Bang Wallop"

"I Know What I Am"

"This is My World"

"Half a Sixpence - Reprise"

Top Music Picks: Half a Sixpence, She's Too Far Above Me, If the Rain's Gonna Fall, This is My World