Carousel (film) - Soundtrack Album

Soundtrack Album

The soundtrack album was first issued on LP in 1956 by Capitol Records, but only in mono. However, because the film's soundtrack had been recorded in then state-of-the-art stereo, as all Cinemascope films were back then, it was possible for Capitol to release a stereo LP of the album in 1958, after stereo records became a reality. The later release was shortened by about 5 minutes, by abridging the opening instrumental "Carousel Waltz" due to technical limitations imposed by the then-new format. The mono release, as originally issued, played for about fifty minutes, while the stereo one played for forty-five.

A large team of orchestrators lent their expertise to the complex musical arrangements recorded for the soundtrack: Nelson Riddle, Herbert W. Spencer, Earle Hagen, Edward B. Powell (responsible for "If I Loved You"), Bernard Mayer and Gus Levene.

Three editions of the soundtrack album were issued on compact disc, all in stereo. The first, issued in 1986 by Capitol, was an exact duplicate of the 1958 stereo LP. The rights then were obtained by Angel Records, which issued a second edition of the album, this time featuring the complete "Carousel Waltz" in stereo for the first time, along with all of the other songs included on the previous CD and LP incarnations. This album was superseded in 2001 by Angel's "expanded edition" of the soundtrack, which, for the first time, featured practically all of the songs and music recorded for the film, including the dance music, resulting in a playing time of 70 minutes, as opposed to the original 45 minute stereo LP and CD.

Under the vocal direction of Ken Darby, the songs and performers on the expanded edition of the album are:

1. Introduction – Gordon MacRae/William Le Massena (this is the opening pre-credits sequence, consisting of spoken dialogue)
2. Main Title: The Carousel Waltz – 20th Century-Fox Orchestra/Alfred Newman (About five minutes after the Main Title ends, a slightly longer version of the Carousel Waltz is heard, this time during the scene showing Julie and Billy's first meeting in the amusement park, but possibly to avoid repetition, this second playing of the waltz was not included in the soundtrack album. However, "Carousel Waltz" is heard again in the track "Louise's Ballet".)
3. You're A Queer One, Julie Jordan – Barbara Ruick/Shirley Jones
4. (When I Marry) Mr. Snow – Barbara Ruick
5. If I Loved You – Shirley Jones/Gordon MacRae
6. June Is Bustin' Out All Over – Claramae Turner/Barbara Ruick and Chorus (leads without a pause into)
7. June Is Bustin' Out All Over Ballet – 20th Century-Fox Orchestra/Alfred Newman
8. Soliloquy – Gordon MacRae
9. Blow High, Blow Low – Cameron Mitchell and Men's Chorus
10. When The Children Are Asleep – Robert Rounseville/Barbara Ruick
11. A Real Nice Clambake – Barbara Ruick/Claramae Turner/Robert Rounseville/Cameron Mitchell and Chorus
12. Stonecutters Cut It On Stone – Cameron Mitchell and Chorus
13. What's The Use Of Wond'rin – Shirley Jones and Women's Chorus
14. You'll Never Walk Alone – Shirley Jones/Claramae Turner
15. Louise's Ballet – 20th Century-Fox Orchestra/Alfred Newman
16. If I Loved You (reprise) – Gordon MacRae
17. You'll Never Walk Alone (Finale) – Shirley Jones and Chorus
18. Carousel Waltz (LP Version) – 20th Century-Fox Orchestra/Alfred Newman (an additional track that contains the full eight-minute "Carousel Waltz").