This was the top selling album of 1957 people! A true Golden Age score in so many ways.

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IN HONOR OF THE FILM’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY,
AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS SOUNDTRACK CD TO BE RELEASED

DELUXE EXPANDED EDITION PACKAGE CONTAINS NEARLY 30 MINUTES OF MUSIC PREVIOUSLY UNAVAILABLE ON CD OR LP

(December 13, 2006) – On the 50th Anniversary of the film’s release, Hit Parade Records, the imported audiophile-quality reissue label, is proud to announce the release of a greatly expanded edition of Victor Young’s Academy Award™ winning score for Around the World in 80 Days. Unavailable in any form for many years, this soundtrack CD contains over 70 minutes of sparkling stereo sound, including almost 30 minutes of previously unavailable music. Hit Parade Records is exclusively distributed by Eric Records in the United States (www.ericrecords.com).

The winner of 5 Oscars™, including Best Picture and Best Score, Around the World in 80 Days was the first mega-blockbuster, starring a veritable who’s who of Hollywood’s greatest performers of the time making cameo appearances in the film. An adaptation of Jules Verne’s beloved novel, the film told the story of Phileas Fogg (David Niven) and his manservant Passepartout (Mexico’s favorite comedian Cantinflas) on their breathtaking journey across the world in 80 days. The production included close to 69,000 extras photographed in over 13 different countries, utilizing 140 actual locations in addition to the stages of 6 major Hollywood studios.

Producer Michael Todd called upon famous studio composer Victor Young to create the score for this larger-than-life film. In the 20 years he spent in Hollywood, Young worked on an amazing 300+ films as conductor, arranger, songwriter, composer and music director. His résumé included some of the most popular films of all time like For Whom the Bell Tolls, Samson and Delilah, Sands of Iwo Jima, The Quiet Man, Three Coins in the Fountain and Shane. Through his career, he earned 22 Oscar nominations and only one statue, for Around the World in 80 Days, which unfortunately he wouldn’t live to receive. In 1956 Young died prematurely of a heart attack at age 57.

The soundtrack for Around the World in 80 Days was the top album of 1957, remaining at #1 on the charts for 10 weeks.

The Hit Parade Records expanded edition reissue contains almost 30 minutes of previously unreleased music from the original soundtrack. The album, which was produced by Didier C. Deutsch, renowned reissue specialist, includes extensive new liner notes and color photos.

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The Oscar winner for Best Picture and Best Score of 1956 was Around The World In Eighty Days. You need not see the picture to enjoy the score. This is one soundtrack that stands alone remarkably well. It is a veritable treasure chest chock full of the loveliest melodies and full-bodied orchestrations ever to grace the silver screen.

The Around The World theme, of course, went on to high level pop status. On Side 1 of the LP is also the whimsical Passepartout which underscored Phileas Fogg's manservant as he made his way through the traffic-laden streets of (Victorian) London. Paris Arrival immediately follows; I love this cue for its evocative sense of anticipation, excitement and majesty. There follows the Sky Symphony, a breathtakingly beautiful arrangement of the Around the World[/b] theme, an arrangement which can only accompany a journey by balloon. Every time I hear this soaring, exquisite delight I can't help but envision Passepartout as he reaches down to the mountaintop and then fills the champagne bucket with a refreshing handful of snow.

The journey around the world and Side 1 continues to the India Country Side, and it's another gem. The wonder of the landscape, the rhythm of the train, the abject awe and humility blanketing Passepartout's expression--these are all captured simultaneously via the artistry of composer Victor Young and the orchestrational wizardry of the Leo Shuken/Jack Hayes team.

Side 2 includes The Temple of Dawn which is a subdued and perhaps sentimental version of again, the Around the World theme. Ah, but subtlety goes out the window and into the breeze with Prairie Sail Car as Fogg and Passepartout head east across America to New York via the manual traintrack method. And then it's Land Ho and across the Atlantic by ship. This cue reminds me of Max Steiner's music accompanying the early yachting scene off the coast of New England in A Summer Place. Oh, is Land Ho ever so gorgeous at the outset, a dream filled with so many possibilities, and then suddenly things turn ominous...dangerous...but then a mellow, somewhat haunting interpolation of Rule Brittania slowly emerges...and finally a rousing version of the same erupts to signal the triumphant return to London!

I expect they'll do a fine job with this score, despite their horrid website.

Gae