[.ca] Pin-Up Girl

An excellent singer-actress:
Betty is remembered as an actress and pin-up, but her music is often overlooked. During the thirties and forties, Hollywood produced several singer-actresses, including Judy Garland, Alice Faye, Frances Langford and Dorothy Lamour. Betty may not have been absolutely the best singer among them, but she was still a fine singer whose music is well worth listening to. This comprehensive collection begins with six songs from the thirties, during which Betty was kept busy but never made it big. These are followed, in chronological order, with songs from the musicals that she is best remembered for - Down Argentine way. Tin pan alley, Moon over Miami, A yank in the RAF, Footlight serenade, Song of the islands, Springtime in the Rockies, Coney Island, Sweet Rosie O'Grady, Pin-up girl, Billy Rose's diamond horseshoe and The dolly sisters. Although these recordings were made during the period of the Great American Songbook, you won't find any classics here. Nevertheless, I find that the upbeat, fun music is very enjoyable to listen to, even though I haven't seen any of the movies from which the songs are taken. If you are familiar with Betty's work as an actress, I imagine that you will get even greater enjoyment from these superbly re-mastered recordings.

A Must for BETTY GRABLE fans:
Thank God for modern technology. Here you have recordings that otherwise, you would only be able to listen to and view from screenings. This collection covers almost all of her work at 20th Century Fox, as well as early RKO material. What a gem she was, and through these sound recordings that capture her magic, an appreciation of her talent, beauty, and humor live on forever. Plus, it gives the listener a wonderful segment of musical history as the times encompassed the style of music presented here. A style, much forgotten but so much fun to listen to and enjoy. A very important piece of American film musical history.

This CD proves beyond all doubt that Betty was a fine singer:
An excellent example of the musical talents of Betty Grable, who was much underrated as a singer. Check out her lively duetting with Alice Faye from "Tin Pan Alley". Kindergarten Conga (from Moon Over Miami) is also a showstopper - you can practically 'see' her dancing! Also loved the touching I'm Always Chasing Rainbows (Dolly Sisters) and her wonderful version of Sing Me A Song of the Islands. A magical musical item and a must for all Grable fans, and those interested in the classic 20th CF musicals of the Forties.

Enjoyable!:
I enjoyed this CD very much and I actually found it while doing a search for the Dolly Sisters soundtrack. I liked the selection and the sound was quite good. For example, Pan American Jubilee sounds horrible on a Carmen Miranda CD I have and on this one it was quite clear even though the version was slightly different. I have found other songs on this CD to be edited versions of what was actually in the films. Powder, Lipstick and Rouge had the main part edited on this CD. There is no "Mascara", "Rosey Rouge" etc verses in this version which I thought was the best part of that number. That was disappointing, but overall, I like this set very much and still give it 5 stars.

Collection of Songs from Grable's Early 30s & 40s Films:
This is a wonderful collection of songs that spans her very first singing appearances in 1930 in "Whoopee" and ending with her songs in 1945's "The Dolly Sisters" with June Haver. I love this CD, but I want there to be more of it. There are no songs from her films from the late 40s and early 50s, which is a shame and could easily fill out a third CD. Betty was a fine singer and through these recordings from the soundtracks you can really begin to appreciate her warmth, genuineness and "on-screen" sparkle she had, and in many cases her sense of humour, a rarity amongst singing actresses of the time. Betty has a delivery style all her own, putting her own indelible mark on these classic tunes, which is a cherished thing amongst fans of hers and 20th Century Fox fans of 40s musicals. If you are a Grable fan, do not hesitate to make this part of your collection.

• Cowboy Number \oFrom Whoopee\c - Goldwyn Girls & Male Chorus, Betty Grable
• Snake Dance \oFrom Student Tour\c - Betty Grable, Boris Morros, Phil Regan & Orchestra
• Let's K-Nock K-Nees - Betty Grable, Edward Everett Horton Orchestra, Max Steiner
• Music in My Heart \oFrom the Nitwits\c - Betty Grable, Roy Webb, Bert Wheeler
• Boys Will Be Boys \oFrom Old Man Rhythm\c - Betty Grable, Roy Webb
• What Goes on Here in My Heart? - Betty Grable, Boris Morros, Jack Whiting
• Down Argentine Way \oFrom Down Argentine Way\c - Don Ameche, Betty Grable, Alfred Newman
• Two Dreams Met - Don Ameche, Betty Grable, Alfred Newman
• Hawaii-A \oFrom Tin Pan Alley\c - Alice Faye, Betty Grable
• Sheik of Araby - Alice Faye, Billy Gilbert Orchestra, Betty Grable, Alfred Newman
• You Started Something \oFrom Moon Over Miami\c - Robert Cummings, Betty Grable, Alfred Newman
• Loveliness and Love \oFrom "Moon Over Miami"\c - Don Ameche, Betty Grable, Alfred Newman
• Kindergarten Conger - Betty Grable, Alfred Newman
• Hi Ya Love \oFrom a Yank in the R.A.F.\c - Betty Grable, Alfred Newman
• Another Little Dream Wouldn't Do Us Any Harm \oFrom a Yank in the ...\c - Betty Grable, Alfred Newman
• Are You Kidding? \oFrom Footlight Serenade\c - Betty Grable, Charles Henderson
• I'm Still Crazy for You \oFrom Footlight Serenade\c - Betty Grable, Charles Henderson, John Payne
• I Heard the Birdies Sing \oFrom Footlight Serenade\c - Betty Grable, Charles Henderson
• Sing Me a Song of the Islands \oFrom Song of the Islands\c - Betty Grable, Alfred Newman, Harry Owens & His Royal Hawaiian & Orch.
• Down on Ami Ami Oni Oni Isle - Betty Grable, Hilo Hattie, Alfred Newman, Harry Owens & His Royal Hawaiian & Orch.
• O'Brien Has Gone Hawaiian - Betty Grable, Alfred Newman, Harry Owens & His Royal Hawaiian & Orch.
• Run Little Raindrop Run \oFrom Springtime in the Rockies\c - Betty Grable, Alfred Newman
• Pan American Jubilee \oFrom Springtime in the Rockies\c - Betty Grable, Harry James & His Orchestra, John Payne
• Cuddle Up a Little Closer \oFrom Coney Island\c - Betty Grable, Alfred Newman
• Pretty Baby \oFrom Coney Island\c - Betty Grable, Alfred Newman, Chorus
• Miss Lulu from Louisville \oFrom Coney Island\c - Betty Grable, Alfred Newman, Chorus
• Take It from There \oFrom Coney Island\c - Betty Grable, Alfred Newman, Chorus
• Beautiful Coney Island \oFrom Coney Island\c - Betty Grable, Harmonica Group, George "Daddy Hotcakes" Montgomery
• There's Danger in a Dance \oFrom Coney Island\c - Betty Grable, Alfred Newman, Chorus
• Waiting at the Church \oFrom Sweet Rosie O'Grady\c - Betty Grable, Chorus
• My Heart Tells Me \oFrom Sweet Rosie O'Grady\c - Betty Grable
• Sweet Rosie O'Grady \oFrom Sweet Rosie O'Grady\c - Betty Grable, Chorus
• Going to the Country Fair - Betty Grable, Alfred Newman
• You're My Little Pin-Up Girl \oFrom Pin-Up Girl\c - Betty Grable, Emil Newman, Charlie Spivak & His Orchestra, Chorus
• Don't Carry Tales Out of School \oFrom Pin-Up Girl\c - Betty Grable, Emil Newman, Charlie Spivak & His Orchestra, Chorus
• Once Too Often \oFrom Pin-Up Girl\c - Betty Grable, Emil Newman, Charlie Spivak & His Orchestra
• Song of the Very Merry Widow \oFrom Pin-Up Girl\c - Betty Grable, Chorus
• Welcome to the Diamond Horseshoe \oFrom Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe\c - Betty Grable, Chorus
• In Acapulco \oFrom Billy Rose's Diamond Horseshoe\c - Betty Grable, Chorus
• Medley: Play Me an Old-Fashioned Melody/A Nickel's Worth of ... - William Gaxton, Betty Grable, Beatrice Kay, Chorus
• I Wish I Knew \oFrom Diamond Horseshoe\c - Betty Grable
• Cooking Up a Show/The More I See You - William Gaxton, Betty Grable, Dick Haymes Orchestra, Beatrice Kay, Alfred Newman, Chorus
• Vamp \oFrom The Dolly Sisters\c - Betty Grable, June Haver, Alfred Newman
• We Have Been Around/Carolina in the Morning \oFrom The Dolly Sisters\c - Betty Grable, June Haver, Alfred Newman
• Powder, Lipstick and Rough \oFrom The Dolly Sisters\c - Betty Grable, June Haver, Alfred Newman
• I'm Always Chasing Rainbows \oFrom The Dolly Sisters\c - Betty Grable, John Payne, Alfred Newman
• Darktown Strutters' Ball \oFrom The Dolly Sisters\c - Betty Grable, June Haver, Alfred Newman, Chorus
• I Can't Begin to Tell You \oFrom The Dolly Sisters\c - Betty Grable, June Haver, John Payne, Alfred Newman, Chorus