The Harvey Girls (album)

The Harvey Girls is the third studio album by Judy Garland, released on November 1, 1945 by Decca Records, featuring songs presented in the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer eponymous motion picture, composed by Harry Warren and Johnny Mercer.[1]

The Harvey Girls
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 1, 1945 (1945-11-01)
LabelDecca
Judy Garland chronology
Meet Me in St. Louis
(1944)
The Harvey Girls
(1945)
Miss Show Business
(1955)

Description

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The album has six tracks, including the popular "On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe" and "In the Valley, Swing Your Partner Round and Round".[1]

The album also features songs performed by Kenny Baker and Virginia O'Brien, as well as the Kay Thompson choir.[1] At the time of the record sessions of the album Thompson's husband, Jack Jenney, was unemployed at the time and urgently seeking work.[2] He was hired by Lennie Hayton, with Thompson's assistance, to play trombone on Garland's recording.[2]

In his review for the album in Billboard magazine, Maurie Orodenker seems to be disappointed particularly with Garland's performance.[1] He finds that her rendition of "On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe" is "forced" and that the song doesn't have the same impact as the original version.[1] He also finds that Garland's performance in other songs is "dead-pan" and doesn't convey personality.[1] However, he liked Kenny Baker's performance in "Wait and See" and considers the song a highlight of the record.[1]

In 1957, Decca released a compilation album including a selection of songs from both The Harvey Girls and Meet Me in St. Louis that received a favorable review from Billboard magazine (82/100).[3] In 1995, Rhino Records released a 4-CD box set entitled Mickey & Judy which includes songs from The Harvey Girls and others songs that Garland and Rooney recorded for their Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) films.[4][5]

Track listing

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Disc 1
No.TitleLength
1."On The Atchison, Topeka And The Santa Fe" 
2."In The Valley" 
Disc 2
No.TitleLength
1."Wait And See" 
2."Swing Your Partner Round And Round" 
Disc 3
No.TitleLength
1."It's A Great Big World" 
2."The Wild, Wild West" 

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Orodenker, Maurie (22 December 1945). "Record Reviews". Billboard. Vol. 57, no. 51. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 76. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  2. ^ a b Irvin, Sam (15 November 2011). Kay Thompson: From Funny Face to Eloise. Simon and Schuster. p. 123. ISBN 978-1-4391-7654-2.
  3. ^ "Reviews and ratings of new popular albums". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 30 September 1957. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 14 October 2024.
  4. ^ Morris, Chris (26 August 1995). "Vital reissues". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 34. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 82. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  5. ^ Bessman, Jim (28 October 1995). "Rhino, Turner Join For Movie Music". Billboard. Vol. 107, no. 43. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. p. 20. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved 13 October 2024.