MacDonald in Song

MacDonald in Song (sometimes referred to as Jeanette MacDonald in Song) is a 1939 album by American actress Jeanette MacDonald, released by RCA Victor.

MacDonald in Song
Studio album by
Jeanette MacDonald
Released1939
RecordedSeptember 11–16, 1939 (1939-09-11 – 1939-09-16)
StudioHollywood Recording Studio, Los Angeles
GenrePopular music
LabelRCA Victor
ProducerGiuseppe Bamboschek (conductor)
Jeanette MacDonald chronology
MacDonald in Song
(1939)		 Religious Songs
(1945)

Background

Jeanette MacDonald had appeared in Hollywood musical movies throughout the 1930s and was one of the most popular American artists in the world. She had toured France and England in 1931 and 1933,[1] and would tour the United States in 1939, starting from March.[2] The album was recorded later that year between September 11 and 16 at the Hollywood Recording Studio in Los Angeles with an orchestra, conducted by Giuseppe Bamboschek.[3] Bamboschek performed the piano on four tracks, as well as MacDonald's husband Gene Raymond (whose two tracks were not released).[3]

The album was released with four 10-inch discs.[4]

Track listing

Ten songs feature on the track, despite 17 songs being recorded[lower-alpha 1] (some were additional takes) during the session.[3]

No.TitleLyricsMusicLength
1."When I Have Sung My Songs"Ernest CharlesErnest Charles02:13
2."Do Not Go, My Love"Richard HagemanRichard Hageman03:02
3."Annie Laurie"Alicia Scott, William DouglasAlicia Scott 
4."Comin' Thro' the Rye (Old Scotch Air)"Robert BurnsRobert Burns 
5."From The Land Of The Sky-Blue Water"Nelle Richmond EberhartCharles Wakefield Cadman 
6."Let Me Always Sing"Gene RaymondGene Raymond 
7."Ave Maria"Charles GounodBach 
8."Les Filles De Cadiz"Alfred de MussetLéo Delibes 
9."Il Était Un Roi De Thulé"Charles GounodCharles Gounod03:43
10."Air De Bijoux"Jules Barbier and Michel CarréCharles Gounod04:04

Reception

MacDonald in Song received mixed reviews: Baltimore's The Evening Sun noted the "[s]loppy diction, a shallow, edgy voice quality and a banal lack of contrast in songs of varying mood[,]" and that "The red-haired soprano's film following will probably find these records pleasantly entertaining, but the regular concert record purchaser will not."[4] D. S. Steinfirst ended his review with "Surprisingly enough, the Faust arias are above the average" after writing "Most of the singing is undistinguished."[5] However, The Evening Sun dubbed "Ave Maria" the best track,[4] which J. D. Callaghan agreed with, adding "although Miss MacDonald also is effective in two arias from the opera Faust."[6]

Notes
  1. Two ("One Kiss" and "Lover, Come Back to Me") were recorded in time for MacDonald's appearance in New Moon.

Citations
  1. Hollywood Diva (1998), p. 350.
  2. Hollywood Diva (1998), p. 351.
  3. Hollywood Diva (1998), p. 377.
  4. "Music On Records". The Evening Sun. Baltimore. March 16, 1940.
  5. Steinfirst, D. S. (March 6, 1940). "The New Records". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
  6. Callaghan, J. D. (March 17, 1940). "The Week's Recordings By J. D. Callaghan". Detroit Free Press. p. 10.

Bibliography
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