Question for Randy ~ The Aristocats Soundtrack CD

[Prof. Emelius]

Just received my Cd in the mail today, ordered from on line, and shipped from England. Can anyone tell me why the heck this was released in England and not the US? It seems extreamly bizarre. Are there any others like this? Why was this not given the full Randy Thornton treatment? Randy if you are out there, can you fill us in on how this album came to be? Very curious... :-

 

[merlinjones]

The European CD soundtrack of The Aristocats is well-worth finding (includes some of the score) and comes with several different covers.

And the older European CD of Sleeping Beauty is a must - - it is the full version of the original Disneyland/Buena Vista stereo soundtrack LP with the alternate vocals from Mary Costa et al.

 

[Gurgitoy2]

"The European CD soundtrack of The Aristocats is well-worth finding (includes some of the score) and comes with several different covers."

Yes, and the extended cut of "Everybody Wants to be a Cat" is worth it too. Well, not "extended" so much as it's the full film version...as opposed to the edited version we've gotten on all US releases.

 

[Randy Thornton]

Hey Professor!

Bill is correct. This "Aristocats" album was released in 1995 (in both English and French) and I hadn't really started pre-production work on the "Classic Soundtrack Series" until the next year. Even then, the first three ("Bambi", "Cinderella", and "Sleeping Beauty") sat, restored and mastered, for a year or so before I was able to finally get them released and on the shelves.

Usually, I was able to get them to let me work on a Soundtrack when the film was either being re-released theatrically, or on home video.

While I was working on "Bambi" and the others, the opportunity came up to do "Aristocats", but another producer had a connection to Brian Setzer, and they got him to do a cover of "Ev'rybody Wants to Be a Cat", so they just compiled all the songs and put this cover version on and released "Songs from The Aristocats". Since then, I haven't been able to get it done.

I would have released the version you purchased, but I don't really care for the way it was done. It's nice that it's out there, and I'm very glad you were able to get a copy, but the source material was not restored, and the edits are rather hap-hazard. I knew the 'team' that put that together, and they didn't have the passion (nor the desire) to go to the lengths that I do in these restorations. When I offered my services, the response was along the lines of "It's a singing cat cartoon, it's not that important." I said some rather unpleasant things, and they soon found it rather 'difficult' to get materials for other projects from me for a while. Yes, I am that immature. But they no longer work for the mouse, and I still do. >

If I get the opportunity to really restore that soundtrack, I will jump on it in a heartbeat.

As for releasing that version here, outside of my total disdain for the album, theres the "release it right the first time 'cause you may not get another chance" issue that I mentioned in the "Winnie the Pooh" Score thread a while back.

Hope that answers your question!

Randy

 

[Prof. Emelius]

Randy, I believe you were well justified in having words with the team who was producing the Aristocats CD, and I agree that you should not release the Aristocats in the States until it can be done right. However, in spite of its lack of perfection, it is still nice to hear the underscore to the Aristocats for the first time, and look forward to the day when I can purchase an improved version.

 

[almandot]

So that's the secret to Randy's heart and getting materials released... singing cat cartoons...

 

[David S.]

Thanks for the info, Randy!

It's sad that some folks (the team who thought it wasn't worth putting out effort for quality because it was a "singing cat cartoon") continue to trivialize and shorthchange Disney films, music, and parks with the misguided notion that it is "just kiddie material".

Well, we all know the truth, that Walt made his films and parks for the young AND young at heart, and I am glad we have someone like you who respects the material enough to give it the treatment it deserves.

You may remember when I first started posting around 1997 it was inspired by my love of the Classic Soundtracks you restored and I was looking around to find discussions among others who were into them, which is how I found this forum.

Dumbo was fittingly my first, as it's my favorite movie (by Disney or ANYONE) and I was so BLOWN AWAY by how thorough and well done it was I just had to have the rest

And so began my collection of Disney film soundtracks on CD.

I was disappointed when they went out of print in the US awhile back (though fortunately, I had them all by then)

But I keep forgetting to mention that during the past year or two I was in a Best Buy in one of the cities I've visited in my post-Katrina travels and saw an Alice In Wonderland soundtrack available new!

I've since seen several of the titles available at various Best Buys, and checking Amazon I've seen they are almost all available, brand new, from Amazon - as imports but still in print!

Apparently they were reissued as imports in 2006.

I don't know if this came up on these boards during the post-hurricane aftermath when I wasn't online much, or during the part of the year I've been spending in Orlando and don't check the boards so much (because I spend most of my free time in the parks!)

But in case you guys are unaware of this, I just wanted to point out that most are still available NEW!

So for anyone who has not yet aquired all these amazing, magical gems, there is still a chance to get them!

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (new import)
http://www.amazon.com/White-Seven-Dwarfs-O...9554&sr=1-1

Pinocchio (new import)
http://www.amazon.com/Pinocchio-Original-S...4681&sr=1-1

Fantasia (still in-print in US)
http://www.amazon.com/Walt-Disneys-Fantasi...9727&sr=1-3

Dumbo (new import)
http://www.amazon.com/Dumbo-Original-Sound...9829&sr=1-1

Bambi (still in-print in US)
http://www.amazon.com/Bambi-Margaret-Lee/d...9888&sr=1-2

Cinderella (still in-print in US)
http://www.amazon.com/Cinderella-Ilene-Woo...9991&sr=1-4

Alice In Wonderland (new import)
http://www.amazon.com/Alice-Wonderland-Ori...0050&sr=1-2

Peter Pan (sadly, they seem to have discontinued this one as a "new" item. The link is to the import most recently available but the original US version is available used as well)
http://www.amazon.com/Peter-Pan-Original-S...0149&sr=1-5

Lady and the Tramp (and this one too is no longer listed as new - see explanation for Peter Pan)
http://www.amazon.com/Lady-Tramp-Original-...0251&sr=1-1

Sleeping Beauty (sadly, this is also just available from resellers - see explanation for Peter Pan)
http://www.amazon.com/Sleeping-Beauty-Orig...315&sr=1-12

101 Dalmatians (only available used - original US version)
http://www.amazon.com/Dalmatians-Original-...0560&sr=1-3

Mary Poppins (still in-print in US)
http://www.amazon.com/Mary-Poppins-Richard...0416&sr=1-2

The Jungle Book (stil in-print in US)
http://www.amazon.com/Jungle-Book-Richard-...0464&sr=1-1

Bedknobs and Broomsticks (new import)
http://www.amazon.com/Bedknobs-Broomsticks...0796&sr=1-1

Pete's Dragon (new import)
http://www.amazon.com/Petes-Dragon-Origina...0851&sr=1-1

 

[Randy Thornton]

You all may know of this already, but speaking of great finds - I was in a local record store (a real record store), and while flipping through the racks I found the album pictured below.



Now 'Trumpets' was the album that sort of prompted The Archive Series we tried back in the late 1990's. Tutti had retained the rights to both 'Trumpets' and 'Trombones'. When I did the Annette Box Set, I had Tutti in the studio with Bruce Botnick and I (as well as the Sherman Brothers). That's when I first approached him about licensing the master to release as part of The Archive Series. Unfortunately, The Archive Series did not succeed, and we weren't able to make the deal. I'm so glad that both of these albums are available!! This happens to be a recent release as well - 2003. Not only is it available in physical form, it is also available on iTunes - in iTunes Plus no less!!!

Great recording, great artists, and great music! Highly recommended!

Randy

 

[Gurgitoy2]

"When I offered my services, the response was along the lines of "It's a singing cat cartoon, it's not that important." "

Interesing that they said that, considering they were releasing a soundtrack to the film with score. If it was just " a singing cat cartoon", then why did they bother at all?