Alexander's Ragtime Band (The Original Soundtrack Recording)

Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Credits as they appear on back of sleeve - Track A2: Alice Faye and dialogue Track A8: title appears as "This It The Life" Track B6: Instrumental Tracks A1, B6 do not include artist credits. Twentieth Century-Fox Studio Orchestra is not credited on release. Catalog numbers on release: NO 406 on spine; 406 on back of sleeve; H.S. 406 on labels Runout details are etched except Anvil symbol stamped. Information not on release: In 1938, Twentieth-Century Fox got the idea for a film, Alexander’s Ragtime Band, which would in effect be a Berlin retrospective. They asked Berlin to come up with a story that would cover 25 years, from his first success in 1911 to the present. Berlin, however, had no interest in sharing his private life with America. The story he gave Fox involved the fictitious adventures of "Alexander," a New Orleans bandleader who rises to fame playing Berlin’s music. "Alexander's Ragtime Band" was a box office smash upon its release in 1938 and has long been a favorite with fans of the music of Tin Pan Alley. The film was nominated for 8 Academy Awards. One of the winners was Alfred Newman for his superb musical direction. On October 30, 2001, Howards International released this (Hollywood Soundstage) recording on CD which includes additional tracks cut from the film. On November 5, 2002, Screen Archives Entertainment (the internet-based supplier-to-the-world of motion picture soundtrack CD's) released the complete motion picture soundtrack score to Irving Berlin's 1938 20th Century-Fox Musical "Alexander's Ragtime Band" on CD. The score is reproduced from the original 1938 studio scoring sessions. In addition to all of the vocal and instrumental music that appears in the film, the CD features several outtakes featuring Ethel Merman, Jack Haley and the 20th Century-Fox Orchestra under the direction of Alfred Newman. The Screen Archives Entertainment CD includes 36 page full-color booklet heavily illustrated with historical notes by, among others, entertainer and musical archivist Michael Feinstein.