Search - Jane Powell, Gordon Macrae :: 3 Sailors and a Girl (Soundtrack) and Bonus Tracks

Rare Jane Powell Recordings- A perfect Treat

Bruce K. Hanson | Petersburg, VA | 12/17/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"What was it with titles of film musicals about the navy in the forties and fifties? Titles like Two Girls and a Sailor and 3 Sailors and a Girl sound a little too suggestive for family fare, don't they? Yet Two Girls and a Sailor (starring June Allyson and Gloria DeHaven) remains one of my favorite sailor themed musicals. And for years the Capitol Records soundtrack of 3 Sailors and a Girl has been a favorite as well. Notice that I write the word "soundtrack". You see, I have yet to see the film. (I remember seeing Jane Powell singing "Kiss Me or I'll Scream" late at night on the late show but I was very young and too tired to stay up to watch the rest. Besides, that song, like any other where Jane Powell reverts to belting is a turn-off for me. It's her pure lilting soprano voice that is the "turn-on".)

3 Sailors and a Girl has a serviceable score that is greatly enhanced by tbe talents of Gordon MacRae and Jane Powell at their prime. Thus, it's the duets that come across to best; "The Lately Song", "There Must be a Reason", "My Heart is a Singing Heart", and "Home is Where the Heart Is" are perfect for their voices and sound even better on this new CD than on the original records. Also, Sepia has mangaged to find some rare MacRae recordings that will delight his fan as well as those of musical comedy. From the film, White Christmas, he sings "Count Your Blessings", from Athena (which starred Jane Powell) he warbles "Love Can Change the Stars", and we even get his versions of "A Woman in Love" from Guys and Dolls and "Here's What I'm Here For" from the Garland's A Star is Born.

There are also some lovely Jane Powell extras including selections from her MGM EP record, The King and I. Best of all is her exquisite version of "Mind If I Make Love to You", which even rivals Sinatra's impecable performance from the film soundtrack. She also handles the inferior "True Love" beautifully. So there you have it, another rare musical comedy recording from Sepia Records that has long deserved to be re-issued."

Jane Powell & Gordon MacRae songfest!

Byron Kolln | the corner where Broadway meets Hollywood | 11/23/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Sepia comes up trumps again, as it premieres the delightful 1953 Jane Powell/Gordon MacRae musical THREE SAILORS AND A GIRL on compact disc, restored from original 78 rpm masters. As always from Sepia, the sound quality is superb and the entire package is flawless.



THREE SAILORS AND A GIRL (Warner Bros. 1953) was actually a remake of the 1936 Eleanor Powell musical "Born to Dance". Jane Powell is ideally-showcased, singing up a storm with the showgirl number "Kiss Me or I'll Scream!". Gordon MacRae likewise makes hay with "Face to Face" and "You're But Oh So Right". The two also get to wax lyrical with a fair amount of duet material ("The Lately Song", "There Must Be a Reason", "Show Me a Happy Woman", etc).



Sepia has filled out the disc with extensive bonus material (as is their tradition). Jane Powell fans will delight in knowing her entire 1952 series of cover singles from "The King and I" is here; as well as Gordon MacRae's cover of "Love Can Change the Stars" (from Powell's "Athena"). Powell's chart-topping single of "True Love" (from "High Society") is here as well.



For fans of Powell & MacRae, this disc is crammed to the rafters with rare material, not to mention the charming Sammy Fain/Sammy Cahn score of THREE SAILORS AND A GIRL.



Highly-recommended.



[Sepia 1082]"