Search - Various Artists - Soundtracks :: Academy Award-Winning Music From MGM Classics: Motion Picture Soundtrack Anthology

Why another MGM compilation album?

Pope | Wisconsin, United States | 10/26/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I liked the music contained on this CD, but we need to ask the question, "just how many compilation albums do we need?" At least two thirds of the songs on this CD are featured (many of them together) on other Turner/Rhino compilation soundtrack albums or have the full soundtrack available. This CD is quite comparable to the "That's Entertainment" and the two disc "Over the Rainbow" movie musical compilation CD's, both from Turner/Rhino. What sets this CD apart is the fact that every song contained herein won an Oscar either for Best Song or for Best Score. A few of the songs here do not appear anywhere else and some (like "The Last Time I Saw Paris") are quite lovely. It is nice to see that Turner went beyond including only movie musical selections for this CD; added were the Overture from "Ben-Hur" and the Main Title from "Doctor Zhivago" - neither of which were musicals. I give this CD four stars because I love all of the music and the sound quality is bar none the best, and that the CD contains some otherwise unavailable songs. I don't give it 5 because we already have enough compilation soundtrack and star anthologies from the MGM musicals, in addition to the numerous original soundtrack albums available. I like the elegant and lavish packaging, though."