My Fair Lady (1964 Film Soundtrack)

This expanded soundtrack is a great recording in its own right. However the original Broadway cast album (with Julie Andrews, et. al.)is more satisfying overall. The movie soundtrack features Andre Previn's rich Oscar winning(well deserved)musical scoring. Also included are several members of the stage version most particularly Rex Harrison. Since Harrision recorded his vocals "live" on the movie set, they often have a tinny, offsetting sound compared to eveyone elses, but its not too distracting. The downside is the Nixon/Hepburn vocal combination. Nixon's dubbing of Hepburn is not as successful(and much more obvious)as her other efforts(Kerr/Nixon in "King and I" was perfect, good results were also had in "West Side Story"). I believe Hepburn should have been allowed to use more of her vocals, which were recently located for the movie's restoration. Perhaps Nixon should have "kicked in" once Hepburn becomes a "lady" during the second...Read more

This CD of the songs from the 1964 film My Fair Lady really does a great job of giving you the flavor of this spectacular musical. The sound quality is superb; and the artwork is well done.

The overture is as beautiful as it was the very first time I ever heard it while watching this film. The lush musical arrangement works very well to mark the beginning of this classic and timeless motion picture. The strings sound great. "Why can't The English?" is performed mainly by Rex Harrison; he can't really sing but the way he essentially speaks his lines to this tune really makes this number hum along well! Rex Harrison is able to use his voice to boom out the lyrics to anyone even remotely within earshot--and this impresses me very much.

"Wouldn't It Be Loverly" features the Marni Nixon singing in place of Audrey Hepburn (Hepburn's singing voice was dubbed). Marni sings this with great sensitively and she pegs down that accent like the pro she always was! "With A...Read more

When it comes to "My fair lady," I prefer the original Broadway cast recording to this soundtrack. Because Audrey didn't sing! Of course, in the movie she was very wonderful and lovely. But in the soundtrack, Marni Nixon sings Eliza's songs. I have four recordings of My Fair Lady, my best is the original Broadway Cast Recording. But the orchestration by Andre Previn is by far the best. I recommend it because of this wonderful orchestration.