The Wizard of Oz (soundtrack)

The original soundtrack to the 1939 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer motion picture The Wizard of Oz was first released in 1956 on MGM Records.

Background

The soundtrack album was issued in 1956 to coincide with the TV premiere of the movie due on November 3.

Until then, the songs were available for purchase in a different recording, made in July 1939 for the Decca label. The Decca album (catalog number 74) featured vocals only by Judy Garland and the Ken Darby Singers, none of the other movie cast members participated.

According to Billboard, editing a soundtrack album was a complex challenge before the advent of stereophonic sound, as dialogue, music, and sound effects were all recorded on the same track. In the case of The Wizard of Oz, planned as the first release by MGM Records, the integration of dialogue and music made it impossible to extract three-minute versions of the songs, except for "Over the Rainbow". The project was abandoned until the introduction of LP records. According to the magazine, by 1967 the film's original soundtrack, which includes both music and dialogue, remains one of MGM's best-selling releases.

Critical reception

The Billboard magazine critic wrote that the album includes the main musical numbers and enough dialogue to tell the story, and that the album is a perfect package for the holiday season, appealing to both children and adults. According to the critic, the sound quality has been enhanced, and the cover is attractive, providing a nostalgic experience, especially for those who want to hear a younger Judy Garland singing "Over the Rainbow" and the comedic performances of Bert Lahr, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, and Frank Morgan.

The AllMusic review by Marisa Brown praised the album for including extended versions of key songs like "If I Only Had a Brain" and "If I Were King of the Forest", and describes it as a memorable way to celebrate and share a significant piece of American film and music history.

Track listing

LP (MGM Records E3464 ST)

1995 TCM / Rhino Records deluxe edition

In 1995, a deluxe 2-CD edition of the soundtrack was released by Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and Rhino Records. This edition now also included the film music composed by Herbert Stothart.