RAINTREE COUNTY

Label: FSMCD Vol.9 No.19
Dates: 1957
Tracks: 42
Time = 144:27

2 CD set

Complete score for massive 1957 MGM Civil War tale with Elizabeth Taylor, Montgomery Clift. Johnny Green avoids theme & variations method common in unifying long, episodic films, instead writes diverse array of themes for characters, dramatic situations, emotions (from Lee Marvin's folksy "Flash" to Elizabeth Taylor's demented "Susanna") plus Civil War conflict, Indiana & New Orleans locales, you name it. Central storyline of Raintree County home plus symbolic tree itself are captured in symmetrical, major-key primary theme plus exotic, glittery motif. Harmonica readings are especially wistful, nostalgic. Green ties entire work together not with theme per se but instead with impressionistic harmony throughout: whole tone chords, chromatics, "lydian" devices, others. Rich palette gives score rare depth, color - plus coherency. Leaving earlier RCA, Entr'Acte, Preamble editions in dust, FSM CD presents entire score from 35mm stereo elements, includes Nat King Cole vocal on titular "Song from Raintree County" plus alternates, original LP versions, more. Handsome booklet offers informative - even compelling - notes on film, background of production, composer and scoring, previous album comparisons and related. Special praise to writer Ross Care for balancing musicality with readability. Learn while you listen! Johnny Green conducts M-G-M Symphony Orchestra, Chorus. Limited release of 3000 copies. Needless to say, legendary score and FSM presentation of same hit a bullseye!

DISC ONE 1. Overture (3:30) 2. Lion/The Song of Raintree County Main Title - Vocal by Nat King Cole (2:44) 3. Nell and Johnny (3:42) 4. There's Another Tree (2:29) 5. The Swamp (3:41) 6. Nell and Gar/Freehaven/Prelude Segue/Meet Flash and Susanna (2:59) 7. Johnny's Crown/Look at the Birdie/First Meeting (5:28) 8. First Meeting (film end)/Nell's Huff/Pursuit of Happiness/July Swim/Tell Me About the Raintree/Nell Insert/Your Exact Location (6:11) 9. Going Home/Train From the South/I Had to Come Back/Fare Thee Well/River Wedding Night (7:37) 10. Burned Mansion/Susanna's Obsession/Lament for Henrietta (5:02) 11. Cousin Bob's Plantation (0:47) 12. I Lied/Country Road/Johnny's Book/Best Friend (5:00) 13. You Hate Me/What Did I Do Wrong?/Where Is Susanna?/Where Is That Doll?/It's Happened (6:56) 14. Be a Pig's Eye/It's a Boy/Back in Freehaven (5:57) 15. Dearest Thing/It's the House/What About the Fire?/I Don't Know/They Can't Follow Me (7:33) 16. Judby/She Was Going Home (2:26) 17. First Act Finale - Roadshow (1:13)

DISC TWO 1. Entr'Acte (2:51) 2. Brand New Pants (1:14) 3. Battle Montage/War Commentary (3:31) 4. Fairweather/I Don't Believe It/Night Ambush/Flash Dies (8:40) 5. Johnny's Escape/War's End/I'd Like to Try/Lincoln's Funeral Train (6:10) 6. I Still Love Him/You're Not Sick/Surprise for Daddy/Ask Daddy/Search (9:42) 7. Susanna's Death/Jeemie's Raintree/The Song of Raintree County End Title - Vocal by Nat King Cole (4:09) BONUS TRACKS 8. The Song of Raintree County Main Title - chorus version (2:40) 9. Freehaven - film version (0:32) 10. Freehaven - alternate (0:32) 11. First Meeting Part 1 - alternate (1:23) 12. First Meeting song version - Vocal by Carlos Noble (2:39) 13. Pursuit of Happiness/July Swim/Tell Me About the Raintree - alt. ending (3:39) 14. Going Home - alternate (0:27) 15. Polka at the Party - Bronislau Kaper (0:47) 16. Why No One to Love - Party - Stephen Foster (2:34) 17. Why No One to Love - Stephen Foster (0:42) 18. Cousin's Bob Plantation - alternate (0:46) 19. Best Friend - alternate (1:46) 20. Best Friend - film version (2:50) 21. First Act Finale - Day Date (1:07) 22. Jeemie's Raintree/The Song of Raintree County End Title - chorus version (2:41) 23. The Song of Raintree County - instrumental (2:20) 24. The Song of Raintree County - Vocal by Bill Lee (4:20) 25. Jeemie's Raintree/The Song of Raintree County End Title - film version with chorus (1:18)