At the time the film was released, there was no soundtrack album. There were however several 78 RPM records of songs from the soundtrack issued.Amond the songs issued were: You Stepped Out of a Dream (Nacio Herb Brown/Gus Kahn), I’m Always Chasing Rainbows (Harry Carroll/Joseph McCarthy), Too Beautiful to Last (Marty Symes/Ruth Lowe) and Minnie from Trinidad (Roger Edens). Two of the film’s stars, Judy Garland and Tony Martin, were among those to release singles of the songs. Other stars included Stewart, Hedy Lamarr, Lana Turner, Jackie Cooper, Edward Everett Horton and Eve Arden.
Here, in alphabetical order by artist, are the recordings issued. Where available, audio had been included (taken from the original 78’s when possible).
Mitchell Ayres and his Fashions-In-Music, Vocal refrain by Mary Ann Mercer, Tommy Taylor and Chorus – Minnie from Trinidad (Bluebird 11118)
Xavier Cugat and his Waldorf-Astoria Orchestra, Vocal by Margo – Minnie from Trinidad (Columbia 36139)
Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra, Vocal Chorus by Helen O’Connor – Minnie from Trinidad (Decca 3711)
Judy Garland – I’m Always Chasing Rainbows (Decca 3593)
Benny Goodman, Vocal Chorus by Helen Forrest – I’m Always Chasing Rainbows (Columbia 35916)
Dick Jurgens and His Orchestra – You Stepped Out of a Dream/Too Beautiful to Last (Okeh 6033)
We have not been able to locate a copy of this single. The following newspaper ad, which mentions the single, is from the May 30, 1941, edition of The Milwaukee Sentinel, Milwaukee, Wi:
Swing and Sway with Sammy Kaye, Vocal Refrain by Tommy Ryan – You Stepped Out of a Dream (Victor 27339)
Kay Kyser and His Orchestra, Vocal Chorus by Harry Babbitt – You Stepped Out of a Dream (Columbia 35946)
Kyser’s version was the only one of all the singles to chart. It entered the Billboard chart on March 22, 1941, at #22. It remained on the chart just that one week.
The b-side of the single was also from the film:
Kay Kyser and His Orchestra, Vocal Chorus by Ginny Simms – To Beautiful to Last (Columbia 35946)
Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians, Vocal Chorus by Carmen Lombardo – You Stepped Out of a Dream (Decca 3675)
Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians, Vocal Chorus by Mert Curtis – I’m Always Chasing Rainbows (Decca 3586)
Freddy Martin and his Orchestra, Vocal Refrain by Eddie Stone – Too Beautiful to Last (Bluebird 11050)
Tony Martin with the Victor Young Orchestra – You Stepped Out of a Dream/Too Beautiful to Last (Decca 3645)
Glenn Miller and his Orchestra, Vocal Refrain by Ray Eberle and the Modernaires – You Stepped Out of a Dream (Bluebird 11042)
Pancho and His Orchestra – Minnie from Trinidad (Decca 3957)
Joe Reichman and his Orchestra – I’m Always Chasing Rainbows (Victor 27333)
A soundtrack album was unofficially released in the 1970’s by Classic International Filmusicals (C.I.F. 3006):
Neither Stewart’s name nor photo appears on the jacket or labels. The music was recorded directly from the film’s soundtrack and includes:
Overture – MGM Studio Orchestra & Chorus
Laugh? I Thought I’d Split My Sides – Judy Garland & Charles Winninger
You Stepped Out of a Dream – Tony Martin & Chorus
I’m Always Chasing Rainbows – Judy Garland
Caribbean Love Song – Tony Martin & Chorus
Minnie from Trinidad – Judy Garland & Chorus
Mr. Gallagher and Mr. Sheen – Charles Winninger & Al Shean
Finale: Ziegfeld Girls (Judy Garland), You Gotta Pull Strings (Judy Garland), You ((MGM Studio Orchestra), You Never Looked So Beautiful Before (MGM Studio Orchestra), We Must Have Music (outtake) (Judy Garland, Tony Martin), You Stepped Out of a Dream (Tony Martin), You Never Looked So Beautiful Before (Judy Garland)
End Titles – MGM Studio Orchestra
In 1996, Rhino Records released the 2-CD set, Judy Garland: Collector’s Gems from the M-G-M Films (R2 72453).
The set included several rarities recorded for the soundtrack of the film:
We Must Have Music (Outtake; recorded for the film, but not used)(Nacio Herb Brown-Gus Kahn) – Judy Garland, Tony Martin, Six Hits and a Miss and the MGM Studio Chorus
I’m Always Chasing Rainbows (Harry Carroll-Joseph McCarthy)
Minnie From Trinidad (Roger Edens) – Judy Garland and the MGM Studio Chorus
The same three songs were also issued on the CD, The Sound of the Movies – Judy Garland Vol. 1 (History 20.3106 – HI).
Let’s close the post with this ad for the film which appeared in the March 15, 1941, edition of the Motion Picture Herald.
