High Tor (album)
1956 soundtrack album by Bing Crosby, Julie Andrews, Everett Sloane From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
High Tor (official title including subtitle: High Tor — Songs and Story From The Ford Star Jubilee — CBS Television Production) is a soundtrack album released by Decca Records under catalog number DL 8272. It is associated with the 1956 CBS television adaptation of High Tor, a musical version of Maxwell Anderson's 1936 stage play, presented as part of the Ford Star Jubilee program broadcast on March 10, 1956. This made-for-television production starred Bing Crosby, Julie Andrews, and Everett Sloane, featuring original music by composer Arthur Schwartz with lyrics by Anderson himself.
| High Tor | ||||
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| Soundtrack album by | ||||
| Released | 1956 | |||
| Genre | Popular | |||
| Length | 29:04 | |||
| Label | Decca | |||
| Producer | Arthur Schwartz | |||
| Bing Crosby, Julie Andrews, Everett Sloane chronology | ||||
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| Julie Andrews chronology | ||||
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| Singles from High Tor | ||||
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Decca announced in early 1956 that it would issue the original cast album from the television adaptation, highlighting the music performed by Crosby and Andrews. Prior to the broadcast, Decca pre-released two tracks to radio stations and DJs: "When You're in Love" and "John Barleycorn". The album was also part of a broader promotional campaign supported by Ford Motors and CBS affiliates, which included promotional tie-ins, merchandising, and displays at Ford dealers across the country.
Julie Andrews, in one of her earliest televised musical roles, contributed her soprano vocals to several tracks on the album, notably “Once Upon a Long Ago", "Sad Is the Life of the Sailor’s Wif", and "When You're in Love". Despite the initial vinyl release, the album remained unavailable on compact disc (CD) for decades. The Decca "songs and story" album was finally released on CD in the U.K., with limited distribution, alongside bonus tracks performed by The Lancers and The Leroy Holmes Orchestra. This reissue occurred in compliance with current U.K. public domain laws, limited to 500 units.
Background and production
Summarize
Perspective
High Tor was conceived as a musical television adaptation of Maxwell Anderson's acclaimed 1936 play, a poetic fantasy exploring the conflict between commercial interests and natural preservation. The television version, aired as part of CBS's Ford Star Jubilee series, featured music by Arthur Schwartz and retained lyrics written by Anderson himself.[1][2]
The story centers on Van Van Dorn, portrayed by Bing Crosby, a man who resists selling his land to real estate developers, entangling him in both spiritual and romantic dilemmas. Julie Andrews, credited as "The Boy Friend" star at the time, played the female lead in one of her earliest American television appearances.[3]
This production was notable for its early use of color television and high production values. Its broadcast on March 10, 1956, represented a major television event, combining the prestige of Anderson's play with the star power of Crosby and Andrews. The musical included new material specifically composed for this adaptation, distinguishing it from the original non-musical stage version.[1]
In anticipation of the broadcast, Decca Records executed a strategic promotional campaign to capitalize on the show's visibility. Two songs — "When You're in Love" and "John Barleycorn" — were distributed in advance to generate buzz, with extensive promotion arranged through radio, CBS affiliates, and Ford dealerships.[1][2] Billboard magazine included the songs in its "Popular Records" list and gave the album a score of 75, indicating a "good" single.[4]
The album was described at the time as both a narrative and musical presentation, intertwining Crosby's spoken narration with full musical numbers.[3]
CD Reissue and legacy
Despite the initial promotional push and critical support, the High Tor album did not receive an official CD release for many years. As noted in later discographic sources, MCA — the corporate successor to Decca — had not issued the soundtrack in digital format as of recent decades.[5] However, in accordance with U.K. public domain regulations, a limited-edition CD reissue of theHigh To "songs and story" album was eventually released by a by Stage Door Records in 2017 (catalogue No. STAGE 2420). This reissue included the original LP tracks along with two bonus renditions of "When You're in Love" performed by The Lancers and The Leroy Holmes Orchestra.[6][7]
The CD was limited to just 500 copies and was made available first in the U.K., with planned distribution in the U.S. via select online vendors, though availability remained inconsistent. For collectors of Crosby's work and enthusiasts of rare 1950s musical broadcasts, this release offered a long-awaited opportunity to revisit a forgotten chapter of television and musical history.[6] Julie Andrews' songs from the film were included on the Sepia Records CD "Once Upon a Time" (Sepia 1103) released in 2007.[8]
Critical reception
In its review, Cash Box described the album as a "long awaited and ambitious television production", noting the strength of the cast and the emotional tone of the music. It highlighted Bing Crosby's narration and singing, as well as Julie Andrews' vocal contributions, particularly in "When You’re in Love" and "John Barleycorn". The review predicted commercial success, especially following the television broadcast.[3]
Meanwhile, Billboard praised the album's promotional campaign and detailed the musical content, emphasizing Crosby's strong presence throughout the LP. The review pointed out five vocal tracks by Crosby, two of which were ballads, and singled out Julie Andrews' contributions for their sweetness and clarity. Everett Sloane's role was also mentioned, though more briefly. Overall, Billboard deemed the album "an excellent package of Crosbiana" and projected brisk sales, particularly if the broadcast proved successful.[9]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Performer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Living One Day at a Time" | Bing Crosby | 3:09 |
| 2. | "When You're in Love" | Bing Crosby | 2:56 |
| 3. | "Sad Is the Life of a Sailor's Wife" | Julie Andrews | 2:14 |
| 4. | "When You're in Love" | Julie Andrews & Everett Sloane | 2:58 |
| 5. | "A Little Love, A Little While" | Bing Crosby | 3:09 |
| 6. | "When You're in Love" (reprise) | Everett Sloane | 2:22 |
All lyrics are written by Maxwell Anderson; all music is composed by Arthur Schwartz.
| No. | Title | Performer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "John Barleycorn" | Bing Crosby | 2:34 |
| 2. | "Once upon a Long Ago" | Julie Andrews | 3:31 |
| 3. | "Once upon a Long Ago" | Bing Crosby | 2:43 |
| 4. | "John Barleycorn" | Bing Crosby and chorus | 2:23 |
| 5. | "A Little Love, A Little While" (reprise) | Bing Crosby | 1:05 |
Personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of High Tor record.[11]
- Arranged by Joseph J. Lilley, Skip Martin
- Score and conducted by Joseph J. Lilley
- Written and produced by Arthur Schwartz
References
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