How the West Was Won [Rhino]

Disc 1
1	Overture [Medley] / Ken Darby Singers Extended Version 5:49
2	Main Title / MGM Studio Orchestra 3:07
3	This Is the West / MGM Studio Orchestra 3:18
4	The Erie Canal / Whiskeyhill Quartet 0:32
5	Two Hearts on a Tree / MGM Studio Orchestra 2:02
6	Shenandoah / Ken Darby Singers 0:29
7	First Meeting / MGM Studio Orchestra 2:23
8	First Kiss / Carl Fortina 2:26
9	The Morning After / MGM Studio Orchestra 0:23
10	River Pirates/Stalking and Killing [Medley] / MGM Studio Orchestra Extended Version 9:15
11	Godspeed Eve/The Rapids / MGM Studio Orchestra 2:24
12	Burial (Bereavement/Rock of Ages/Fulfillment) / Debbie Reynolds 4:40
13	Wagon Train Forward (Wagon Train/War with Mexico/Banks of the Sacrament / Ken Darby Singers 2:00
14	Sit Down Sister / MGM Studio Orchestra 1:35
15	Wanderin' 1:38
16	The Jump-Off Point / MGM Studio Orchestra 0:22
17	Cleve Van Valen (Cleve Van Valen/Wagon Train/Morgan, Lilith and Aggie/C / MGM Studio Orchestra 5:16
18	Poor Wayfarin' Stranger 2:03
19	Raise a Ruckus Tonight / Ken Darby Singers 1:44
20	Come Share My Life / Carl Fortina 2:16
21	Cheyennes [Medley] / MGM Studio Orchestra Extended Version 4:37
22	Careless Love / Judy Henske 0:36
23	Gold Claim / Tommy Morgan 1:39
24	What Was Your Name in the States? / Debbie Reynolds Extended Version 2:02
25	He's Gone Away / Carl Fortina Outtake 3:17
26	A Home in the Meadow / Debbie Reynolds 1:55
27	Marriage Proposal / MGM Studio Orchestra 1:44
Disc 2
1	Entr'Acte [Medley] / Ken Darby Singers Extended Version 4:36
2	Mr. Lincoln / MGM Studio Orchestra 1:09
3	He's Linus' Boy / Ken Darby Singers 3:01
4	I'm Sad and I'm Lonely / MGM Studio Orchestra Outtake 3:02
5	When Johnny Comes Marching Home / Ken Darby Singers 0:57
6	Zeb's Return / MGM Studio Orchestra 4:03
7	The Pony Express / MGM Studio Orchestra 1:52
8	A Railroader's Bride I'll Be 1:14
9	Workin' 0:28
10	The Jugglers / MGM Studio Orchestra 0:18
11	No Goodbye / Carl Fortina Outtake 1:48
12	Zeb and Jethro / MGM Studio Orchestra 3:02
13	Buffalo Stampede/Aftermath / MGM Studio Orchestra 1:39
14	Climb a Higher Hill / MGM Studio Orchestra Extended Version 4:17
15	The Van Valen Auction / MGM Studio Orchestra 3:58
16	Gant (Desperado) / MGM Studio Orchestra 1:54
17	No Goodbye / MGM Studio Orchestra 2:35
18	Celebration / MGM Studio Orchestra 1:49
19	Finale / Ken Darby Singers 0:20
20	Finale Ultimo / Ken Darby Singers 2:59
21	Exit Music [Medley] / Ken Darby Singers 2:46
22	Miss Bailey's Ghost / Carl Fortina Playback Version 0:26
23	Home in the Meadow / Carl Fortina Playback Version 3:01
24	When I Was Single / Carl Fortina Playback Version 0:42
25	Shenandoah / Tommy Morgan Alternate Version 2:27
26	Rock of Ages / MGM Studio Chorus Playback Version 1:28
27	Erie Canal / MGM Studio Chorus Playback Version 1:09
28	Wait for the Hoedown / Debbie Reynolds Extended Version 2:49
29	First Meeting / MGM Studio Orchestra Alternate Version 2:23
30	No Goodbye / Ken Darby Singers Demo Version 1:50
31	Home in the Meadow / Debbie Reynolds Alternate Version 2:34

Barnes & Noble

One of the last great scores from Hollywood's "golden age," Newman's rousing music from MGM's Cinerama Western incorporates various folk tunes into its vast Americana fabric. Newman's main fanfare -- backed by the Ken Darby Singers -- sets the tone for a score that boasts its share of both forthright passages and purely melodic interludes. Original or traditional songs are performed by featured actors including Debbie Reynolds. As to be expected with a Rhino reissue, this 1997 two-CD set features an abundance of outtakes and demo versions for several tracks, in addition to full digital remastering and an extensive booklet touching upon all facets of the film's production and Newman's Oscar-nominated soundtrack. Andy Dursin

All Music Guide

This double CD has generally superior sound to the 1992 Sony Music release, but its more than two-hours of music may be a classic case of overkill. The essential problem is that How the West Was Won is rooted in two separate bodies of music, the Alfred Newman instrumental and orchestral material (including the rousing main title theme), spiced with a few traditional (i.e. folk) and traditional-style tunes; and the songs sung by Debbie Reynolds in her various set pieces as an entertainer, principally "Home in the Meadow" (adapted from "Greensleeves"). The Alfred Newman material generally recalls Aaron Copland's musical Americana (especially the "Lincoln Portrait") at its best and most accessible, and the folk songs handled by the choir or Dave Guard's Whiskeyhill Singers come off well -- but then there are those numbers done by Reynolds, which sort of break the spell. It's not that she's a bad singer, it's just that her voice doesn't fit within the surrounding musical settings. One guesses the producers had no choice but to give full play to this part of the score, but one wishes there'd been a way around it. The annotation is very thorough, the photographs (including some behind-the-scenes shots of co-director John Ford) are a nice treat, and anyone who likes the movie or Newman's music is sure to enjoy this. Bruce Eder