LPCDreissues: Looking forward to the past

In the early 1930s, musicals weren't exactly in favor at M-G-M. Broadway Melody Of 1936 -- starring Eleanor Powell, Jack Benny, Frances Langford, June Knight, and Robert Taylor -- changed all that. The Arthur Freed / Nacio Herb Brown-scored production was a box office smash, turning Powell into a major star. Before Broadway was even completed, M-G-M was already plotting its next move for Eleanor Powell. Originally entitled Great Guns, the new production enlisted the scoring talents of Cole Porter and became Born To Dance, the story of a show business hopeful and a handsome young sailor who become entwined via their involvement in a Broadway show. The film was an instant crowd-pleaser, the box office success of which led to further Powell-Porter vehicles such as Rosalie and Broadway Melody Of 1940. Interestingly, Born To Dance produced two hits that have since become hallmarks of the Cole Porter canon: "Easy To Love" and "I've Got You Under My Skin." The composer had needed coaxing to work in Hollywood (this was his first score for M-G-M), but he seemed to enjoy himself, for many of the songs exuded a fun, freewheeling spirit that differed from his typically sophisticated fare. "Swingin' The Jinx Away," the film's 15-minute finale, became a famous sequence thanks to its functioning battleship set and wide array of dance specialties. This Rhino Handmade / Turner Classic Movies Music release represents the first-ever complete soundtrack album of Cole Porter's score for Born To Dance. For optimal sound quality, the original 35mm optical prerecordings were used. Several of the tracks employed multiple microphones, thus enabling us to present them in stereophonic sound. Born To Dance is available as an individually numbered limited edition of 2,500 copies.
TRACK LISTING MAIN TITLE (SWINGIN' THE JINX AWAY/EASY TO LOVE) (1:30) ROLLING HOME (3:58) EASY TO LOVE (3:04) RAP TAP ON WOOD (Extended Version) (4:22) MEDLEY: EASY TO LOVE/HEY, BABE, HEY! (3:21) HEY, BABE, HEY! (6:26) ENTRANCE OF LUCY JAMES (2:13) LOVE ME, LOVE MY PEKINESE (1:15) LOVE ME, LOVE MY PEKINESE/EASY TO LOVE (3:18) EASY TO LOVE (8:10) I'VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN (2:36) I'VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN (2:39) EASY TO LOVE (REPRISE) (2:27) SWINGIN' THE JINX AWAY (13:17) EASY TO LOVE (FINALE) (0:54) I'VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN (Unused Version) (2:24) I'VE GOT YOU UNDER MY SKIN (Unused Version) (2:45) EASY TO LOVE (Unused "Censored" Version) (2:54)