Unique among British film musicals of the 1940's, Rank's 1946 extravaganza London Town was the first big-budget Technicolor musical to be made in Britain. All the stops were pulled out; the production numbers were elaborate, with settings and costumes that far outshone anything made for British film musicals before.

Directed by American Wesley Ruggles with a score by Oscar-winning tunesmiths Burke and Van Heusen London Town was filmed at Shepperton Studios, with an all-star cast led by comedian Sid Field. Fourteen year old moppet Petula Clark, already a popular radio and variety performer, also featured, alongside Norwegian screen siren Greta Gynt, British Variety star Tessie O'Shea, newcomer Kay Kendall and the music of Ted Heath. British songstress Beryl Davis introduced the new Burke/Van Heusen score, which included 'So Would I' and 'My Heart Goes Crazy', as both herself and the singing voice of Kay Kendall. Much of the comedy material featured in London Town is drawn from Sid Field's West End wartime variety reviews.

The music of London Town was originally released on five 78rpm gramophone records in 1946 and holds the distinction of being Britain's first motion picture soundtrack album. This CD marks the first reissue of these historic recordings and the 60th anniversary of one of the milestones of British cinema.

To complement the London Town soundtrack we include Greta Gynt performing 'Lady Spiv' (written by Vivian Ellis) which she sang in the 1948 British film Easy Money, and Petula Clark performing her first ever commercial recordings which she recorded for the Columbia label in 1949. Tessie O'Shea's commercial recording of 'The 'Ampstead Way' is also included.

Additional Details

Label: Sepia Records

Genre: Soundtrack

Release Date: 09/12/06

UPC: 5055122110767