digby fairweather

Hi everybody!

There's been some chat about the l946 musical 'London Town' directed by Wesley Ruggles with Field, Petula C et al. Got the CD of the soundtyrack but was disappointed to note that one very important track 'Any way the wind blows' (Burke/Van Heusen) isn't there....it's sung by a pleasue boat full of people steaming up the Thames in the movie! I wondered why this had been omitted - and if anyone has a copy of the soundtrack edition of the song or indeed if it (presumably) wasn't included in the original 78 set?

julian_craster

Sadly, 'Any way the wind blows' (Burke/Van Heusen)wasn't recorded for the Decca 78rpm set...(which incidentally was recorded separately by Decca at Wembley Town Hall and differs slightly from the musical arrangements heard on the film soundtrack).

Other missing segments are YOU OUGHT TO SEE ME ON SATURDAY NIGHT by Sid Field, and some of the 'pearly kings and queens' sequence.

I understand that the full length 120 minute version of LONDON TOWN is available to view at the new BFI Mediatheque on London's South Bank.
It differs considerably from the shortened version !


Soundtrack for
London Town (1946)

(it is likely that the singing voice of Kay Kendall was dubbed)
London Town (1946) - Soundtracks


"You Can't Keep a Good Dreamer Down"
Music by Jimmy Van Heusen
Lyrics by Johnny Burke
Performed by Sid Field

"The 'Ampstead Way"
Music by Jimmy Van Heusen
Lyrics by Johnny Burke
Performed by Kay Kendall*, Sid Field with Jack Parnell

"Any Way the Wind Blows"
Music by Jimmy Van Heusen
Lyrics by Johnny Burke
Performed by chorus

"So Would I"
Music by Jimmy Van Heusen
Lyrics by Johnny Burke
Performed by Beryl Davis
(Also performed as duet with Scotty McHarg in the 125 minute version)

"My Heart Goes Crazy"
Music by Jimmy Van Heusen
Lyrics by Johnny Burke
Performed by Tessie O'Shea, Kay Kendall* and The Dozen and One Girls

"If Spring were only here to stay"
Music by Jimmy Van Heusen
Lyrics by Johnny Burke
Sung by Ann Sullivan and Marion Saunders with boys choir
(in the 125 minute version)

"You ought to see me on Saturday Night"
Music by Jimmy Van Heusen
Lyrics by Johnny Burke
Performed by Sonnie Hale, reprised by Sid Field
(in the 125 minute version)

"Don't Dilly Dally on the Way"
Fred W. Leigh / Charles Collins
Performed by Tessie O'Shea, Kay Kendall and the Pearly Kings and Queens

"Any Old Iron"
Fred Collins, Fred Terry, E.A. Sheppard
Performed by Tessie O'Shea, Kay Kendall and the Pearly Kings and Queens

"Wot Cher, Knock 'em in the Old kent Road"
Albert Chevalier, Charles Ingle
Performed by Tessie O'Shea, Kay Kendall and the Pearly Kings and Queens

"Give Me an old-fashioned pub"
Performed by Pearly King (unnamed)
(in the 125 minute version)

"Moonlight on the Thames"
Performed by Orchestra conducted by Camarata
(in the 125 minute version)

"Daffodil Hill Ballet music"
Conducted and Arranged by Camarata
(in the 125 minute version)