Disney Music – For Radio Only
In the 1930s, when it came to disseminating America’s popular songs, there were many ways. There was sheet music, phonograph records, juke boxes and… radio transcriptions.
Author Archives: James Parten
Deer, Oh Dear! “Bambi” Gets Covered
Bambi was a bit of a challenge for the Disney song pluggers. For Bambi was something that had not been tried before–a feature-length, animated drama.
Mr. Bug Goes To… Shellac
Of “Mr. Bug’s” song score, two were singled out for “plugging”: the romantic “We’re The Couple In The Castle”, and the rhythm song “Boy Oh Boy”.
It’s Different with the Classics
Fantasia posed a problem for the Music Department at the Walt Disney studio. How do you put lyrics to “Night On Bald Mountain”?? Answer: You don’t!
Flying Elephants, yet!
From the score of Dumbo, Disney decided to concentrate on popularizing two of the songs: the lullaby “Baby Mine” and the rhythmic novelty “When I See An Elephant Fly”.
Not So Reluctant
While nobody thought to build a song around “Baby Weems” or the Goofy short, “How To Ride A Horse”, there was a tune written about “The Reluctant Dragon”.
Pinocchio on RCA and Decca: All In A Nice Neat Package
People who bought the Decca set certainly got value for money–even if the RCA Victor surfaces wore better under the needle than Decca’s.
The “Pinocchio” Song Book
Songs from Disney’s Pinocchio would wind up being given to bands that were not the hottest swing groups, but went to solid name-bands – or obscure musical groups.
Gulliver Travels at 78
The bands that got to record covers for Fleischer Gulliver’s Travels songs ranged from the established swing groups, through the new sensations, and hopeful up-and-comers.
The Song of “Ferdinand the Bull” (1939)
“The Story of Ferdnand” had proven to be a sleeper hit among children’s books – and it caught on with adults during the pacifist movement of the late 1930s. A Disney short and promotional songs would ensue.
