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.
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.
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.
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 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.
A couple of Berlin-based bands got to record “Snow White” songs – and thereby hangs one of several tales.
If you were asked to name a country in continental Europe where Snow White might not run its appointed course, you wouldn’t necessarily think of Spain.
“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” conquered the rest of the world, and the Disney crew had their boots laced and were ready to go! And, where the film went – so did the song score.
If there’s one thing that the Walt Disney concern learned during the 1930’s, it’s that there was oodles of boodle to be made from the “foreign” market.
This was the first Popeye cartoon released during the calendar year of 1938, and it’s quite notable for what it has–and for what it doesn’t have.
In 1937, when Snow White was released, Disney had many more ways its songs could be promoted. It was now the much-revered “Big Band Era”.
