Various - Memorial Series 120 Years Hollywood Community and a 100 Years Hollywood Sign (2-CD)

120 years ago, on November 14, 1903, Hollywood was granted the status of an independent municipality. The famous letters, Hollywood’s landmark, were erected 100 years ago – two anniversaries in one year, giving us cause for a musical tribute to this magical place. 

We start with some songs dealing with Hollywood itself, together with the majority of the recordings – soundtracks and actors singing – a musical journey through time from the beginnings of the dream factory in the silent film era to the new millennium was created.

Two CDs with a focus on film music

Both CDs contain rare recordings that were previously only heard in the film itself and have never been released on LP or CD before. On the first eight songs, rockers like Carl Perkins, Connie Francis, Ray Campi and others, as well as the modern jazz of Chet Baker & Bud Shank, deal with Hollywood itself, followed by Tarzan alias Johnny Weissmuller’s legendary Jungle Scream, at the same time the beginning of an almost chronological time travel through Hollywood’s musical film history. 

The career of Dolores Del Rio, who later filmed with Elvis Presley, began in the silent era. Her 1928 Ramona is the oldest song in this retrospective. Bing Crosby, Laurel & Hardy, Judy Garland, Gene Autry, The Andrews Sisters and others contribute songs from the first heyday of talkies in the 1930s and '40s.

In the 1950s, Hollywood experienced a second heyday with new music (rock 'n' roll) and young names (Marlon Brando, Marilyn Monroe, Anthony Perkins, among others). Renowned artists such as Errol Flynn, Robert Mitchum and Kirk Douglas also took to the microphone, Douglas for the Walt Disney production '20000 Leagues Under the Sea'. 

That some actors performed Teen Rock in the 1950s is evidenced here by Jane Russell, Earl Holliman and Michael Landon (known as Little Joe in the TV series 'Bonanza' and in 'Our Little Farm'), among others. 

Film divas are embodied by Jayne Mansfield, Julie London, Jane Russell, Marilyn Monroe, Gina Lollobrigida, Sophia Loren, Bette Davis, Ann-Margret and last but not least June Allyson with a special contribution.

Music from legendary 1960s film productions such as 'Spartacus,' 'Breakfast at Tiffany's,' 'Exodus,' 'Hatari!" and 'The Great Race' follow. Who knew Richard Chamberlain from 'The Thorn Birds' recorded music? You can hear him here. 

Henry Mancini, Francis Lai and Twiggy helped shape the 1960s and it’s hard to imagine Hollywood without them. Telly Savalas (known in Germany as TV commissioner ‘Kojak’) is here with his top hit from 1980, as are Val Kilmer, Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard with soundtrack recordings of famous hits from the rock ‘n’ roll revival of the ‘80s/’90s. 

Amy Irving sings Peggy Lee's Why Don't You Do Right? and used it to lend her voice to Jessica Rabbit in the movie 'Wrong Game with Roger Rabbit'. The retrospective is rounded off with two great final titles from the films 'Pearl Harbor' and 'Rango' with no less famous names: the Hans Zimmer Orchestra and Los Lobos. Roll the film!