West Side Story (soundtrack)
Encyclopedia
West Side Story is the soundtrack
to the 1961 film West Side Story
. Released in 1961, the soundtrack spent 54 weeks at #1 on Billboard
's album charts, giving it the longest run at #1 of any album in history, although some lists instead credit Michael Jackson
's Thriller
, on the grounds that West Side Story was listed on a chart for stereo albums only at a time when many albums were recorded in mono
. In 1961, it won a Grammy award for "Best Sound Track Album – Original Cast". In the United States
, it was the best-selling album of the 1960s, certifying three times platinum
by the RIAA on November 21, 1986.
Though the album was released just a few years after the release of the original broadway cast recording
, it is according to Broadway Babies preferred by some to the earlier version both sentimentally, as the film succeeded in establishing the musical as a "popular masterpiece", and musically, as it contains "beefier orchestration".
spoke of singing the role of Maria and of her observations of some of the other singers whose voices were dubbed
into the film. According to Nixon, very little of the singing on the soundtrack was contributed by the on-screen top-billing stars of the film; while George Chakiris
provided vocals for the character of Bernardo, Nixon claims, even Russ Tamblyn
's voice was dubbed over by Tucker Smith because Tamblyn had contractual obligations with MGM Records
. (While the film was released by MGM Studios, the soundtrack was produced by CBS Records
as part of rights it acquired in purchasing the Broadway soundtrack.) Final determination of which voices would be used and how much for the film's songs was left to producer
Saul Chaplin
, who at various times told Nixon that her voice would be used to supplement or extend that of actress Natalie Wood
or to replace it altogether. After filming was complete, Nixon recorded several songs while watching film loops so that she could synchronize her voice to Wood's action. Nixon also dubbed several lines for Wood and contributed co-dubber Betty Wand
's part to the song now called "Tonight". Although it was not industry standard at the time, Nixon arranged to receive a small percentage of the royalties for sales of the soundtrack, which, as she did not receive credit for her performance on the album, she indicates helped "salve any wounds".
and Stephen Sondheim
.
Vocal performers listed parenthetically after song title.
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
to the 1961 film West Side Story
West Side Story (film)
West Side Story is a 1961 musical film directed by Robert Wise and Jerome Robbins. The film is an adaptation of the 1957 Broadway musical of the same name, which in turn was adapted from William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet. It stars Natalie Wood, Richard Beymer, Russ Tamblyn, Rita Moreno,...
. Released in 1961, the soundtrack spent 54 weeks at #1 on Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
's album charts, giving it the longest run at #1 of any album in history, although some lists instead credit Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
's Thriller
Thriller (album)
Thriller is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Michael Jackson. It was released on November 30, 1982, by Epic Records as the follow-up to Jackson's critically and commercially successful 1979 album Off the Wall...
, on the grounds that West Side Story was listed on a chart for stereo albums only at a time when many albums were recorded in mono
Monaural
Monaural or monophonic sound reproduction is single-channel. Typically there is only one microphone, one loudspeaker, or channels are fed from a common signal path...
. In 1961, it won a Grammy award for "Best Sound Track Album – Original Cast". In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, it was the best-selling album of the 1960s, certifying three times platinum
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
by the RIAA on November 21, 1986.
Though the album was released just a few years after the release of the original broadway cast recording
West Side Story (Original Broadway Cast)
West Side Story is the 1957 recording of a Broadway production of the musical West Side Story. Recorded 3 days after the show opened at the Winter Garden Theatre, the recording was released in October 1957 in both mono and stereo formats. In 1962, the album reached #5 on Billboard's "Pop Album"...
, it is according to Broadway Babies preferred by some to the earlier version both sentimentally, as the film succeeded in establishing the musical as a "popular masterpiece", and musically, as it contains "beefier orchestration".
Dubbing
In her autobiography, I Could Have Sung All Night, Marni NixonMarni Nixon
Marni Nixon is an American soprano and playback singer for featured actresses in movie musicals. She has also spent much of her career performing in concerts with major symphony orchestras around the world and in operas and musicals throughout the United States.-Biography:Born Margaret Nixon...
spoke of singing the role of Maria and of her observations of some of the other singers whose voices were dubbed
Dubbing (filmmaking)
Dubbing is the post-production process of recording and replacing voices on a motion picture or television soundtrack subsequent to the original shooting. The term most commonly refers to the substitution of the voices of the actors shown on the screen by those of different performers, who may be...
into the film. According to Nixon, very little of the singing on the soundtrack was contributed by the on-screen top-billing stars of the film; while George Chakiris
George Chakiris
George Chakiris is an American-Greek dancer, singer and actor.-Early life:Chakiris was born in Norwood, Ohio, to Steven and Zoe Chakiris, immigrants from Greece. Chakiris studied at the American School of Dance....
provided vocals for the character of Bernardo, Nixon claims, even Russ Tamblyn
Russ Tamblyn
Russell Irving "Russ" Tamblyn is an American film and television actor, who is arguably best known for his performance in the 1961 movie musical West Side Story as Riff, the leader of the Jets gang....
's voice was dubbed over by Tucker Smith because Tamblyn had contractual obligations with MGM Records
MGM Records
MGM Records was a record label started by the Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film studio in 1946, for the purpose of releasing soundtrack albums of their musical films. Later it became a pop label, lasting into the 1970s...
. (While the film was released by MGM Studios, the soundtrack was produced by CBS Records
CBS Records
CBS Records is a record label founded by CBS Corporation in 2006 to take advantage of music from its entertainment properties owned by CBS Television Studios. The initial label roster consisted of only three artists; rock band Señor Happy and singer/songwriters Will Dailey and P.J...
as part of rights it acquired in purchasing the Broadway soundtrack.) Final determination of which voices would be used and how much for the film's songs was left to producer
Film producer
A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...
Saul Chaplin
Saul Chaplin
Saul Chaplin was an American composer and musical director.He was born Saul Kaplan in Brooklyn, New York.He had worked on stage, screen and television since the days of Tin Pan Alley...
, who at various times told Nixon that her voice would be used to supplement or extend that of actress Natalie Wood
Natalie Wood
Natalie Wood, born Natalia Nikolaevna Zacharenko was an American film and television actress. After first working in films as a child, Wood became a successful Hollywood star as a young adult, receiving three Academy Award nominations before she was 25 years old.Wood began acting in movies at the...
or to replace it altogether. After filming was complete, Nixon recorded several songs while watching film loops so that she could synchronize her voice to Wood's action. Nixon also dubbed several lines for Wood and contributed co-dubber Betty Wand
Betty Wand
Betty Wand is an American singer and author, best known as the singing voice dubbed in for various actresses in musical films, including Leslie Caron in Gigi and some of Rita Moreno's part in West Side Story...
's part to the song now called "Tonight". Although it was not industry standard at the time, Nixon arranged to receive a small percentage of the royalties for sales of the soundtrack, which, as she did not receive credit for her performance on the album, she indicates helped "salve any wounds".
Track listing
All tracks by Leonard BernsteinLeonard Bernstein
Leonard Bernstein August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990) was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer and pianist. He was among the first conductors born and educated in the United States of America to receive worldwide acclaim...
and Stephen Sondheim
Stephen Sondheim
Stephen Joshua Sondheim is an American composer and lyricist for stage and film. He is the winner of an Academy Award, multiple Tony Awards including the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, multiple Grammy Awards, a Pulitzer Prize and the Laurence Olivier Award...
.
Vocal performers listed parenthetically after song title.
CD version
- "Overture" – 4:39
- "Prologue" – 6:37
- "Jet Song" (Tucker SmithTucker SmithTucker Smith, born Thomas William Smith , was an American actor/dancer/singer best known for his role as Ice in the movie musical West Side Story....
, Jets) – 2:06 - "Something's Coming" (Jim BryantJimmy Bryant (singer)Jimmy Bryant is a singer, arranger and composer. He is most well known for providing the singing voice of Tony in the 1961 film musical West Side Story...
) – 2:32 - "Dance at the Gym" (Blues, Promenade, Mambo, Pas de Deux, film dialogue, and Jump) – 9:24
- "MariaMaria (1956 song)"Maria" is a song from the Broadway musical West Side Story, sung by the lead character Tony. The music was written by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The song was published in 1956....
" (Bryant) – 2:34 - "America" (Rita MorenoRita MorenoRita Moreno is a Puerto Rican singer, dancer and actress. She is the only Hispanic and one of the few performers who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony, and was the second Puerto Rican to win an Academy Award....
, George ChakirisGeorge ChakirisGeorge Chakiris is an American-Greek dancer, singer and actor.-Early life:Chakiris was born in Norwood, Ohio, to Steven and Zoe Chakiris, immigrants from Greece. Chakiris studied at the American School of Dance....
, Sharks & Girls) – 4:59 - "Tonight" (Jim Bryant, Marni NixonMarni NixonMarni Nixon is an American soprano and playback singer for featured actresses in movie musicals. She has also spent much of her career performing in concerts with major symphony orchestras around the world and in operas and musicals throughout the United States.-Biography:Born Margaret Nixon...
) – 5:43 - "Gee, Officer Krupke" (Russ TamblynRuss TamblynRussell Irving "Russ" Tamblyn is an American film and television actor, who is arguably best known for his performance in the 1961 movie musical West Side Story as Riff, the leader of the Jets gang....
, Jets) – 4:14 - "Intermission" – 1:30
- "I Feel Pretty" (Nixon, Yvonne Othon, Suzie Kaye) – 3:35
- "One Hand, One Heart" (Bryant, Nixon) – 3:02
- "Quintet" (Bryant, Nixon, Moreno, Jets, Sharks) – 3:22
- "The Rumble" – 2:39
- "SomewhereSomewhere (song)"Somewhere" is a song from the 1957 Broadway musical West Side Story which was made into a film in 1961. The music is composed by Leonard Bernstein with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and takes a phrase from the slow movement of Beethoven's 'Emperor' Piano Concerto, which forms the start of the...
" (Bryant, Nixon) - "Cool" (Tucker Smith, Jets) – 4:21
- "A Boy Like ThatA Boy Like That"A Boy Like That" is a song from the 1957 Broadway musical West Side Story, with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. In the musical, the song is paired with "I Have a Love" and is sung by the characters Anita and Maria. For the original Broadway cast recording, the song was...
/I Have a Love" (Betty Wand, Nixon (as both Anita and Maria)) – 4:28 - "Finale" (Nixon, Bryant) – 4:20
- "End Credits" – 5:05
Side 1
- "Prologue"
- "Jet Song"
- "Something's Coming"
- "Dance at the Gym" (Blues, Promenade, and Jump)
- "MariaMaria (1956 song)"Maria" is a song from the Broadway musical West Side Story, sung by the lead character Tony. The music was written by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. The song was published in 1956....
" - "America"
- "Tonight"
Side 2
- "Gee, Officer Krupke"
- "I Feel Pretty"
- "One Hand, One Heart"
- "The Rumble"
- "Cool"
- "A Boy Like That/I Have a Love"
- "Somewhere"
Chart positions
| Year | Label & number | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | Columbia OL 5670 (Mono) / OS 2070 (Stereo) | Billboard Pop Albums (Billboard 200) (mono and stereo) | 1 |
| UK Albums Chart UK Albums Chart The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart... |
|||
| 1963 | Columbia OL 5670 (Mono) / OS 2070 (Stereo) | Billboard Pop Albums (Billboard 200) (mono and stereo) | |
| UK Albums Chart | |||
Performance
- Richard BeymerRichard BeymerGeorge Richard Beymer, Jr. is an American actor known for playing Tony in the 1961 film version of West Side Story and Ben Horne on the 1990 television series Twin Peaks.-Life and career:...
– performer - Jim BryantJimmy Bryant (singer)Jimmy Bryant is a singer, arranger and composer. He is most well known for providing the singing voice of Tony in the 1961 film musical West Side Story...
– performer - George ChakirisGeorge ChakirisGeorge Chakiris is an American-Greek dancer, singer and actor.-Early life:Chakiris was born in Norwood, Ohio, to Steven and Zoe Chakiris, immigrants from Greece. Chakiris studied at the American School of Dance....
– performer - The Jets – performers
- Suzie Kaye – performer
- Jo Anne Miya – performer
- Rita MorenoRita MorenoRita Moreno is a Puerto Rican singer, dancer and actress. She is the only Hispanic and one of the few performers who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony, and was the second Puerto Rican to win an Academy Award....
– performer - Marni NixonMarni NixonMarni Nixon is an American soprano and playback singer for featured actresses in movie musicals. She has also spent much of her career performing in concerts with major symphony orchestras around the world and in operas and musicals throughout the United States.-Biography:Born Margaret Nixon...
– performer - Yvonne Othon – performer
- Sharks – performers
- Tucker Smith – performer
- Russ TamblynRuss TamblynRussell Irving "Russ" Tamblyn is an American film and television actor, who is arguably best known for his performance in the 1961 movie musical West Side Story as Riff, the leader of the Jets gang....
– performer - Betty Wand – performer
- Natalie WoodNatalie WoodNatalie Wood, born Natalia Nikolaevna Zacharenko was an American film and television actress. After first working in films as a child, Wood became a successful Hollywood star as a young adult, receiving three Academy Award nominations before she was 25 years old.Wood began acting in movies at the...
– performer
Production
- Mark Cetts – engineer
- Saul Chaplin – musical director, assistant producer
- Didier C. Deutsch – producer
- John Green – conductor, musical director
- Roy Hemming – liner notes
- Bill Ivie – engineer
- Irwin Kostal – musical director, orchestrator
- Ernest Lehman – screenplay
- Boris LevenBoris LevenBoris Leven was a Russian-born Academy Award-winning art director and production designer whose Hollywood career spanned fifty-three years....
– production design - Sid Ramin – musical director, orchestrator
- Jerome RobbinsJerome RobbinsJerome Robbins was an American theater producer, director, and choreographer known primarily for Broadway Theater and Ballet/Dance, but who also occasionally directed films and directed/produced for television. His work has included everything from classical ballet to contemporary musical theater...
– directorFilm directorA film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
, choreographer - Robert WiseRobert WiseRobert Earl Wise was an American sound effects editor, film editor, film producer and director...
– director