Gene Kelly At Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer: 'S Wonderful Soundtrack CD

And indeed it is wonderful, a fitting memorial to the late Gene Kelly, starting out with the ever-wonderful rendition of "Singin' in the Rain," a recording that never becomes tiresome or boring. The selection of songs is just fine, hitting solo high points along with duet and ensemble numbers that still delight -- "Good Morning," with Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds, "The Babbitt and the Bromide" with Fred Astaire, and a delightfully funny version of "I Got Rhythm." Many of these numbers are best enjoyed, of course, in their original context, with Kelly's dance work carrying them, but fans will doubtless be grateful for this compilation. Wonderful mastering and extensive annotation complete a superb package. ~ Steven McDonald

GENE KELLY AT M-G-M: 'S WONDERFUL contains original numbers from several Gene Kelly movies including "Singin' In The Rain," "An American In Paris," "On The Town," "The Pirate," "Anchors Aweigh," "Take Me Out To The Ballgame," "It's Always Fair Weather," "Brigadoon," "Summerstock," "For Me And My Gal," "Ziegfeld Follies," "Living In A Big Way," and "Les Girls."

Performers include: Gene Kelly, Judy Garland, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Connor.

Compilation producers: George Feltenstein, Bradley Flanagan.

Personnel: Gene Kelly (vocals); Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Connor, Jerry the Mouse, Fred Astaire, Georges Guétary, Taina Elg, Judy Garland, Mitzi Gaynor, Phil Silvers, Betty Wand, Kendall Kay (vocals).

Liner Note Authors: George Feltenstein; Will Friedwald.

Recording information: Audio Mechanics, Los Angeles, CA (05/12/1944-07/07/1955).

Unknown Contributor Role: MGM Studio Orchestra.

Arrangers: Wally Heglin; Conrad Salinger; John Green; Ted Duncan; Adolph Deutsch; André Previn; Roger Edens; Saul Chaplin; Skip Martin ; Alexander Courage.Entertainment Weekly (6/28-7/5/96, p.107) - "...The set's most successful recordings are Kelly's duets with the cheerily precise Fred Astaire and the ever-electric Judy Garland." - Rating: B