Snow White in French and English

 I found this unusual album today at a local thrift shop. Its Walt Disney Presents songs from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs in French and English, from Walt Disney Productions, 1963.  The front of the album declares it's Educational and Entertaining! 

Songs include: Je Souhaite, Un Sourer En Chantant, Sifflez En Travaillant, Un Jour Prince Viendra, Un Chant, I'm Wishing, With a Smile and a Song, Whistle While You Work, Some Day My Prince Will Come, and One Song. 

Music by Frank Churchill, Words by Lary Morey. French versions by Marcel Ventura, assisted by Alfred Fatio.

This album is DQ-1237, and manufactured in Canada by Walt Disney Music of Canada Limited.

Walt Disney's Disneyland Album Prop

Walt Disney's Disneyland "Pinocchio" Album Screen-Used Prop (Walt Disney, 1955). This 78 RPM Pinocchio album may look fairly ordinary at first glance, but it is so much more than that. This is an extremely rare hand-painted prop held by Walt Disney himself for the 9/28/55 episode of the Walt Disney's Disneyland television series, titled "Jiminy Cricket Presents Bongo." Walt is shown in his office at the beginning of the show, where he takes the album from his bookcase to play "When You Wish Upon a Star," to identify and introduce Jiminy Cricket. The actual typed script Walt reads is taped to the inside front cover of the jacket. There are four 78 RPM records inside the jacket; the first sleeve is stamped "WDP Record Library." The front cover was altered by hand-painting over parts of the print (an identical, unaltered green and red print is on the back cover), to make it more attractive for screen use. It's an incredible piece of Disney TV history! There is a minor split and tape on the spine, marked with a library number, and there is some light handling wear, but the overall condition remains Fine.

This item sold on the Heritage Auctions site for $1314.50.

Bed knobs and Broomsticks

 

Here is a copy of the "Songs from Bedknobs and Broomsticks" album from 1971 with music and lyrics by Richard M. Shaerman and Robert B. Sherman. I picked this up mostly for the sticker on the front "Direct Import, Factory Sealed" along with the price sticker from Woodward's Records.  As you can see the original price was $5.98, but it was marked down to $5.05. I also noticed it was downgraded from a B to a C, whatever that means. 

Growing up, Woodward's music department was one of my favourite places to buy records, along with "Planters" music at the Bay. Later Sam the Record Man and then A&B were THE places to buy music.

Disneyland Records by Sparton of Canada Ltd

 

I picked up this copy of Walt Disney's Westward Ho the Wagons! some time ago on one of my trips to the USA (before Covid struck) but didn't notice until yesterday that it was something unusual. Apparently it is a Canadian company that was releasing Disneyland albums here in Canada. Printed on the centre record label it says in large letters, CANADIAN PRESSING BY SPARTON OF CANADA LTD. RECORDED BY WALT DISNEY MUSIC CO.  On the outside of the record cover, at the top righthand corner is a large gold stamp that says SPARTON. The back of the cover still says Printed in U.S.A. 

Strangely, The Golden Age of Walt Disney Records 1933-1988 book by R. Michael Murray, says, "Be aware that any Disney record with "Spartan" listed on the cover is a Canadian pressing. He spelled Spartan with an "A" instead of an "O" which is how it is spelled on my copy. I wonder if it was a spelling mistake in the book, or if both spelling were used? Being as I am a Canada, I would assume that I must have other albums in my collection that are Canadian pressings, so now I will have to be on the lookout for this stamp on the covers of my albums. I think its funny the the first Canadian pressing that I noticed was purchased at a thrift store in the USA!

Who Framed Roger Rabbit

 Last year I purchased the Who Framed Roger Rabbit original motion picture soundtrack vinyl from Mondo. And along with the other various vinyl and CD Roger Rabbit albums I had, I thought I pretty much had it all when it came to what had been released from Who Framed Roger Rabbit. But, I've recently found two new items I really want to add to my collection. 

First off is a rare 1988 45 rpm picture sleeve of "Why Don't You Do Right?" (Jessica Rabbit) from the Netherlands. 

Second, we have a piano roll of The Merry-Go-Round Broke Down and Smile, Darn You Smile from Who Framed Roger Rabbit released by QRS Music Technologies of Seneca, PA. The Jessica 45 may be pretty tough to find, the the piano roll can be ordered from QRS Music, so I should have my copy soon!

Concept Drawings of the Disneyland Music Shop

Here are two great pieces of concept artwork for the Disneyland music shop on Main Street USA. First up is a piece of concept art for the Music Store done sometime before Disneyland's July 17th, 1955 opening. I love that there is a player piano in the shop along with a wall of what looks to be player piano rolls for sale - which Disneyland did sell early on. I also love the table and chair that look like they hung out here before their emergence in the séance room of the Haunted Mansion 14 years later.

Next is a commemorative poster (Disneyland 1999) featuring the concept art of Imagineer Sam McKim, that was created to mark the opening of the "20th Century Music Company" on Main Street on June 20, 1999. Over the years, the shop has sold limited edition pins, Disney sheet music, cds, and other souvenirs, and this concept art provides a fantastic look at the inside of this unique location.

Official Mickey Mouse Club Records

I found a bunch of Walt Disney's Official Mickey Mouse Club records today in an antique store. There were about 15 of them, but I decided to just pick out a few. I came home with two different copies of The Official Mickey Mouse Club March, and the Official Mickey Mouse Club Pledge. I had to buy three because two or four would not have made a Mickey head in my photo.

Les Robinson Des Mers Du Sud

I visited a record store the other day, they had a very tiny selection of Disney records, but they did have this odd record in their soundtrack section. It is a French Canadian Disneyland record of The Swiss Family Robinson titled Les Robinson Des Mers Du Sud which oddly looks fake. I could not find a date on the record, and when I looked on line, what I found was a French Canadian album listed as 1004-22 with a much more official looking album cover. I listened to my copy and found it to be a retelling of the story in French, with sound from the film, and very little music.
First, here is the album cover of the album I have, along with the record labels. I noticed that mine says SIDE 1, while the other says FACE 1.

And here is the more official looking album I found on line, which is listed at 1004-22.