Paint Your Wagon – SOUNDTRACK*****

Main Title(I’m On My Way)/I Still See Elisa/The First Thing You Know/Hand Me Down That Can O’ Beans/They Call The Wind Maria/A Million Miles Away Behind The Door/There’s A Coach Comin’ In/Whoop-Ti-Ay (Shivaree)/I Talk To The Trees/The Gospel Of No Name City/Best Things/Wand’rin’ Star/Gold Fever/Finale

The musical western Paint Your Wagon is an updated version of the early 1950s Broadway stage show. It starred Clint Eastwood and Lee Marvin, the latter a very unlikely vocalist. Includes the British No. 1 hit single Wand’rin’ Star. Music by Frederick Loewe, lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner. (US:28 UK:2)

“Just about every song on this record is exceptional. They hold their own against any song performed on a Broadway musical stage or in any movie. But the pinnacle of this album will forever remain Lee Marvin 'singing' Wand’rin' Star, the class act song of the entire production. Could Marvin sing? Of course not, but it doesn't matter, you can listen to this version a thousand times and never weary of it.”

“The soundtrack weaves between some delicate ballads, such as I Still See Elisa, A Million Miles Away Behind The Door and Wand'rin’ Star," to potent tunes like They Call the Wind Maria and others that go to the opposite extreme with rip-roaring fun, like Hand Me Down That Can Of Beans. Very few songs on the soundtrack fail to contribute to the overall sense of ribaldry and camaraderie.”

“The songs, written by Lerner and Loewe, are very good. But the fact is, most of the actors here aren't very good singers. To be fair, Harve Presnell has a terrific musical theatre type voice. But Clint Eastwood and Lee Marvin can't sing worth a lick. Clint has a weak voice and has trouble staying in tune. As for Lee, his off-key basso profundo warbling would be painful to listen to, if it wasn't so darn funny.”

“This really is a soundtrack, not one of these pop-quicky-samplers as of recent movies. All songs are really to be heard in the movie. You'll get to hear wonderful tunes and songs you can even understand."

“The songs live on in your head for days. They are uplifting, funny, and musical. Neither Eastwood or Marvin can be considered great musical voices, but they are fittingly adaptable to this musical. Paint Your Wagon is a soundtrack from a musical era gone by. Unlike many modern soundtracks, this one can be enjoyed by the whole family.”