The Disney Covers

Back in the early 1990s I was in a record shop in Seattle going through a pile of 78s looking for Disney cover songs.  Prior to Disneyland records in 1956, most Disney music was released by different record companies and mostly artists who did not sing the original music in the films.  As I plowed through the stacks I came across one that caught my eye.  I kept turning it over in astonishment. 2 songs from the 1947 film "Fun and Fancy Free".







The title song sung by Phil Harris and his orchestra.

On the flip side was "Say it With a Slap" sung by Louis Prima and his orchestra. This song was from the episode "Bongo, The Circus Bear".

Wow! the voices of Baloo the Bear and King Louis 20 years before they did "Jungle Book"!!  I had never heard this before.  I have since loved finding these kind of treasure covers on 78 rpm.  You can hear these and others by clicking on the "78 Jukebox" on my website.

It all started with a Toot!

My obsession with Disney music actually goes back to my youth and loving the park music, especially "Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow" from Disneyland in the late 1960s.  As I started to collect Disneyana as an adult, I noticed a lot of Disneyland records still in the thrifts stores and started my early collection there.  Then one day (about 25 years ago) I was in a small second hand shop in Washington state and saw a Little Toot planter on a shelf for $15.  I said to myself, that looks like it was the same Toot from the film. When I examined it there were no Disney markings and as I unsure, I left it there.  The next day I happened to get the latest Tomart magazine and it had an article on Disney Shaw pottery.  As I look it saw what some of these were worth and got excited. Most were going for $100 dollars or more. Then I saw it. There was a picture of the same Little Toot I saw the day before. Valued at $1500!!!  I immediately went back to the shop and it was still there, calmly paid $15 and took it home.  I had some friends in Denver who were Disneyana sellers and I contacted them as I was going to Denver in a few weeks and ask if they were interested in trading for some of their stuff. They were.  They gave me credit to buy what I wanted in exchange for Little Toot.  They had several Shaw pieces but not Toot and they wanted him. Well, they had a large record collection with a lot of sealed records and many rare ones. I was able to quickly fill my collection in one fell swoop for just $15.

The story does not end there. Years later I was at the Disneyana convention in Anaheim and during room hopping (attendees selling Disney good out of their rooms) I get into a chat with Paul Anderson (DHI) and start to tell him my Toot story. He looks back and me and says "I had that Toot.  The guy in Denver you sold it to, sold it to me.  I then eventually sold it to a guy in Japan for $3500"  A rare Toot indeed!  

If you would like to hear the story of Little Toot click below. Some great Thurl Ravenscroft songs!

http://waltsmusic.com/index.php/walt-disney-records/item/18-dq1233-little-toot

The Best Earworm Ever!

I am talking "It's a Small World" after all. One of my favorite songs. I am one of those than can listen to it over and over without going crazy. I know "there are those" (Sherman brothers pun) who cannot stand it, but I love the music and words!  I was at Disneyland when it first opened after the 64-65 Worlds Fair and had enjoyed the ride numerous times!.  Loved taking my kids on it, and will love taking my grand kids this year!!  Over the years I have collected several versions of the song both on Disney and non-Disney vinyl. I even made a loop on my website where you listen to the various versions from Disco to Polka Band!!  Just go to http://waltsmusic.com and click on "It's a Small World Player", unless you fall into the cannot stand it group. As Richard Sherman says "People either love us or hate us for making this song".

On the road to Disneyland

Back in the early 1990s, we would drive from Washington state down I-5 to Disneyland in our Chevy Caprice station wagon loaded with 4 adults and four kids!  We took turns sitting in the far back seat facing out the back window. Most of the trip we listened to Wee Sing Silly Songs tapes and this cassette gem!  "The Official Album of Disneyland / Walt Disney World.  The kids favorite!  My daughter now plays the LP for her kids. What a great collection of park songs!  

You can listen to the LP here: http://waltsmusic.com/index.php/walt-disney-records/item/207-the-official-album-of-disneyland-walt-disney-world

Autographed LPs

I have been fortunate to either find a record signed by the artist,  or meet an artist at a Disney event and have them sign one of my records that they worked on.  Here are a few: 

Ginny Tyler voiced many Disneyland records, mainly as a storyteller. She is a Disney legend for her voice talents in movies (Sword in the Stone, Mary Poppins) and Disney Theme parks ( Enchanted Tiki Room, Mousketeers)  She also lived in Seattle and came to several of our Disneyana Club meetings. 

Lloyd Beebe signed this album when our Disneyana club took a trip to the Olympic Game Farm in Washington state.  This was where most of the Incredible Journey was filmed and Lloyd was the animal trainer and cinematographer also. Lloyd worked on several True Life Adventure films.  

I met Bruce Botnick at the Seattle EMP when he was giving a talk about working at Tutti Camarata's Sunset Sounds Studio. This album was the first he worked on as engineer for the studios.  Everyone else in the audience had Doors albums for him to sign, lol.  In the morning he did Disney and the evening was Rock N Roll. 

This sountrack was the last released before switching to the "new" format of CDs.  Signed by all the artist. Purchased it online. 

Robert Sherman was in Seattle for the year long Disney records 50th exhibit.  I unsealed this record for him to sign. One of my favorites!  I also have an LLP of "Its a Small World" that he and his brother Robert signed years ago.

Found this album in a thrift store and saw this note on one of the pages. Alan Maley illustrated the album. Have no idea who Gladys is. 

Another thrift store find, this time in while I was in Southern California.  Saw this in a bin of  $1 records and gasp when I saw Vesey's signature on it!  Probably purchased in the Wonderland Music Shop on Main Street!

Walt Disney Studio record "Humphrey Hop"

The cartoon "In the Bag" with J. Audubon Woodlore and the brownstone bears was released in 1956 (which is the year I was born) and featured the song "Humphrey Hop"  I purchased this studio recording of the song which is in 78 format. This may have been used to help animators during creation of the cartoon. It is only instrumental, no singing.  Recorded in 1955.  Notice there are 2 holes?  This is a "cut" record made using a special record recorder player.  The 2 holes hold the record in place while the machine cuts into the blank disc while recording. These are one of a kind records as opposed to mass produced commercial records. 

You can listen to it here:  http://waltsmusic.com/index.php/disney-related-records/item/388-humphrey-hop-walt-disney-studios

I also have another album that does feature J. Audubon Woodlore, voice by Bill Thompson (Mr. Smee in Peter Pan) that was from the Wonderful World of Color TV show. 

You can listen to this album here:  http://waltsmusic.com/index.php/walt-disney-records/item/2-dq-1300-a-natures-guide

Disneyland Goes to the World's Fair

Included in the collection of Jack Wagner tapes and videos that I was given was this case labeled "Disneyland Goes to the World's Fair".  It appears to be the mock up that Bruce Gordon created before he passed away in 2007. The CD set name was changed to "Walt Disney and the 1964 World's Fair" and released in 2009.

Front Cover includes the picture used on the final release, but different title.

Back cover and spine

Booklet included in the case.  Just the front and back cover shown here. I will scan later and include the contents in another blog

There are 4 CDs, same as the final set, but covers are different and there is no content on these CDs.

I have the CD set, still in boxes from my move to Wisconsin.  When I pull it out I will compare with this mock up and see any changes from the final release. 

Disneyland TV Commercial Jingle

Found this old 78 record years ago in a thrift store.  I had never seen the Peter Pan Disneyland TV commercials before (found this before YouTube) and wondered what it was.  Took it home and listened. Turns out it was recorded and sent to salesmen to push the sales of Peter Pan Peanut Butter. 

As Mr. Lane says on the record "Take a listen for yourself":  http://waltsmusic.com/index.php/just-for-fun/item/386-peter-pan-peanut-butter-jingle

Peter Pan Peanut Butter was a sponsor of the Disneyland TV show in the late 1950s.  These cute commercials featured the characters from Peter Pan to include a talking Tinker Bell, voiced by Gloria Wood.  Most were narrated by Sterling Halloway.  The second jingle on this record about the robot who "puts the crunch in Peter Pan" is either voiced by Paul Frees or Thurl Ravenscroft. 

You can find several Youtube videos of the old commercials including a few with the first jingle. Have not seen one with the second jingle yet.