Film legend Alfred Newman – that’s “Brother” to Lionel and Emil Newman, “Uncle Al” to Randy Newman, and “Dad” to Thomas and David Newman! – has long had a home at the Kritzerland label.  2013 alone has seen Kritzerland release Newman’s scores to Leave Her to Heaven (paired with his Take Care of My Little Girl) and How Green Was My Valley, and now, those titles are being followed up by another CD premiere release which is now available for pre-order.

Director George Seaton’s The Pleasure of His Company was scored by Newman at Paramount Pictures in 1961 following his departure from longtime home 20th Century Fox one year earlier.  The starry comedy featured Fred Astaire, Debbie Reynolds, Lilli Palmer and Tab Hunter and was based on Samuel Taylor and Cornelia Otis Skinner’s 1958 play of the same name.  Astaire played “Pogo” Poole, the absentee father of debutante Jessica (Reynolds) who returns in time for the wedding of his daughter to cattle rancher Roger Henderson (Hunter).  Par for the course in a frothy comedy, Poole’s arrival causes all kinds of trouble – particularly when sparks fly between him and ex-wife Katharine (Palmer), much to the dismay of her second husband (Gary Merrill).  Astaire picked up a Golden Globe for his portrayal of Pogo.

Newman was a natural choice to score the picture, as he had collaborated with director Seaton on numerous earlier films including Chicken Every Sunday, The Big Lift, For Heaven's Sake and Anything Can Happen.  Their partnership would continue onto Seaton’s next Paramount film, The Counterfeit Traitor, as well.  CD producer Bruce Kimmel asserts of Newman’s score for The Pleasure, “It’s hard to imagine a more luscious, melodic, beguiling, and captivating romantic comedy score than what Newman delivered,” and he singles out the “stunning” theme “Lullaby in Blue,” which recurs throughout the movie.  Kimmel continues, “The main secondary theme occurs soon thereafter, Newman’s Pleasure of His Company theme. There’s a wonderful theme for Astaire, a kind of ‘traveling music’ that is infectious and fun. And there are other lovely themes along the way to the happy ending. The score is like a sparkling glass of champagne – sophisticated, lush, witty, tender and pure Newman.”

Read more after the jump!  Plus: the pre-order link and track listing!

Kritzerland’s first-time CD release presents Newman’s complete score along with source cues (such as popular songs “Personality” and “That Old Black Magic”), pre-recordings and demo tracks, most of which are in stereo from the original Paramount session masters.  This 1,000-unit limited edition is due to ship by the last week of October, but pre-orders placed directly through the label tend to arrive an average of four weeks’ early.

You can have the Pleasure of pre-ordering just below!

Alfred Newman, The Pleasure of His Company: Music from the Motion Picture (Kritzerland KR 20025-9, 2013)

1.                   Prelude/Lullaby in Blue

2.                   Pogo Poole

3.                   I Am the Essential Guest

4.                   Portraits From the Past

5.                   Hello Katherine

6.                   A Tender Reunion

7.                   Toy’s Radio (Hawaiian War Chant)

8.                   So Little Time

9.                   Country Club Samba

10.               Fisherman’s Wharf – San Francisco/The Picnic/The Cable Car

11.               Chez Allain

12.               Time, the Enemy

13.               For Old Time's Sake

14.               Just Testing (Kitchen Scene)

15.               I'm Alone – Parts 1 and 2/Pogo's Farewell

16.               Lullaby in Blue (Demo)

17.               The Pleasure of His Company (Demo 1)

18.               The Pleasure of His Company (Demo 2)

19.               Wedding Reception

20.               Country Club Dance #1 (“Personality”)

21.               Country Club Dance #2 (“Easy Living” and “Lover”)

22.               Terrace in the Fog (“That Old Black Magic”)

23.               Reception Waltz Medley (“The Champagne Waltz” and “Lover”)

24.               That Old Black Magic (Pre-Recording)

25.               That Old Black Magic à la Previn (Pre-Recording)

26.               Personality (Pre-Recording)

27.               Easy Living and Lover Medley (Pre-Recording)

28.               The Champagne Waltz and Lover Medley (Pre-Recording)

Tracks 16-27 are bonus tracks.