This just in from Caleb Nelson:

[Below is information about the world premiere compact disc release of George Bruns' music for the Disney film Johnny Tremain:

I have been researching this title since 2003, and am very excited this CD has become a reality. Hope you enjoy the CD!

Jim Lochner's liner notes are marvelous and Kay Marshall's booklet design complements Peter Ellenshaw's production design for the film itself.

There are several emotional high points that George Bruns scores beautifully. His music goes all the way from despair and fear to exhilaration. His music also seems to sound like Ellenshaw's production design and matte paintings, if that makes any sense:-) ]

This is a CD I will definitely order in a few weeks...

I keep mentioning that the 5th volume in this great series of CDs has been released. Definitely worth picking up.

From what I understand, this newly released 3-Disc Mary Poppins album seems to contain a large part of the recordings from the story sessions that P.L. Travers attended at the Studio. It looks like a must-have.

I just realised that More Cute Stories, Vol. 4: 1964/65 New York World's Fair has just been released. I love Rolly's stories and will get my copy today.

Looking forward to the release of this CD on January 15th!

If you own the book It's Kind of a Cute Story (and I am convinced that most of you do, by now), you will probably want to pick up the CD titled More Cute Stories, with even more memorries by Rolly Crump. I just did.

This just in from Alexander Rannie:

[Dear Didier,

Thanks for posting information about the upcoming CD box set "Walt Disney and the 1964 World's Fair."

It should be noted that the audio is, in all instances, of better quality than the bootleg version that's been floating around. (And there's more of it to boot!)

And, with all due modesty, a few additional credits have been added, including:

Additional Research Consultants: Jeff Kurtti, Paul Anderson, Alexander Rannie

Not enough can be said about Jeff's invaluable contribution in myriad medias to the dissemination of information on Walt's life and art, particularly WED (now WDI).

Persistence of Vision: Issue #6/#7, Paul's 200-page magazine from 1995 all about Disney at the New York World's Fair, remains the single best compendium of information about not only the physical appearance of the Disney-designed pavilions but the back-story of their creation and creators as well.

As for myself, I had the privilege of contributing a 15,000-word essay to Paul's magazine, recreating in detail the timeline and personalities behind the Disney pavilions' music.

Though he might blush at the praise, it is ultimately (in my opinion) Randy Thornton's talent and tenacity that have insured that Bruce Gordon's vision will see the light of day. Randy's exacting reconstruction and peerless restoration of material for these CDs is far and beyond what anyone could have hoped for.

Higher tribute to Bruce Gordon, the man and the dreamer, could not be paid.

Wouldn't it be great if the stories and music contained in the World's Fair box set -- imagined by Walt and promoted by Bruce -- encouraged a whole new generation of Imagineers?

Best regards,

-Alex]

A friend just sent me the following email about the Walt Disney and the 1964 World's Fair [BOX SET] that I was mentioning on the blog yesterday:

[This was something that Bruce Gordon championed and had all ready to go upon his untimely death. It had been in the works for years, even before the death of David Mumford in 2003.

Randy Thornton at Walt Disney Records picked up the baton after Bruce's passing, and this is the result.

Research and Text: Stacia Martin
Layout and Design: Bruce Gordon
Historical Image Research:
Randy Webster & Hugh Chitwood
Media Designer: Glenn Barker
Digital Transfers: Steve Litten
Clearances: Jann Adachi
Research: Heather Neidenbach
Scheduling: Lisa Beckwith
Management: Melissa Smith
For Disneyland: Linda Votaw and Susie McFarland
A special thanks to Ron Moortgat of the Walt Disney Sound Archives
Thanks to Tony Baxter for starting this whole CD thing, Dave Smith and Robert Tieman of the Walt Disney Archives for your continued support, Marty Sklar, Jan O’Connor and all the Imagineers over the past half-century whose work we are celebrating.

The content may have changed in the past year, but here is at least a feel for what is there:

Disc 1
Progressland
1 Great Big Beautiful Tomorrow 4:47
2 Welcome :20
3 Walt Disney and the
Sherman Brothers 2:32
4 Carousel of Progress:
Early Script Reading 3:06
5 Carousel of Progress:
Alternate Universe Version 27:07
6 The Skydome Spectacular 7:58
7 Toucan and Parrot Show 8:44
8 Music To Buy Toasters By 4:01
9 Mirror Maze 5:08
10 Orchestra 3:17
11 Orchestra :44
12 Orchestra 1:44
13 Orchestra :45
14 Orchestra :47
15 Orchestra 1:05
16 Horizons 1:04

Disc 2
Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln
1 Introduction :56
2 Early Recording x:xx
3 The PreShow 9:01
4 The Main Show 9:13
5 Pre Show Music 10:18
6 Main Show Music 8:37
7 Dialog Recording Session 5:32
8 Chorus Vocal 1:37

Disc 3
It’s A Small World
1 Queue/Entrance Music 3:05
2 First Demo Recording 1:04
3 Walt Disney Welcome 9:14
4 Vocals (Isolated) 2:14
5 The Ultimate MegaMix 20:51
6 Exit Music 2:38
7 Disneyland Paris 2:05
8 Disneyland Paris 1:29
9 Chorus xxxxx

Disc 4
Magic Skyway
1 World of Tomorrow 2:59
2 Magic Skyway 10:33
3 International Gardens 2:47
4 International Gardens 4:40
5 International Gardens 4:03
6 International Gardens 3:02
7 International Gardens 1:42
8 International Gardens 2:54
9 International Gardens 3:12
10 International Gardens 3:44
11 International Gardens 3:08
12 Auto Parts Harmonic 8:57
13 Dialog Recording Session 8:27
14 Get The Feel Of The Wheel (Ford March) 6:13]

The content did change a bit and you will find what Randy Thornton had so say about it at this link and at this other link.

Do any one of you have any details about this product, who is behind it, what it contains,...?