That's Entertainment!, a 2011 release by
John Wilson and The John Wilson Orchestra, is a spirited collection of the songs and instrumentals popularized in such beloved MGM film musicals as Singin' in the Rain, The Band Wagon, Meet Me in St. Louis, An American in Paris, High Society, Easter Parade, Brigadoon, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Girl Crazy, and The New Moon. Guests
Seth MacFarlane,
Curtis Stigers, Sarah Fox,
Kim Criswell, Matthew Ford, and the Maida Vale Singers bring spontaneity and humor to the performances, and The John Wilson Orchestra makes this a brilliant presentation that fans of classic movies will enjoy. The lasting value of this CD, however, lies in the ingenious reconstructions by
Wilson and
Andrew Cottee, which are quite faithful to the original arrangements heard in the films. Because all of the full orchestral scores were destroyed in 1969,
Wilson and
Cottee had to work from the "MGM Conductor Books," which were short scores or piano reductions of the originals, used in recording the soundtracks. What began as Wilson's labor of love has become a remarkable achievement of restoration and preservation, and anyone interested in MGM musicals should hear this impressive album of historical re-creations. ~ Blair Sanderson