Ask “Mr. Music”
Jerry Osborne



FOR THE WEEK OF JULY 9, 2001

DEAR JERRY: Does the original music from “Gone with the Wind” exist anywhere on compact disc?

Since this film is widely regarded as one of the greatest ever made, you would think I could just walk into any music store and find it. Unfortunately, that has not been the case.

Hopefully, you can point me in the right direction.
—Eliose Tanner, Huntsville, Ala.

DEAR ELOISE: Frankly my dear, I don't give a … no wait, that's not what you want to hear.

While I am not sure you can walk into any music store and find it, there is a wonderful CD titled “Max Steiner Conducts Gone with the Wind & Other Themes, Vol. 1.”

Yes, it is a long title, but it does contain over 30 minutes of 1939 “Gone with the Wind” music, including all your favorites: “Main Title; Invitation to the Dance; Melanie's Theme; Ashley; The Prayer; Bonnie Blue Flag; Scarlett O'Hara; Scarlett's Agony; War; Return to Tara; Bonnie's Death; Rhett Butler; Bonnie's Theme; Ashley and Melanie;” and “The Oath.”

Rounding out this collection (RCA Victor 9676-2-R) is bonus Max music from: “The Bird of Paradise” (1932); “A Bill of Divorcement” (1932); “Little Women” (1933); “The Charge of the Light Brigade” (1936); “A Star Is Born” (1937); “The Life of Emile Zola” (1937); “Dark Victory” (1939); and “Four Wives” (1939).


DEAR JERRY: About the same time as Bobby Darin's “Beyond the Sea” was popular, 1960 I think, Brian Hyland came out with a song that I would like you to identify.

One of the lines is “I don't want to be free.” That's not much to go on, but it's all I can provide.
—Bill Zananovic, Greenfield, Wisc.

DEAR BILL: First, let me apologize if the spelling of your last name is wrong. As you know, it is written by hand, and is somewhat difficult to make out.

“Beyond the Sea” did chart in 1960; however, your mystery tune didn't come out until the summer of '61. It is “Let Me Belong to You,” a Top 20 hit for Mr. Hyland (ABC-Paramount 10236).

DEAR JERRY: Can you tell me the name of the song played at baseball games where everybody yells “hey-hey” during the chorus.

Otherwise there are no words. It's just electric guitar, bass and drums.
—Jack from Boise, Idaho

DEAR JACK: The thumping tune you frequently hear at sporting events — and not just baseball — is “Rock and Roll, Part 2,” a Top 10 hit in 1972 for Gary Glitter (Bell 45,327).

You probably can't hear it over the noisy crowd, but the recording does contain its own “hey-heys,” so it is not completely without a vocal.

It only reached No. 7 on Billboard, but for nearly 30 years after its release, this instrumental is probably heard by more people than any other 1972 hit. It is played every day in some arena, stadium, or coliseum somewhere in the world. (Yes, the other side is “Rock and Roll, Part 1.”)

Not heard nearly as often is the No. 1 song of the entire year 1972, “The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face,” by Roberta Flack.

Of course that one is a bit too slow to excite a live crowd.

IZ ZAT SO? Gary Glitter, whose “Rock and Roll, Part 2” has become a cheering sports fan's chant, recorded unsuccessfully under other names before becoming Gary Glitter.

He recorded in the 1960s as Paul Raven, then later as Paul Monday. The Paul part is true, as his real name is Paul Gadd.






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