1938 Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs Soundtrack HMV Gustaf Tenngren Cover Art

	A$		83
	$		55

1938 Snow White Soundtrack HMV Gustaf Tenngren Cover . Condition is Acceptable. Sent with Australia Post Standard Service.

This is an authentic 1938 partial set of 2 (out of 3) original 78rpm shellac 10” discs for gramophone featuring the soundtrack of the Walt Disney film ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ in the original presentation album folder.

This soundtrack to the iconic 1937 film is especially important as it was the first commercially issued soundtrack released in conjunction with a feature film. It was recorded in 1937 and released in the US in January 1938 on Victor records. Shortly afterwards it was released under other labels in other countries.

The set in question was the contemporary Australian release on the label His Master’s Voice – E.A.2050, 2051 and 2052. Vocal OA09870. Cat. No. E.A. 2052.

The records appear to be in very good condition with only one or two very light scratches - they are in need of a clean and then should be good to go! The sleeve has a lot of damage but the front image is in reasonable condition - please see photos as these serve as condition notes.

I have included a photo of a print ad stating that all versions on the HMV label including the British and Australian sets were released March 11, 1938.

Seven months after the film’s general release in early 1938, ‘Variety’ reported that it was having a remarkably long box-office run at theatres in Sydney, Australia where it had ‘no difficulty at hitting 11 weeks, with more ahead.’

This set comprised of:

Disc 1: [PRESENT]

Side 1: “With a Smile and a Song”

Side 2: “Dig-a-Dig Dig / Heigh Ho”

Disc 2: [MISSING]

Side 3: “I’m Wishing / One Song”

Side 4: “Whistle While You Work”

Disc 3: [PRESENT]

Side 5: “Dwarfs’ Yodel Song”

Side 6: “Some Day My Prince Will Come”

These recordings were taken directly from the film’s soundtrack and include parts of the original dialogue and sound effects.

While the discs are rare, but still possible to find, it’s the sleeve that makes this set ultra collectible. Gustaf Tenngren was the artist responsible for the stunning cover image which is printed on glossy stock and adhered to the cardboard folder. He was a Swedish-American illustrator (influenced by Arthur Rackham among others). Tenngren was chief illustrator for the Walt Disney Company in late 1930s and therefore also chief illustrator for ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs’ as well as ‘Bambi’ and ‘Pinocchio.’ He was a concept artist and colour stylist on the movie rather than an animator, and he did many of the illustrations for the tie-ins to the film including movie posters. He did 3 different versions of the posters and for collectors the most desirable of these has proven to be the self same image featured on this album cover.

For fans who haven’t been able to meet the $17,000 price tag of an original movie poster with this image then why not frame up this record cover as an alternative?

The British release of the album in 1938 (see photo) featured cover art where the dwarfs are switched around and altered to appear more like the animated movie characters. Also the wicked Queen, witch with poison apple, Prince and Castle have all been omitted from the background. However this Australian version kept true to Tenngren’s vision and is an exact replica of the movie poster.

Some interesting anecdotes accompany this soundtrack. For example the fact that singers Harry Stockwell and Adriana Caselotti sued Disney after its release. They launched a $300,000 lawsuit against Disney claiming that they had collectively earned less than $1,500 on the film and they wanted compensation as the reproductions of their voices were made for records in violation of their contracts. They were not successful.

Another anecdote concerns the Dwarf’s Yodel Song (AKA ‘The Silly Song’) as featured on one of these discs. Apparently Snow White was banned in Boston because of a verse of the Yodel Song that was supposedly off-colour. Disney removed it from the Boston Prints and at some point from all other versions of the movie.

Fascinating!

Please ask as many questions as you like prior to purchase as refunds will not be provided.