| Thoroughly Modern Millie | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Soundtrack album by Various artists | ||||
| Released | 1967 | |||
| Genre | Jazz | |||
| Label | Decca | |||
| Julie Andrews chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Thoroughly Modern Millie | ||||
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Thoroughly Modern Millie is the original soundtrack of the 1967 musical comedyfilm of the same name, directed byGeorge Roy Hill and produced byRoss Hunter forUniversal Pictures.[1] The soundtrack, released byDecca Records in February 1967, blends 1920s jazz standards with new compositions to capture the spirit of the film'sRoaring Twenties setting. Featuring Julie Andrews in her return to recording, alongsideCarol Channing andMary Tyler Moore, the album includes tracks like "Thoroughly Modern Millie", "Jimmy", and Channing’s renditions of "Jazz Baby" and "Do It Again" .
Despite criticism for its short runtime and repeated medleys, the soundtrack was praised for its nostalgic energy, vibrant arrangements byAndré Previn, and contributions fromSammy Cahn andJames Van Heusen.
Commercially, the album reached no. 16 on theBillboard 200, earning gold certification within a month, and achieving Top 10 in the UK.
The filmThoroughly Modern Millie set in the 1920s, starsJulie Andrews as the titular Millie Dillmount, alongside Carol Channing, Mary Tyler Moore, andJames Fox. The soundtrack, released by Decca Records in February 1967 as the inaugural entry in their "1500 Deluxe Album Series", blends period jazz standards with original compositions, aiming to evoke the spirit of the Roaring Twenties.[2]
The album marked Julie Andrews' return to recording after her performances inMary Poppins (1964) andThe Sound of Music (1965).[3] Notably, Andrews had no exclusive recording contract at the time.[2] The LP featured Carol Channing—fresh from her Broadway triumph inHello, Dolly!—singing two numbers, "Jazz Baby" and "Do It Again".[4] The musical team included composer Elmer Bernstein (who won an Academy Award for his film score, though it was excluded from the album), arranger André Previn, and the songwriting duo Sammy Cahn and James Van Heusen, who contributed the title track and "The Tapioca".[5]
Decca promoted the album aggressively, and packaged it with a deluxe color booklet containing behind-the-scenes photos and production notes.[1][6]
The song "Thoroughly Modern Millie" was released as a single and reached number 3 onBillboard's Easy Listening (currently called Adult Contemporary) music chart,[7] and number 5 at theRecord World Top Non-Rock.[8]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [5] |
| NME | [9] |
| Cast Album Reviews | [10] |
Cash Box described the album as "a potpourri of new songs and old favorites", praising its "bouncy, rollicking quality" and predicting it would be a commercial success.[11] The review highlighted André Previn's arrangements and the contributions of Cahn and Van Heusen.Variety focused on the performances of Julie Andrews and Carol Channing, calling the soundtrack "the best part of the production". The review noted Andrews' renditions of standards like "Poor Butterfly" and "Jimmy," as well as Channing's performances in "Jazz Baby" and "Do It Again".[4]
Billboard emphasized the album's nostalgic appeal, calling it a return to the "wild, thrilling days of the 1920s". The review suggested that the high-energy performances would drive sales.[12]AllMusic, in a retrospective review by William Ruhlmann, offered a more critical perspective. While praising Andrews' and Channing's performances, Ruhlmann noted that the album was "heavily padded" with repetitions and medleys. He also pointed out the absence of Elmer Bernstein's Academy Award-winning score, which was not included on the soundtrack.[5]
Allen Evans ofNME praised the album, calling it a strong follow-up to Andrews' previous hits likeThe Sound of Music andMy Fair Lady. He highlighted the mix of nostalgic 1920s tunes ("Baby Face", "Poor Butterfly") and new songs ("Thoroughly Modern Millie", "Jimmy"), predicting they'd be popular. He also applauded Carol Channing's performances ("Jazz Baby", "Do It Again") and the orchestral arrangements by André Previn and Elmer Bernstein.[9]
David Barbour of Cast Album Reviews dismissed the soundtrack as a "bizarre camp exercise" spoofing the 1920s with little coherence. He criticized its disjointed structure—more a "mishmash of old and new numbers" than a proper musical—and noted the album's padding with excessive instrumentals like the overture and exit music. While he admitted the title track was "catchy" and praised Jay Thompson's ballad "Jimmy", Barbour lambasted Carol Channing's over-the-top "Jazz Baby" ("studied by drag queens," he quipped) and Julie Andrews' inexplicable "Jewish Wedding Song" ("beyond description").[10]
TheThoroughly Modern Millie soundtrack debuted at No. 155 on the Billboard 200 (April 15)[13] before climbing to No. 16 (3 June)[14] and staying on the chart for 48 weeks.[15][16] Its strong sales earned it a gold certification in under a month,[17][18] for more than a million dollars in sales.[19]
In the UK, the album entered at No. 31 (October 28), peaked at No. 9 (November 18), and remained on the chart for 16 weeks.[20]
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Performer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Prelude /Thoroughly Modern Millie" | Jimmy Van Heusen,Sammy Cahn | Julie Andrews | 2:42 |
| 2. | "Overture:Baby Face /Do It Again /Poor Butterfly / Stumbling /Japanese Sandman" | Benny Davis, Buddy DeSylva, George Gershwin, Harry Akst, John Golden, Raymond Egan, Raymond Hubbell, Richard A. Whiting, Zez Confrey | Orchestra | 3:34 |
| 3. | "Jimmy" | Jay Thompson | Julie Andrews | 3:05 |
| 4. | "The Tapioca" | Jimmy Van Heusen, Sammy Cahn | Orchestra, Julie Andrews & James Fox | 2:57 |
| 5. | "Jazz Baby" | Bianche Merrill, M. K. Jerome | Carol Channing | 2:41 |
| 6. | "Jewish Wedding Song "Trinkt Le Chaim"" | Julie Andrews | Julie Andrews | 3:43 |
| 7. | "Intermission Medley: Thoroughly Modern Millie / Jimmy / Jewish Wedding Song (Trinkt Le Chaim) / Baby Face" | Benny Davis, Harry Akst, Jay Thompson, Jimmy Van Heusen, Julie Andrews Sammy Cahn | Orchestra | 3:40 |
| 8. | "Poor Butterfly" | John Golden | Julie Andrews | 3:32 |
| 9. | "Rose Of Washington Square -Ann Dee" | James F. Hanley | Elmer Bernstein | 1:15 |
| 10. | "Baby Face" | Benny Davis, Harry Akst | Julie Andrews | 2:43 |
| 11. | "Do It Again!" | Buddy DeSylva, George Gershwin | Carol Channing | 2:01 |
| 12. | "Reprise: Thoroughly Modern Millie" | Jimmy Van Heusen, Sammy Cahn | Julie Andrews | 0:58 |
| 13. | "Exit Music: Jazz Baby / Jimmy / Thoroughly Modern Millie" | E. Y. "Yip" Harburg, Blanche Merrill, Jay Thompson, Jimmy Van Heusen, M. K. Jerome, Sammy Cahn | Orchestra | 2:36 |
Credits adapted from the liner notes ofThoroughly Modern Millie record.[21]
| Chart (1967) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[22] | 17 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[23] | 9 |
| US (Billboard Top LP's)[14] | 16 |
| US (Cash Box Top 100 Albums)[24] | 14 |
| US (Record World Top 100 LP's)[25] | 5 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[26] | Gold | 500,000^ |
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
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